FIFA 13 Demo Available Now - Post Your Impressions

[Altimus]

Ok well here is my biggest issue which might be the game breaker for me. This problem was in last year just wasn't as bad. Player marking the box is non-existent in this game. I was playing on Legendary and these two plays made me put the controller down and play the PES demo.

On the counter I end up with Walcott and Giroud in the box. At the time there are 6 Dortmund defenders in the box. Walcott is right outside the box. With him I'm able to go, stop, bring it back into the box and lose the defender on him. No one closes on Walcott and I'm able to easily cross the ball to Giroud who is standing a few feet from the goal. As the ball is getting crossed to him only one, just one of the five defenders in the box are anywhere near him and the one near is not even marking him. Giroud easily heads the ball in the back of the net. A goal but no rewarding feeling. Just cheapness.

Same game Lewandowski is getting marked by me. He gets pushed outside as he shoots and the ball gets knocked back outside the box to a running Kuba who at the time had Diaby and Areta next to him who just proceed to stop outside the box. Kuba runs toward the ball and puts it in the back of the net. Another cheap goal. I much rather have both defenders rush him, and even foul him and give up a PK then just stop and let him have a free one.

As much as they've improved the offensive side of the ball, like I mentioned when the news came that defense is non-existent and this demo has proved it. I can overlook a lot of stuff in this game but this I just can't. Watching Legendary defending in the box is the same as watching the lowest difficulty. Unacceptable.

[ezio]

After playing the demo for a few days I don't really like it. It seems similar to last year even with the changes they made. You can get the speed to be less of an issue with sliders but even doing so the CPU attack to me still feels very straightforward and direct. There still is very little build up play and they are always looking to attack.

In addition, while there are more runs being made they also seem to be straightforward runs as well and they rarely look to open up spaces in other areas. It still is not fun playing the CPU IMO. I also don't see much difference in teams/players but that could be because of the team's in the demo. All and all not impressed. Will probably still try the early release but I don't think I am getting it this year.

[lnin0]

Quote: Originally Posted by KG

Yeah I play on manual and it makes it more rewarding for me but too bad it doesn't apply to the CPU who completes ~90% of their passes despite tweaking the pass error slider.

Exactly. I have the CPU pass error slider cranked up to the 90s and the pass speed notched down a few yet they are consistently passing in the high 80 and 90%. I had one game against AC Milan where they actually passed at 78%.

I have been able to expose a little more of a middle game by keeping my defenders in place and taking forward passes away from the CPU but in general they still try to push the ball forward more so than crossing to the other side or passing back.

OMFG what is up with defending in the box? Get between the player and the goal. I cannot tell you how many times my team stands not only behind a striker in the box but also on the opposite side of the ball. I know we want to avoid comparisons but seeing how much better defenders react in the box on PES makes this all the more disappointing.

I am also scared that the 'no calls' bug or feature from last year still exist in CPU games. I have seen maybe 2 called fouls against the CPU and no cards while at the same time I have racked up a half dozen cards. I have also only seen one offsides call and have played several hours of the demo. I know EA bragged about the AI attackers being smarter about offsides but they should not be perfect.

Back to the comparison thing but I think PES CPU feels better in many respects because they feel more human. They get into better position, make smarter runs yet still aren't perfect. EAs AI, in all its games, has always struggled to walk that line. EA tends to run either hot or cold in AI games. They are either too psychic or too stupid and they can never find the balance between.

Overall I am liking the feel of the game. The first touch makes a huge different and the jostling seems to have a better balance as well. EA gave a lot of toys to the offense but man for man it at least feels like there will be a pretty even battle. It remains to be seen how even that battle will be once you get into the box and the defenders break down or how arcade players will find to abuse it. It is hard to tell but it also seem like stamina may come into play once we get longer matches. Hopefully it is not reset all the way back to 100% at the half. Sprint abusers who run their guys into the ground for an entire half should not see them regain all of their stamina over a short half time break.

[Qb]

Quote: Originally Posted by lnin0

Overall I wish the speed was more like 12. Slow is not an option online and the new normal is just insanely fast. I am going to wait and see what I hear about the retail release. If a lot of the little stuff in this demo isn't tweaked by release then I will probably skip it.

In 12 we could at least select the game speed and controls when inviting someone to an online friendlies match. It'd be nice if there was a manual Head-to-Head seasons, but as you implied with your search failures, the user base likely isn't there. I think there are manual players out there, but they tend to stay away from ranked play because of the style. I know I do.

Quote: Originally Posted by Altimus

As much as they've improved the offensive side of the ball, like I mentioned when the news came that defense is non-existent and this demo has proved it. I can overlook a lot of stuff in this game but this I just can't. Watching Legendary defending in the box is the same as watching the lowest difficulty. Unacceptable.

This is similar to my biggest gripe with the game. There is little urgency from CPU defenders, especially on the user side. Not only around the box, where it should be easily apparent, but also as the ball moves around the pitch. The defense simply isn't active/reactive enough without user input, and even then we're only one player (plus iffy secondary contain).

The line sliders can help make it more compact, but this it's more than just positioning, it's about AI behavior. I absolutely DO NOT want it to go back to super-pressure auto-tackling from pre-FIFA12, but the new containment focused system requires more active & aware NPCs to flourish.

[Altimus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Qb

In 12 we could at least select the game speed and controls when inviting someone to an online friendlies match. It'd be nice if there was a manual Head-to-Head seasons, but as you implied with your search failures, the user base likely isn't there. I think there are manual players out there, but they tend to stay away from ranked play because of the style. I know I do. This is similar to my biggest gripe with the game. There is little urgency from CPU defenders, especially on the user side. Not only around the box, where it should be easily apparent, but also as the ball moves around the pitch. The defense simply isn't active/reactive enough without user input, and even then we're only one player (plus iffy secondary contain). The line sliders can help make it more compact, but this it's more than just positioning, it's about AI behavior. I absolutely DO NOT want it to go back to super-pressure auto-tackling from pre-FIFA12, but the new containment focused system requires more active & aware NPCs to flourish.

Exactly, there is no pressure on the ball. You have to constantly hold RB just to have your AI teammates chase along with you.

[RoyceDa59]

Quote: Originally Posted by Altimus

Exactly, there is no pressure on the ball. You have to constantly hold RB just to have your AI teammates chase along with you.

This is also a huge issue for and it is no different even when using high pressure for quick tactics. I feel like this is just a FIFA mechanic done so the players will be able to have enough space on the ball to do skill tricks and what not. For me I just don't particularly care for it and it's shame that you feel like there isn't a real like of control on defence.

[ezio]

Quote: Originally Posted by RoyceDa59

This is also a huge issue for and it is no different even when using high pressure for quick tactics. I feel like this is just a FIFA mechanic done so the players will be able to have enough space on the ball to do skill tricks and what not. For me I just don't particularly care for it and it's shame that you feel like there isn't a real like of control on defence.

I agree. I don't really like the defending in the game. I didn't like it last year either.

[stmark]

im getting great battles in midfield in the demo with some slider adjustments. Line Length 25 Line Width 30. Also Increase the Cpu Passing Error i'm stilll testing that. But overall im loving the new thinngs they added. One great animation i did see was playing against City with Arsenal and storming down the wing with Wallcot n i got pulled back by my shirt by Kalorov fell n the ref gave him a yellow card i was hyped. I cant wait for the retail.