FIFA 12 by EA SPORTS

This app was reviewed in a head-to-head Tap! Twin Test with PES 2012. Search for PES 2012 to see how it compares.rnrnGraphics rnrnFIFA is top of the table when it comes to football visuals. The player models, while not as eerily realistic as those in the full console versions of the game, are for the most part pretty recognisable versions of their real-life counterparts. And, this being FIFA, all the team strips are accurate. The stadiums are suitably grand in scale, too. rnrnPlay modesrnrnFor the full experience, play the career mode in which you manage your team (chosen from one of 29 licensed global leagues) and play the games. In addition, there’s a new daily challenge to test your skills every 24 hours, quick matches and penalty shootouts. A limited but satisfying palette of play options.rnrnControlsrnrnFIFA 12 scores big on playability. It’s now the undisputed king of iOS footy games, thanks to its straightforward yet comprehensive control options. Three buttons control passing, shooting and sprinting, but then gesture controls can be used to pull off around 20 other moves, including through balls, chip shots, fake shots, jockeying and the like.rnrnMultiplayerrnrnStill no online multiplayer matches, sadly, and there’s no easy way for two players to hook up for a quick match locally either. But if you have two iPhones and an iPad, you can play head to head using the iPhones as controllers and the iPad as a screen. With the right lead, you can even feed the iPad into your massive telly and play on that instead.rnrnRealismrnrnAuthenticity was always FIFA’s strong hand. Now that the gameplay is world class too, this is the most realistic footy sim available, by a mile. Real players, real teams, real leagues, great player models, superb animation, solid commentary, an ecstatic crowd… it’s absolutely dripping with big match atmosphere.