EA SPORTS has been producing the iconic FIFA series for nearly 20 years, and it
is currently the world’s largest sports video game franchise.
The first game in the
series, FIFA International Soccer on the Sega Mega Drive, is renowned for being
the first to obtain an official license from FIFA, the world governing body of football
when it was released in late 1993. Additional editions centered on single major
competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA
Europa League, UEFA European Football Championship, and a series of football
management games, have been added to the main series.
Article highlights:
FIFA’s hyper-realistic simulation football or ‘soccer’ game, produced by Electronic
Arts (EA), published its latest edition, FIFA 22, on September 26th, 2021. This FIFA
is the first to make its way on the next-generation consoles with its patented ‘Hyper
Motion technology, setting a precedent for the franchise’s future on upgraded
hardware. The game includes 30 fully licensed leagues, 700 clubs, and over
17,000 players. In addition, the Indian Super League and its eleven teams and the
UEFA Europa Conference League, the third division of European club football,
were added for the first time in 2021.
The debut of EA Sports’ FIFA 22 was met by fans with anticipation, mainly because
the game has received significant changes across the board, including upgrades
to the franchise’s staple game modes. The career mode allows the player to take
complete control of their chosen club from the ground up, tweak tactics, purchase
players and rise through the leagues and competitions for ultimate glory. FIFA’s
most popular game mode, Ultimate Team (FUT), allows players to build their
dream team and compete with the best online. In addition, players can purchase
packs that can include players from different periods and different rarities. In
particular, this game mode revolutionized the franchise’s approach to future games
when the mode was first introduced to players as a DLC (downloadable content)
in FIFA 12. In FIFA 22, FUT is expanded upon further with additional content,
ranging from stadium customization to additional players that can be obtained in
packs.
If you are a new player, check out our guide that includes tips and tricks on
fundamental game mechanics needed to score more goals and win more games.
1. Through/Lobbed balls in behind
Similar to FIFA 21, pace and runs in behind are still essential tactics in the series’
newest installment. Combining this with close control mechanics to create space
for your ball carrier creates a perfect scenario to slide the ball past the opponents’
defense and leave your player in a 1on1 with the keeper. This is great for creating
goal-scoring opportunities and forcing the opposition team into unforced and forced
errors, giving you more opportunities from set-pieces.
To do a lobbed through ball, press and hold the LB or L1 button while you press
and hold the through ball button (Y/ Triangle). Let go of Y/ Triangle when you’ve
got enough power on the ball to reach the player you want to pass it to. Don’t forget
to use a burst of pace with RT/R2 to create more space for your attacker.
2. AI trigger runs
Off-ball players can be triggered to make space runs in two ways. These strategies
are difficult to master, but they’re extremely valuable.
One option is to hold down the L3 and R3 buttons while flicking the right stick
towards a player. This allows you to take control of a player who is not on the ball
while leaving the ball in the AI’s hands and will enable you to perform precise,
innovative runs into space. You can also flick the right stick in the direction you
wish a player to run, allowing you to keep control of the ball while the AI takes care
of the running.
3. Formation and Tactics
Formation and tactics are essential to your success in FIFA, whether in career
mode or ultimate team. So make sure to tweak around with these settings and
finetune your players’ positions and instructions. Below are a couple of
suggestions for formations for both the inexperienced and seasoned FIFA player.
4-4-2 Defensive – Beginner
A recent popular tactic is the 4-2-2 Defensive formation that features a defensive
midfielder with great physical attributes and a box-to-box midfielder who provides
offensive support. This is a basic formation to learn if you’re new to the game. You
can play out of the middle or on the wing and choose your playstyle. Once you
become more experienced, you will notice that most professional players opt for
this formation because it’s well-balanced and has tremendous potential. You can
use two attacking midfielders, two defensive midfielders, or any mix in this
configuration. Choose the option that best suits your playing style.