Sega and Sports Interactive’s Football Manager 2023 is expanding and has now arrived on the PlayStation 5. It looks a little different there on the PC, but offers almost the same depth as you are used to from there. And of course the same Excel charm of a game that can literally flood you with data and numbers. So all good in Football Manager land on consoles?
Well, it’s not quite exactly the same as on the PC, but it is in large part. And if you’ve played Football Manager on consoles in years past and been happy, you will be too this year. Which is not to say that nothing happened this year.
Simplified user guidance
It’s still easy to get lost in all the data Football Manager 2023 puts at your disposal. And it’s certainly not for everyone to work their way through the dry menus and manage every little detail of your club. On the other hand, that’s what makes this game what it is. Must like. If you like it more superficial, this is not the right game for you.
What’s noticeable in Football Manager 2023 is that Sports Interactive has been working on certain areas of the console’s user experience this year. The aim behind this is to simplify the controls on the consoles. Well, operation succeeded. While it takes a moment to get used to the way you toggle through each section of the screen, once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel comfortable. Overall, the menus are easier to navigate and a new circular menu takes you faster to tactics, formation and Co.
If you absolutely cannot get along with the button assignment, click on the left stick of your controller and you have a mouse pointer on your screen. You can get used to that, too, so ultimately it’s a matter of personal preference which control method you get along with better.
What’s happening in a playful way?
You can now follow your Football Manager 2023 career, however successful, with a dynamic timeline. A nice way to present collected achievements. Licenses for the Europa League and Champions League are an equally nice addition and the Team Talks have also made it to the consoles. Although they tend to be superficial and chosen at half-time and after the game.
Other things, including Team Dynamics, are still missing. As said, it’s not exactly the PC version, but Football Manager 2023 on consoles is close. Close enough to be fascinated by it again, if you’re willing to give it a go. That includes not being put off by the match engine, which looks like it’s the year 2000 from a purely visual perspective. So there’s no graphical spectacle to be seen, and there are a few odd bugs here and there, but that doesn’t mean the results would be unrealistic. It just looks outdated, the core behind it works.
In short: The Football Manager 2023 also leaves a good impression on the consoles. It’s not exactly where the PC version is, but it offers a tremendous amount of depth for anyone looking to get into a management game. This has been the strength of the Football Manager for years, and it is not for nothing that it is also used in real-life scouting. Just look over the Match Engine and you can have a lot of fun analyzing data here. Work towards building the best club in the world and claim the crown of football. It’s definitely not for non-soccer fans, but if you enjoy it, you’ll lose a lot of time in it. Promised.
