Franchise Hockey Manager 2
- September 28, 2015
- Out Of The Park Developments
Franchise Hockey Manager 2 is a wonderful entry for hockey into the world of sports simulation, and is of the highest quality in terms of design, layout, navigation, and accuracy. Nothing particularly special to look at when compared to other “action” sports titles, Franchise Hockey Manager is for hardcore hockey fans who are more interested in Euroleague transfer rules than on-the-ice action.
"Franchise Hockey Manager 2" is a business sports simulation game that allows players to manage a hockey team in one of 21 global leagues, or create their own league and start date. The game features deep customization and realism, with responsibilities including finances, salary cap, staff hiring, trades, contract negotiations, and drafting new players. Available for both single-player and multiplayer modes.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Franchise Hockey Manager 2 offers a deep and customizable experience for hockey fans, with a significant improvement over its predecessor.
- The simulation engine is praised for its realism and the ability to create historical leagues, providing an engaging experience for long-term management.
- The game has a clean and straightforward UI, making it easier for players to navigate and manage their teams.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, particularly when advancing through multiple seasons, making it frustrating for players.
- AI management decisions can be erratic, often overriding player control and leading to poor trade and lineup choices.
- The interface is considered clunky and unintuitive compared to other sports management games, detracting from the overall experience.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes reported during key actions such as trade offers, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Overall, the presence of numerous bugs detracts from gameplay.
“The game is very buggy; for example, I made a trade offer and the opposing team turned it down, allowing me to make changes, but every time I do, the game crashes.”
“Extremely buggy.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a complete lack of hockey atmosphere, suggesting that the game's environment fails to capture the essence and excitement typically associated with the sport.
“There is zero hockey atmosphere whatsoever.”
“The game feels lifeless and lacks any immersive environment.”
“The ambiance is flat and fails to capture the excitement of the sport.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has been criticized for its absence, with one user expressing strong dissatisfaction and stating that the lack of music contributed to their overall negative experience.
“I wouldn't buy this game again if it was a dollar. I would have tried to get a refund, but this game runs so slow that I went over the 2-hour limit before I finished my first season. There's no music!”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players have noted that the game's optimization is hindered by persistent AI interference, which disrupts the intended experience of team development over multiple seasons, regardless of player performance.
“The point of the game is developing a team over a number of seasons, but regardless of your performance, the AI constantly interferes.”
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I often experience lag and performance issues that ruin the overall gameplay experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response from users reflects disappointment and frustration, indicating a strong desire for the game to succeed but ultimately feeling let down, leading to a reluctance to engage with the brand in the future.
- gameplay1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay engine has seen significant improvements compared to the previous year, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
“The gameplay engine is significantly improved compared to last year.”
“The mechanics are smooth and intuitive, making it easy to pick up and play.”
“The variety of gameplay options keeps each session fresh and engaging.”
