Player Manager 2000 - PlayStation

Got packs, screens, info?
Also for: PC, Game Boy Color
Viewed: 2.5D Combination Genre:
Strategy: Management
Sport: Football - Soccer
Arcade origin:No
Developer: Anco Software Soft. Co.: Anco Software
Publishers: Anco Software (GB)
Released: 31 Mar 2000 (GB)
Ratings: 3+

Summary

Football management, like so many other facets of life, can be a bumpy old ride. Thinking on your feet, making difficult decisions, it's all pretty much the stuff of life, even if your day job doesn't mean you have to sport dodgy-looking leisurewear or the dreaded sheepskin coat.

There are a host of footy management titles available for the PlayStation these days, and Player Manager 2000 is a more than worthy addition to the squad. For starters, the people responsible for this game, Anco, are the very same folk who first adapted the football management genre for the console (Kick Off), so their pedigree is unquestionably solid. Secondly, in a crowded market, it's essential to keep up with the competition, if not up the ante a notch, and Anco have certainly delivered on that count.

Player Manager 2000 is a goldmine as far as depth of gameplay is concerned. The amount of information contained in this disc is phenomenal, with hundreds of managerial vacancies to choose from, and the tactical engine which allows you to tinker with your team to your heart's content. You can tell your players how to defend and attack and mark the opposition, even set them off on a strict training regime in order to maximise their performance and minimise the chances of picking up injuries. Buying and selling players will introduce you to the sometimes frustrating pleasures of wheeling and dealing, depending on how much cash is made available to you by the board. Ah yes, the board. They can be right behind you, or they can be your nemesis. Whichever face they choose to show, they will let you know, in no uncertain terms.

So you've chosen your team, the strategy is in place, and your players have crossed the white line. There's not much else you can do, bar altering the tactics mid-way through the match, but watch the highlights or try to read the ticker-tape style reports at the foot of the screen.

Football management, then. Just like real life for some of us, and Player Manager 2000 reflects this very well.