Franchise Hockey Manager 7
- December 16, 2020
- Out of the Park Developments
- 300h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Apple Store"Franchise Hockey Manager 7" is a detailed hockey strategy game, licensed by the NHL, that allows you to manage a team and guide it to glory. With options to choose from various international and historical leagues, or create your own customized league, you have complete control over finances, strategies, player trades, and drafts to build a championship team and establish a dynasty. The game offers a new and immersive experience for players.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- The game offers incredible depth and detail, making it a fantastic choice for hockey fans who enjoy management simulations.
- The new 2D match engine adds an engaging visual element to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- The developers are responsive and dedicated to improving the game, regularly addressing bugs and implementing user feedback.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
- The user interface is often described as clunky and confusing, making it difficult for new players to navigate.
- The complexity of the game can be overwhelming for those not deeply familiar with hockey, leading to a steep learning curve.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with users appreciating the managerial depth and new 2D gameplay features that enhance immersion, but expressing frustration over the lack of control in actual hockey gameplay and persistent bugs. While the trading mechanics are decent, AI decision-making is often criticized, and many players feel that the game would greatly benefit from improved core gameplay elements. Overall, the experience is seen as fulfilling from a management perspective, but significant gameplay issues detract from enjoyment.
“I spend a lot of hours on it in passive gameplay, but it has me constantly thinking about mixing and matching lines to maximize probabilities.”
“That being said, the new features such as the 2D gameplay are a game changer, and there are many quality of life improvements and visuals that help with immersion and story development.”
“Loving the 2D gameplay - only a matter of time before FHM is as refined as OOTP.”
“You do not control the actual hockey gameplay.”
“Apart from the many bugs and even discounting the many other illogical game mechanics that are present, it begs the question: why is it that now after 7 versions of this game, OOTP still cannot provide its paying customers a relatively bug-free core gameplay experience?”
“The issue I currently have is that I am getting maybe a crash every 30 minutes of gameplay, which is just unacceptable.”
- stability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs, freezes, and significant glitches that disrupt gameplay, regardless of system specifications. While developers are actively working on improvements, many players express frustration over persistent issues, particularly in historical modes, which severely impact the overall experience. Despite its depth and features, the game's stability remains a major concern after multiple iterations.
“Well, it's very in-depth and full of cool features, but it is a buggy mess and freezes often no matter your rig.”
“Historical starts don't work; after the first year, the Stanley Cup glitches, your drafts are always linked from screens to be one year ahead or behind depending on how you access it. Most players are saved as different ones when looking through team historical stats, and of course, the biggest flaw of them all: when playing historical mode, around the same season the Spanish flu hits, it bugs the game and you can never trade a player again.”
“Extremely buggy.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally considered mediocre, with a "quick" option that simplifies visuals to live box scores, which some find overwhelming. However, the introduction of 2D gameplay and improved visual features enhance immersion and storytelling, making for a more engaging experience overall.
“The nice graphical map is fine for scouting prospects.”
“That being said, the new features such as the 2D gameplay are a game changer, and there are many quality of life improvements and visuals that help with immersion and story development.”
“Graphically, this game is nothing to write home about.”
“They have a 'quick' option that replaces the graphical simulation with live box scores -- 'quick' also shows you who's on the ice, along with a number of stats, but it sims far too quick to absorb anything but a headache.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that the game's optimization needs significant improvement, particularly in its performance, which seems to rely heavily on only a few CPU cores. There are calls for more frequent updates or revisions to address these issues effectively.
“They should release every other year, or make some significant improvements to the game performance for the next revision.”
“They should release every other year, or make some significant improvements to the game's performance for the next revision.”
“This may be an optimization issue; however, it would appear that the processing is handled by only a few cores.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is criticized as a cash grab, with many users feeling that the yearly release cycle is unnecessary and overpriced.
“Otherwise, it's an annoying cash grab yearly release that doesn't need to be yearly at all, especially not at the price point.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the introduction of 2D gameplay, along with enhanced visuals and quality of life improvements, significantly enhances immersion and contributes positively to story development.
“The new features, such as the 2D gameplay, are a game changer, and the quality of life improvements and visuals significantly enhance immersion and story development.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its in-depth mechanics and extensive customization options, allowing players to experience varied gameplay on multiple playthroughs.
“A deeply immersive game with extensive replayability and customization options.”
“The game offers a rich experience that encourages multiple playthroughs with its diverse choices.”
“Each playthrough feels unique due to the various paths and strategies available.”
