Football Manager 2013 (PC) Review

We are ankle deep into another season of football, along with that comes the next installment of the Football Manager franchise. The game where you call all the shots with your team as you guide them to glory, or go as your rival team and destroy them, or if you’re anything like me take a ‘small’ club and take them to the dizzy heights of middle table Premiership. Either way, your footballing dreams can be lived. Every year these titles get more and more realistic (from the managerial side) and this year deems to be the most realistic yet.

The one thing Football Manager 13 does better than the previous installment is recreate the 90 minute emotional roller-coaster ride that all us football fans experience on a weekly basis.

The updated features from FM12 are instantly noticeable. Non more than the match day experience, as soon as the match kicks off you have your assistant manager constantly in your ear letting you know what your team are doing right and what your team are doing wrong during a match, you can then shout instructions from the touchline and instantly alter the way your team are playing, whether it be passing the ball short or hoofing the ball long (I assume that’s a built in setting for when you take control of Stoke City).

I have even now become accustom to the new and improved 3D match, I normally just watch the overview of the game with the commentary. But, this has been improved a great deal and with the tactical pieces of advice from your assistant can ultimately help you gain a real strangle hold on a game, or drag you back from a losing position.

This installment of Football Manager is by far the best and the most innovated, the match day experience is the best that it’s been for years, the much improved and talked about Scouting system makes it easier to filter the best youth talent the world has to offer. Even the Transfer Deadline Day is the most realistic that it’s been since the franchise began, having the clock counting down as you try and make last minute deals is as tense as it’s is in real life, only you’re the one doing the wheeling and dealing, not the one haplessly biting your nails nervously waiting on any news or rumors on whether your team has signed someone or not.

Everything about this game has had a much needed polish from its predecessor, and all the updates – no matter how little – are all noticeable.  But, it’s still the same old Football Manager that we all know and love.

Football Manager 2013 is a must get for any football fan, the hardcore FM fans don’t need to be told that this is the best Managerial sim on the market, we’ve never been let down by the series. Football fans that aren’t necessarily FM fans, should check this addition out, the new quicker modes or the Football Manage Classic mode or (FMC as it’s called), makes it easier for new players to get into the game and figure out what some of the tricks of the ‘trade’. While the normal ‘Football Manager’ mode offers a more in depth hands on experience for the players that are used to the works of FM.

That’s not to say this game is easy to navigate, what with all the new updates the game can be fairly tricky, even for the most experienced FM players.

Although quite hard to navigate, the new scouting update for FM13 can be really rewarding when mastered. The use of the chief scout makes it easier for your team to discover all the worlds hidden youth talent before many of the other clubs (when used correctly) this feature has been one of the most talked about features by Miles Jacobson, studio director of sports interactive.

The challenge modes are a welcome break from the normal build a team, aim to win everything you can game modes. If you support a team that aren’t normally in relegation battles then why not try and save them with only 17 games left in the league with only 10 points on the board? After giving it ago with the team I support (Arsenal,) I discovered this task was harder than first anticipated. There are other challenges available also (that I have yet to attempt). They are; winning trophies with kids, going through a whole season unbeaten and achieving your board’s goals with an injury stricken team.

The challenge modes also offer a bit of replay ability, with there being some sort of leaderboard in place, not only do you challenge you’re self and team, but you’re also challenging others.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Utterly brilliant! As Football Manager goes, this is by far the best yet. It’s the most ambitious of the franchise and the most rewarding.  This game is a must get for anyone that is a fan of series.  FM12 was a near perfect game; the improvements on this game make this even better than the last. All the updates since FM12 makes this is the most realistic managerial sim to date. There’s a quite a bit to do on FM13 with the additions of the challenge modes.