FOOTBALL MANAGER 2009 (PSP)

Of course, in the intervening years the game has developed somewhat. Football manager is now a vast database of immense statistical comprehension that covers nearly every football league on the planet. The graphical interface has received numerous updates to make it look more modern, with the latest PC version including a 3-D match engine to complement the old text based representation of key match incidents. The computer AI is much, much improved ensuring that no one tactic will win you most matches (as was the case in early Championship Manager titles) - constant tweaking is necessary to combat the computers own tactical expertise. To fully round out the football management experience, media engagement with the press, fans and players have been incorporated to add further difficulties in getting a good job done. As marvellous as all this is, though, the one problem the above creates is a hugely complex game that requires much more time and input from the player to refine tactics, training and preparing transfer targets. Sadly, geeky football loving goof is now all grown up and without the student lifestyle previously available, finds the current Football Manager setup far too time-consuming and exhausting to actually play. Why, oh why, can't there be a much simpler version available, similar to the one in the days of old?

The first thing you obviously notice is that the PSP version is still mostly a database full of names and numbers that inform you how well players and the team are performing against opponents, just with more shiny bells and knobs on. The graphical interface is certainly pleasing on the eye, to make it more than just an Excel spreadsheet, and makes excellent use of the size of the screen. Indeed the content seems to have been designed around this particular specification. For instance, the vast number of skills a player has in the PC version has been reduced to around 15 key skills that fit nicely on the players profile screen in a font size that isn't going to bollocks your eye-sight. Likewise, clicking on a players name brings up their main profile screen along with a side-bar featuring a range of further options such as contract, history, coach and physio reports, etc. which provide finer details on the players form, morale and condition. It's a wonderfully intuitive menu system that's easy to get to grips with (put it this way - I still haven't read the manual) and whilst not as comprehensive as its PC namesake still delivers an appropriate level of content. Some may miss out on the extensive detail, but the balance between getting it right for the format and still providing necessary depth to make the game engaging and rewarding is expertly designed.

So, from this you should be gathering that Football Manager 2009 is not only simpler and greatly addictive, it also remains positively challenging. When you add loading times that are swift (this could have been a deal breaker, but the updating of the still large database is refreshingly speedy) it looks even more desirable. That the controls are instinctive is also remarkable. The LB and RB buttons allow you to flick backwards and forwards through previously viewed pages (much like a web-browser) and the bottom of each screen highlights the four main buttons and the function they carry our when the cursor scrolls over a particular player or teams name (for instance offer new contract, release on a free, view profile, etc.) Marvellous! And when you consider that you can now manage across three or four countries (although only one league will be fully detailed to its lowest division - the other three will just have its top league available) you're left pondering if it can get any better. No niggling injuries then?

Still these are relatively minor quibbles and, if anything, have more to do with the PSPs capacity. Which again makes you marvel at how much Sports Interactive have managed to include here. This is a game that includes the PC versions depth and challenge, but undoubtedly simplifies it to make for an immediately intuitive and addictive game. Both instinctive for new comers to the franchise (which can't really be said of the PC version) and with enough there that appeals to the older coaches, it's just like playing Championship Manager circa 2000/01. It hasn't been removed from by PSP since its purchase some months ago. Just like the good old days! And Football Manager 2009 can't come anymore highly recommended than that.