Retro Football Boss
- September 12, 2016
- 1888 Games
"Retro Football Boss" is a historical football management simulation, allowing you to manage English professional leagues from 1888 to 1998, with German leagues coming soon. The game features over 40,000 players, 130 teams, and 8,000 options for when and where to start your career, all meticulously researched and compiled. Experience the thrill of managing all senior competitions, from domestic leagues to the European Cup, and lead your team to victory in this nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of early Championship Manager titles, allowing players to explore historical football seasons from 1888 to 1988.
- The extensive database of historical players and teams showcases a significant amount of research and detail, providing a unique opportunity to manage iconic football figures.
- The concept of rewriting football history and the potential for future updates and improvements are highly appreciated by fans of football management games.
- The game is plagued by frequent crashes and bugs, making it nearly unplayable and frustrating for users who want to progress through seasons.
- The user interface is often described as slow and unintuitive, with various glitches that hinder the overall gameplay experience.
- Despite its potential, the game has been in 'Early Access' for an extended period without significant updates, leading to concerns about the developer's commitment to improving the product.
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and interface glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as unresponsive buttons. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, many express frustration over the lack of a reliable save system and overall readiness for release. Overall, the game is seen as needing considerable improvements to reach its potential.
“The game is absolutely riddled with bugs and menu glitches.”
“Ok, onto inaccuracies and glitches, many of which I would have put up with if the game had a stable way to save weeks of play.”
“Some interface glitches - for example, I once had a return button stuck on screen, blocking other buttons, and leaving me stuck with no option but to kill the process.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users emphasize that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the focus on database depth and immersive gameplay makes the experience worthwhile for those interested in detailed football management. The graphics are considered secondary to the game's core features, appealing to players who prioritize content over visual aesthetics.
“Maybe I'm a person who thinks that database and immersion are more important than last-generation graphics.”
“If you want to rewrite all (or any decade) of the English football league history without being annoyed and disappointed by the lack of graphical/interface beauty compared to other games, this is the right choice.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic titles like CM2, featuring straightforward mechanics that prioritize simplicity.
“Reminds me of the gameplay of CM2 up until 01/02.”
“In terms of gameplay, it's simple.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently in early access, with developers actively engaging with the community to address bugs and improve performance. While there is significant potential and ongoing efforts to enhance the game, users note that optimization and stability still require further work.
“There are many positives about the game; it is currently in early access, so the performance will be improved and new features will be added. The developers are always on the forums answering questions, and they do their best to squash bugs and improve the game. You want this game to be successful for them as they put so much work (and research) into it, and it has so much potential; just need to fix a couple of things.”
“But still, a bit of work needs to be done, particularly in terms of performance and stability.”
“But still a bit of work to be done, particularly in terms of performance and stability.”
“There are however many positives about the game, it is currently in early access so the performance will be improved and new features will be added, and the devs are always on the forums answering questions and they do their best to squash bugs and improve the game, and you want this game to be successful for them as they put so much work (and research) into it and it has so much potential just need to fix a couple of things.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players enjoy the fun of exploring various squads and discovering famous players in their early careers, but many find the grinding aspect can become tedious over time.
“It is quite good fun trawling through the different squads in different seasons and finding the famous players before they became stars, but it does get a little tedious.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game offers players a rich historical narrative, allowing them to engage with real-life events and iconic moments in football history, from the tactical evolution of clubs to significant player transfers and league changes. Players can immerse themselves in various eras, experiencing the challenges and triumphs of managing teams from 1888 to the present day, making it a deeply engaging and nostalgic experience for football fans.
“You will have the chance to change the real-life story of your favorite clubs, with the ability to play and see old 2-2-7 tactics, experience tactical and rule changes, and go back to players earning £1 wages in 1888. There is an incredible amount of options, allowing you to choose any club from 1888 to almost the present day. You can see old Stanley Matthews in action and try to get him out from Stoke, experience the return of the league after World War I and II, be the Huddersfield manager and try to maintain the champions' status back in 1923 and the following years, witness Billy Bremner arriving at Leeds in 1959, and aim to beat Liverpool's league dominance from the 70s to the 90s. You can also see Alan Shearer's career from the start, and so much more.”
“The storytelling in this game is immersive, allowing players to engage deeply with the history of football and its legendary figures. Each match feels like a chapter in a larger narrative, making every victory and defeat resonate on a personal level.”
“The game masterfully intertwines historical events with player careers, creating a rich tapestry of football history that players can explore and influence. It's not just about winning matches; it's about experiencing the evolution of the sport.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving players feeling disconnected from the protagonists.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or emotional impact.”