Don’t let the name fool you! Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s not good. The problem with reviewing sports games year to year, is that not always have the basics of the game changed.

FIFA SOCCER 13 BY EA Sports (Universal: $6.99) 

“FIFA 13 is more realistic than ever – with all the authenticity and innovation you’ve come to expect from the FIFA franchise. Matches come to life with groundbreaking graphics and the most responsive controls ever delivered on iOS.”

The Old

In this case, let’s take a quick look at presentation and graphics. As with FIFA 12, graphics have been toned up, but it’s not an incredible difference. The most noticeable enhancement are the close up shots on the players facial animations, which are sharper than the two previous versions.

As expected, players, crowds, and stadiums also look better than the previous version, but it’s not an amazing enhancement. One thing that I did appreciate about FIFA 13 is that it is already updated for the iPhone 5, which is great. With the larger screen, the controls will continue to be on the side but you’ll have a big more of space in the middle to see what’s going on.

The controls are also similar to those in FIFA 12, but there are some improvements that are a welcome change. For example, you can control your players by swiping. When you’re on offense, you can swipe with two fingers towards or away from the opponent’s goal, and it’ll change the way your team plays. It also continues to use the touch screen fully.

For example, you can pass to players by tapping on them, instead of just using the pass button. The “Skill Move” button has also made a comeback, and just like before, it takes some practice, but it’s worth it in the end. In the end, although the controls may feel intimidating in the beginning, I had no problem with them at the end.

The New

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The biggest addition to FIFA 13 is something that’s been on the console version of FIFA for a while, and is a welcome addition to the iOS version: online multiplayer. The process is simple enough, simply enter a quick match with a random player, or log in with your Origin account to play with your friends.

The results of matches with your friends are recorded on a leader board, so it’s easy to compete with your friends. Manager Mode has also carried over to FIFA 13, and although most of it is the same, it comes with a much more user-friendly interface, from email inbox, player pictures, and my personal favorite: iCloud saving across devices.

Conclusion

FIFA 13 does what EA always does with their sports games on this platform: improve. If it’s not broken, it doesn’t need fixing. FIFA 12 was, and has been until now, the best soccer game on the platform. FIFA 13 has come and set the new bar. The small tweaks and improvements are a welcome addition, and if you’re a soccer fan, you should definitely jump on this.