The World's Hardcore Sport
At A Glance
- 2006 FIFA World Cup gets the hardcore challenge treatment.
Think American football fans are hardcore? When the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl, the Seattle fans simply cried out in anger and wept at fate as they watched the men in stripes wipe away their hopes and dreams of a world championship in a blizzard of yellow flags.
If that crap had gone down on a soccer pitch in a league title match, the Secret Service wouldn't have been able to protect the referees from the army of outraged fans, let alone if it happened on the World Cup stage.
Ready for the cheap shot.
Challenge yourself to both a game
and genre you likely don't have an
intimate familiarity with.
EA Sports™ 2006 FIFA World Cup™ not only gives us the world's most passionately followed sport, it gives it to us on its grandest stage. There is no better time to apply the hardcore flavor to a FIFA game, so if you think you're hot $#%& in a dixie cup on the soccer field, try the following tips on for size to prove your worth.
Sans Tackling
Though it may seem hardcore to shatter a player's shins with a forceful slide tackle, truly proficient players find subtler and more tactical means to their ends. If you really want to hamper yourself, you'll hold off completely from this tactic and put your emphasis on incredible defensive strategy and knowledge of the game.
Challenge Completion
It may only boast five possible achievements, but at least one of them is noteworthy for its hardcore challenge. Topple the Complete All Scenarios achievement for a whopping 500 Gamerscore, but trust me when I tell you that the time, skill, and dedication needed will require complete FIFA World Cup immersion. You'll be dreaming of yellow cards and waking up in cold sweats with the fresh memory of a challenge stolen with a lucky header as the last seconds ticked away.
Pretty solemn in the middle of all that confetti boys.
Underdog
Winning the World Cup will earn you a hefty achievement, but win it with a lowly-regarded team for hardcore kudos. My grandmother could take the tournament with Brazil, but heave that glorious trophy aloft with the likes of Costa Rica, Fiji, or St. Kitts & Nevis for true glory. Only a Hoosiers-like finish can earn top hardcore marks.
Extended Half
Soccer games are marathon matches, with each possession sweated out by the opposition and its fans. Every pass, header, cleared ball, foul, and save should be filled with the tension and enormity of the moment, and while the Ranked four minute matches make sense for the online experience, offline World Cup matches should feel the full weight of each second. Make sure you crank the time all the way up and get ready to compete for the long haul.
Camaraderie is the key.
No Draws
Hardcore gamers accept two positions at the end of a match: a winner and a loser. That's it! If the game closes with a draw, it's time to forfeit, for if you can't claim dominion over your opponent, you don't deserve charity points to help you to the next round. It may be harsh, but hey, that's the hardcore way.
FIFA World Cup embodies the most hardcore of sports and the pageantry of its largest stage. Take a moment and challenge yourself to both a game and genre you likely don't have an intimate familiarity with. You may be able to pick up the next FPS and throw down without hesitation, but try something on unfamiliar turf for extra challenge.
Article by Hardcore
