Football Manager 2008

I will get straight to the point on this one, if you got time to invest you will be rewarded here. Football Manager (Formally known as Championship Manager) is one of the most successful PC games ever with its simple yet very deep game play. People worldwide have lost jobs, dropped classes and got dumped over and over again. Yes it’s an addiction, and you might spend seven to eight straight hours in one sit playing the game at times. So what’s all the fuss about here? Is it worth buying if you already own the 07 version? Or is it just a player’s update? 

First off the game looks brand new, with a fine new skin added that makes the game look neat and simple (And whiter). The interface this year easier too, you can browse a ton of data very quickly and without breaking a sweat. Player in licensee leagues such as the Dutch and Spanish ones come with the complete kits and player photos. That means once you get Ronaldinho on board, you are going to have to live with seeing his face every day.  The 2D matches are still there, with some added animations. As weird as this might sound, players look “alive” being dots. If a player scores a goal now he will run around the field or run towards the player who provided the assist.

What’s so great about this series is that people play it for many reasons. You might find a person who plays the game for its transfer market features. Many options have been added to this department, you can now balance your structure between wages and transfers money depending on the situation. At the start of the season the club board will tell you what they expect and give you a budget based on that. This year however, you have more control over what money is given to you. You can inform the board that you expect to win the title this year rather than finish in the top five. This will lead to them offering you a higher transfer budget to help you achieve your goals. Be careful however, if you set your goals too high, you might be looking for a new club soon.

Another kind of football manager addicts will tell you they are all about the tactical side of the game. You will see teams playing different tactics in different games against different teams. That might sound a bit too hard core for a causal gamer picking up the game. And trust me it’s not simple, because you might have the best players in the world but that doesn’t mean you can win. You need to play each player in his correct position. And not just that, you need to make sure that the instructions you give the players before matches fit his position and personality.  One of the things added in the tactical department this year is picking your captain. Yes this might sound simple, click on the player and name him captain and your done. But if you want to win there is more to it. You need to pick the right player, with a high determination and influence. Also if you change your captain some players will be happy. But the old captain and his allies will reject the move causing a locker room disorder and a group of unhappy players.

The game goes as far as offering you the option to change the field’s size at the start of the season. A wide pitch will give you more space which is suitable if you have a fast paced game that needs players to move more. A smaller pitch will crowd the middle giving the edge to more defensive teams. The options you get here in a nutshell you might ask? Simply Unlimited. I will have to add however, that even though I have been playing this series for almost 10 years now, it was still very hard to win big in this year’s version.