Neo Geo Cup FAQ/Strategy Guide Version 2.7 __ __ __ _ __ __| |____ ____| | | | | ____| | | /| | _____ |__|_|| | |_____ / |__ ||_____| | ||__ | / / / ||_____| / / / | __/ /_ / /| | ______/ / / /| | |_ __| / / | || / / / | | |__| /__/ |__||_________/ /__/ |__| __ __ _| |____ ____________|L_| | \ __ __ ___ | | |_ __ \| | | | ||______ / | | \ ||__|__| | | / / | | | | ______/ / / / | | | || / / / |__| |__||________/ /____/ N E O G E O C U P ' 9 8 P L U S ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Version 2.7 The latest version of this file can always be found at: Sector: NGP - http://www.dimension-s.com/sngp GameFAQs - http://www.gamefaqs.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Revision History: (2.21.00) -Format revised -Strategies revised -Text logo added (11.18.99) -Strategies revised (1.16.99) -Pep Talk added -Updated info on Russian Scientist (12.20.98) -Initial release ----------------------------------------------------- Table * Section 1 -- Getting started * Section 2 -- Items and Power-Ups * Section 3 -- Scoring Strategy * Section 4 -- General Tips and Character-based Events * Section 5 -- The End -----------------------------------[ Section 1 ]---- Getting Started When picking a team, it really doesn't matter who you choose. Just as long as you feel comfortable with their attributes. It's good to play some Test Matches against relatively weak teams, to get used to the strategy involved. Mess around with your player Formation in the Team Status Menu. Depending on your style, Formation changes can make a big difference. When in season play, if any of your players should be injured, be sure to go into your Status screen and replace them with fresh talent. Don't be afraid to play around with the various team options! When you start your 1st season, you will have almost no chance of winning the Cup. It's hard to let yourself lose, but it must happen before you can rise to the top of the rankings. It was my 4th season before I finally made it to the Finals, and then won the Cup. You must play through a few losing seasons to build up money, and maybe get some lucky breaks from other characters in the game. Don't worry about your standings until you've outfitted a few of your players, then you can get serious about the Cup. Some good 1st items to buy are those boosting Speed and Kicking power. Hold off on buying things like STUDS, HEADBANDS and other more Defensive items until you have more cash to throw around. -----------------------------------[ Section 2 ]---- Items and Power-ups For the most part, it helps to give your players different Items depending on where they are on the field. Power up your players who are closer to your Goal with things like Studs, to stop the team before they can get in shooting range. Headbands for knocking stray balls back where you want them - on THEIR side of the field! Your offensive players are better served with Stamina boosters for long games, LEGGERS for high power kicks, PANTS for better technique, SPIKES for greater speed, etc. After a few games your items may have the chance to be powered up, but always keep in mind the downside of every item as well as the advantages. It might not be a good idea to max out Kick power while reducing Tackling, but that's all personal taste. -----------------------------------[ Section 3 ]---- Scoring Strategy ___________________________ |/////////////////////////| |////////// Net //////////| _______Out of bounds __ |/////////////////////////|___Out of bounds_______ | (1) |_________________________| (2) | | | Goalkeeper | | | |___________________________| | | | | | | | | | | | |(3)_____________________________________________________(4)| (5) (_Penalty Kick Area_) (6) Areas labeled 1-6 on the diagram are prime shooting positions. 1&2 - Hold B to kick the ball ACCROSS the net, hard. The GK will often be forced to jump, knocking the ball down right in front of the lines marking off his box. One of your players should automatically be standing right by the ball. Press A to have him tap the ball into the goal for an easy point. Sometimes the GK will actually miss the ball from this angle, and it will go right in the net. 3 - Hold B for a hard kick while pressing right on the joypad. This will make for a hard kick at a good angle to land in the net. It is caught more often than not, but still effective. The ball is sometimes deflected to players in position for a kick from points 1 or 2. 4 - The same as from point 3, but this time hold left while making your hard kick to angle the ball past the GK. 5&6 - These 2 points on the border of the Penalty Kick box are a decent places to shoot from. It is often a matter of luck that the ball makes its way in from these positions, though Headers can often be setup. You can obviously try for a Goal anywhere you like. It's possible to make a Goal from 3/4th down field, but I've found these listed areas to be kind of "Hot Spots". If you are preparing for a shot from any of these points, most likely, defenders will be chasing you. If there are opposing players near by, avoid losing the ball by running a few small circles around them. This will often cause them to lose track of you, or miss an attempted Tackle. -----------------------------------[ Section 4 ]---- Tips and Character-Based Events ----Characters---- Neo Geo Cup '98 has many supporting characters that will become involved in various situations where you need to make choices...much like a Role Playing Game. They show up at random, so if you don't run into them right away, just keep on playing. Burglar: This annoying character will show up every once in a while to steal your hard earned items. He often shows up before games, leaving you underpowered. You'll have a choice of 3 places to look for him, to get your goods back. You only have one chance to get the stuff back, and a selection of 3 places to look. This is one reason you should be sure to save your game often. Sometimes you'll want to reset your game, if he gets away with anything valuable. Russian Scientist: This fellow shows up rarely, but he's usualy worth the wait. He will ask you if you want to leave him a particular item so can perform tests on it. When he is done he will give the item back to you, and it will be slightly changed. Hopefully, the tests will have been a success, and the item will be MORE POWERFUL. But if it was not...the item will be LESS POWERFUL. Keep in mind though, when an items gains power through this method, its negative aspect will also increase. Use caution when dealing with him. Traveling Salesman: This trader from a far away land will offer you rare items that cannot be bought in stores. But watch out! They can have odd effects and tend to cost quite a bit. However, you can bargain with him to lower his price. He will often lower a few 100g. But be careful not to try and make him lower his price too much, or else he will leave and take his item with. If you do not buy from him on a regular basis, he will be less willing to lower his price. Chairman's Wife: "Who's this annoying lady in our lockers?!" She may be annoying, but do what she asks of you - It will be worth it. She'll demand that you pay fees for being in the Neo Geo Cup league. Each time she visits the fee will be greater. You have the option to pay her, or refuse to pay. I suggest you pay, if you have the money. By the time she shows up, you should already have cash to spare. When you pay her, there will be a short dialog and then your Fan Rating will go WAY up! ----Other Events---- Pep Talk: The coach will tell you that your players lack Enthusiasm, and you will then have to choose to "Chew them out" or "Say nothing." The end result is random. If you were successful, the players will be inspired and their STAMINA will go up. If you were not successful, the players will be angry, and their STAMINA will drop. The ups and downs in Stamina will last only one match. Sickness: Sickness will sometimes overtake one of your star players right before a big game. The Coach will frantically tell you about it, and then you will see a scene in the Locker room Bathroom (!!). Your player will then tell you the problem - Stomach flu. You will then have to pick one of two bottles the Coach presents you - One is Medication to cure the player. The other? A Laxative! You will be asked to pick the Right or Left bottle. The correct choice changes each time, so just cross your fingers and pray. Fan Mail: Before some big games, the fans will send letters of encouragement to the players. The Coach will inform you of this, and then every player on your team will get a free Stamina boost because of the support the fans showed. Fans in the Lockers: After an impressive win (for example, a 12-0 win over Korea), Fans will pour into the Locker room and proclaim their love for the team, and what a great game it was. After the cut-scene with the fans, the Coach will inform you that the team's Fan Rating has gone up. This seems to raise the Rating by around 100-300 each time. -----------------------------------[ Section 5 ]---- The End Copyright 1998-2000 Joel Hamilton. All rights reserved. For all your NGPC needs, visit Sector: NGP http://www.dimension-s.com/sngp -end of file-