Football Manager 2023 review: The student fights back

I’ve been in Football Manager for almost two decades. It all started when I was caught using a Dance Dance Revolution mat connected to my family’s PlayStation 2 to navigate endless menus and spreadsheets. Don’t ask me why, now I’m using my keyboard and mouse on my PC like a normal person. But the thing is, after 20 years of experience that even included alternative control schemes, I can safely say in this Football Manager 2023 review that it has once again improved on the proven formula of the series and is the best FM ever. the times. . today’s game

That doesn’t mean there are only rainbows and butterflies; This verdict comes with some caveats. The evolution from FM21 to FM22 was the smallest step forward so far. FM23 provides even more modest reasons to buy the latest version, offering quality-of-life improvements rather than big headlines.

Perhaps the most useful of the new features is the Squad Planner, found in the left toolbar above the Tactics menu. It includes the old “Team Depth” option, so you can see a full view of the current season squad to see all the positions on the pitch for your current tactic and how many players you have in each role, and you can filter that for the next season and the next. If a player’s contract expires at the end of this season, he will be removed from the next season’s screen.

This makes things a bit easier when it comes to finding gaps in your squad to fill as soon as possible and also when reviewing players for layoffs, but says this little addition to the giant game is major. something to write at home this year.

Smarter AI opponents have joined the list of additions as their competitors’ decision-making abilities have been completely overhauled. It’s not something you can easily determine while playing the game, so it’s very hard to judge its effectiveness. Does the game seem more difficult to you than last year? Of course, but it could be because my tactics are weaker or the caliber of my team is worse than the team I managed during FM22, just as it could be because the AI ​​responds better than before to different match scenarios.

The animation is better this year; for example, goalkeepers can make K-block stops, while outfielders look more realistic when they receive the ball and shoot shots. It’s good to see effort being made in this department, but unfortunately much less than is necessary if an IS developer really wants good matches. I’m not the first to say this, and I certainly won’t be the last: the Football Manager series is so far behind anything that looks remotely modern, it’s amazing that new players can handle a game that looks even worse than FIFA Manager. . ’06, 16 years ago.

Veterans of the series will be able to skip the early 2000s timeline, because looking good was never the point of FM, and there’s still nothing better than getting sucked into a long career running one of the best teams. . You will start with zero affiliation with your players, but over time you will become one with the club. Once you’ve reached the highest level with a bunch of geeks in tow, you’ll raise your fists for last-minute goals, see how much a jersey is worth online, and feel crushed when you lose a cup. final. to a sentence abolished.

If you’re on a budget, bought last year’s version, and wondering if upgrading to FM23 is worth it: Probably not. Although the small enhancements are a welcome addition, FM22 has added the integration of the Data Hub – a treasure of information for fans of football statistics – as well as the enhancements of the broadcast day to reproduce the drama of considering the speakers. on television. as good as more detailed meetings with your employees behind the scenes. This year we’ve got intangible AI improvements, a slightly reworked team depth screen, and an official UEFA license (which you can still tweak in-game with better logo packs).

With all this in mind, I’ll repeat what I said at the beginning: FM23 remains the best Football Manager game to date because it takes nothing away from last year. To use a proper analogy, it seems that the developers are too cautious to defend the 1-0 lead. It’s the best this series has ever had, but you won’t miss much if you skip this part. However, if you’re still playing the 2020 or 2021 version. Definitely take it, but beware: press conferences and media interactions are still boring and should be the next updated aspect of the game, maybe after the graphics get some love