Football Manager 2009 Review

BY Rabie Hassoun | POSTED: 18 November 2008

Another Football Manager game for the ages.



For many people, especially in Europe and the Middle East, this past week was very important. Forget the release of all of those lame FPSs and so on, we are talking football here. The new football manager came out this week, and with all the new features announced in the last few months, fans have a valid reason to be excited for Football Manager 09. In a short video a few months ago, SI showed off the new 3D match system and other exciting new features in this year’s version of the game. After playing the game almost none stop for a few days we can confirm that FM 09 was worth all the hype, and then some. Football manager 08 was a great game in its own right, FM 09 made sure the experience just got better.

The first thing you will notice is the use of some new colours in the original skin. You have a pretty well done skin with a toned down level of colours all around giving the game a more relaxed feel and look. Considering the amount of time you will be spending with the game for the next year, that extra relaxation level is crucial. With the game out for a few days now however, we are anticipating the release of more and hopefully better skins as we speak.

As soon as you take a look at your team’s roster and set your team’s goal for the season, you are ready to go. The next new feature you will face is the press conference sessions on hand. You will attend press conferences occasionally at the start of the season or frequently before important fixtures during the season. Here you will be asked questions about your ambitions, transfer policy over the season, look at the future and bold predictions. Your answers will have a direct effect on your own players moral and your relationship with other managers in the game. The good thing here is that your answers are actually a pretty effective way to deliver a message to a player, whole team or the league. The problem is that some questions are repetitive or dull. SI figured some of you will loath the reading and thinking involved in the press conferences, so they gave us the option to allow our assistant manager to attend instead. Keep in mind however, anything your assistant manager says will still affect your team’s moral.

Speaking of assistant managers, there role this year is largely more important. Having a smart or stupid 2nd man finally does matter in the football manager series. Your assistant manager, like we said earlier, can attend press conferences instead of you. He will also be providing an in-depth report of your team at all times. A feature found in FM 08 but comes with a higher level of realism this year. Now the report will include the exact weak links on the team, and which players can be brought in from other teams to strengthen that area. The recommendations, realistically, are not always accurate, but at least it gives you can idea about what you should be looking for. The assistant manager’s game does not end here. During a game you will have the option to view his points and notes. He will point out what is off in your tactic, the style of the other team and even how your own players are reacting to the game’s atmosphere and team tactics. The feedback you get here is highly significant. During my first year in the game, I altered my game plan after almost every match resulting with some pretty satisfactory results (Winning the league with Arsenal! Take that Wenger!).

When you start your first match in FM 09, you are going to be greeted with an unfamiliar screen. What is this? Is that a 3D stadium in my FM? What are those little things walking on to the 3D stadium? Wait a minute! Those are my players there! Yup, FM finally went 3D this year, but the results are a bit mixed. First, watching your new signing score on his debut in 3D is unbelievable. The 3D match translates your game plan precisely to your screen. You will see what exactly is going on right or wrong with your team. The 3D engine is not perfect however. The quality is pretty low, but still a step up from the 2D engine we are used to. While the outfield players seem to shine in 3D, the goal keepers really struggle. As long as the ball is going straight at your GK, the save is guaranteed. Other than that however, a GOAL sign will be flashing in your face within a few seconds. No matter how good your starting GK is, silly goals occur left and right in the 3D engine. A few other glitches do mere the debut of the 3D match engine in the series, but still if anything, it signal to a bright future for this feature and the series overall.

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