Customer Reviews

Worldwide Soccer Manager 2008

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having played this series since the end of the previous century, this version is the best yet. For long time fans, there have been plenty of tweaks and additions to make the game that much more addictive and consuming. For virtual newbies, the game may at first seem daunting in its complexity. Fear not, SI has your back. This year they've included a tutorial to help get your feet wet. They also got a new assistant function that will give you context sensitive suggestions. Once you've got your bearing, it becomes a bit like the Microsoft Office Paper Clip. Fortunately, it's a feature easily turned off.

In general, the game play is fantastic. All the aspects of an international career in management are present. You've got your first team, your reserve squad and a youth set-up. You train your players to keep them fit and make them better. You design your tactics the way YOU want your team to play. Then you set them loose on game day to watch them ignore your best laid plans and get trounced. ;)

Be warned: The popularity of this game is not based on fancy graphics or fast-twitch muscle fiber. To succeed at this game you've got to be patient and attentive to detail. It's very much a marathon, not a sprint.

For those of you who have played the Worldwide Soccer Manager/Football Manager series, you know what you're getting here. The 08 version is exactly what one would expect, an update of the 07 rosters with a few new features to make the game run better (calendar, transfer centre, etc.) So far, it's been harder for me than 07 (I have been fired twice), but that's a great feature, because it will take time for me to get good, and it will make winning just that much better.

For anyone who has never played this game, its amazing. Despite the fact that my friends constantly make fun of me for playing a soccer game where you don't actually play the game, this game is incredibly fun and exciting. The detail level is so immense, you can literally spend hours and hours improving your team, not to mention learning a lot more about soccer across the world. For any at least moderate soccer fan or someone who wants to get more into it, I could not recommend this more highly.

This game is amazing in the comprehensiveness of the database - the ratings of all the players are accurate and unbelievable. Unfortunately, this game is downright addicting and way too difficult.
I think you could assemble the greatest team of all-time and watch them lose to a low Blue Square Premier team because, among other things, every player's morale somehow is very poor. The opposing goalie makes 30 saves against you, and the other team gets one chance and scores. If you manage that same Blue Square team and play Manchester United, you'll lose 9-0. The creators of this game are out to torture you.
Besides that, this is definitely the most realistic simulation game of soccer around in terms of the inner workings of the game (transfers, etc.) and nowhere else could you find such wonderful player ratings of players' mental and physical attributes.
A great game, but not fun - a paradox in a way - the creators need to improve on this!!!!!

I've been playing this game since it was Championship Manager 2 [season 96/97] with players like George Weah,Baggio,Baresi,Romario still playing.i bought this WWSM08 from amazon,thinking it's way too expensive for the real Football Manager 08 [FM08] in eBay,it's like US$20 extra.so i decided why not try WWSM.

got it and i love it..just like any other CM or FM games...love the features,love the database and it's really fun.

finish the first season and i'm trying to play Italy national team,so that i can play in Euro 08.My national team qualify from the group stage and been told that we're going to Euro 08,but guess what,none of the big nation who qualify from group stage went to Euro 08 [like England,Italy,Spain,Holland].Instead,all these small nation like Azerbaijan,Andorra,and lots of them,which we can't control them,playing in Euro 08.

i know i've been told that there's bugs and problems with WWSM or FM08 but this part really dissapointed me.i never played more than 2 seasons in WWSM08 but i kept going back to play FM07 and played more than 10 seasons there..

this Euro thing is really bugging me.

i love this game,but i have to think twice to buy WWSM09...i dont want to spend $30 and got bugs all over the game.i would rather spend $20 more to buy FM09 than not having so much fun with WWSM09.

also,if you play Premier League,they dont include the kits and team logo.so we have to download it from 'somewhere' which makes me think,what's the point with buying the game if i have to download parts of it from outside ?? isn't it easier for me just to download the whole game with all the kits,logo,background in the game already ??

but if you want to try this game,buy Football Manager.It's worth it.

btw,try Football Manager Live...it's going to be lot's of fun !

This game is something of an improvement over the previous version. At any rate, it is the kind of simulation that I find thoroughly engrossing. While not a lifelong fan of football (soccer) my Navy service in Scotland got me very interested in the game. This game includes tactical and management actions, and it's very interesting to see the "personal level" of involvement that develops when trying to figure out a player's character. I have never liked "joystick" type sports simulations, and this is DEFINITELY NOT that type. I've played the evolving versions of this game (Championship Manager, etc.) for over 8 years and really do enjoy it. I am a 59-yearold male.

Another fine installment in the Championship Manager/Worldwide Soccer Manager line. Updated graphics and the ever-present freaksihly good realism make this a very addictive game. Not for everyone, as it is not a true "video game" and requires imagination and patience. However, once you get into your eleven, you are hooked. Your players responses to your Halftime talk can amuse and confuse, the press will pressure you, and the fan reaction to your player personnel moves and game results can quickly put you on the hot seat. I have played these for eight years now, and keep coming back.

The game concept alone is genius and you will probably spend countless hours playing this game when first purchasing it. Although its very good, it can get quite old after a while and the difficulty level becomes very frustrating. Having a great team with great players is not enough to beat a mediocre team. One has to constantly play with tactics and adjust to each team and that can get restless. The information needed to play the game is not provided and has to be found by countless hours in search of it in the internet. At the same time, its a gem.. its the best game in its class and you will find yourself jumping for joy as one of your small circle scores against Manu, real madrid or any other power house in your league. Very addicting and worth the purchase. Fifa manager 09 might be this years diamond, though. I really hope Amazon carries it this year so we can purchase it.

I love the Football Manager (Soccer) Manager series. I've spent countless, and I mean countless, hours playing this game through many, many seasons. The beauty of the game is the incredible database of players and the interaction you have with other teams. It just never grows old. Players ask to be dealt, other players want on your team, you try to win and keep everyone happy... My only complaint, and this has been made before, is that the changes from year to year are relatively minor. The new skin I don't like. It's just not as intuitive as it has been in the past or can be. Some of the "buttons" that should be prominent and responsive are just not there, and you have to drag and click. It's not the end of the world, but it's a slight pain. I also hoped that we'd finally see a major update to game action. I'm not asking for realistic players, but just better sounds, animation, etc.. Perhaps it's too much to ask with the sheer size of the player database. I would hate for them to cut corners there, or make the game to slow to play by adding too much game action. Still, there has to be a better way to make gameplay even more exciting and have it come with a bigger feel. With all this said, if you love soccer and being a manager, this is the game to get. Get ready for same late nights!!

Great game if you love the game of soccer and dream of managing a team. The only minus is that watching the game being played is not in 3D graphics.

If your a fan of the series you will like it. I played older ones and this one is similar with a more modern touch and other improvements that help you manage your team better.