One of FIFA 13's most highly anticipated new features is the addition of a new Skill Games game mode in which you can practice multiple different skills and techniques to improve your game. There are eight different types of Skill Games, and this tutorial will give information on each one. For each Skill Game, there are multiple challenges that will be used to test your skill.

 

Shooting

Bronze Level
The bronze level challenge features a goal set up with four targets placed in each corner. You have eight shots to hit each target, and you will receive more points for how accurate your shots are, as in how close the ball hits to the center of the bullseye target. Your player will start at the top of the penalty box, and will have a square outlined cones which he must shoot from. This challenge can be completed with assisted shooting.

In terms of strategy, I would recommend using a Finesse Shot with a striker-type player to maximize accuracy from this close range. In the end though, this is a bronze challenge and you will likely not have too much difficulty in hitting all four targets.

 

Silver Level
This challenge is very similar to the previous challenge, but you will now see two large walls blocking your route to the goal. You will also have eight attempts to complete the challenge and you must stay within the square again. Be careful not to hit the wall, as this will result in a deduction of points. Once again, I'd recommend using the Finesse Shot to complete this challenge. Try a low, curving shot to hit the bottom corners and a higher, dipping shot to hit the top corners.

 

Gold Level
The third, gold challenge is quite difficult in comparison to the previous two. In this challenge, you will once again be confined to a square to shoot from, but balls will be played to you in the air from a variety of different angles and heights. You will need to hit the ball however possible in order to get it on to one of the targets.

This challenge is especially tricky because you must, like any other gold challenge, use manual shooting. You will need to use a lot of acrobatic shooting techniques such as bicycle kicks, but that will bring you more points anyway. To make this a bit easier, you should check out our tutorial on manual shooting.

 

Skill Challenge
The skill challenge for the Shooting Game is very similar to the Gold Level challenge, but now you have a wall and rather than a set number of shots you can take, you have as many chances as you can manage in a 60 second period. Passes will fly in in many different ways again, and you can adjust your player accordingly to make good finishes from the passes to maximize points.

 

Ground Pass

Bronze Level
The bronze level ground pass challenge is fairly simple and you will probably not have too much difficulty in completing it with a high score. This challenge features 6 training dummies which you must hit in whichever order you choose. You can use assisted passing for this.

 

Silver Level
The silver level challenge is a bit more difficult because you must use manual settings. This challenge also features a bunch of training dummies that will be highlighted when it is time to hit them. The dummies that are focused on will have two cones marking out the route your pass must go through on its way to the dummy. It is not required to actually hit the dummy, but you must at least hit your pass through the passing lane outlined by the cones. This takes practice, but you should be able to handle this challenge fairly easily.

 

Gold Level
This challenge is just like the silver challenge, except this time you will need to keep your passes away from multiple defenders who will be running about the passing area. For strategy, pay attention to the pattern in which the defenders move and you'll get a good idea of when you should try to pass through. Also be sure to put a good bit of pace on the pass so it makes it all the way through.

 

Skill Challenge
The skill challenge is a lot different from the other challenges in this Skill Game. You will have a team of six players which you control and you will have to pass the ball around 3 defenders. Points will be determined based on a number of different factors, but none more important than just how long you keep the ball for. For strategy, just keep the ball as long as possible!

 

Penalties

Bronze Level
The bronze level challenge is just a good way to familiarize yourself with the actual penalty taking system and you shouldn't have too many problems. Try to hit all the targets in as few shots as possible using the blue scope to aim.

 

Silver Level
The silver level challenge is a bit different and focuses on the chipped penalty instead of target practice. You will have three buckets in which you have to chip your ball. Do this in as few shots as possible. Be slightly delicate in terms of control and you'll do fine.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge asks you to use the stutter step penalty to activate focus on certain targets. Once you do the stutter step, a random target or multiple targets will open up and you must position your shot so that it hits one in order to knock down the target. It takes a bit of practice, but you need to move your “scope” as fast as possible sometimes, so you will miss.

 

Skill Challenge
In the skill challenge, you are restricted by time rather than shot attempts. This challenge is just you and the keeper, who has a large wall of boxes behind him which must be hit down with your shots in as short a time as possible. This is rather difficult because you not only have to beat the keeper, but you must also pay attention to which boxes you still need to hit.

 

Free Kicks

Bronze Level
The bronze level challenge for the Free Kick Skill Game is just a test of your accuracy. You will have to hit the four targets in which you must hit in a set amount of attempts. I would recommend using either the driven free kick technique or a finesse shot, depending on the player, to maximize your score.

 

Silver Level
The silver level challenge is very similar to the previous challenge but you are now facing a wall which you can hit your shot around, above, or below (if the wall is on boxes). Once again, use the finesse shot or a driven shot to hit the targets.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge is also quite straightforward, but this time you have a few teammates to make your attempts a bit tricker. You can have teammates run over the ball, lay it off, or even scoop it up for a volley, all of which will result in more bonus points so definitely take advantage of that.

 

Skill Challenge
The skill challenge calls for you to knock over the well of boxes placed in the goal with your shots. You will have a wall to block your attempts, so get the ball around or above that. This is another excellent way to train yourself to take more accurate free kicks.

 

Crossing

Bronze Level
The bronze level Crossing Skill Game involves you to dribble into the set zone and cross into the three large targets which are supposed to mimic good areas to aim for when you're crossing to a striker. This is very easy and any standard technique would work fine.

 

Silver Level
The silver level challenge is nearly the exact same thing as the previous challenge, except for now you'll need to use an early cross to hit the targets. Use the crossing button plus LB/L1 to perform the early cross.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge tests your skills in both low and regular crossing. This is difficult because you'll need to use manual crossing. One way to make things a bit easier is to start out by running down the sideline, but once you're horizontally across from the targets, start heading directly to them so that it's easier to gage where your crosses are going.

 

Skill Challenge
The skill challenge for the Crossing Skill game requires you to pass to your two teammates who are contested by a defender and of course, the goalkeeper. Pay attention to the types of runs your teammates are making and go for the low cross whenever possible, as it seems to be much easier to pull off.

 

Lob Pass

Bronze Level
This challenge asks you to aim for the sets of barrels with a lofted pass. You have 8 attempts to do so and maximize your points. The only advice I have for this is to pay attention to the relationship between power and distance to make sure you don't at least overshoot it. Otherwise, if you miss short, the ball will probably bounce into at least one of the barrels along the line.

 

Silver Level
The silver challenge introduces a new type of lofted pass to FIFA 13: the driven lofted pass. You will be required to hit a set number of targets with this driven lofted pass, which can be performed by holding the designated pass button on your game console plus RB/R1.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge is a bit more creative than the previous two: The Crossbar Challenge! Although you don't necessarily want to hit the crossbar in FIFA 13, you will receive points in this challenge for doing so. It takes a lot of practice to get a few in one session, let alone consecutively, so expect to spend some time figuring out how much power is necessary to hit the crossbar from any range.

 

Skill Challenge
This Skill Challenge is a bit like "Football Tennis," in that you will play against another player and will have to make sure the ball never bounces on your side of the wall that is set up between the two players. Use a variety of lob passes, including headers, to keep the ball moving back to your opponent and out of your half.

 

Dribbling

Bronze Level
The bronze level skill challenge for the Dribbling Skill Game is very easy, as it only asks you to slalom through a series of poles as quickly as possible in order to complete the challenge. You will have to shoot the ball at the end to complete the drill. You should have no problem with this, as it is incredibly simple.

 

Silver Level
The silver level is also very simple and also very self-explanatory. Dribble through the series of poles and cones to complete the challenge, before finishing the challenge with a shot on goal that is fitted with targets for additional bonus points.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge is a big step up in difficulty from the silver and gold challenges. Most of the pole and cone obstacles should just be dribbled around, but you should also note that the cones with the poles on top of them should be approached with a pass under the pole rather than some sort of skill move that flicks the ball over them, so pay attention to that. Approach the small cones with controlled dribbling (LB/L1).

 

Skill Challenge
Approach the skill challenge with the same technique you used in the gold challenge, but be aware that there are a few unique obstacles in this one. When you first approach the goal, go as fast as possible, using big touches so that the keeper does not snatch up the ball from you. When you get to the center circle, you'll be on a straight shot to the goal, but you'll first need to pass a large defender who will run with you to the goal where you'll have to beat the keeper.

 

Advanced Shooting

Bronze Level
The bronze level Advanced Shooting Game challenge features a large group of boxes to chip over. Focus on the small target in the goal, approach the square and pull off your chip early to maximize your chances of getting your shot on target.

 

Silver Level
The silver level challenge requires you to use manual shooting controls as your player has to hit speedy passes into his square. Predictably, you'll have a bunch of targets in the goal that you'll need to aim at, but this is ultimately just a good opportunity to get acclimated with manual controls.

 

Gold Level
The gold level challenge is just you and the keeper. Go through the routes marked out by the arrows and try to knock the ball past the keeper with a big touch or fake him out with a fake shot. This generally takes practice, but with a few attempts at the drill you should get very good at it.

 

Skill Challenge
The skill challenge is probably the most helpful of any of the challenges available. You'll start off with the ball at a random location and you'll be contested by two defenders and the goalkeeper in your attempt to score. Use a variety of skill moves and cool finishes to maximize your score. There is no really specific strategy I can recommend, as it all depends on your particular playing style.