SpecialEffect's accessible GameBase

Xbox 360/PS3 - EA Sports

As fans start to come to terms that this won't be their teams 'season,' and the initial (unfounded) expectations slowly die down,  it is just about the right time for the latest incarnation of EA's FIFA to let us suspend our disbelief a little while longer and pretend that our boy's can indeed beat Man U away, whilst waiting for news on that latest tweaked transfer offer for a certain Barcelona number 10.

As ever, FIFA is more than happy to help you achieve your club's virtual targets with it's ever increasing wealth of customisable gameplay options.

Standard settings including the excellant difficulty and speed settings remain, as does the assisted/manual option for passing, cross shot etc Controller wise, the two-button control option which reduces essential controls to just the left thumbstick and two face buttons. Button re-mapping is featured for the standard and alternative layout, but not the two button mode.

New to FIFA  12 are the 'User/CPU Game Customisation' Settings which allow you to tweak the level of 'error frequency' amongst others , for both your and the CPU's players e.g. if you raise the level of the 'Shot Error' slide bar for the CPU the oppositions players will find it harder to get their shots on target. If you lower your own bar you will find it easier to et a shot on target. Other adjustable options include 'Pass Error,' 'Goalkeeper Ability' and the option to adjust the time it takes the power bar to fill up when passing, shooting etc (for all options see video below).

New 'Tactical Defending' gameplay may determine how to set up your options and assists. This new defensive focus means gameplay has become more unpredictable and exciting as a result. It essentially revolves around better organising your defence, using patience over lunging in and using timing to make the perfect tackle.

In default controls, 'A' is used to contain a player, but unlike previous FIFA's will not make an automatic tackle. To do this you use 'B' when your player is lined up to take the ball. Get you timing wrong and you will be temporarily taken out of the game lunging at thin air. 'LT' is used as before to jockey, whilst 'RT' will now bring in a 2nd defender for cover, but will again not make a tackle. If these controls are giving you trouble, the previous setup ('Legacy Defending') can be found at the bottom of the 'Xbox 360 Controller' settings page. When loading the game for the first time you will be given a quick practice session of the new defensive controls, which can be skipped.

EA show that by giving people a broad way of customising their gameplay and controls they can open up their game to a wider range of players of all abilities without any detriment to the game itself or 'fairness' in online competitive play. More options = more players. Simple!