Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007

"Another Incredible Installation"

Football Manager (or Worldwide Soccer Manager) is a series made by SIGames, bringing to you a yearly installation of greatness. Every year they send out a new game, with updated teams, new skins, new players, and often new features. Football Manager 2007 had over 100+ new features and is certainly the greatest Football Management game out there. SIGames has made a real gem of a game.

Graphics

The current layout of Football Manager is somewhat similar to the previous instalments. It does look a lot better, and crisper, but anybody who has played the previous versions, would be able to find their way around the game easily. It looks clear and beautiful. The 2D pitch has a few new features, with the ability to see players on the sub bench come on the sidelines (whether they are warming up or just cheering on their own team players, I don't know). Customising the pitch/layout of the main game is easy. Plenty of fan-sites offer downloadable skins, goals, balls and kits to make your Football Managing experience easier on the eyes for you.

Score: 9/10

Sound

The sound which comes with the game isn't very good. It's mainly nothing, until you get on the pitch when you get the simulated roar of a crowd. The “Ooh's and aah's!” are nothing special. Fortunately, you can turn the sound off on the preferences and what I do, is open up iTunes and play my music. Now that makes for the ultimate audio experience.

Score: 8/10

Gameplay

The gameplay on this game is the most unreal football experience you could ever get on a CD-Rom. The amount of things you can do on this game makes you feel at times like you are really a manager. It's actually a known fact (well, according to the magazine 4-4-2) that managers use this game for scouting. I do believe it was a Polish manager who admitted it. This game covers pretty much every aspect of being a Football Manager, but every year it still finds new things to amaze and make the game even more incredible. Basically, you sign players, you win their trust and respect, as well as the games. You sort out contracts, you talk to the media, you try to make rival managers nervous, this game is one of the most insanely detailed games out there, and it is addictive. I've been known to play for 6 hours at a time before. That's insane. One of the best things about this game, is that it never ends. You can go on to year 2060 if you wished, and you will still have players to buy, matches to win, you could even take a team like Dagenham & Redbridge, who are stuck in the Conference, to go ahead and win the Champions League consecutively!

Score: 10/10

Rent or Buy?

You could rent it if you wanted to try it, and your save game would still be there if you ever decided to buy it. However I would tell you to buy the game, because there aren't many better games in my opinion.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/18/06