Hints, Tips and Hidden things

Hidden things

If you haven't downloaded the update patch from the official web page, then pressing F9 will take you to a hidden 'tweak' menu. Unfortunately it doesn't work on the updated version.

Recording your goals

It IS possible to save your replays on Sensi 98. You'll need a decent PC to do it, but if you go to Yahoo and type in "Screen Capture" you will get a list of sites which offer screen capture programs for downloading. Find ones which will record videos (look for things mentioning AVI files etc.)- Hypersnap is a good one.After you have downloaded your program, run Sensi 98, and when you score a goal you wish to record, press Alt and Tab, to go back to the windows desktop, and load up your screen capture program. Start recording and switch back to Sensi 98. Once the replay has finished, switch back to the desktop, save the captured video, close down the capture program and then load Sensi 98 up again. Like I say - you'll need a monster PC to record at a decent frame rate, but it's better than nothing.

Formations

1.)Avoid defensive formations like the plague - five at the back is ridiculously unnecessary, four is plenty, and three is certainly sufficient. Remember - the best form of defence is attack, and if you have five at the back, the opposition, is just going to be all over you because your attacking options will be too limited.

2.)Similar to point 1, but do not play with a lone striker - a striker needs a partner or else he's going to have to take on every defender on his own. If you really insist on only playing one poor soul upfront, then at least instruct one of your midfielders to get forward to join him on occasions.

3.) Use a formation that will get your wingers involved - good crosses into the box can cause all sorts of problems. The 4-2-4 formation is particularly good for getting the wingers into attacking positions.

Tactics

Remember to check out the opposition. Man mark anyone who looks to be dangerous. Preferably by one of your midfielders so that your defence or attack is never undermanned.

Play to your teams strengths - If it is a strong attacking team, then play all the good attacking players (within reason) , even placing forwards in midfield if necessary. As long as you instruct your defenders to hold position or stay back, you will have a good back up when all of your attackers rush upfield.

Vice versa if your team is strong defensively-pack the midfield with defensive players, and leave one lone striker up front so that you can 'nick' the odd goal or two.

Adjust the 'Push forward/Stay back' bar accordingly thorughout the match - when under pressure stay back, and when on top, push forward.

Make sure you have at least one attacking midfielder running forward to hep out the strikers - and try to ensure your wingers get far enough forward so that you can spread the play out wide, and look for crosses.

Playing the game

Always pass to a player that is in plenty of space, or else the pass will be intercepted.

Always save your burst of speed until the last possible moment - i.e. - just before you get tackled - otherwise it's wasted.

Try to forget old SWOS habits- It is difficult to score in the same way as on SWOS, and quick passes without thought will be intercepted.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

Making Tackles

Okay, this can be a tricky one. But if you stick to the following basic guidelines, you should be alright.

1.)Never, Never, Never, Never, NEVER use button one to tackle when you are direclty behind someone. You will almost certainly be sent off.

2.)Whenever you are near the player you are tackling, use the second button.This will mean that your player will gain control of the ball, after the tackle, and it also means that you are less likely to commit a foul.

3.)Where to direct the ball after a sliding tackle: This may sound obvious, but avoid directing the ball towards the opposition after a sliding tackle because if the ball goes to the opposition you will be in real trouble - Your man will still be on the floor, and the opposition will have the ball. This is particularly important if your man was the last defender. Directing the ball towards the touchline is often the best option, if none of your players are nearby - remember the computer is pretty poor when it comes to taking throw ins.

4.) Making a last ditch tackle: The opposition has broken quickly, there strikers racing goalwards, and all your players have pushed upfield. One of your defenders is hopelessly trying to catch the striker, and it seems certain that the computer will score. You get to within about 3cm of the striker and think all is lost - But it isn't!!. You still have time to launch a last ditch tackle. Line your player up behind the striker, press button 2 to get you're player to move a bit more quickly, then quickly press button 1 to perform the tackle and lunge towards the striker, and just before you reach the end of your lunge, point the joystick away from goal. In desperation your defender will flick out a foot, and if your lucky, he'll make just enough contact on the ball, to knock it out of the strikers feet and away from the goal. You'll have to get up quickly and make a second tackle, because the striker will soon regain possession, but this will buy you a bit more time.

Scoring goals

There are tonnes of different ways to score goals on Sensi 98. No doubt, you'll soon develope your own preferred methods, but here's a few basic pointers that should help you to find the back of the net a bit more frequently.

1.) The goal keepers hardly ever come off their line, so you can take the ball very close before shooting.

2.) For the same reason, long balls into the box can be very troublesome.

3.) When shooting, always remember to use aftertouch. Always apply height by moving the joystick in the opposite direction to the shot, but always remember to apply dip, immediately after height, by pushing the joystick back in the shot direction. As well as keeping the ball under the bar, this method of aftertouch application also greatly increases the shot power. If you want to apply curl to the shot, always apply the curl, when applying the dip aftertouch. If you apply it when adding height, the ball will simply loop up into the air.

4.) On corners, always aim the ball outwards on the diagonal, and swing them back in towards the keeper. Point the joystick towards goal, and pummel your fire button. More often than not, you will have a player stood right on top of the keeper, and he will hopefully get up before the keeper, and nod the ball into the net, whilst the keeper, (who as mentioned earlier is hopeless in the air) flaps around like a moron.

What to do if one of your players is sent for an early shower (sent off)

Okay, so the ref has made an abysmal decision, so what do you do, sit and sulk and let your opponents walk all over you? Or play on bravely with ten men like Enlgland's lions in France, using your immense tactical knowledge to make the most of the situation?

I think the answer ought to be number two, so if you follow these tips, you should manage okay.

If a striker is sent off: Obviously, commen sense needs to come into play here. If you are ahead in the game, then obviously there's no point sending on another striker, for a defender, to keep your front line undamaged. The best option would be to stick with the current line up, although exchanging an attacking midfielder with a more defensive option may be helpful. Try to hang on to the lead, and instruct the team to stay back

On the other hand, if you are behind in the match, then you're going to have to take a few more risks. A lone striker up front is going to have serious problems. He's going to need a partner, and so you're going to have to bring on another striker. Also, quite obviously, if you are playing a 5-4-1 formation, goals are going to be very difficult to come by once your striker has gone.

If you have four in midfield, then I would suggest taking off a midfielder for the striker (preferably leaving the more defensive midfileder on the pitch). The midfielder remaining on the pitch should be moved into the centre of the pitch, and he should cope okay on his own. However, if you're playing five at the back, then it's obvious that a defender will have to be sacrificed for the attacker - hence reverting to a 4-3-2 formation (or 4-4-1 if the formation 5-4-1 was being used)

If a defender is sent off: Again, this depends on the situation and formation involved. If you are ahead, then it would be best to sacrifice one of your strikers, and sit back on your lead. Unless you are playing with five at the back, in which case, just shuffle them about so that you have a 'flat back four' , and don't bother with any substitutions.

However if you are behind, then you are going to have to take gambles. It is quite possible to play comfortably with three at the back, and so, it would be possible to leave your line up as it is, but don't instruct the team to pile forward, or else your poor defenders are going to have a hell of a problem!!. However- if you started with three at the back, then obviously you've got problems. if you're playing 3-5-2, then bring one of your midfielders on, and change to a 3-4-2 formation. If playing 3-4-3, take off one of your strikers and change to 3-4-2. n.b - if you are playing 3-4-3, with the front three being two wingers and a striker, put your wingers back into midfield, and then bring off one of your midfielder for a striker.

If a midfielder is sent off: This is not really a drastic problem. If it's a central midfielder, then place the other central midfielder in the very centre of the pitch on his own - if you only had one central midfileder to begin with, then place a defender or striker here.

If it is a winger that is sent off - substitute one of your central midfielders for a winger, and put this winger out wide, to fill the gap. If you have no wingers on the bench, then simply move the central midfielder into the wingers position. Move the other central midfielder as described above. If you ony have one central midfielder, then sacrifice a defnder or a striker for a winger/midfielder, and place this substitute in the wingers position.

Don't understand?, Want more help? or just plain bored? - Email me using the link in the contents frame.