5 Reasons Why PES 2012 Is Better Than FIFA 12

For the past seven days, I’ve played both FIFA 12 and PES 2012. It’s been years since I’ve had an opportunity to play the games on a powerful video game console. For the past few years, I’ve played FIFA on the Nintendo Wii (which was fun, but not a complete experience). So now that I have a Xbox 360, I was able to immerse myself in the games and play them without a bias or a loyalty to one more than another.
Let me state that I enjoyed playing both FIFA 12 and PES 2012. But now that I’ve had a chance to test FIFA 12 and PES 2012 to their limits, the conclusion I’ve reached is that PES 2012 is far better.
Not that there’s anything wrong with FIFA 12. It’s just that PES 2012 is so much better. Here are my five reasons:

1. PES 2012 graphics are far superior. The graphics in FIFA 12 look like a computer game, while PES 2012 looks very close to watching a game on television. As a perfect example, my wife walked in to our living room the other day and didn’t notice I had a controller in my hands. She looked at the TV screen and thought I was watching a real match. I was playing PES 2012.
2. PES’s gameplay is better. Playing PES 2012 feels more intuitive. It seems easier to pass the ball between your teammates, and it’s easier to get past defenders. As a result, there’s less frustration with PES 2012 compared to playing FIFA 12. Bottom line: PES 2012 is more fun to play than FIFA 12.
3. The level of detail in PES is incredible. The amount of detail that Konami put into this game is incredible. The player’s faces really look like the footballers. The players on the field look and act a lot more like the real footballers. In comparison, the players on FIFA 12 (for the most part) seem more generic. Yes, they look like the real stars, but the level of detail isn’t as refined. A perfect example is Robbie Keane of LA Galaxy. On FIFA 12, he’s svelte, lightning fast and does his trademark cartwheels with ease. If you’ve seen him score for the Galaxy recently, you’ll know the difference.
4. I love PES 2012′s in-game communication. It may seem like a small and insignificant feature, but I love how you can trade messages with your opponent after key moments in games such as great saves or goals. By pressing a couple of buttons on your controller, you can congratulate your opponent on a nice shot — which is displayed on-screen for both of you to see. It’s especially helpful when you’re playing someone online. It helps you connect to your opponent, whether they’re a stranger or friend.
5. FIFA 12 is too much hype and marketing. FIFA 12 by EA Sports looks like a hot date. A one-night stand who is beautiful on the outside, wears all of the right clothes and has that knowing look. PES 2012 is that partner who is beautiful on the inside, and it’s someone you can develop a long-term relationship with. Compared side by side, I truly believe that PES 2012 is light years better than FIFA 12.

PES 2012 is by no means perfect. The biggest complaint is the licensing agreements, but there are patches available that can quickly resolve the issue. The second biggest grumble is the quality of commentating. Martin Tyler and Alan Smith are significantly better than Jon Champion and Jim Beglin. The co-commentator Beglin is difficult to hear and understand at times. It sounds like he’s mumbling.
But those issues aside, PES 2012 is highly recommended. So too is FIFA 12. But I have to give PES 2012 the edge. It’s far more enjoyable.