First off let me start by saying this is the first time I have written a ‘review’ so I have no idea if there is a certain way it should be written or a ‘code’ in which to follow, so please be gentle with me.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to play the beta version of the game and I just wanted to share my thoughts and impressions with the forum. As Sean and Redders are also providing guides, mine will focus on the below:
I can say however that this is a completely impartial write up and I have absolutely no bias towards Sports Interactive or SEGA.
Start Up.
As most of us will be aware, football manager can take a decade to load up and this version seems no different. However this is part and parcel with most games these days and if it didn’t faze you before it won’t now. You will also notice that the main screen hasn’t changed from previews years either.
Loading New Game
Graphics from fm-base look quite snazzy
As you can see from the screenshot above, the new game screen has been amended. Playable league’s now appear horizontally and in continental order. I for one prefer this than the traditional vertical list we have grown accustomed to, sorting league’s is a lot easier to control for those who want to maximise there game experience and as you can see, chosen league’s will appear in bold.
Getting Started – The usual routine
This is one area I am rather disappointed in, although the skin is different and everything is organised down the right hand side (as per screenshot) I still feel your introduction as manager is monotonous.
I am mainly talking about the press conferences; once again you attend the same dreary press conference, getting asked the same questions as previous seasons. It cannot be too hard to come up with ways to re-phrase the questions or come up with new ones entirely.
However as you can see, we now have the option to ‘skip’ the initial press welcome.
But be warned, it has its repercussions.
Another plus side is that it is one click answers and not ‘clicks and then submits’.
Choosing your goals for the season is also the same as usual, with the addition of a ‘finance tab’ allowing you to check the balance before making commitments for the year ahead. You can also see transfer and wage limits next to each goal.
Match Engine.
The main reason I went off FM10 was just exactly this. There have been exploits and flaws to the game engine going back as far as ‘El Diablo’ for the old Championship Manager days, the creation of the 2d and now 3d pitch has led to even more fundamental errors and problems with the game.
SI have never really dealt with the ‘corner bug’ which can leave Rio Ferdinand with the golden boot ahead of Rooney, Torres and Eto’o with 35 goals a season (why doesn’t anyone mark him?)
I had such high hopes for the new tactic design which was implemented for fm10. Finally we could create tactics to suit modern day football and implement them based on player ability and play to the strengths and weaknesses of your squad. SI even went to the trouble of adding ‘Coaching advice’ which was given by your staff, informing you that your squad are ‘amongst the slowest in the league’ which would lead you to believe a slower pace. It turns out it was irrelevant as tactical exploits were all that mattered, leading to many a successful 4-3-3 formation and the use of wingers becoming obsolete.
I decided to give the famous Mr Hough formation a run for its money on the beta to see if issues have been resolved. I have also added the ‘corner cheat’
As you can see from my results, the formation has not worked out as it would have on fm10 and not one of my defenders was able to find the net. Is there hope for this game after all?
Visually
The match engine has improved visually, a lot more detail has been put into grounds and the fans, which ads to the realism. The replay function has been expanded, allowing you to decide how quickly you watch the replays and from which angle.
This is a useful feature as I found watching replays and highlights a chore and wasn’t ever keen on always adjusting my game speed.
Speed
I can’t comment on the speed of the match engine, for me it is flawless and runs very smooth. This may determine on computer performance.
Gameplay
The game play does seem a lot more realistic and player movement has improved. It no longer has the arcade or sensible soccer feel from previous years. There is nothing new to report on game speed options.
Thoughts
To me it is just FM10 with a few extra gimmicks that will be fun for a week or so then slowly get tiresome like so many other features, I like the new lay out for loading a game and that i don’t need to do one single press conference.
Is it justifiable paying £30+ for the same game plus a few extra features? To me, no! I feel the age of database/spreadsheet games has gone and that football manager has fallen behind on my list of wants, It was an effort getting past pre season. That is just me though. If you love football manager, you will love this game. It appears as though tactics which trick the match engine, intentional or not are eradicated, wither or not people find new ways is to be seen.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to play the beta version of the game and I just wanted to share my thoughts and impressions with the forum. As Sean and Redders are also providing guides, mine will focus on the below:
- Introduction
- Getting Started
- Match Engine/Tactics
- My Thoughts.
I can say however that this is a completely impartial write up and I have absolutely no bias towards Sports Interactive or SEGA.
Start Up.
As most of us will be aware, football manager can take a decade to load up and this version seems no different. However this is part and parcel with most games these days and if it didn’t faze you before it won’t now. You will also notice that the main screen hasn’t changed from previews years either.
Loading New Game
Graphics from fm-base look quite snazzy
As you can see from the screenshot above, the new game screen has been amended. Playable league’s now appear horizontally and in continental order. I for one prefer this than the traditional vertical list we have grown accustomed to, sorting league’s is a lot easier to control for those who want to maximise there game experience and as you can see, chosen league’s will appear in bold.
Getting Started – The usual routine
This is one area I am rather disappointed in, although the skin is different and everything is organised down the right hand side (as per screenshot) I still feel your introduction as manager is monotonous.
I am mainly talking about the press conferences; once again you attend the same dreary press conference, getting asked the same questions as previous seasons. It cannot be too hard to come up with ways to re-phrase the questions or come up with new ones entirely.
However as you can see, we now have the option to ‘skip’ the initial press welcome.
But be warned, it has its repercussions.
Another plus side is that it is one click answers and not ‘clicks and then submits’.
Choosing your goals for the season is also the same as usual, with the addition of a ‘finance tab’ allowing you to check the balance before making commitments for the year ahead. You can also see transfer and wage limits next to each goal.
Match Engine.
The main reason I went off FM10 was just exactly this. There have been exploits and flaws to the game engine going back as far as ‘El Diablo’ for the old Championship Manager days, the creation of the 2d and now 3d pitch has led to even more fundamental errors and problems with the game.
SI have never really dealt with the ‘corner bug’ which can leave Rio Ferdinand with the golden boot ahead of Rooney, Torres and Eto’o with 35 goals a season (why doesn’t anyone mark him?)
I had such high hopes for the new tactic design which was implemented for fm10. Finally we could create tactics to suit modern day football and implement them based on player ability and play to the strengths and weaknesses of your squad. SI even went to the trouble of adding ‘Coaching advice’ which was given by your staff, informing you that your squad are ‘amongst the slowest in the league’ which would lead you to believe a slower pace. It turns out it was irrelevant as tactical exploits were all that mattered, leading to many a successful 4-3-3 formation and the use of wingers becoming obsolete.
I decided to give the famous Mr Hough formation a run for its money on the beta to see if issues have been resolved. I have also added the ‘corner cheat’
As you can see from my results, the formation has not worked out as it would have on fm10 and not one of my defenders was able to find the net. Is there hope for this game after all?
Visually
The match engine has improved visually, a lot more detail has been put into grounds and the fans, which ads to the realism. The replay function has been expanded, allowing you to decide how quickly you watch the replays and from which angle.
This is a useful feature as I found watching replays and highlights a chore and wasn’t ever keen on always adjusting my game speed.
Speed
I can’t comment on the speed of the match engine, for me it is flawless and runs very smooth. This may determine on computer performance.
Gameplay
The game play does seem a lot more realistic and player movement has improved. It no longer has the arcade or sensible soccer feel from previous years. There is nothing new to report on game speed options.
Thoughts
To me it is just FM10 with a few extra gimmicks that will be fun for a week or so then slowly get tiresome like so many other features, I like the new lay out for loading a game and that i don’t need to do one single press conference.
Is it justifiable paying £30+ for the same game plus a few extra features? To me, no! I feel the age of database/spreadsheet games has gone and that football manager has fallen behind on my list of wants, It was an effort getting past pre season. That is just me though. If you love football manager, you will love this game. It appears as though tactics which trick the match engine, intentional or not are eradicated, wither or not people find new ways is to be seen.
