8 Tips to play FIFA 15 for new players

FIFA has been the most successful sports title in the world for quite sometime now. EA Sports has been trying to reinvent the title every year in order to satisfy its core group of die-hard fans who all want different things from the game.The game has managed to please most of the fans with a whole new gameplay engine and realism induced into the game. While the game has people excited and wanting to get their hands on it, beginners might face their fair share of discomfort being totally new to the game. We have come up with 8 tips that can help the new players to do well in the game and match-up with the veterans.

#1 Know Your Game

It’s essential to keep a straight-forward approach from the very beginning and FIFA helps you play the way you want. The game is made simple by the pre-modelled gameplay of each team, exclusive to their original style.

If you want to hold possession and play, Pick Barcelona. If you want to be solid at the back and work as a team, go for Atletico Madrid. Fancy a blistering all out attacking devastation? Manchester United or Real Madrid can destroy teams.

All you need to make sure is you know your team, play to your strengths and do it time and again. Yes, you’ll need to adapt but simplicity will never be a drawback. Also, it won’t take too long to figure out what works best for you. Tactics and formation are equally important to pace and skill and it’s vital to get them right.

Experiment with random teams, switch formations and attack/defence levels and see what works. Don’t stubbornly pick a team because they are rated the best, pick a team which you can mould in your play style. Once you’ve got the right combo, you’re good to go and there is no stopping.

#2 Ultimate Team Chemistry

Ultimate Team has attracted quite a few gamers to FIFA in the recent years. Even if you are not football’s biggest fan, the addictive mode that has been improving every year is a joy to play through.

Leaving the micro-transactions out of it, Ultimate Team is best enjoyed when building a team, player by player and if you want to completely show up opponents who spend real life money on packs, you best concentrate on the single most important feature in Ultimate Team – player chemistry.

Each player has a possible chemistry rating of 10 which is divided in the form of favoured position, formation and his league or nationality standing. Each player then links with each team-mate with lines between each player colour coded from red to orange to green.

For example, Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique play for different clubs but are both Spanish and play in the same league so they will be green. Mascherano and Ramos play in the same league but for different clubs and don’t share the same nationality either so they will be orange. Similarly, Ramos and Vincent Kompany will have red lines matching them as they have nothing in common.

Higher the chemistry, higher is the chance of your team to do well. Aim for the maximum and try out various formations and players until you get the 100.

Mixing teams and players can be achieved with some amazing hybrid squads but FIFA 15 is the first game in the series which reinforces the idea of building a team and not littering your team with galacticos.

#3 Tricks & Skills

FIFA 15 is one great game for those who love trickery and skillful play. The trick system in FIFA 15 is pretty much the same as the last few iterations but there are slight tweaks which improve the game-play immensely.

It’s easy to just concentrate on slick dribbling and forget the intricate trick stick moves but even learning the basic two star skills can give you an edge. The higher rated ones are slightly difficult to get hold of in a game, but if you manage to pull one off, they are as eye-pleasing as effective.

The foot roll and double touch are simple but extremely effective when looking for an extra yard or two and even the visually impressive heel chop only requires two button presses.

You don’t need to turn defenders inside out, just keep it simple and don’t over elaborate the tricks. It is better to use the tricks when in possession with a more skillful player like Ronaldo or Neymar. However, there is no stopping with others too.

Check out the skills guide and spend some time in the arena to nail the tricks. You’ll be glad when you begin to dance around clumsy defenders.

#4 Improve Your Passing

FIFA 15 undoubtedly has the best passing system in the history of the game. Immense improvements in the gameplay engine and core enhancements have led to a brilliant game where you can feel the sheer joy of passing.

The first touch feature has been toned down and while ping pong passing is still an issue, it does take more skill than before to spray the ball around like Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo. The AI in FIFA 15 encourages the establishment of passing triangles. One touch passes are the way to go in this system and if you find spaces, make sure you exploit them.

Work your way up the pitch in triangles, set up runs and look for openings. If you feel like you’re about to be closed down, simply spread the ball around and then set up a new triangle. The key idea is to have control over the ball while keeping every player engaged.

The FIFA players who don’t actually play real football will find it hard to understand this concept. But however simple this may sound, it is as effective as it gets. So, make sure you know your passing game.

#5 Career Mode Youth

FIFA’s career mode has been through a major revival in the last few years with the team at EA completely overhauling the mechanics and turning the modes fortunes around. FIFA 15 continues the trend which started in FIFA 12 and yet again, delivers an engrossing and addictive football experience.

The career mode is the most engaging thing in the game where you’ll go through a real-life like experience as a manager or player, whichever you choose.

Picking a team is easy and many players will be happy to simply choose money bags and get on with them. Well, buying success is easy but it will last for hardly for a season or two. Building a dynasty that lasts forever is going to take time, patience and a little bit of luck.

If you do decide to take on the challenge, FIFA 15 is a truly rewarding game full of depth and little moments of magic. Many of these moments occur when you discover an emerging football gem and turn him into the next Cristiano Ronaldo.

FIFA 15 is blessed with some amazing youth players and if you can sign one of these potential stars and give them the right training and experience, your club can become a powerhouse in a few short seasons. Scouts hold the key to getting the good youth players and you’ll be hooked after a few stars have made it big.

FIFA begins to shine when you see players brought up from the youth academy begin to attract attention of big teams and selling players who you have nurtured for a few hundred games is enthralling.

Scout and buy as many players as possible. There is massive reward and very little risk. Youth players are loyal, cost little to nothing in wages and have near unlimited potential. Replace ageing stars with future superstars and slowly build your team season after season.

Career mode really comes into its own after a few years. Just try and not get too attached to your favourite players. Stay patient, keep the trust and you should excel.

#6 Shoot On Sight

FIFA 15 has had the shooting mechanism enhanced to an unparalleled level. The mechanism lays huge emphasis on inertia and player position as well a host of other intricate calculations such as planted foot position, ability, form, preferred foot and even tiredness.

The minute details help the player to position himself well and deliver the killer shot from any distance which is favourable for scoring.

There are more ways to score than ever, but the key fundamental FIFA features still prevail at being the best way to beat the keeper. Finesse shots are back and better than they have been since the overpowered rockets from FIFA 13 and are still a lethal weapon to have in your arsenal.

Roll in finishes are also seriously effective and only require a simple tap in one on one situations. The point is to keep on shooting. Only one needs to go in and it will, eventually. The shooting system is challenging and takes some getting used to, but you’ll be shocked at the lack of shots on target taken by opponents.

Shoot on sight with a fraction of time and space and reap the rewards.

#7 Don\'t Overuse Sprint

It does seem to be a favourable option to jam the sprint button and have your players cluelessly running around the field behind the ball. Well, it might sound good, but is actually foolishness. FIFA 15 has brought-in a whole new realism into the game which means you must know when to sprint and more importantly, when not to.

It is very important to sustain your energy till the very end to have the edge in the last minutes or you could suffer. Also, if a lot of energy is lost, chances of injuries are also increased.

Even the most energetic teams such as Juventus and Chelsea will struggle to keep energy if you abuse sprint. So it’s best to just concentrate on closing down space when you need to. Leave your sprinting button for when you're marauding the wings on a counter-attack.

Overcommitting to every tackle is also a huge issue to avoid. Let opponents have the ball and only pile on the pressure when you see the opportunity. Sliding should be avoided unless absolutely necessary as well. Defending is an art in FIFA 15 and trumps a well oiled attacking team almost every time.

Use sprint effectively, pick your physical battles, pass smartly, stay patient when not in possession and everything else will fall into place.

#8 Practice Set Pieces

Set-pieces are very essential in any game. They can prove to be game changers if used properly. Free-kicks can be devastating once you are well-equipped with your methods. Corners can be equally dangerous, although slightly difficult with the enhanced goalkeeping and defence mechanism.

However, goalkeepers are still dodgy at the near post so that’s where you should aim most of the time. A big man to aim for is your best bet when trying to play a long ball game but hitting the target every time is very essential if you want to up your game.

Well, it won’t just happen. You need to learn and the best place to start is in the place that hones real life fledging starlets into superstars – the training ground. Practice makes perfect in FIFA 15 and this is one massive advantage you can give yourself over a huge percentage of other players.

It takes genuine persistence to nail each set piece and the time you put in will eventually be fruitful. The new defensive tweaks make each match in FIFA 15 a bit more physical than before so punishing an opponent who’s keen on roughing you up with a last minute free kick could prove to be the sweetest of all victories.