Football Manager (FM) is a danger to your health. No, I’m serious. I think the PC version should have a health warning because I’ve lost (literally) hundreds of hours playing Sports Interactive’s masterpiece. I was so addicted, in fact, that I had to actually stop playing the FM games because of fear I’d fail out of medical school. So, with a ringing endorsement (or warning) like that I’ve taken the brave/foolish step of importing the newest PSP version of Football Manager Handheld 2007. How does it fare? Read on to find out.

Graphics N/A

With a text-based management game I think it’s unfair to give a score for the visuals. The menus are pretty much identical to the PC version and are very crisp and clean on the PSP’s gorgeous screen. The text-size is perfect and though I’ve played the game for hours on end I haven’t had any problems with eyestrain.

The 2D match engine is completely absent which is a disappointment.

Another aspect of the visuals that is disappointing is the paucity of different background pictures. I love the massive variety of different shots of grounds, players and fans that make up the backgrounds in the PC version – unfortunately, the PSP version is sorely lacking in this area. However, Sports Interactive have announced that there will be downloadable logo packs and competition badges. The game also has 3 different ‘skins’ if you’re not a fan of the look of the default FM interface.

Sound N/A

Not much here at all. I wish there was a way to listen to MP3s on your memory stick while playing but alas there’s not.

Options 70/100

Though Football Manager Handheld 2007 has more options thank you can shake a very (very) large stick at, it definitely has a pared-down feature-set compared to its PC brethren. The biggest downgrade from the PC version is the fact that there is ONLY ONE ACTIVE LEAGUE per game! Thus, the country in which you start managing will be the country you’ll stay in for your career. Furthermore, as anyone who’s played the PC version knows, there’s minimal stats and player generation in the non-active leagues. This is probably the game’s only major shortcoming as it adds so much depth to the game world when you can follow leagues in other nations (game by game) and even apply for jobs in those leagues.

Football Manager 2007 Handheld has the following nations available (in which to carry out your management career);

Of all the included nations, England has the most Divisions available; Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the Conference.

Other omissions in the feature-set come from reduced media interaction (though you can still comment on rumors and defend/criticize players), minimal staff (you can’t hire scouts, physios or coaches) and minimal finances (you don’t see a breakdown of income and expenditure at all). Another absence (that does become an issue) is the fact that you CANNOT look up the statistics, player ratings, or formations of CPU vs CPU matches – you can only see the final score and the goal-scorers! This is problem when you’re scouting other teams or individual players and at the very least I’d expect to see player ratings!

Because of the absence of a mouse on the PSP (duh), navigation is done using the face buttons and the L button. Obviously this isn’t nearly as intuitive or as easy as the PC version and it does take a fair number of hours before you become accustomed to navigation.

Gameplay 90/100

Despite the lack of a 2D visual engine and the absence of a fair number of options, Football Manager Handheld 2007 still maintains the core gameplay present in the PC version and for that reason the game is still a blast to play. I’ve yet to play a sports game that is as nearly as engrossing or addictive as Football Manager and this version is no exception.

In-match tactical changes are all fairly realistic and you really do feel like you’re standing on the touchline barking out orders to your (virtual) players. Off the field, despite the pared-down features, you still feel like you’re shaping your own team and you’ll find yourself attached to players and teams.

Unfortunately, things aren’t completely perfect. While the league simulations in your selected country are fairly accurate, there are the occasional oddities. For example, Alan Smith won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, Palermo won the Champions League and I signed Michael Ballack while managing Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Hmmm….

Fortunately, these are fairly rare and don’t spoil the game.

Longevity 85/100

The lack of multiple, concurrent nations does hurt the replay value somewhat, but there is still enough gameplay here to have you glued to your PSP for weeks on end. Football Manager Mobile also has network play (though I didn’t try this out). Finally, there is an option to manage International teams that is unlocked after achieving a certain degree of success as a club manager.

Overall 85/100

After taking a lengthy hiatus from the Football Manager series on the PC I’m completely in love with this game. However, I’m not convinced I’d be nearly as addicted if I also had the (superior) PC version – and therein lies the rub. If you have Football Manager 2007 for the PC you probably won’t see the appeal of this watered-down portable version. On the other hand, if you don’t have the PC version and/or have been away from FM for a few years this is the perfect title to get you back into the fold.

Football Manager (FM) is a danger to your health. No, I’m serious. I think the PC version should have a health warning because I’ve lost (literally) hundreds of hours playing Sports Interactive’s masterpiece. I was so addicted, in fact, that I had to actually stop playing the FM games because of fear I’d fail out of medical school. So, with a ringing endorsement (or warning) like that I’ve taken the brave/foolish step of importing the newest PSP version of Football Manager Handheld 2007. How does it fare? Read on to find out.

Graphics N/A

With a text-based management game I think it’s unfair to give a score for the visuals. The menus are pretty much identical to the PC version and are very crisp and clean on the PSP’s gorgeous screen. The text-size is perfect and though I’ve played the game for hours on end I haven’t had any problems with eyestrain.

The 2D match engine is completely absent which is a disappointment.

Another aspect of the visuals that is disappointing is the paucity of different background pictures. I love the massive variety of different shots of grounds, players and fans that make up the backgrounds in the PC version – unfortunately, the PSP version is sorely lacking in this area. However, Sports Interactive have announced that there will be downloadable logo packs and competition badges. The game also has 3 different ‘skins’ if you’re not a fan of the look of the default FM interface.

Sound N/A

Not much here at all. I wish there was a way to listen to MP3s on your memory stick while playing but alas there’s not.

Options 70/100

Though Football Manager Handheld 2007 has more options thank you can shake a very (very) large stick at, it definitely has a pared-down feature-set compared to its PC brethren. The biggest downgrade from the PC version is the fact that there is ONLY ONE ACTIVE LEAGUE per game! Thus, the country in which you start managing will be the country you’ll stay in for your career. Furthermore, as anyone who’s played the PC version knows, there’s minimal stats and player generation in the non-active leagues. This is probably the game’s only major shortcoming as it adds so much depth to the game world when you can follow leagues in other nations (game by game) and even apply for jobs in those leagues.

Football Manager 2007 Handheld has the following nations available (in which to carry out your management career);

Of all the included nations, England has the most Divisions available; Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two and the Conference.

Other omissions in the feature-set come from reduced media interaction (though you can still comment on rumors and defend/criticize players), minimal staff (you can’t hire scouts, physios or coaches) and minimal finances (you don’t see a breakdown of income and expenditure at all). Another absence (that does become an issue) is the fact that you CANNOT look up the statistics, player ratings, or formations of CPU vs CPU matches – you can only see the final score and the goal-scorers! This is problem when you’re scouting other teams or individual players and at the very least I’d expect to see player ratings!

Because of the absence of a mouse on the PSP (duh), navigation is done using the face buttons and the L button. Obviously this isn’t nearly as intuitive or as easy as the PC version and it does take a fair number of hours before you become accustomed to navigation.

Gameplay 90/100

Despite the lack of a 2D visual engine and the absence of a fair number of options, Football Manager Handheld 2007 still maintains the core gameplay present in the PC version and for that reason the game is still a blast to play. I’ve yet to play a sports game that is as nearly as engrossing or addictive as Football Manager and this version is no exception.

In-match tactical changes are all fairly realistic and you really do feel like you’re standing on the touchline barking out orders to your (virtual) players. Off the field, despite the pared-down features, you still feel like you’re shaping your own team and you’ll find yourself attached to players and teams.

Unfortunately, things aren’t completely perfect. While the league simulations in your selected country are fairly accurate, there are the occasional oddities. For example, Alan Smith won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, Palermo won the Champions League and I signed Michael Ballack while managing Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Hmmm….

Fortunately, these are fairly rare and don’t spoil the game.

Longevity 85/100

The lack of multiple, concurrent nations does hurt the replay value somewhat, but there is still enough gameplay here to have you glued to your PSP for weeks on end. Football Manager Mobile also has network play (though I didn’t try this out). Finally, there is an option to manage International teams that is unlocked after achieving a certain degree of success as a club manager.

Overall 85/100

After taking a lengthy hiatus from the Football Manager series on the PC I’m completely in love with this game. However, I’m not convinced I’d be nearly as addicted if I also had the (superior) PC version – and therein lies the rub. If you have Football Manager 2007 for the PC you probably won’t see the appeal of this watered-down portable version. On the other hand, if you don’t have the PC version and/or have been away from FM for a few years this is the perfect title to get you back into the fold.