Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review)

[RaychelSnr]

Football Manager 2015 could present itself as the best way for soccer newcomers to learn its ins and outs. I'm surprised they never have, because Football Manager 2015 has made massive strides to create a more intuitive experience for both newbies and series vets.

Read More - Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review)

[PES3Paul]

There's been a torrent of nay's on Steam itself; too easy to score off corners, too many injuries, unrealistic scores.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

most of that sounds like it was from the original beta, and most of those issues have been addressed since then.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

most of that sounds like it was from the original beta, and most of those issues have been addressed since then.

Thanks for clarifying that. I was wondering why the feedback was so bad.

[TheMagicMushroom22]

It is still not balanced. There are still too many goals and injuries. Players are forever complaining about their lack of first team football (even if they are a backup or youth player).

It is still not playable for me. It was the same last year - the game was what I would call 'finished' by December.

Here's hoping the next patch solves some of these issues.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

If there's too many goals make sure not to inform my players.

[Pythons80]

So you just get to watch your team play the games, correct? How is that anyway, are the games exciting to watch or do you just end up simulating through?

[Suntan Superman]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

So you just get to watch your team play the games, correct? How is that anyway, are the games exciting to watch or do you just end up simulating through?

That's entirely dependent on your own personal taste, I love watching matches and find them exciting, and bald-spot creating. Some don't care for it as much and try to get through as much as they can, as fast as they can. I tinker a lot during the match and i enjoy the effects they can have, and the fact that there's no set reaction for what you choose to do. I was never a huge fan of the controller based games, and much prefer the absolute depth you get with this type of game over the shallowness of FIFA/PES. Nothing against the two franchises, but they can't touch FM in terms of depth.

[RoyceDa59]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

That's entirely dependent on your own personal taste, I love watching matches and find them exciting, and bald-spot creating. Some don't care for it as much and try to get through as much as they can, as fast as they can. I tinker a lot during the match and i enjoy the effects they can have, and the fact that there's no set reaction for what you choose to do. I was never a huge fan of the controller based games, and much prefer the absolute depth you get with this type of game over the shallowness of FIFA/PES. Nothing against the two franchises, but they can't touch FM in terms of depth.

So true haha, Football Manager is one of the reasons why I stopped playing console footy games for up to 3 years until of PES 15 came out. I still have and enjoy playing FM 12 from time to time haven't felt a prime reason to upgrade yet but maybe this one is pretty solid.

[kaletore11]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

This is a really good year for FM in my opinion.

I've been playing since CM 00/01 and the last few years have been pretty much abysmal. This one is not quite on the level of FM11 which was the best in recent memory imo, but it's definitely much better than 14. The ME is much more realistic, players are not skating all over the field and there's much less goals from unnatural positions.

Sure, it has some bugs and glitches, but it's definitely an improvement over last year's version.

[Mass052]

Watch your team win or lose? Check. Manage your team everytime? Check. Get your player injured every match over a tackle? Nope.
I give this a 8.4/10.

[AnthonyKyne]

The problem with the game as a whole, is that I never feel that I've masterminded a victory or underestimated an opponent.
I just had a fixture against Braintree, and when I was asked in the tunnel before the game, how much of an affect would Smith's absence have on Braintree. I didn't have a clue who Smith was or the affect it would have. I should be spending at least a small bit of my time thinking about how to expose a weakness in the opposition or limit the weaknesses my team have.
There should be emotion when I see the teamsheet from the opposition. But there never is!

I find myself just tinkering with the tactics and team until you hit a magic combination for a few games. Then rinse and repeat throughout the season as your tactic becomes stale.

Scouting improvements were nothing new, see http://www.totalvideogames.com/Champ...iew-14573.html
And they're still someway off a lot of what BGS were doing in terms of Training and Set Piece creating.

Overall, nothing really new but I'm sure I'll put 300hrs in over the next year

[bballshawn24]

if they chill with the injuries then it would be better

[elprez98]

I don't understand the issue with injuries in 14. If you have injury prone players, that's what happens. If I have someone who is injury prone, I move him out of our system.

But anyway, Good review, Z. I may pick it up in a few months when it is on sale on Steam. I'm good with 14 for right now and i'm only in year 6 or 7 of my career. I've probably got another 10 or so years before I get tired.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Football Manager 2015 Shows Improvement in Many Categories, Revamps UI (PC Review

I appreciate everyone's feedback and taking the time to read the review.

Regarding unrealistic scores and injuries, I don't feel I've been seeing those things.

It's definitely common for me to see injuries but the vast majority are minor injuries that don't necessitate removing the injured party from the match. I don't feel those injuries are uncommon in real soccer by any means.

Minor injuries certainly appear more obvious in FM where it's up to you to evaluate the injury and make a decision, as opposed to watching on television and seeing someone sometimes favoring an injury but otherwise playing on.

There's my take on it. Again, I appreciate the feedback from you all and thank you for reading.