I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I enjoy?

[ClassActFan]

EDIT: The word "learn" was obviously intended in the title. The "r" key on my laptop's keyboard unfortunately seems to be getting weak and I have to pound it to get it to work.

I'm going to be upfront: I don't know a damn thing about soccer. I know who Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are, and I casually watch here and there when the World Cup rolls around, but outside of that, I'm clueless and as ignorant as all get out.

With that being said, I'm buying Fifa '14 for the Xbox One.

"Why bother!?" you might ask.

Well, because my interest is piqued. I love the graphics on the game, the animations (yes, I played the demo and kinda lost 2-0), the crowd noise (sounds exactly like it does on a television broadcast) and the feel of the game.

My best friend AKA de facto brother is also going to pick the game up. He is like me in this scenario.

I want something different asides from Madden NFL and NBA 2K. I've actually contemplated buying Fifa for a while (last few years), but always passed it up. But I want to learn the ins and outs of the game and get into it, because honestly, the demo was quite fun, but the game would even more fun if I knew some strategy.

So, how big is the learning curve for a newbie to the game like me?

Do you know anyone else who was in a similar situation like me, wanting to get into the game yet not knowing anything about it?

I'd love to eventually become good enough to actually go online and compete against people from around the world, but right now I just want to know if I'll ever get on the ol' saddle and 'properly ride'.

[doyce7]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer--can I learn? Will I enj

I'm going to be upfront: I don't know a damn thing about soccer. I know who Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are, and I casually watch here and there when the World Cup rolls around, but outside of that, I'm clueless and as ignorant as all get out.

With that being said, I'm buying Fifa '14 for the Xbox One.

"Why bother!?" you might ask.

Well, because my interest is piqued. I love the graphics on the game, the animations (yes, I played the demo and kinda lost 2-0), the crowd noise (sounds exactly like it does on a television broadcast) and the feel of the game.

My best friend AKA de facto brother is also going to pick the game up. He is like me in this scenario.

I want something different asides from Madden NFL and NBA 2K. I've actually contemplated buying Fifa for a while (last few years), but always passed it up. But I want to learn the ins and outs of the game and get into it, because honestly, the demo was quite fun, but the game would even more fun if I knew some strategy.

So, how big is the learning curve for a newbie to the game like me?

Do you know anyone else who was in a similar situation like me, wanting to get into the game yet not knowing anything about it?

I'd love to eventually become good enough to actually go online and compete against people from around the world, but right now I just want to know if I'll ever get on the ol' saddle and 'properly ride'.

The game is fun, really fun. It's helped me a ton with learning soccer and now I can't get enough soccer in my life haha.

I would suggest getting the game and playing a few career modes, to me thats the best way to learn.

[doyce7]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

Any questions along the way just ask. I personally check this forum constantly while I'm at work any time I have any down time.

[speedtrucker]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

this game is fun, really fun. if you have a buddy to play along with, it is even more fun.

I know a decent amount about football, rules and strategy, but I sometimes look at the ability to adjust formations and strategy and go cross-eyed.

I'm also pretty terrible at controlling the entire team, I've been playing the "virtual pro" mode every time I buy the game. I have more fun controlling 1 player(my created pro) and playing from the "pro camera".

this year is the first year I have tried "pro clubs" which is basically the virtual pro online mode. you create a pro, create a club, pick a kit/crest(real life team's uniform and logo) and can play up to 11v11, in my instance it is usually 1 buddy and me playing our 2 players against another team of 2-5 players.

my buddy last played FIFA with FIFA World Cup 2010, he knows a "little" about 'soccer' and the basic rules. he is now addicted to the Pro Clubs mode. you basically play a 10 game season, you start at division 10, you need 9 points to gain promotion to the next division and 12 points to "win your division title". once you are past division 10 you also have to maintain a certain level of pts to avoid relegation.

just jump in with your buddy and play some co-op seasons or pro-club, in addition to playing an offline career that will help with the other nuances of the game. also the skill games help with getting used to the combinations of passes, lobs, through-balls and shots. also with dribbling and defense.

don't be afraid to ask questions, there are no dumb questions... just dumb users... jk.

[BBallcoach]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

put your pride's aside and play on the easiest level! That's what I did when I bought FIFA 10. You won't spend much time on the easiest then make the leap to the second lowest level. And you should spend some time on that difficulty. You'll learn more then make the leap to Professional. which is what it starts at on default.

[speedtrucker]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

put your pride's aside and play on the easiest level! That's what I did when I bought FIFA 10. You won't spend much time on the easiest then make the leap to the second lowest level. And you should spend some time on that difficulty. You'll learn more then make the leap to Professional. which is what it starts at on default.

and the next thing you know, you're on legendary constantly tweaking sliders to make parts harder and other parts less cheap.

never understood why easy settings were always so taboo even if you'd never played that type of game before.

[kerosene31]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

Actually, lots of people get into sports because of the video game. It is a lot more common than you think! You absolutely can learn. I've picked up Fifa most years and am still very, very much a student of the game.

To complete offline on the lower skill levels, you really only need the basics. You obviously can't jump in all at once, but you can certainly learn.

There's also all sorts of "fifa tips" sites out there and even if they are a year or two old still have great information.

Last year I finally worked my way up to play on all manual, which has been a big accomplishment for me. Of course, just starting out leave the assists on for awhile and you'll do just fine.

Definitely check out the lower difficulties. I've only played the Fifa 14 demo so far, but even on pro I'm struggling. The only thing to watch for on the lower difficulties is don't spend too much time there, as you can learn bad habits that you eventually have to "un-learn" as you move up.

[BBallcoach]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

and the next thing you know, you're on legendary constantly tweaking sliders to make parts harder and other parts less cheap.

never understood why easy settings were always so taboo even if you'd never played that type of game before.

I don't either. I'm on World Class now with slider tweaks. I think I have found the perfect level of enjoyment for me, where it is challenging but I can still compete.

[gopher_guy]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

FIFA is THE reason I am into soccer now.

Before the last World Cup, my buddy and I played the FIFA World Cup game a ton. I literally knew nothing about soccer before that, but started to learn the names of the players, and that got me interested in them in real life.

Now that the EPL is on NBCSN I've actually started watching the sport religiously, so I am still learning a lot of the nuances, but FIFA is a great way to get into it.

And now is a fantastic time to do it, with the EPL being easily accessible in the US, and the World Cup coming up this summer!

[My993C2]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

I picked up FIFA 14 last week for the PS3 (yes I know this is the Next-Gen forum) and I have mixed emotions towards the FIFA game compared to PES 2013 for the PC which I picked up last year and applied some mods to it. It's hard to say which one is better FiFA or my modified PES 2013 title as they both appear to have their respective PROS and CONS. One place where I am disappointed with the FIFA title is the lack of national teams (only about 3/4 of the countries who qualified for the 2014 World Cup are in this game). But obviously FIFA excels over PES when it comes to club play. I played an exhibition match last night in FIFA where Barcelona played against Real Madrid and I even changed the commentator's in game language to Spanish to give me a better experience (though I still struggle with trying to learn Spanish). I am still not sure if I should play the game using an English Premiere League team or if I should go for a Spanish team. I am leaning towards the Spanish League because I have a friend who lives in Madrid (but cheers for Barcelona) and I know the Spanish players better than I know the UK players. Of course I could learn more about the UK players if I actually played some of their games. LOL

PS: I know enough about soccer and even played the game at a reasonably competitive level in my youth. But I am in no way a sophisticated fan when it comes knowing all there is to know about the sport from the advanced formations to all the different club teams around the globe.

[Mike Lowe]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer--can I learn? Will I enj

How do you guys handle the influx of discovered players in career mode? I hired a couple extra scouts and wow...overwhelming amount of info coming in!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy sIII

[eF 5ive]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

Any dribbling tips? I don't really know or have a go to move for beating a defender. Not a huge soccer guy but would like to know what easy moves I can pull to help create space without turning into fifa street.

[Entiae]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

Any dribbling tips? I don't really know or have a go to move for beating a defender. Not a huge soccer guy but would like to know what easy moves I can pull to help create space without turning into fifa street.

2-star dribble moves.

Body feints, step-overs and ball rolls are all simple to perform and very effective if timed correctly. And because they are 2-star moves every player can do them, besides goalkeepers.

[eF 5ive]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

2-star dribble moves.

Body feints, step-overs and ball rolls are all simple to perform and very effective if timed correctly. And because they are 2-star moves every player can do them, besides goalkeepers.

Do I perform these holding L2+R2? Or sprinting?

Also thanks for the reply, bro.

[Entiae]

Re: I want to get into Fifa, but I know nothing about soccer -- can I lean? Will I en

Do I perform these holding L2+R2? Or sprinting?

Also thanks for the reply, bro.

No shoulder buttons are required, and I'd recommend you don't sprint while trying to do the moves.

Body feint: Flick the right stick left or right

Ball roll: Hold the right stick left or right

Step-over: Rotate the right stick from up to left or up to right (quarter-circle)
Reverse step-over: left to up or right to up

These are if you are facing up (over the shoulder view).
If you are going from left to right, left becomes up and right becomes down (body feints would be flicking the stick up or down). All these directions may make it sound more confusing than it really is, and it's late at night here so my explanations may not be that good.

And don't forget you can always pause the game and check the skill moves list.

Just go to the practice arena and you'll figure it out in no time. Try linking them together as well. Trial and error will lead to success.

I'm sorry if this wasn't very clear.