Championship Manager 2006 Review

By Steve Hill Published 12 April, 2006

Just wide.

Version tested: PC

The Championship Manager/Football Manager saga has been well documented, but for those who've just come in, here's the latest score. Following a decade of dominance, Eidos acrimoniously split with original CM developer Sports Interactive, with the name reverting to the publisher. While SI went from strength to strength with the newly-branded FM, development duties for CM fell to bespoke outfit Beautiful Game Studios. Something of a tall order, it was a bit like The Beatles being replaced by some buskers and told to follow up The White Album.

Rarely was a studio less appropriately named, as to the surprise of few and glee of many, Championship Manager 5 was a shambolic bug-ridden mess that sullied the good name of the series. When the game informs you that you've secured a 2-1 draw, for instance, even the most casual of football fans will realise that something is seriously amiss.

Nevertheless, those same beautiful people have been tethered to the same typewriters and instructed to try harder. To the studio's credit, this year's model is a considerable improvement on CM5, in so much as it actually works without grinding to a halt. It's still a brutally ugly beast though, admittedly in a genre where looks aren't everything. But if Football Manager is the functional M&S of the bunch, this is in the realms of Lidl, with a cheap and nasty looking interface, whichever of the various skins you choose to use. Blue Gel, anyone?

'Championship Manager 2006' Screenshot 1

Negotiating your way around it takes some getting used to, but it's moderately functional, and most of the information you need is at your fingertips, albeit spread over a series of miserable screens, many actually copied word-for-word from ancient incarnations of the game. When it comes to actually picking the team, it's a fairly irksome business, making it all the more tempting to reach for the auto-pick button. As for the tactics screen, players can be instructed via a great big arrow to make a run, feed the ball, or - excitingly - both. And while the news messages work in a largely identical format to previous instalments, 2006 sees the addition of some reasonably comprehensive pre-match previews.

On the pitch, the aesthetics improve marginally from CM5, with the action played out by what appear to be headless Subbuteo figures. A variety of camera angles are on offer, although the default 'TV view' is probably the best, and at first glance it appears as if a game of football is being simulated. It doesn't really bear close examination though, and over time begins to resemble blind football, with only a bell in the ball required to complete the macabre image. The keepers are probably the most inept, regularly missing crosses or deflecting the ball into the net. In their defence, they have no heads nor arms.

Overall, the play rarely gels, and there's little sense of the match ebbing and flowing, instead seeming more like a series of largely unrelated plays and set-pieces. To the game's credit, you can watch as few or as many highlights as you choose, thanks to a comprehensive filtering system that enables you to tailor the action for your viewing pleasure.

'Championship Manager 2006' Screenshot 2

When you're not watching the action, it's mildly bewildering, with the default screen presenting a swathe of largely useless information. Does anyone really need to know the current best and worst player on each team in terms of Performance, Condition, Outfield Work Rate, and Outfield Touches, particularly as each factor changes approximately every half a second? Elsewhere, you can see the player's individual ratings, but not at the same time as their physical condition, and not while watching the highlights. But even if you do want to pick over the details and attempt to make some tactical changes, the difference they make seems negligible, which either means that you've lost the support of the dressing room, or the game is knackered.

Awkward though the match experience is, it can occasionally elicit a glimmer of satisfaction when you win, and the odd grunt of disapproval when you lose. However, it never comes close to the genuine tension created by the classic versions of the game, and compared to the extremes of emotion they could engender, this might as well be a screensaver.

It's probably damning it with faint praise to say that one of the best features is the fact that you can play it in a window, thus allowing you to simultaneously get on with something less boring instead, such as Instant Messenger stalking, online poker, or even some work (particularly if your work is reviewing the game). The point is that the game will chug away in the background with minimal input, and there appears to have been a conscious attempt to cut down on the admin required. For instance, first team players who are lacking match practice will automatically be played in the reserves. And while that may be one of the most boring sentences ever committed to space, it does hint at the streamlining that has been attempted. That said, you'd be a bit pissed off if one of them picked up an injury.

'Championship Manager 2006' Screenshot 3

It's by no means a terrible game. The stats are reasonably in order, and the transfers are mainly realistic. Even with the optional club benefactor - the equivalent of Football Manager Handheld's Sugar Daddy - you'll still struggle to bring Dennis Bergkamp to Chester City. Ultimately though, you only really need one football management game in your life. Or none, ideally. But if you insist, you have to decide between a game that sucks up the hours and leaves you a hollow-eyed ghoul, or one that you'll play for a couple of days, shrug, and toss on to the pile. Can you guess which one this is?

By way of tenuous analogy, if Football Manager is hardcore porn, then this is softcore. As a famous letter to Viz wisely observed: "What's the point? People who don't like porn don't like it. And people who do like porn don't like it."

5 / 10

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Comments (44) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • LetsGo #1 6 years ago

    Can you PLEASE PLEASE review the PSP version (completely diff to its PC ugly sister!!!).

  • Perry #2 6 years ago

    I'm still waiting for my FM06 PSP to arrive.

    Where are you!

    And, where is the FM for PSP review? Very keen to read that, although I've obviously pre-ordered months ago.
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 11:52

  • krudster #3 6 years ago

    FM PSP review coming soon - probably early next week, what with the Easter break. FM 360 coming sooner!

  • LetsGo #4 6 years ago

    And CM:pSP review?

    /damn this bias towards SI!

  • vandy404 #5 6 years ago

    Good review. :)

  • vane101 #6 6 years ago

    It was unfair to overly criticise CM2006 about 2-1 draws and the like because, if I recall rightly, both Football Manager 2005 and 2006 managed this feat until patched. Otherwise a fair review I guess.

    SI Games needs competition though or they'll get lazy. There's signs of this already. And SI Games admit they have to bring out a new version every year to keep afloat regardless of what new features they are able to add. Even Sega's umbrella ownership can't protect them for long against any future low sales.

    Oh yeah and I can't even play Football Manager at the moment because the last patch made the copy protection software refuse to recognize my disk. So it's not all rosy on the other side...

  • gizmo #7 6 years ago

    "Rarely was a studio less appropriately named, as to the surprise of few and glee of many, Championship Manager 5 was a shambolic bug-ridden mess that sullied the good name of the series. When the game informs you that you've secured a 2-1 draw, for instance, even the most casual of football fans will realise that something is seriously amiss."

    Genius.

  • marc_si #8 6 years ago

    "SI Games needs competition though or they'll get lazy. There's signs of this already"

    Really? - I'll have to mention it to my wife next time she complains I'm a workaholic ;)

  • vane101 #9 6 years ago

    @Marc

    Hehe! Well you know what I mean! And what about that copy protection fix huh?! :)

  • Perry #10 6 years ago

    "SI Games needs competition though or they'll get lazy. There's signs of this already"

    I was just about to say that the last thing you could accuse SI games of was laziness.

    Krudster: Cheers - look forward to it
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 12:48

  • wolfen #11 6 years ago

    Seems a fair review. I do like the Subbutteo looks of the match engine, altough I've heard the "simulation" part is worse than pretty much anything done before. I guess FM2006 and FM06 can rest relaxed for the next months.

    On the other hand, the interface of ChampMan was always a turd, but I've only seen complaints about it right after SI jumped ship. FM is slightly better on that aspect, but still far from anything that deserves more than mild criticism.

  • LetsGo #12 6 years ago

    Wonder if it sells more than FM like it did last time......

  • Perry #13 6 years ago

    Really, didn't know that CM out sold FM?

  • krudster #14 6 years ago

    Err, you might want to check your facts!

  • nickthegun #15 6 years ago

    That Viz quote is applicable in so many circumstances. As is 'Its Official: Morrissey is a Twat'.

  • krudster #16 6 years ago

    ChartTrack sales up to the end of 2005.

    FM 2006: 288k - PC only
    CM5: 277k - PC/PS2/Xbox/PSP (of which 162k were on the PC alone)

    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 13:37

  • Stickman #17 6 years ago

    FM outsold CM many times over.

    edit - sorry, I just meant on pc.
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 13:34

  • LetsGo #18 6 years ago

    Ok, sorry, thought CM just overtook them. By bad, didnt realise it was that close!

  • Kay #19 6 years ago

    So Kristan, FM PSP - any good? Any early impressions you can post?

    K

  • krudster #20 6 years ago

    See my preview - plenty of thoughts there.

  • Jay22 #21 6 years ago

    Kristen - aren't you supposed to be impartial?
    I heard Sega bought SI...but didn't know they got Eurogamer...

    In fact this is the most preconceived review I've ever read.
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 14:18

  • T4RG4 #22 6 years ago

    What BGS needs is a really hot designer (not female babe) to have a look at the whole game. Good on them for getting a version up and running though, not only do they have to compete against an established game they have to take on SI's image and fan base ;)

    But there is surely scope to take on SI because they arent progressing game content/design wise as much as they could these days (IMHO and said as an outsider).

    *Designer for hire - will work for food*
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 14:23

  • LetsGo #23 6 years ago

    Its always been in same Jay, why do you think CM:2k6 PSP has had no review yet?

    Be sure to sure FM adverts on the site any day now.
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/06 @ 14:36

  • krudster #24 6 years ago

    I dunno, you complain when we don't review CM, then complain when we do.

    Bleh.

  • Furbs #25 6 years ago

    Is Sega the new Sony then? :p

    /stirs conspiracy pot

  • LetsGo #26 6 years ago

    I've never complained about that Krud mate, only complained about why you aint reviewed the PSP vers...

  • krudster #27 6 years ago

    I've addressed before why we didn't review that, let's not go over old ground.

  • skybluesam86 #28 6 years ago

    I can tell from the screenshots that the game is wholly unrealistic - when the hell would Chester ever beat Coventry? ¬_¬

    That Viz quote is applicable in so many circumstances. As is 'Its Official: Morrissey is a Twat'.

    And Morrissey is God.

  • morriss #29 6 years ago

    FM PSP review coming soon - probably early next week, what with the Easter break. FM 360 coming sooner!


    Can't wait for that.

  • Jay22 #30 6 years ago

    Na there's jsut complaints about wanting a review - not a diatribe.

    For instance "Does anyone really need to know the current best and worst player on each team in terms of Performance, Condition, Outfield Work Rate, and Outfield Touches"
    Well YES its a managment game.

  • thehat #31 6 years ago

    Sooo...not as good as CM5 then?

    (CM5 6/10)

    /hides

  • Jay22 #32 6 years ago

    LOL!!!
    Didn't even think of that!
    Point proven!

  • krudster #33 6 years ago

    Not really - different reviewers.

    It seems a lot of people thought the 6/10 I awarded CM5 was generous, and despite the apparent contradiction in the text, it's obvious Steve thought CM5 was worth considerably less than 6.

  • Jay22 #34 6 years ago

    So there's no set review procedure? It's all just give and go as you will?

  • krudster #35 6 years ago

    Sorry if this isn't clear from the outset, but a review isn't scientific, it's an opinion. We don't have a hive mind, and if Steve thought CM5 was worth 4 (for argument's sake), then to award a 5 based on where he thinks it sits within our scoring system is fair game.

    I'm sure the magazines which awarded Driver 3 an 8/10 still reviewed Parallel Lines in terms of it being an improvement. And then gave it a 7 or whatever.

  • LetsGo #36 6 years ago

    Krud, how will you compare FM:2k6 PSP with Champ Man 2k6 PSP?

  • krudster #37 6 years ago

    I haven't played CM PSP - Steve has, and will be reviewing FM PSP, so we'll find out soon enough.

  • LetsGo #38 6 years ago

    Okey dokie.

  • Perry #39 6 years ago

    Just got my PSP version.

    Might have to write my first ever review after this. I can not wait to try this out.

  • A_Nonny_Moose #40 6 years ago

    It seems to me that getting Steve Hill to write a game review these days is a bit like replacing Kieron Gillen with a blind chimp and telling it to pen a comprehensive appraisal of a football management game.

    A blind chimp with smashed fingers, that is.


    Rarely has a "review" been less appropriately named, and to the surprise of many and glee of a few, we stumble upon this shambolic review of Championship Manager 2006.

    When Hill informs you he expects Dennis Bergkamp to end up at Chester City, because they've a few extra bob in the bank, even the most casual of football fans will realise that something is seriously amiss. Perhaps the Arsenal hitman has signed a secret deal with Hearts we don't know about...


    Even more surprising are such comments that read:

    "Does anyone really need to know the current best and worst player on each team in terms of Performance, Condition, Outfield Work Rate, and Outfield Touches"


    Perhaps to the shock of Mr Hill, but not to the surprise of many far more knowledgeable in football, such statistics as "Outfield Touches" are crucial to much coaching and scouting that goes on in the "real world". So in answer to his question - Yes.

    Perhaps this is relatively basic knowledge, perhaps not, but you have to ask why Hill has picked up upon this. Incorrectly.

    Especially when we consider that the review hasn’t even mentioned over a key feature, the player interaction, which is far more advanced than anything out there at the moment. I'm guessing once this filters down towards the "other" football management games, it will get noted, and highlighted, and such mighty praise duly heaped upon it...

    Well unless its FIFA Manager of course. Picking up a Mr Hill review of the EA game, and no where does he mention their excellent half time team talks, the post match press talks, etc, etc, etc. Casually glossed over, it may appear – but yet the same features are mentioned in another football management game review, which appeared after the FIFA game.

    It almost seems like there's some kind of bias that I can't quite put my finger on...hardly a good attitude to have when approaching a review from what should be an even handed perspective.


    You see at first glance it looks like a standard review. It doesn't really bear close examination though, and over time it begins to resemble a 7am coffee-fuelled stab at last-minute GCSE coursework. By a blind chimp. In it's defence, we did say it had smashed fingers.


    Overall the review rarely gels, and there's little sense that the game has been played to any degree - instead seeming more like a series of largely unrelated moans and whines about something that's not been produced elsewhere in North London. To the review's credit, you can close it by clicking that little X in the top right hand corner of the screen.


    Awkward though the review appears to be, it does occasionally elicit a glimmer of satisfaction when it begrudgingly notes some improved feature, or other. But such moments are few and far between, and it never comes close to the genuine article that you'd expect it to be. Considering the emotion that infuses football management games, this might as well be a finger painting. By a chimp. (With smashed fingers).


    It's probably damning it with faint praise to say that one of the best features is the fact that you can read it in a window, thus allowing you to simultaneously get on with something less boring instead, such as Instant Messenger stalking, online poker, or even some work.


    By way of (pathetically) tenuous analogy, if another Eurogamer review is hardcore porn, then this is softcore. As a famous letter to Viz wisely observed: "What's the point? People who don't like porn don't like it. And people who do like porn don't like it."


    4/10

  • thefilthandthefury #41 6 years ago

    Haha A_Nonny_Moose, that was genius.

  • vane101 #42 6 years ago

    Nah, it was just petty and insulting.

  • noglet #43 6 years ago

    Come off it, the game's awful. 150 000-odd sales last time round and it could consider itself lucky: it'd be a surprise if it topped 100 000 this time, wouldn't it? I say this not because of a vendetta or anything, punishing the owners of the franchise, as I guess sometimes people do -- and probably they deserve it, I suppose -- just because the game is bobbins - it has been for years, actually, since before the sell-off in my opinion. Pretty much since they tried to tag on things like player interaction to what had been an imaginative, almost table-top RPG experience in many ways.

    I think the whole fussball management sim needs a revolution anyway. Man the barricades and all that. Something really new: hasn't been anything like the shock of Champman 3, and that was 10 years ago, pretty much.

    La di dah, though.

  • absinthe #44 6 years ago

    A Nonny Mouse said: "...Well unless its FIFA Manager of course. Picking up a Mr Hill review of the EA game, and no where does he mention their excellent half time team talks, the post match press talks, etc, etc, etc. Casually glossed over, it may appear – but yet the same features are mentioned in another football management game review, which appeared after the FIFA game."

    You are so right Mr Mouse, I was amazed with the review in Gamer. Steve managed to pour scorn on everything, ignore two enormous features (website & match analysis) and yet still ended up giving it a much bigger score than the year before. Still, the average review was 82% for the game, but it was/is totally ignored by the press for some reason. Certainly a game that showed big improvement although remains flawed.

    No Eurogamer review Kristin...? I know you were sick for the press day but how can you claim to be such genre fans when ignoring a third of the products?
    Edited by 1 at 18/04/06 @ 03:26