Up to 2am again! (Football Manager 2009 (PC))

Member Name: brownrob

Product:	Football Manager 2009 (PC)
Date:	12/08/09 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Addictive, Huge database, realistic, good value now, customisable

Disadvantages: Addictive, Not that much different to 2008, needs a powerful PC

I originally purchased this game off ebay and I had trouble activating my copy online, due to the fact that the previous owner was still registered to it! Something to bear in mind!

On to the game... As with any FM game it is a glorified Excel database, albeit a fun one. The sheer amount of depth that the game boasts is staggering, but you need a fairly decent machine to cope with the amount of data being processed.

Not a lot has changed since FM2008. The most notable changes are press conferences, the ability to add in Female managers, and increased player interactivity. You can now speak to your player and tell him to try different things on the pitch, to which he may agree or disagree!

The other big draw to the game is the new 3D Match experience. I have to say I was a little disappointed with this, it eats up a lot of memory and graphically its not great. There is no crowd and the players are very poor. For those who enjoy the 2D match mode this option is still thankfully available.

Tacticlly the game is sound. There is a large amount of setting to tweak, things to consider like form, fitness and morale, plus some players do not get on!

A big part of FM is the transfer aspect and this again does not disappoint. There is a bigger media influence in this game compared to previous incarnations, and there are lists of transfer rumours which make for interesting reading! The finances are well represented, which are difficult to replicate as most clubs do not disclose their finances.

Every player has been extensively researched, meaning that this is without doubt, the most realistic football simulation about. There are stories that real life managers have consulted the game, such is its scouting prowess!

Even so, if you find that there still isnt enough data to satisfy your needs, you can still try out the data editor. This is another power hungry program, but you can create yourself, your buddies and anything else you want in complete accuracy, or if you feel that Sebastian Bassong is underrated in the game, you can tweak him! This can be very time consuming and the fact you can change anything in the game leaves it open to abuse!

One problem with these games is that by the time of release, the database is usually out of date! There are several fansites on the net that offer up to date transfer deals, such as FM Weegie.

There is a lack of some player pictures and Premier League kits. This is probably due to licencing laws, but again, fansites are your friend here, and with a bit of time, you can find what you want. The game is very good in that you can customise heavily. the fact the designers have shipped the editor with the game every year, and still produce good sales is testament to how good the game is.

If you have conquered all on your own, you can play online in network games. I havent played these, but by the reports I have heard, it is pretty solid.

Having said that, I feel its only now worth the £10-20 as there is not a huge amount of extra features compared to 2008 but at £12.99 in Amazon, its a worthwhile purchase if you have got 2008 and a definite purchase if you have not!

Summary: This is a game you could spend 200 hours on and still find more to do