GameCentral review FM10

Football Manager 2010 (PC)

Football Manager 2010 Review by Mr Pinkerton - The problem with all the yearly sports updates this year is that even the good ones, such as FIFA 10, have been barely distinguishable from last time round.

This, the last of the usual suspects, is once again the best football management game ever made.

It is also a hugely disappointing sequel that has been out-innovated by Championship Manager 2010.

The dichotomy of innovation and overall quality is not a new phenomenon in any kind of sports game.

In fact it's almost unavoidable if the core gameplay has already been refined as much as Football Manager's.

At the end of the day though you're being asked to pay full price for what is clearly not an entirely new game. And one where most of the changes are nothing veterans will care about.

Although no great love of football is required to enjoy a quick kick around on FIFA this is strictly for fans only.

Its perversely dowdy looks, which resemble nothing more than a football-themed spreadsheet are entirely irrelevant to its followers.

Which makes it a little odd that most of this year's new changes are visual, with a new interface and a revamped version of last year's 3D match view.

The graphics certainly are better, with much more variety in terms of animation and the crowds, but most people are still going to stick with the 2D view.

The interface too is certainly more accessible and logical, particularly in terms of the new Tactics Creator tool.

None of this affects the gameplay though and those new features that do are fairly minor additions such as shouting new orders from the touchline.

There is a litany of other minor extras, all of which are welcome.

Together with the new Match Analysis tool feedback from your backroom team is much more useful, allowing you to work out what's going wrong with ease and poll suggestions on how to fix it.

The way you can filter global news is also excellent, although the flipside where you take part in press conferences still seems underdeveloped.

Everything in the game has been tweaked and improved but apart from perhaps the interface none of the changes make a fundamental difference.

Perhaps more damningly Championship Manager 2010 now does several things better, specifically the scouting network and real-time training.

Football Manager is still far more realistic and detailed, but it cannot afford to site on its laurels again.

IN SHORT: For a series where graphics are irrelevant concentrating on surface details makes for a below par update.

PROS: The interface is a lot better and the 3D match engine is getting there. Unparalleled depth and realism.

CONS: Few new gameplay features of any note and it does nothing to counter Championship Manager's resurgence.

SCORE: 8/10 Out: Now (UK)

http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/49a8199b53cf1dde2cb616203e5c49e0/Football+Manager+2010+(PC).aspx

What a shocking review! No depth to it at all. Seems they only played it for an hour.