Note: VR Soccer was originally released in Europe under the name
of Actua Soccer. In its US release, VR Soccer from Interplay
Sports is essentially the same game with a different title. The
following tips are by Gremlin, the producers of Actua/Virtual
Soccer, work for VR Soccer. All references to Actua Soccer hold
for Virtual Soccer.
Gremlin's Guide to Better Soccer.
As Don Howe once said "There are four things that will make you a
better footballer; practice, practice, practice and more
practice." But what does he know? He thinks a Homburg hat looks
rather stylish. Therefore we've put together a guide to getting
the most out of Actua Soccer without all the hard work.
GET IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND
Actua Soccer isn't some naff arcade game. You can't just keep
pressing the fire button until the ball flies in the back of the
net. You have to develop that most elusive of attributes, a
footballer's brain. How else will you know how to create space,
when to hold, when to release and when to give their winger a
grass sandwich. To help you, here are a few points to bear in
mind.
DEFENDING
- Keep the opposition's shooting opportunities to an absolute
minimum. Live by the footballer's maxim "If in doubt boot it out".
You may feel like a bit of a donkey, but then Tony Adams earns a
fortune so who are we to argue.
- Look out for rebounds from the keeper. Opposing teams will
always maintain an attack until the ball is in the keeper's hands.
- Turn the offside option on. This means that your defenders will
always stand a chance of blocking a shot.
PASSING
- The key to successful passing is creating space. Don't be
tempted to pass when a player is right on top of you. Either
release the ball quickly, or twist and turn until you're clear.
- Aim for the gaps, and look for players in space. Remember that
you don't always have to be facing the player you want to pass to.
If your player has good vision he will pass to the man in the best
position. If your team aren't one of the best you will have to
think for yourself.
TACKLING
- Try not to pull players out of position to make a tackle. If you
do you may be leaving an opposing player unmarked.
- Don't lunge at every player feet first. Sliding tackles should
be used only when you're sure of coming away with the ball or as a
last resort.
- The most successful approach is to run into a player,
shouldering him off the ball.
- Be aware of which referee is in charge of the game. One too many
tackles with a strict Ref and it's time for an early bath.
SHOOTING
- One touch shots are very difficult to perform from short passes.
Therefore only attempt them when you have the time to set it up.
- Try and shoot with the one touch feature. Don't give the
goalkeeper time to get into position.
- If you have enough space, attempt the super shot.
- Always be on the look out for rebounds from their keeper. The
best time to score is when the goalie's still on the floor.
- Always put after touch on a shot if you can.
- When taking a penalty select the "wire" camera. Aim your player
at a corner of the goal and use the power shot to keep the ball
hard and low.
- Don't panic!! The best players stay cool when the ball's in the
area.
PRACTICE
- "But I thought you said....." - Just shut up, of course you've
got to do some training. Select practice mode and you'll be able
to master your technique without the other team bothering you.
- You must practice the one touch passing and shooting moves.
- If you're having all the possession, but aren't scoring many
goals. then this is the part of the game you need to work on.
FORMATION AND TACTICS
- Know your squad and the strengths and weakness of the
opposition. Plan your game accordingly. For example, if you're
playing weak team against Germany, play with a packed defence,
stick to a long ball game and use forwards with good controlling
skills rather than those with good pace or flair.
- A lot of problems can be sorted out by getting the formation
right. For example, if you're loosing out in midfield, try
adopting a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 formation. Remember that the default
formation may not be the one that suits your style of play.
