A good game that keeps the series moving, if only with a few small steps...
User Rating: 8.5 | Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008 PC
Ah, at long last, the world's most addictive football game is here for the next season. But, is it worth the wait? Football Manager 2008, while still supremely addictive (like all it's ancestors before), seems to just come up short of offering a really new, refreshing experience. This year's game seems to be aimed at making the FM world much more user friendly. It does this excellently. The new 'Advisor' system would, I imagine, be a very welcome addition for the new would be managers among us. Navigation around the game world has never been easier, with everything organized logically and clearly laid out. The addition of a calendar also helps to sort things out. Scout reports and Transfers are also much more easily managed this time around. Oh and speaking of transfers, it is now much easier to buy players, and thankfully to sell them as well. This is certainly a welcome improvement for me, as a massive amount of frustration came from not being able to sell anyone from my star striker to my reserves goalkeeper, or buy anyone at less than twice their value. The match engine has been noticeably improved this year as far as realism is concerned, however the lack of new tactical options is a bit disappointing. Match Day does feel more involving, with a bit more hype, and things such as 'Key Man Watch'. With all this focus on the game being more user friendly, I would have really like to see more use out of the Assistant Manager, who is still confined to a few mundane tasks. However, the addition of 'Coach Reports' immediately available on every single player in your team, is very helpful when taking over a new club. All in all, this is a good follow up to a great series. While not bringing any innovative or revolutionary elements to the game, it improves nicely on it's predecessor by making the game much more accessible. Recommended to all fans of the FM lifestyle ;)
