When it comes to tactical depth, people often think of games like COD or Valorant. And while every game gets more complex higher up the ladder, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is not one of the first games that comes to mind. An anime-themed RPG football game set in a fictional universe doesn’t exactly scream complexity. But I’m here to prove you wrong.
While Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road might seem childish and simple at the surface, it requires a lot more thought and planning than most people think. It’s not your basic football game like EA FC, where stats and formation dictate the outcome of the map. It forces players to focus on synergy over stats and make dynamic decisions in-game. Today, I’m breaking down why Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road has much more tactical depth than people think.
The Public’s Opinion
There’s no doubt that Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is a great game, and the people agree. With a 9/10 rating on Steam and 97% likeness by Google users, it’s safe to say the game was received well. However, a major part of the community still thinks it lacks strategy and depth when compared to games like FIFA or Football Manager.
I understand the thought process, though, since on the outside, the game looks childish. The colourful anime theme, fictional characters, and use of magical abilities in-game seem more attractive to children than older gamers. But that’s not the case. While other sports games rely on realism and stat-checks, the focal point of Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is in making synergies and timing your abilities.
While it’s not wrong to assume at first glance that the game caters to a younger gaming crowd, you’ll definitely be proven wrong once you play it for yourself. From managing Focus, Zone, and Scramble mechanics to placing strategic geoglyphs on the field, it definitely requires a lot more planning than meets the eye. Let’s take a deep dive into why I’m convinced Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is harder than most people make it out to be.
Every football game has some basic in-game mechanics: stamina, player stats, and formations. The same goes for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. However, add a few new mechanics to the mix, like 1-on-1 interactions during matches and manually placed zones that require on-the-spot decision-making, and that’s what this game is all about.
But additional mechanics aren’t the only thing different here. Character roles, archetypes, skills, and technique progression play a critical role in giving the game its tactical depth. Having to micromanage every character’s upgrades and positioning isn’t an easy feat, much less adapting to an ever-changing meta.
Strategic Team Building
Before we get into in-game mechanics, let’s talk pre-game strategy because trust me, there’s a lot. Unlike mainstream sports video games, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road focuses on more than just stats and playstyles. The game has 6 main archetypes, or playstyles:
- Breach
- Tension
- Justice
- Bond
- Rough Play
- Counter
Each archetype dictates how characters gain power and the buffs they offer. Having more players with the same archetype gives you increased buffs that complement their playstyles. For example, players with Rough Play will tackle more often but have reduced chances of fouls. Now, having another player with Justice would be counterproductive since Justice only gives buffs when you avoid fouls altogether.
Then again, Breach is only really good for offense since it prioritizes enhancing shots against the goalkeeper. Which brings me to my main point: finding a balance between a collective, synergistic archetype without affecting a character’s individual gameplay potential.
You’ll also need to take into consideration different variations of the same character. Some characters have multiple archetypes depending on their spirits, so try out multiple to see which is the best fit.
Choosing A Formation & Technique Upgrades
Okay, so you’ve made it through the team-building phase. Now it’s time to pick a formation. This is similar to other popular titles, where each formation will have its pros and cons. Every foundation has its counter, which is why choosing one you can play around with is important. The formation should synergise with your players and counter your opponent simultaneously.
Technique and skill upgrades are the second bit, but only become relevant once you progress further into the game. These enhance your in-game capabilities such as shooting, tackling, dribbling, keeping, etc. The twist is that every technique comes with a particular element (earth, forest, fire, wind), and each element has strengths and weaknesses. But that goes beyond the scope of this article.
In-Game Interactions: Focus, Zone, & Scramble
That’s enough about pre-match settings; it’s time to dive into the gameplay. The first, and most basic, thing you need to know about matches in Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is the Focus, Zone, and Scramble mechanics.
Focus is a controlled, 1-on-1 interaction between players of opposing teams. These are triggered during tackles, interceptions, and pressure plays. A Focus is influenced by several factors, like player stats, positioning, geoglyphs, and tension, to name a few. Whoever wins the Focus gets possession.
Next, we have Zone. Zones are team-reliant rather than individual-reliant. A Zone is where your team has more control, such as better positioning, a formation advantage, or a numbers advantage. Plays in allied Zones are more likely to go your way. Finally, there’s Scramble. Scramble is when formation and structure fall through, and you need to reorganise. Here, the outcome becomes more stat-dependent rather than strategy.
Hissatsu Tactics And Geoglyphs
The final piece of the puzzle is mastering hissatsu tactics and geoglyphs. This concept is unique to Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road and is what truly sets the game apart.
Hissatsu Tactics are team-wide abilities that impact Focus outcomes and player stats. They can be used strategically to make game-winning plays or counter an aggressive oncoming offense. They do have cooldowns, so using them at the correct time is key to pulling off a highlight Hissatsu play.
I mentioned geoglyphs a few times throughout, and that’s because they affect several areas of the match. Geoglyphs are areas of the field buff teammates while debuffing opponents. This, in turn, affects Zone control and Focus outcomes. This is why games should always be played in advantageous areas, which is why you must make decisions on the go.
When you combine all these factors, it becomes inherent that Victory Road has more tactical depth than meets the eye. It’s a game that has layers throughout, and you only experience them once you dive into the gameplay. That said, this is what makes the game special, and why it’s being loved by thousands around the world.
