Project NeXt - Mobile Gaming

Game Title: Real Football: Manager Edition
Company: Gameloft
Game Platform: J2ME
Tested Version: 1.0.8
Phone Reviewed: Nokia N95



Story:
Do you want to know which game keeps me up all night, and away from work in the daytime? It is the next hit from Gameloft: "Real Football: Manager Edition". For those having a déja vue moment, this is the "Manager Edition" of the latest Real Football game. If you are interested in manager or tycoon games, and have only the slightest interest in soccer, grab this game, as it is perfect as a cellphone game can be!

You are given the role as a manager of one out of 200 soccer teams. Choose your team among five countries, with two leagues each, and start playing.



Design:
The core of the game is an isometric view of the city. By pointing to the different buildings, you have access to different menus. All buildings show a small animation when selected, which makes the scenery vivid, and is a nice touch. The menus themselves are colorful and, although they contain a lot of numbers and statistics, are in no way boring or overcrowded. For example, in the training schedule, the different lessons are pictured by different cards. At the beginning, you have some basic lessons like attack, defense, teamwork, strength training etc. But you can get a lot more by hiring different trainers (e.g. for passing, tackling, tactics, corner kicks etc.). Beside those 'general' trainings, each player can be given individual training, and the possibility to learn special skills from another player named by you! Of course special trainers cost a lot of money, and so do the talent scouts waiting for you in the game. But you have to look for younger talents, as the game is drawn out for a very long playing time (the statistics for your progress is constructed for more than 26 seasons!). Although you can hire and fire trainers and talent scouts as you like during a season, keep in mind that you have only a limited budget, and each staff member wants it's salary; if you fire a member before his contract runs out, you will have to pay his transfer fee!

So, as I mentioned before, the menus are well designed and often pleasing the eye, especially when compared to all the other "so called" manager games out there. Compared to those games, "Real Football: Manager Edition" offers much more! You have a completely integrated transfer system! You have to deal with your players, renew their contracts, and even have the possibility of motivating, complimenting and encouraging them. You set the line-up, the pressure, name the players to do corner-kicks, free-kicks, penalties etc., and are even given the possibility to adjust the behavior of every single player during a match. Shall he control the ball, or pass it on quickly? Should he try distance shots, or better short passes? Shall they play over the wings, or should they defend with every single man? You are completely free in your choice, and can even adjust all those settings during a match, which has immediate influence on the game! You can watch every match of your team in three different views: either have a look at the statistics, watch your players in the tactics screen, or just lean back and enjoy an isometric stadium view. If you want to cut a match short, you can raise the speed of the game, although all goals are shown in real time, even a replay function is implemented. At halftime, you can speak to your players, and at the end of each match, you are taken to the sport news, where the game is presented along with the best scenes.



Gameplay:
As you can see above, "Real Football: Manager Edition" is a very complex game, if you want it to be. Of course, you can set the training schedule for each player, or you can just do the basic training for the start. So the difficulty level highly depends on your choices! If you want it easy going for the start, pick a better soccer team and keep the settings recommended by the game. As you progress further, you can start playing around with other tactics etc., and so dig deeper in the game. By doing so, "Real Football: Manager Edition" is a perfect pick for each gamer, experienced or completely new! The controls are very easy to learn, and if you get tired of pointing to the different buildings, there is a shortcut, via the left menu button, which makes everything a bit faster and even more comfortable, if you want to!

Conclusion:
For all those hobby soccer trainers out there: show us your ability as a manager! Buy "Real Football: Manager Edition", which is surely one of the best tycoon games, I have ever seen, and not just on a cellphone! It is a masterpiece from Gameloft, which is a must buy if you are dedicated to these sort of games, and deserves the Three Euros, which is only a laugh if you consider the hours and hours of entertainment and fun, "Real Football: Manager Edition" will grant you! For sure it will stay on my cellphone a very long time. And now, let me get back to the next match of the season.

Trailer:


Scores:
Story - 89
Design - 94
Gameplay - 93

Total - 92



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