Football Manager 2014

Football Manager is an engrossing experience, and all fans of football will find something here to love.

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Football Manager 2014 is a single-player and multi-player sports simulation game that focuses on football management. The game features improved transfer negotiations with more realistic approaches and new clauses, such as the ability to loan players back to their original club. It offers both a turn-based and live negotiation system for transfers and contracts. However, the game has been reported to have some bugs.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 837 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Incredibly addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged for hours.
The game offers a deep and immersive football management experience with extensive tactical options.
Improvements in the media interaction and transfer negotiation systems enhance realism and player engagement.

The match engine has significant bugs, leading to unrealistic player behavior and frustrating gameplay.
Frequent crashes and technical issues detract from the overall experience.
Many players feel that the game lacks substantial innovation compared to previous versions, making it feel repetitive.

gameplay
32 mentions
19 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and addictive tactical elements, while others criticize its realism and AI issues that detract from the overall experience. Many players appreciate the extensive management features and the immersive nature of the game, but express frustration over bugs and inconsistencies in gameplay mechanics. Overall, while the game offers significant replayability and detailed management, it struggles with balancing realism and enjoyment, leading to a polarized reception among players.
- “Gameplay: 8.5 - very fun gameplay, if you can deal with menus all day.”
- “Gameplay exceeds my expectations.”
- “Good overall mechanics, very immersive and endless replayability.”
- “The problem I have with the game is the excruciatingly bad and frustrating AI and gameplay. FM has always had odd AI, but this year's just has me in disbelief. It's to the point where you are watching supposed Premier League players have a match, but it's like watching pub football.”
- “It is dreadful; players seemingly don't follow instructions, and the mistakes players make just aren't realistic. It's come to the point that while I'm playing, I can actually predict what's going to happen, like a penalty to the opposition or my team missing a sitter. The gameplay has changed so much that the AI has become predictably unpredictable, making it hard to actually do well.”
- “Yes, it has all the clubs and the teams and all this real-life boardroom activity, but personally, I think the gameplay is a letdown.”
graphics
24 mentions
17 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players expressing dissatisfaction over outdated visuals and missing elements like club emblems and player faces. While some note improvements in the match engine and animations, others feel that the graphical quality remains subpar and detracts from the overall experience. There is a consensus that further upgrades are needed to enhance the aesthetic appeal and realism of the game.
- “Every next series of the game is just about polishing with a new interface and graphics.”
- “Vastly improved graphics from a few years ago, updated to include all current transfers.”
- “On the field during the matches, there have been improved animations and graphics.”
- “The only minus comes from crappy graphics, which drive players insane from seeing players on the field doing mind-boggling mistakes. I see this as a graphic problem, not a problem of the game itself, and the amount of life/time one will lose to this moloch of a game.”
- “The graphics are not just grossly outdated, but do not represent what is supposed to happen.”
- “On the negative side, commentary is still the simplistic text from the old CM01, match graphics are of a fairly low quality, and there's no audio except a C64-quality 'white noise' crowd.”
stability
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes during key moments like team setup, and persistent glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over the game's unfinished state, suggesting that it feels more like a cash grab than a polished product. Despite some enjoyment found in the gameplay, the overwhelming consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability issues.
- “Crashes every time during the game prep and freezes for team talks, team setup, etc. I have tried 10-15 times and have been unable to proceed in any game.”
- “To put it bluntly, if you buy this game you would have been better off burning 30 quid in the garden. It would save you the hassle of buying a new laptop after you have put your fist/foot through the screen in utter frustration and anger that you have been so naive to think Sports Interactive actually care about fixing the game and not just milking fans of more money to point out the bugs and glitches in a half-completed, half-arsed effort of a game.”
- “For the 3rd year running, SI have once again released a buggy, unfinished game.”
replayability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to the diverse experiences of managing different teams, from top-tier clubs to lower league challengers, each presenting unique challenges. Players find the depth and evolving circumstances within the game create a rewarding and constantly engaging experience, ensuring endless replay value. While some elements may require adjustment, the overall replayability remains strong, comparable to previous versions.
- “Lots of replayability, as each team you manage offers a unique set of circumstances - from playing a top team and challenging for league titles and cups to managing a lower league team and fighting for promotion.”
- “Extreme depth which leads to unlimited replayability.”
- “The effort it takes to build a decent team, both performance-wise and financially, produces a massively rewarding experience. The events and developments in the world mean that even when you have that awesome team, it's a constant challenge to keep it there, so replayability is abundant.”
- “Massive value, with no end of replayability.”
- “A couple of things look a bit out of place or need some time getting used to, like the new training interface, for instance, but otherwise, it's as replayable as the last few versions.”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its smooth performance, even on older hardware, providing a rewarding experience in team building and management. However, some users express frustration with the complexity of decision-making and question the impact of managerial choices on overall performance, suggesting a disconnect between gameplay mechanics and the intended managerial experience.
- “The effort it takes to build a decent team, both performance-wise and financially, produces a massively rewarding experience. The events and developments in the world mean that even when you have that awesome team, it's a constant challenge to keep it there, providing replayability in droves.”
- “Finest football manager game to date; everything runs smoothly, even on my rather outdated laptop. There's plenty of fluidity in this edition of FM 2014, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who feels that they can lead their team to glory.”
- “If the managerial side (training/improving facilities, etc.) of the game doesn't have an impact on the simulation performance, how can you call this a manager game?”
- “You need to have hours of time to read and a scholar's degree to make such precise decisions that probably have zero impact on the overall performance of your team.”
- “The match engine is prettier and has more animations but is not as optimized as FM12.”
- “If the managerial side (training/improving facilities, etc.) of the game doesn't have an impact on the sim performance, how can you call this a manager game?”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever puns, amusing player antics, and relatable scenarios that blend in-game events with real-life situations. Players appreciate the lightheartedness, particularly in the contrast between expected professionalism and the humorous mishaps that occur, making for a consistently entertaining experience.
- “This explains the clever pun in the title and is just one of the many funny moments you will enjoy with this game.”
- “This game will become your only friend; one of those friends that you always give a well-thought-out birthday gift, but when your birthday rolls around, they just give you a $10 gift card to Walmart and a card that was meant for a 9-year-old but they wrote a 1 in front of the 9's in the card because they thought it would be funny.”
- “It's really humorous to see professional players, even top players, perform like that.”
story
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of a coherent plot, with players noting that it consists of a series of disjointed events rather than a structured narrative. Some users express frustration over the absence of a traditional storyline, suggesting that the game feels aimless and unengaging.
- “The story unfolds through a series of unique and diverse events that come together in an unexpected way, creating a narrative that feels alive and dynamic.”
- “The narrative is not structured in a traditional sense, but rather evolves organically, offering players a fresh and engaging experience.”
- “Story: no story.”
- “There is no plot in the habitual understanding of this word; its role is carried out by a chain of all means different and unique events which are formed literally 'on the fly.'”
music
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's lack of in-game music has received mixed feedback; while some players see it as a downside, others appreciate the freedom to play their own music. Overall, the absence of a musical score allows for a more focused gameplay experience, though it may not appeal to those who prefer a more traditional gaming atmosphere.
- “Though the only downside is that there isn't any in-game music, which may be a plus point, since I could play my own music.”
- “This game is so complex it could make your head spin...the major problem you are going to find is the urgency to start playing while you are not ready to face the music yet...starting to play unready and you get punished severely...your immediate reflexes would blame the game for whatever reason...but you must bear in mind that it has been programmed for many years, each year turning it into the monster it is today.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a significant emotional investment in the game, often feeling intense frustration and engagement as they root for their team's success. This deep connection leads some to prefer Football Manager over other titles, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and commitment.
- “As a player, you will be sitting in your chair screaming at your players to do better; the emotional investment is huge.”
- “Never again will I be touching my Xbox 360 to play FIFA; I'll be reaching straight for my laptop and playing Football Manager.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration over the lack of a World Cup logo in the game, feeling that it is odd given the strong emphasis on Rio-themed advertising, which raises questions about the monetization strategy and its alignment with promotional content.
- “I still have not managed to get a World Cup logo; I don't even think it exists for this game, which is strange considering the emphasis on the Rio advertising.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the new features in the grinding mechanics, but many find that it can become tedious as the game progresses.
- “The grinding becomes repetitive and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “After a while, the constant need to grind for resources makes the gameplay feel monotonous.”
- “While there are some interesting elements, the excessive grinding detracts from the overall experience.”