Premier Manager 2

The Good
The range of options is unsurpassed. The variety of formations and playing styles gives you a chance to emulate almost any successful style, and adjust it based on the talent on offer to you.

The presentation is impressive, with some nice menu designs and logical groupings. The telephone is superb, and the range of things than can be done (3 levels of insurance, hiring and firing staff, specifying what types of players scouts look for, choosing the type of youth players) is unprecedented.

Ground improvements, sponsorship deals and ticket pricing add depth and variety to the game.

I like the transfer system, especially the opportunity to save money by signing out-of-contract players you don't need, then sell them (or someone of similar standard) on for a sizable profit.

The match presentation is thrilling, and the 6 different speeds help.

The Bad
Being Halifax Town FC fans, the programmers made their team unrealistically good, far superior to the other Conference sides, making first-season promotion unlikely (though achievable) if you play as someone else.

A few of the random elements, such as players under 30 retiring unannounced to run a country pub, are infuriating and unrealistic - lose your goalkeeper that way after the transfer deadline, as once happened to me, and the season's ruined.

Negotiating new contracts at the start of each season can be a chore.

The Bottom Line
A comprehensive icon-based football management game. You start off managing a team in the Conference, the fifth level of UK football, and aim to reach the Premier League and ultimately the European competitions. You can do this by developing your team as time goes on, or showing your skills and getting hired for jobs at other clubs.

Almost every decision affecting the club is down to you. Signing and selling players, selecting the team and tactics, in-match substitutions, training, co-ordinating scouting, ground development, arranging sponsorship deals and negotiating new job offers are just some of the tasks at hand.