=============================================================================== _______ __ _______ _____ | ___| | | | ___| / \ | |__ | | | |__ / /_\ \ | ___| | | | ___| | ___ | | | | | | | | | | | |__| |__| |__| |__| |__| 2005 =============================================================================== Current version : 2.4 CONTENTS: (use Ctrl+F and search for the [#.#] bit) [1] - Introduction [1.1] Intro, legal stuff, version history [1.2] Introduction to FIFA, basic stuff <---Noobs read this [2] - Gameplay hints [2.1] How to play/controls [2.2] General tips [2.3] Set pieces (Free kicks, corners etc) [2.4] Formations/lineups [2.5] Off the ball/first touch control [2.6] Other stuff [3] - Game modes [3.1] Career mode [3.2] Tournaments [3.3] Create a tournament [3.4] Friendly matches and online play [4] - My FIFA 2005 [4.1] How to earn points [4.2] My FIFA 2005 Store [5] - Other stuff [5.1] Player and team ratings [5.2] Create a player [5.3] Best players [6] - FAQ =============================================================================== [1] Introduction =============================================================================== [1.1] Intro, legal stuff, version history =============================================================================== Hi, I am Tengii (not a real name) and I love FIFA. This is my first FAQ so feel free to send any guide building tips and suggestions. FIFA 2005 was released in October of this year and contains some improvements over 2004 including first touch control, better graphics and better first touch control. Hopefully this guide will help you grasp the basic controls and teach you some more advanced stuff. Contact me: dimmerwit(at)hotmail(dot)com Thanks to KBrew, Thomas Duffy, Steven Gibb, Andrew Norman, Joel Jim�nez Dom�nguez, for contributing information. EMAIL NOTICE: I have added all of the contributions I have, but I have the feeling I have misplaced at least one. Please re-send your email if it is not included. Also if your email is not responded to in 5 days, please re-send (this is unlikely though). PC DOWNLOADS: http://downloads.soccergaming.com/ (good for loads of football related games) There are NO cheats. =============================================================================== Legal stuff =============================================================================== This guide and all it's contents is (c) 2004-2005 Tengii. In no circumstances should this guide and/or any of it's contents be reproduced except for personal use. It may be placed on any web site but it may not be edited without prior permission from me, and it must be credited fully to me. Use =============================================================================== Version history =============================================================================== 0.60 (10 Nov) - Started work on the FAQ. Some stuff done (up to [2.5]). 0.75 (11 Nov) - Continued. Most of section 3 done plus other stuff. Online. 0.85 (12 Nov) - Re-wrote a bit of [3] and added a bit more stuff. 0.95 (12 Nov) - Spell checked plus most remaining bits added. 1.00 (13 Nov) - Completed my first guide! Only crap will be posted from now on. 1.10 (15 Nov) - Listed all the tourneys, just for the hell of it. 1.20 (16 Nov) - Some more stuff, contributions. 1.49 (19 Nov) - Updated loads of sections, expanded stuff, more FAQS... 1.50 (19 Nov) - Spell check. Grammar check. 2.00 (07 Jan) - Added a fair bit of stuff and updated a few sections. Most updates from now on will be minor, if any. 2.20 (25 Jan) - Added some reader contributions, a few minor updates. 2.30 (04 Feb) - Finished 'Best Players' section ([5.3]). 2.40 (11 Feb) - Added Career Mode FAQ and a few other bits. =============================================================================== [1.2] Introduction to FIFA, basic stuff =============================================================================== FIFA is the world's best-selling EA sports game (to my knowledge). This is the tenth installment of the series (not inculding World Cup 2002, or Euro 2004). This section is just an introduction to those who have never played a football game or watched one or TV. The game football is very simple to understand - if you can understand NFL, you can do this! There are four basic positions: Goalkeeper - attempts to block shots at goal. The only member who can use his hands. Defender - attempts to stop the attackers or midfielders from scoring by tackling them. Stays back. Midfielder - assists the attack and defense. Attacker - shoots at the opponents goal and stays up the field And here are some very basic rules 1) No hands (except the goalkeeper inside his penalty area). 2) No fouling. A foul outside the box results in a free kick, inside it a penalty. 3) A bad foul results in a yellow card, a really bad one a red. Two yellows also make a red. 4) When the ball goes out, it's either a throw in (out at the sides) or a goal kick (out at the end). 5) Offside is when you are further forward than the second last opponent (goalkeepers included) And there you go. Those may seem confusing but I recommend firstly to read the simple controls below, then try a friendly match. The rules should then hopefully make sense. The game is very simple to understand once you grasp the basics. For more info check here: http://www.soccerhelp.com/Soccer_Rules_Rules_Of_Socce r.shtml Or read through section 2 of this guide. Afterwards, I recommend watching the tutorials on some of the new features (under the My FIFA section), then trying out practise mode to help you improve. Soon, you'll be able to try and complete Career mode, or take on the world online (PS2 and Xbox only). Happy playing! =============================================================================== [2] Gameplay Hints =============================================================================== [2.1] How to play/controls =============================================================================== NOTE: These are basic controls. For tips on the more advanced ones see the in game tutorial, or check out the first-touch control guide on gamefaqs. Attacking and defending controls: R1: Sprint (hold) Attacking controls: X : Pass/pass header (pass the ground) - use LAS to direct your pass/header. []: Lob/cross (pass in the air) - again use LAS to direct your pass. O : Shoot/shooting header - use LAS to aim. T : Through ball (on the ground) - hmmm. Yes, you use LAS to aim! For lob passes and shots, hold down the button to add more power. A through ball is when the ball is played infront of a player. Use shooting header when a cross is played in. Off the ball controls: L2: Initiate off the ball mode L2: Cycle through possible receivers (after initiating off the ball) []: Lob pass T : Through pass X : Normal pass (note: not necessarily to the selected player) Use off the ball a lot when you want to quickly get the ball to a winger or attacker from the defensive third Defensive controls: X : Change player []: Slide tackle O : Non-sliding tackle L1: Call second defender Use sliding tackles to intercept passes. Be careful as if you catch a player you could be carded! Call a second defender only when you really need to. And avoid tackling from behind, especially slide tackles. =============================================================================== [2.2] General tips =============================================================================== General tips for all difficulty levels =============================================================================== - Pass. Pass often but don't be sloppy. Choose who to pass to and direct your pass. Take care but also don't take all day about it. - Cross often. It's the best way to get balls into the box. This is when your wide midfielders run down the sides of the pitch and cross it into the box for a striker to score a header. Use [] to cross. - Use through balls if you have pacy strikers so you can run towards goal and hopefully have a 1-on-1 with the keeper. - Use first touch control (see section [2.5]) but use it correctly! - Use off the ball control (also section [2.5]) but it's only really effective in the defense and the defensive midfield area, as you can be tackled easily whilst doing it. - Counter attack. If you have successfully defended a corner boot the ball up the pitch and catch the defense off-guard. Good against other humans! - Use the right analogue stick to do sexy tricks. Good if you don't have anyone to pass to. Bad if your player sucks (see section [2.6]). - Fake shot, especially against human opponents. - When you are getting close to the line of defence (normally it's 4 players just standing there waiting for you) just jog towards them and when you think they will be able to catch up with you but at the same time they haven't dispossessed you, sprint to the side of them and the entire defence is buggered. Then it's just a matter of tapping it in past the keeper. (AMATEUR LEVEL, Andrew Norman) =============================================================================== Difficulty specific tips =============================================================================== AMATEUR: Just pass the ball quite alot and hammer in crosses. The com isn't hard to beat on this level so there's no real need for fancy stuff. Maybe a few days at this level and you're up to semi-pro. SEMI-PRO: Take more care whilst passing and direct them better. Start using through balls but beware: don't make the mistake that using a through ball is always the best option, use X passes as well. Don't wait until you get inside the box to shoot all the time, as you will usually be tackled. As long as you don't lose possession often and keep a tight defense then you'll be fine. Also start using first touch control if you haven't already, but again don't use it all of the time. PRO: Eek. This is tough but certainly not impossible. The CPU gives you little time to pass inside their half so always look out for options. Radar helps immensely here. Again using first touch control correctly, passing quickly but neatly and taking advantage of every chance you have will help you win. Nonetheless this takes real skill. WORLD CLASS: OMFG. Hard. The CPU can close you down in seconds and can turn a goal-line clearance into a goal in seconds. Use every skill that you have learned and hope that the opponent's star striker gets injured. =============================================================================== [2.3] Set pieces =============================================================================== Corners =============================================================================== There are a number of different types of corners. Use the practise mode to experiment and change your chosen pre-learnt corner routines at will. I recommend for you to use driven corners and cross it to the stationary player. However you choose what style of corner you want. Use the left stick to move and the right stick to jostle. =============================================================================== Direct free-kicks =============================================================================== These are initiated when you are close to goal or pick the 'Lay off and shot' option. Use the left analogue stick to aim and the right one to add spin. The bar at the bottom left shows power. Press circle once to start it up. Press circle again just as the green power bit merges with the red bit, and then press it again as the pointer moves into the green section (the better free kick stat, the wider this area) to ensure that the ball will go where you want it to. I aim for the top corner and bend the ball around the wall. You'll get a goal at best, a corner at worst. =============================================================================== Indirect free-kicks =============================================================================== These are initiated when you are too far away to shoot or you select anything other than 'Lay off and shot'. These are really similar to corners, use the left stick to move and the right stick to jostle. =============================================================================== Penalties =============================================================================== Yes, 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper. Aim at any direction, and hold down circle to power up the shot. Release just before the red zone begins for optimum power. There's a chance the keeper will save it, but this is more luck than skill. To attempt to save a penalty simply hold the direction you want the keeper to dive in and hope for the best! Use your best striker for penalties (and by that I mean the one with the highest shooting accuracy skill, and a decent amount of shot power) =============================================================================== Throw ins =============================================================================== Off the ball throw ins! You can select and move players as you normally would. Use [] to throw, X to change player. =============================================================================== [2.4] Formations/lineups =============================================================================== There are loads of formations to choose from. Here are the main ones along with a brief description: 4-4-2 : Most common formation. A balanced team with no real emphasis on attack or defense 4-3-3 : With 3 strikers this is definately one of the best attacking options. Watch out though because the smaller midfield won't provide as much defensive cover. 3-4-3 : Again an attack minded team but pay caution to the fact that you have only 3 defenders! 4-5-1 : Don't use this. Ever. This formation will only slog out 0-0 draws and will give you very little attacking power. 5-4-1 : Same really as above. You'll need a good striker and fit midfielders to score. Avoid. 5-3-2 : Not quite as defensive as you have wingbacks who are players that can support the midfield. This is actually quite a useful formation. 5-2-3 : 5 defenders seems very defensive but again they are wingbacks. The major fault is that you only have 2 midfielders so fit wingbacks are needed. 3-6-1 : Great attacking formations as long as your midfielders support the lone striker. There are also some other formations like the 4-1-2-1-2 but those are similar to the #-#-# style formations. For lineups pick the most suited player for the position. It will say under the name of the player where he likes to play. =============================================================================== [2.5] Off the ball/first touch control =============================================================================== Off the ball control =============================================================================== Largely unchanged from the 2004 edition. Use R2 to initiate and L2 to cycle through 3 numbered players. You can move the numbered player with the right analogue stick and use [] for a lob pass or triangle for a through ball. I recommend not to use this in the attacking third of the pitch. =============================================================================== First touch control =============================================================================== When the ball is coming towards you flick the right analogue stick in the desired direction and voila! There is a tutorial of this somewhere. Don't use it if there isn't alot of space once you pass the defender who's marking you (there must be space to run into once you've beaten your marker). =============================================================================== [2.6] Other stuff =============================================================================== Right analogue tricks =============================================================================== Use the right analogue stick to do tricks. Experiment in practise mode. There is a wide variety of tricks, just flick the stick randomly and experiment. Here are some of the best ones to use: (note you must not be sprinting!!!) Lifting the ball - Pull back the right analogue stick (RAS) - Lifts the ball up Step over - Push forward on the RAS - Steps over the ball Dragging the ball - Push up then down on the RAS - drags the ball past defender 360 - 360 the RAS - Does a 360! Called the Maradona (thanks KBrew) Experiment and practise new moves! That's why there is a training mode! There's also a guide at gamefaqs.com on this. It's for Xbox but the RAS is used in the same way. =============================================================================== [3] Game Modes =============================================================================== [3.1] Career mode =============================================================================== Career mode has been overhauled for the better. You pick a region, pick a low league team and begin on a 15 year quest for glory! This is a big mode so I'll leave you to figure out the obvious bits I haven't mentioned. =============================================================================== Beginning career mode =============================================================================== First you must pick your team. But you can't go rushing into a big team, you start off small. I would select region 2 and see whether Celtic or Rangers are there. If not, retry. Anyway, here are the regions that the leagues are split into: Region 1 - English + Scottish Region 2 - MLS, Mexican, Brazilian, Korean Region 3 - Spanish, Portuguese, Italian Region 4 - German, French, Dutch Region 5 - Scandanavian leagues, Belgian, Austrian, Swiss After picking a team you are given 100 points to distribute between your coaches. Favour the first 4 and the fitness coach more. Then you'll reach the main menu of career mode: Career Central. =============================================================================== Playing the match =============================================================================== You can choose to play a match (with option select before). Just the same as any other game so use section 2 for hints. Note that there is no extra time if you draw a league match. =============================================================================== Simulating the match =============================================================================== You can also get the computer to simulate the next match. Events will flash on your screen for fouls, cards, goals, misses etc. And yes, you still get points! And you can intervene at any time if things are going bad. =============================================================================== Squad =============================================================================== Here you can prepare your squad. Self explanatory really. Choose the starters, the substitutes and check out form and ratings. =============================================================================== Coaches =============================================================================== By winning matches and scoring goals you can improve your coaches. You start with 100 points as I mentioned before. However every time you add 100 points to a certain coach he levels up. Then your players improve! Magic! You can also get points if your club likes you and as an end of season reward. The coaches are: Goalkeeper coach - makes your keeper better Defense coach - makes your defense better Midfield coach - makes your midfield better Attack coach - hmmm. Take a guess Fitness coach - improves fitness so players can sprint for longer Financial dude - does stuff with $$$. Makes players cost less, I believe Medical staff - heals your injured players quicker Scouting staff - reveals more facts about a player from a different team =============================================================================== Transfers =============================================================================== During pre-season (until September) and January, head off to the transfer area and you can bid for a player or sell one off. Try to bid above the asking price if he is a regular in the starting eleven. Located under options. TRANSFER TIPS: - Look for young players under 25 (however a 20 year old will be more expensive than a 30 year old of the same skill. Also goalies are generally cheaper.) - For first division clubs, look for demoralised players from the league above. They will generally join your team at the value price. - Watch your budget! Don't spend more than 75% of it on one player unless he is a once in a lifetime bargain! Joel Jim�nez Dom�nguez has this tip to buy 5 star players even if you are in a crap team with 1 star to your name.... Try to buy a expensive player (one you are not interested in). He will refuse you. The second time, try to buy another expensive player (the player you are looking to buy), and he will be happy to add to your 3 star team. =============================================================================== Options =============================================================================== Under options you will not only find the transfer market but places where you can see just how good any player in the game is. Plus you can spend any un-used upgrade points. =============================================================================== Manager summary =============================================================================== Your manager rating tells you just how good you really are and your record for all the seasons you've played in. =============================================================================== Other Career tips =============================================================================== - Keep the board happy. They will prefer a 0-0 draw to a 0-1 loss, but of course a win keeps them the happiest! - Keep your players fit. There's no point having a star striker who can't play the last 15 minutes well because he is unfit. Generally midfielders and attackers will tire more, so rotate your squad. Unused players will also lose morale and maybe even value! - That said, keep your squad smallish. Don't keep 3 goalkeepers for the hell of it, sell one of them off. But don't knock off too many either, you need back up. If you play a defensive formation have more defenders, and an attack minded team will need more strikers. I recommend: 2 goalkeepers 6 defenders (more for defensive formations) 6+ midfielders 3 attackers (more for attacking formations) - Don't get cards! Try not to get players suspended! Also, try not to injure your star player! =============================================================================== Career Mode FAQs =============================================================================== Q: Can I change clubs/regions? A: Yes, at the season's end. You can move to any club in any region. Q: How do I increase job security? A: WIN (or exceed expectations). Q: When can I buy/sell players? A: When the season is over until the next one begins, and January. Q: I want to sell this player but the board won't let me! A: Too bad. Try again next week. You can't argue with the board. Q: [Insert old player at big club] is not in my team? What gives? A: He retired before you got to the team, sorry. However good players similar to the retired one will come, so it's not too tragic! Q: How do I get a bigger transfer budget? A: Earn it. Play well, win stuff, get $$$. Q: [Insert very good player] won't sign for [Insert crappy 1-star club]? Why? A: Maybe the player doesn't want to give up his Championship winning hopes, his international career or his European football to play in the conference. Would you swap Arsenal/Real Madrid etc. for Bristol City? =============================================================================== [3.2] Tournaments =============================================================================== There are loads of tournaments in FIFA 2005. These include all the league championships and regional cups. I listed them, for the hell of it. I probably missed the odd one however: if so e-mail me! Organised alphabetically by country. Austrian OFB Cup Austrian Bundesliga Belgian Cup Belgian League Brazilian Cup Brazilian League Danish Cup Danish League Dutch Cup Dutch Eredivisie English Premiership English Football League Championship English Football League One English Football League Two English League Cup English FA Cup LDV Vans Trophy (For lesser clubs only) Community Shield French Cup (and league cup I think) French Division 1 French Division 2 Troph�e Champions German Bundesliga German Bundesliga 2 2 German cups Coppa Nazionale Italian Serie A Italian Serie B Supercopa (Spain) Copa del Rey K-League (Korean League) Mexican Apertura Mexican Clausura MLS MLS Open Cup Norwegian FA Cup Norwegian Tippeligaen Portuguese Cup Portuguese SuperLiga Scottish Premier League Scottish FA Cup Spanish Primera Spanish Segunda Copa del Rey Swedish Allsvenskan Swedish Cup Swiss Axpo Super League Swiss Cup Plus the Americas Club Championship, EFA and Champions League. =============================================================================== [3.3] Create a tournament =============================================================================== Here you can create any tournament you want including the Champions League, or a made up tournament. Select your format including whether it will be a knockout, league and knockout, how many teams etc. Then select the teams and get cracking! =============================================================================== [3.4] Friendly matches and online play =============================================================================== Take on the world, or the CPU, and try and beat them. Friendly matches are one off matches between any two teams. Select teams, settings (including stadium, kits etc.) and begin! A friendly game can be replayed at the end. Online play is essentially a friendly game between two players. Connect, enter the lobby, and follow the self-explanatory menus and begin. Good luck! =============================================================================== [4] My FIFA 2005 =============================================================================== [4.1] How to earn points =============================================================================== Points can be earned by completing the following: 1000 points each for: Going to career mode, practise mode, set pieces area, jukebox, tournament mode and create a tournament mode. 2000 points each for: 5 game winning streak (in career mode), beat a 5 star team (Arsenal or A.C. Milan), beating a rival team, playing a football fusion match (match in Total Club Manager 2005) and getting a clean sheet (no goals let in) 4000 points each for: Qualifying for Europe (career mode), playing online (haha Gamecube owners! :)) 6000 points each for: Winning a tournament in tournament mode (6000 for each tourney), Creating a player, getting promotion, scoring a hat-trick, winning an international game, winning a penalty shootout, winning by more than 5 goals 8000 points each for: Completing career mode! (15 seasons) 10000 points each for: Becoming a 5 star manager, Winning EFA + Champions League Thanks to Thomas Duffy for some of the info =============================================================================== [4.2] My FIFA 2005 Store =============================================================================== Here's where you spend those hard earned points! I won't give a full list as it is comprised of 3rd kits, night-time stadiums, new style balls and even Pierluigi Collina to ref international matches! (He's the world's best ref). Go check out if your favourite team's third kit is there. =============================================================================== [5] Other stuff =============================================================================== [5.1] Player and team ratings =============================================================================== These are how the game gets it's star ratings. They are shown for teams when you select them and for players when you select your team/formation. TEAMS (Based on an average between Attack, Midfield and Defense) 90 + : 5 stars 85 - 89 : 4.5 stars 80 - 84 : 4 stars 75 - 79 : 3.5 stars 70 - 74 : 3 stars 65 - 69 : 2.5 stars 60 - 64 : 2 stars 55 - 59: 1.5 stars 50 - 54: 1 star 49- : 0.5 stars PLAYERS (Based on skill ratings) 95 + : 5 stars 90 - 94 : 4.5 stars 85 - 89 : 4 stars 80 - 84 : 3.5 stars 75 - 79 : 3 stars 70 - 74 : 2.5 stars 65 - 69: 2 stars 60 - 64: 1.5 stars 55 - 59 : 1 star 54- : 0.5 stars =============================================================================== [5.2] Create a player =============================================================================== Create a player is where you make a player, say how good he is and assign him to a team. I won't go through the player face construction as it would take up too much unnecessary time. Player attributes are the same as the real players except that they only go up in fives (except 99, the maximum). So get out there and start creating! =============================================================================== [5.3] Best players =============================================================================== Here are some recommended players. Based on skill. Ordered from Goalkeeper to Attacker, left to right. Best player in CAPS. Name Position Skill Age Club Gianluigi Buffon Goalie 96 26 Juventus Iker Casillas Goalie 94 23 Real Madrid Oliver Kahn Goalie 94 35 Bayern Munich Roberto Carlos LB 87 31 Real Madrid Ashley Cole LB 87 23 Arsenal Alessandro Nesta CB 94 28 AC Milan Lucio CB 93 26 Bayern Munich Sol Campbell CB 93 29 Arsenal Jaap Stam CB 93 32 AC Milan Lilian Thuram RB 92 32 Juventus Cafu RB 90 34 AC Milan Lauren RB 89 27 Arsenal Robert Pires LM 92 31 Arsenal Ryan Giggs LM 92 30 Manchester United Vincente LWM 90 23 Valencia Ronaldinho LCAM 93 24 Barcelona Zinedine Zidane LAM 96 32 Real Madrid Francesco Totti LAM 94 27 AS Roma Steven Gerrard CM 93 24 Liverpool Patrick Vieira CDM 93 28 Arsenal GianlucaZambrotta RM 91 27 Juventus David Beckham RM 90 29 Real Madrid Gattuso RM 89 26 AC Milan Seb Deisler RWM 89 24 Bayern Munich Joaquin RWM 89 23 Real Betis Cristiano Ronaldo RWM 88 19 Manchester United Del Piero CF 92 29 Juventus Raul CF 90 27 Real Madrid Dennis Bergkamp CF 90 35 Arsenal THIERRY HENRY ST 97 27 Arsenal van Nistelrooy ST 95 28 Manchester United Roy Makaay ST 94 29 Bayern Munich =============================================================================== [6] FAQs =============================================================================== Here are some of the most commonly asked questions: Q: Are there any 5 star teams? A: Yes, Arsenal and A.C. Milan. Q: Are there any 5 star players? A: Yes, Thierry Henry is one (Arsenal and France), as is Zidane (Real Madrid and France) and van Nistlerooy (Man U) Q: I went up to my opponent and tried a nifty right analogue trick. It didn't work! A: You can't do some RAS tricks whilst sprinting. Also if the players' skill is low then he might have difficulty performing the trick. Q: [Insert player here] has moved clubs! What can I do? A: Use swap players under the options menu. No $$$ needed! Q: Can I swap regions whilst playing career mode? A: Yes, after every season. Q: I want to play as [Insert premier league club here] in the league, but I don't want to spend ages in career mode! Help!! A: Tournament mode. The leagues are all there. Q: Where are Holland? A: They are not there. They are not unlockable. They don't like being in footy games so they didn't want to be in the game. FIFA isn't the only game with this problem. Euro 2004 had it. Q: [Insert any right-analogue related question here] A: Check the guide at gamefaqs. Q: Cheats? A: None. =============================================================================== Remember to send any comments or new/correct info to: dimmerwit(at)hotmail(dot)com Thanks for reading! All of the above (c) Tengii 2004-05