Championship Manager 2008 Critic Reviews

Convincing, well presented and has a new swagger about it. Impressive.

Whilst the problems mean that the developers might not have quite managed to build a wonderwall, this is definitely a game you shouldn't let slide away.

Too fiddly for a casual player and not rigorous enough for those used to Football Manager's depth.

Despite its flaws, CM08 is easily BGS's best game to date and is a commendable step forward for the series. Fun and accessible, it provides a decent alternative to the complexities of Football Manager. However, a weak tactical spine and the hit and miss match engine negate the need for any serious tactical tinkering, meaning that while its personality may be split, its mainstream characteristics still dominate its make-up.

Since BGS took over the Champ Man series they have improved their game from a sure-fire relegation favourite, to a middle of the table side which is knocking on the door of European football. If these improvements continue, next year's game will be sure to bring home some silverware.

If however, you're after a management game that's highly accessible, requires only a modicum of tactical tinkering, allows you to buy the players that you really want and enables you to enjoy instant success and thrilling match highlights, then you should certainly consider opting for CM2008.

Eidos and Beautiful Game Studios are getting there. It’s a slow process yes, but they are getting closer. If they can concentrate on more of the basic stuff, team talks and being more interactive with players, rather than on the fancy stuff such as the 3D matches, then next years match could be a close one.

Championship Manager 2008 ultimately fails because it doesn't seem to know who it's aiming at.

The only relation to what Championship Manager used to be and what it is now is the name. All the talent left with Sports Interactive.