Football Manager 2009 - PC and PSP handheld versions

Formerly called Championship Manager until a name change a few years back, Football Manager has existed in one form or another for about 15 years.

Over the years the game has built up a loyal and dedicated fan base as it has built on its reputation for being the most realistic game of its kind.

Generally fans have been kept happy with a new version of FM released each year, containing up-to-date player and team lists as well as an annual raft of new features added to the game.

Changes to the game have ranged from the subtle to the significant, but however much its look and feel have altered, FM has remained hugely popular by essentially remaining the same game as it was when it first launched all those years ago.

At its core are still the same elements. You choose what sort of challenge you are up to – whether it’s taking a lower league team up the football ladder or managing a Premier League giant.

You then become manager of your chosen team, dealing with team selection, transfers, tactics, training, player interaction and media. The game is open-ended but your goal is to achieve as much success as you can as a top-level football manager.

The 2009 version of the game is now out, offering two choices of play – either the full-scale version on PC or the handheld version on PSP, which is basically FM lite.

The PC version is, as always, a very serious and very (very, very, very) detailed management simulation.

If you’re prepared to put in the necessary hours and the required effort to get the most out of the game then it is highly addictive.

But, beware, the game is extremely thorough and incredibly involved. It’s not the sort of game you can play casually – it requires a lot of concentration and attention. If you’re not able to immerse yourself fully into the FM world then you’ll find it becomes very frustrating.

And therein lies the dilemma with the modern version of FM – its complexity is both its biggest strength and its main weakness.

On the one hand, the level of depth and detail is the main thing which marks FM out from the competition.

But on the other hand, the game has become so deep and detailed over the years that it has become extremely difficult and demanding to play. Slowly but noticeably, all the new features which have been bolted on have sucked a lot of the fun out the game.

It is hard to still call this a game because it is now so far into the territory of being a full-blown business simulation.

It feels very strange to moan about a game actually getting better but at the same time losing some of its appeal.

But that is what’s happened to FM – it’s got to the point now where every minute detail, every minor decision, every tactical tweak can play a major part in determining your team’s success, and ultimately determining your enjoyment of the game.

The feeling of satisfaction from achieving success is weaker than it used to be because when things are going well you’re never quite sure what you’re doing correctly. And when things are going badly they tend to continue going downhill because it’s so hard to pinpoint what needs fixing with your team’s performance.

All of this probably sounds like a big whinge about the game – but it’s not intended. I remain very fond of Football Manager, and this year’s key new features of a 3D match engine, interactive press conferences and extra feedback from your virtual assistant manager do all add something to the game.

It’s just that the game has become so bloated with features that it is more hard work than fun now.

And this is where the PSP version comes into its own.

The handheld version does not have anything like the detail and layers of complexity of its PC counterpart. The gameplay is much simpler, the things you have to take care of are far more basic – essentially it’s a stripped down version of the PC game.

Stripped down but not dumbed down. The game is still very challenging and a lot of factors still decide your fate as a manager.

It works perfectly on the PSP. You get far less brain ache from the handheld version, it feels more like you’re control of your destiny - and so it’s a better experience overall. It’s like Football Manager used to be on the PC, which for me is a good thing.

For depth and sheer scale go for the PC version but for genuine football management fun I would suggest trying the handheld version for 2009.

For people who don’t own a PSP it’s almost worth buying one just to be able to play Football Manager.

But I wouldn’t recommend anyone buying a new PC or laptop to play Football Manager on. It’s a struggle to recommend just spending out on the game itself.

Verdicts:

Football Manager Handheld: 9 out of 10
Football Manager PC version: 6 out of 10