The ultimate management game. Be prepared to lose several hours from your life.
After all you can download a demo for free, so what have you got to lose?
I'll simply break this review down into the 4 standard scoring chunks.
So number 1) Graphics and sound
To be honest this game isn't about graphics or sounds and there aren't many that are worth noting, so I'll re-brand it presentation.
Colourful and easy to use screen's are everywhere with official club logos and player photo's. The simple 2D match screen is also easy enough to use. Crowd chants are about the only sounds you'll encounter when playing this game. 8 points awarded, if only for the simplicity of controlling such an option filled game.
2) Gameplay
I touched on it earlier but the gameplay options are simply far too numerous to get into. From scouting players to transfering them in, hiring/firing staff to dealing with the media, half time/ full time team talks to full out player revolts, running a youth academy, improving facilities and organising wage bills and budgets and everything in between are included in outrageous detail. 10 points EASY!!! No less than 10 points can be allocated here. Simply wonderful, you'll be playing this game for years to come...or until FM2008 is released anyway.
3)Value.
With a free downloadable demo to break you in gently. The £20 or equivalent is IMO outstanding. With all of the features above and thousands upon thousands of teams to manage the replay potential is massive. Again 10 points awarded here. How could I possibly go lower?
4)Reviewers tilt.
My own opinion on this game is that whilst brilliantly laid out and the features provided are all top notch, it just requires too much time to play through. In my last career, it took me almost 3 entire days to bring in my coaching staff, organise training, assess the youngsters in my academy, look over various budgets and set up scouting missions. By this point I had only played 2 friendlies and was absolutely nowhere near the regular season. Should you choose to view an entire match you are looking at upwards of an hour to play through that particular match. When you include team selection, pre match-half time and full time chats and tactical re shuffles when necessary.
If you have the time to spend on this game then there is no more rewarding experience available and I suppose there is the option to allow your assistant manager and coaches to oversee various things but why would you want to is my question?
While this game may enhance peoples life's I fear it may have a detrimental effect on some others. You'll get out of it what you put in is what I'm trying to say. So for me I'll award this title 9 out of 10 in this category. As for the mini categories
Difficulty- Easy enough to operate all of the functions and options. Unfortunately it isn't always easy to manage, even great teams. Just ask Sven Goran Eriksson.
Time Playing to Date- Easily upwards of 100 hours since early November. I'd touch on nearer a 1000 than 100.
Learning curve- Competent players will find their feet easily within an hour but you'll still be finding new menus and options in weeks, even months to come.
As for my classification, I'd personally go for Unbelievable but that particular option isn't available to me. So from the options that are there for me to choose from Immersive or Highly Addictive would both do the title justice.
I'm going to lean on the former. A truly immersive title. My final word on FM2007??? Brilliant.