Addictive game falls short of the mark (Championship Manager 00/01 (PC))

Member Name: Eveandamisdad

Product:	Championship Manager 00/01 (PC)
Date:	02/06/01 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Addictive , Real to life (ish), Thorough

Disadvantages: Inconsistent, Frustrating

Being a veteran of the Championship Manager series of games(having owned the original CM, as well as the many updates), I am in a good position to give a fair opinion of the latest Eidos life-sapper. CM 2000/2001 has all you want from a management simulation, or so it seems...

At first you can't fail to be impressed by the sheer quality of the game engine - accurate teams, scope to employ whoever you want from a vast database - it is the Roy Cropper of the stats world, and although it takes a while to get your team up and running , with the many training and tactic options available it can be a few days before you are happy that you are even ready to dip into the transfer market, the wait is worthwhile. The amount of things you can do can leave you in awe -its like being a real manager with real players who have feelings (players will let you know if they aren't happy and your coaches are all too keen to let you in on a hot prospect or a lazy player).

But this is where I issue a word of warning..its not it all that its cracked up to be and after playing for 13 days and 14 hours(the computer lets you know how long in real time you have played!), taking Sunderland to Premiership and Champions League victories(!)I felt quite frustrated and downheartenened for a number of reasons that I will outline below

1) The game engine is not really that clever. After a while you realise that it throws up random and often inconsistent information

2) You can download a tactic from the Internet that will win you the league with a bunch of no-hopers. With that carrot dangling in your face, who can resiist the temptation for glory, so rendering your game useless

3) When you have played for a few days the game, although quite addictive, becomes rather tedious. Nothing NEW happens and you end up signing barrel loads of players to keep you occupied

4) You only see a commentary of the game (available in different speeds) and a
fter a while 'very fast'is the only option to get it over with

5) The board very very rarely succumb to your request for money and often you can haveas much as £75,000,000 in the bank and they will not let you sign a £200,000 player

I could go on...

CM 2000/2001 is a good, addictive game if you do not take it too seriously, but if you want more than just a management sim that gets you frustrated at its lack of realism, then don't buy it. This will certainly be the last time I buy it.

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