Product Reviews

The Football Manager series needs little introduction. Its unparalleled depth and detail have consistently been superior to rival titles in the football management genre for the past five years. Even those which come close in these respects still never compete in terms of ease of use.

It really is remarkable that a game, which is in some ways so complex, can be so easily accessible for first-time football managers. The first thing that anyone who has played a version in this series will notice is the revamped look of the whole game. A much brighter, cleaner looking skin has been used this time around, which fits nicely with the look of the Mac OS.

Previous editions appeared much darker and Windows oriented. The developers' work has paid off, as the overall gaming experience is much more pleasant - and it's good to see the designers earning their money, as looks haven't been one of Football Manager's strong points up to now.

The developers have even managed to improve the already impressive in-game help system that made its debut in the last version. There is now also an adviser system, designed specifically for newcomers to the series. Helpful tips are given to guide a new manager through the early days of their employment. It's likely too that even seasoned bosses will find the hints and tips a convenient reminder of how to use the less commonly utilised features.

Football Manager 2008 is not packed with new features but the changes that have been made are notable. The International Management side of things has been given more depth, with greater control over teams as well as the more detailed interaction

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that's now allowed with players.

Scouting too is an option and the result of this and all the other tweaks is a much more realistic gaming experience. In addition media interaction, once seemingly almost an afterthought at times, is more enjoyable.

It is hard to imagine what extras can be added to a game already crammed with options. Yet the developers have clearly been working their magic. For example, managers now have greater control over their club's finances. This makes capturing important signings much easier, as the budget can be negotiated and changed at any point in a season.

Despite the huge database of information and statistics, Football Manager runs very impressively on a standard Mac mini G4. There is not too much difference between it and the speed of the game on dual 2GHz G5 except when using the largest database available. This is a testament to the developers' hard work. It is also good news for those who don't have an Intel Mac yet.

One of the main aspects of being a football manager - arranging and completing player transfers - has also been given a minor revamp.

A new screen has been created, showing you all the comings and goings in your football world at any given moment. It is also used to manage any bids that you may have placed or received for players. This is a particularly nice touch and makes the game feel more organised.

Football Manager has always been an almost scarily addictive game, particularly the way it eats up the hours without you noticing. If you like football then don't fool yourself: this will take over your life - and you won't care because you'll be too busy micro-managing the fortunes of your favourite team as you attempt to steer them to the top of the Premier Division.

On the other hand, if you're not into football you won't enjoy playing this at all. But then you wouldn't managed to read the review this far either.

The bottom line? For everyone who has dreamed of taking their favourite team to the top of the league or who just loves the beautiful game, Football Manager 2008 is something that you simply must have this Christmas. The chances are that there will be a lot more football widows in 2008.