Alex Ferguson's Player Manager 2001 (PS2) > Reviews (1)

THE SUMMARY
Alex Ferguson puts his name on a below standard football playing/management game for the PlayStation 2 with plenty of potential.

THE STORY
Alex Ferguson (The greatest manager on the planet although Capello may have that in the bag if England win the World Cup 2010) put his name on the respected Player Manager PC game when it was converted to the PlayStation 2 format. You take control of your favourite teams and attempt to guide them to the top of the league just like the great man has done time and time again at Manchester United? This is a football management game where you have the option to either manage or play as your favourite team.

THE GAMEPLAY
This is a game which was originally produced for the PC as Player Manager. The developers have then transferred it to the PlayStation2 with disastrous results.
You start with the option to manage either a Scottish Premiership or English Premiership side. As with most management games this game is set out in a database format. Your players and staff are given stats for their attributes. You have the option to visit the transfer market (to buy players and staff), train your players or play the games. The transfer market is quiet extensive and give you the option to enter negotiations with pretty much any player around in 2001. The option to buy David Beckham in his prime could prove irresistible. David Beckham a Middlesbrough would probably never happen but in this game anything is possible however unrealistic??

Other features include getting hints and tips from the board along with details of the fans opinions. There is also a league table for your managerial reputation which is a nice little feature but not enough to rescue this game. There are so many management gaming competitors out there that this game doesn't even feature in my top ten. In my opinion the Football Manager Series rules supremely in this genre.

The other game play option is to be a player but here this game is not a patch on its competitors either. I would recommend FIFA or PES every time.

THE GRAPHICS
Whilst watching the game does seem like it might be a good option in practice the game time looks incredibly dated. Once you enter a game the play is slow and laboured to watch, the players are slow moving and incredibly unrealistically. The other game option is to have a scanner board this option is better than seeing the players but also has its problems in that it is very quick for you to read.

THE SOUND
The developers of this game shouldn't have bothered with music as what they have produced is bad enough to make your ears bleed (maybe that is a bit harsh but the sounds produced in my opinion are not great). On the other hand this is a management game and therefore it doesn't really require music.

THE RATING
If Alex Ferguson (One of the greatest managers the world has ever seen) puts his name forward for a computer game you would have thought it would be a good one.

It looks like a PC Conversion game which has plenty of potential but this version just doesn't deliver. Slightly Disappointing.

3/10

RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you are looking for a football management game then I would look no further than the Football Manager series before even bothering with this game. If you like games where you can play football check out the FIFA or (Pro Evolution Soccer) PES series. (recommendations as of May 2010 opinions may change with time).

WhiteMarion - KOTEJ
"King of the Entertainment Jungle"