LMA Manager 2002

"Buy this game if you like LMA and psx mangerment games"

Good management games are rare on the playstation and ps2 with their only being a few which are acceptable. Before you think this is a unfair review I’ve played tons of management games including premier manager, FA manager, and previous LMA titles. Also championship manager games on the PC so I know a lot.

What makes LMA different from other management games is the fact you can watch the match and also how easy it is navigate around the general gameplay area and tactical database. LMA consists of a 20 season career with each season taking a while to complete. I’ll put it this how I played as my team for 6-10 hours each day and it took me 4 days to complete one season. Also there are side challenges such as beat the drop where your in relegation with a number of weeks to stay up.

Gameplay: 9/10
The gameplay in lma is one the best feature due to how easy it is to get to each menu screen and sort out what to do next. In terms of teams to play as you can play as the premiership and diversion 1, 2 and 3. Spanish, Italian, German, French, Scotland and apart from this you can trade by transfer with team you can’t play as such FC Porto, Ajax and many more.
Transfers are easy to figure out since there is a simple search engine that lets you search for the best player in each position by what ever rating (there overall ability) you want. The highest transfer fee that can be paid is 80 million and the most expensive valuation of a player is 40 million.

Sound: 8/10
The music or the game is quite good but the only times you hear it is at the main menu screen and when your saving which is kind of disappointing. The commentary is awful with Gary Lineker and Alan Hanson repeating many things and when ever Gary mentions about what team you are playing next it sound really fake. The crowd chants are average with them booing when a player is yellow or red card and cheer when you score, also when you shoot and the keeper makes a great save sometimes you will hear a big ohhhhhh and then chapping.

Graphics: 7/10
Generally the graphics are good with all the menu being clear and easy to read and the rating bars are simple to understand. The let down is the graphics in the match that are really rubbish. The graphics are PS style and are just awful, also it says that by watching the match it can help develop your team but it can’t the only thing worth looking at is the players match rating after the game.

Replay ability - 8/10
With 20 seasons in the game and takes an average of 4-5 days to complete a season there is plenty of replay there. With 722 teams with at least 300 of them playable and 28 different countries there is plenty to for a gamers to do. Include the challenges and the ability to change teams at the end of the season and there is hours of gameplay.

Disappointments:
The only thing, which is disappointing, is compared to championship manager in LMA there is not that much content, not as much depth, and not as many teams which as playable. If you are looking for the complete but complicated management game them buy championship manager but if you want an easy to get to grips with game with plenty to keep you coming back LMA is the game for you.

Buy/rent:
If you are new to management games then rent it first and also if you have played championship manager rent it first but if you loved previous LMA games then go out and buy this now. I know you will enjoy it and destroy your social life.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/19/02, Updated 09/19/02