Worldwide Soccer Manager 2006

"The best football management game available."

Football Manager 2005 was one of the great addictive games of last year. Many people could say with great confidence, and complete shame, that they spent many, many late nights working out who to buy, who to sell and how to get the best out of the 18 year old German you'd just signed up for Barcelona. The same addictive ingredients are still there in Football Manager 2006, and whilst the game may look the same, there are several differences that make it a must have over the previous edition.

Gameplay: 10/10

The game is text based. The only pictures are the background images, the player pictures and a few dots kicking another dot around a big green rectangle. The game is about understanding football and the vast amount of statistics reflects that. You have every element of a match covered, with headers challenged for and won, tackles won and so forth all recorded to give you a better insight into not only working out who the best players in the game are, but also to helping you uncover those young gems you can mould into the next great team.

There are many options available to each player. For example, you can run any numbers of leagues and move around each one as and when you choose. Others may decide they want to start lower down the leagues, and will seek to move up the career ladder. Others will want to take a lower league team to European glory. All of those desires are catered for. There is no limit to the game, so as a manager you could still be soldiering on at 143 years old, barking out orders from your hospital bed. Even if you get bored with a particular save file, you can simply load the game up, choose a new team and start again.

Sound: N/A

The only sound on the game is the crowd during matches.

Graphics: 7/10

The normal skin for Football Manager can be altered to any number you can download from the internet. However, they tend to have the buttons in different places and can be difficult to become accustomed to. As a result, many people tend to keep the relatively dull background and skin on offer from Sports Interactive.

Replayability: Infinite

I've been playing management games since Championship Manager 2001/2002, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon. The sheer amount of players, clubs and nations to manage in makes the game the most diverse and replayable game in the market today.

Worth a purchase? You're damn right.

My advice to you is to get the game as soon as possible. Even if you haven't previously enjoyed management games, this will easily help change your mind.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/31/05