As you may already know, I love EA Sports FIFA franchise. I’ve played it on the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PS4. Obviously the next-gen platforms are certainly the pinnacle of console gaming, and though I’ve jumped back and forth on which is superior, I think I’ve finally decided the Xbox One (because of the controller and exclusive content) will earn my future gaming FIFA 16 investment.
I’ve played the living shit out of career mode for both FIFA 14 and FIFA 15 so I thought I’d give FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) a look. FUT is all about buying virtual player cards, developing a solid team, then playing that team online against human opponents. In FUT, you start in Division 10 and, through winning games, you can proceed to Division 1 — if you are good enough.
Here’s a spoiler. I’m not. But it isn’t from lack of trying.
I’ve learned that playing career mode against console AI creates horrible habits. I tend to mash the sprint button, make poor passing decisions, and rarely use skill moves to angle around AI defenders. When I jumped online, human players take the ball when I sprint, intercept my passes continually, and the puzzle of their defenses remains a complete fucking mystery. End result: I lose.
A lot.
So I’ve been drinking in YouTube tutorial videos from the likes of Krasi and Ovvy, attempting to add nuance and unpredictability to my game. All good in theory but truth be told, I have locked in 18-months of bad habits which I’m trying to remedy in 18 days. So why am I so frustrated when I get my ass handed to me by a teenager, with the reflexes of a sand flea, jacked up on Monster energy drinks?
I dunno.
It is unfortunate because I love FUT. I love the ability to fully customize my team, from the ball, to the home/away kit, to the stadium. I like piecing together a roster, balancing chemistry, and unexpectedly packing that nifty rare card. Most of all, I love scouring the transfer market for that deal of the day, buying up a player at a disproportionately low price and making some quick coin on the flip (or keeping that diamond in the rough).
What I need is a retraining system and a coach. I need to figure out a way to learn then practice online appropriate skills, to widen my on-pitch understanding, thus making in-game reactions instant and comfortable. How the hell do I get that done?!
Meanwhile, back to career mode. Dammit.