"Best football management game ever? Maybe!"

Who hasn’t played Sensible World Of Soccer? If you haven’t, you’ re missing out –
BIG TIME! It has to be the best football management game on the Amiga, if not of all time!

Realistically only surpassed by the Championship Manager series to date (and that’s only due to technological advances) SWOS is the only football management game I’ve played with such a good *100% PLAYABLE* match engine. Taken right from the previous Sensible soccer games the completely playable matches are fast and furious and best of all it is your performance that makes your team either be in contention for that championship spot or that sends you crashing out of the division.

Graphics: 8/10

Although simple the graphics in SWOS are loveable. All menus are clean, clear and easy to navigate. In-match graphics are of the same vein with tiny players on a comparatively huge pitch. Animation is smooth, crowd movement is present and all players have their respective skin and hair colour (something the Fifa’s of these days missed out on!)

Sound: 7/10

Sadly I’m going from memory on this one as my Amiga’s sound has packed up but I can still remember the annoyingly addictive menu music (from the PC version anyway, not too sure if it was in the Amiga version…let me know) Plenty of Ooohs and Ahhhhs present. Nothing missing.

Gameplay: 10/10

If you’re not impressed by anything else in SWOS, you’ll have to admit this is where it execlls. With the developers only having one joystick button at their disposal, I think they did a top job. Tap to pass, hold to shoot. Players are very responsive and all have there own (even if its only 3 per player) attributes. Everything is very fast and fluid. No complaints at all.

Lifespan: 9/10

You can be any team from any division from any country in the world! After most seasons you get a job offer from another club but you can always stay at Plymouth Argyle and get them to the Premiership title (its possible!) or move your way up to the top club. If you win the title and cups for a few seasons running you will eventually get offered the national coach’s job.
You will ultimately sacked for a younger manager after about 20 seasons and then you can start all over again!!!

As well as a career option you can make your own leagues, cups, tournaments. There is a load to keep you coming back.

Overall 9/10

Although obviously out dated (‘96 ‘97) this is the best football game on the Amiga - Not just management but football full stop. Not the most in-depth management game ever but with out a doubt the most playable.

If you see this game pick it up straight away! It shouldn’t be too expensive and I doubt you’ll regret it.

And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make an update! Those GBA ideas sound interesting...

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/03, Updated 02/25/03