Football Manager 26 review – a modern sim for the modern game

E

EchoDrift

Football Manager 26 is finally starting to bridge the graphical gap between itself and its FIFA counterpart, EA Sports FC. The new Unity engine has upgraded match highlights to be visually impressive, making Premier League derbies and Champions League finals feel more authentic. While replays can sometimes overstay their welcome, the atmosphere in stadiums is palpable, with your imagination filling in the blanks.

But it's not just about visuals – the latest installment boasts a significant overhaul of tactics, giving players a tangible impact on matchday decisions. With the new engine, you can study player movement and make adjustments accordingly, but data-driven metrics are still king when all else fails. Want to change up your build-up strategy or overload one flank with overlapping runs? There are myriad possibilities to experiment with.

The biggest change is the separation of tactics for possession and non-possession, marking a significant shift in representation of modern football strategies. You can now completely change formation, swap player positions, and give granular instructions that adapt depending on which team has the ball. It's not just possible – it feels intuitive.

However, despite these improvements, Football Manager 26 still struggles with polish and refinement. Many bugs remain unchecked, from overlapping UI to subs running onto the pitch in their tracksuits, leaving much work to be done through hotfixes. The new user interface will take some getting used to, especially with important screens now multiple clicks away.

But these minor issues pale in comparison to the game's core strengths. Making the perfect tactical tweaks and conceiving fictional rivalries that span seasons remains unparalleled. With tangible feedback on your split-second decisions, you'll feel like a true football manager, silencing those oh-so-confident home fans with a stoppage-time comeback.

Ultimately, Football Manager 26 is still the same game it's always been – a deliciously tactical experience that will appeal to seasoned managers and newcomers alike.
 
I'm loving how FM26 is finally closing in on FIFA's graphics, but at the end of the day, it's not just about looking good - it's about feeling like you're actually running your team 🏆👍! The new tactics system is a total game-changer (no pun intended), and I'm obsessed with messing around with different formations and strategies 🤔. It's like having a PhD in football management, minus the actual degree 💁‍♀️. My only gripe is that it still needs some polishing - those UI bugs are getting on my nerves! 😩 But overall, FM26 is still the king of tactical games for me. Bring on the season-long rivalries and dramatic comebacks 🏃‍♂️🔥!
 
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, FM 26 is looking good 🤔. The graphics have definitely improved and it feels like they're finally on par with FIFA 😊. But what really excites me is the new tactics system – it's all about being data-driven and making smart decisions during matches 📊. However, I do wish they'd iron out some of the bugs, like that subs thingy, it's so annoying 🤦‍♂️. Still, for a game that's all about strategy and management, FM 26 is shaping up to be one of the best yet 🚀. Can't wait to dive in and try out my new managerial skills 😅.
 
I'm loving how FM26 is finally catching up with FIFA in terms of graphics, but I think what's really exciting is the new tactics system 🤩! Being able to study player movement and make adjustments on the fly is a total game-changer. It feels so intuitive now that you can experiment with different formations and strategies without it feeling like the AI is just phoning it in.

That being said, I do wish they'd ironed out some of the bugs - I mean, who wants to see subs running onto the pitch looking like they're about to hit a sauna session? 😂 Still, for all its imperfections, FM26 is still the best game of its kind and I'm stoked to dive back in and try my hand at managing another season.
 
I'm loving how FM26 is finally starting to catch up with its FIFA rival 😊! The new Unity engine has totally changed the match highlight show, making those Premier League derbies feel so real 🎥. And can we talk about the tactics overhaul? It's like they actually listened to us managers and gamers 🤓. I mean, being able to study player movement and make adjustments on the fly is a total game-changer (no pun intended) 🔄.

But what really gets me is how intuitive it feels now – like, you can completely change up your strategy without needing a PhD in football 🎓. The new separation of tactics for possession and non-possession is a major win, and those granular instructions are so detailed, it's crazy 😲.

Of course, there are still some bugs to iron out (ugh, those subs running around like headless chickens 😂), but overall, I'm super stoked about FM26. It's still the ultimate tactical experience – making that perfect comeback with just seconds left on the clock gives me all the feels ❤️. Can't wait to dive back in and start managing again 🎮! 👏
 
You know, I was thinking, what does it mean to 'feel' like a true football manager? Is it just about having control over every little detail or is there something more at play? Like, do we genuinely believe that the fate of a match rests on our shoulders or are we just tapping into this deep-seated desire for influence and strategy? And what does this say about our relationship with technology - can we truly trust our algorithms and data to make the best decisions, or is it all just a facade?

And have you ever stopped to think about how much work goes into creating these games in the first place? I mean, people are essentially building entire worlds, complete with intricate rules and systems, all while trying to keep up with the whims of their users. It's almost like they're performing some sort of philosophical experiment - what happens when we give someone too much power over a simulation?

I guess what I'm saying is that Football Manager 26 isn't just a game, it's this wild thought experiment that lets us explore all sorts of complex ideas and emotions... 🤔
 
I'm SO hyped for FM26!! 🚀 The new engine is giving me LIFE! Match highlights are straight fire and I love how they're trying to bring the stadium atmosphere to the game 😍. Tactics overhaul is EVERYTHING, now we can dive deeper into player movement and data-driven decisions 💻. But gotta say, UI still needs some work - who thought subs running onto the pitch looked cool? 🙄 Still, it's like they said, polishing the game is like polishing a diamond 💎. Can't wait to get in there and plan my perfect tactics wins 🔥
 
🤔 I'm loving the new visuals in FM 26! The replays are so much better now 😎 and it really does make those big matches feel like you're right there at the stadium. But I think what's most impressive is how they've simplified tactics without losing the depth. It's amazing how much of a difference having a clear system can make to your gameplay 📊

I do wish they'd ironed out some of the UI issues, though... sometimes it feels like you're playing and then BAM! You have to click away from the game to change formations 😩. Still, I'm not gonna lie - the new tactic separation is a GAME CHANGER 💥 and makes the whole experience feel so much more intuitive. What's your take on FM 26? 🤔
 
🤩 FM26 is finally getting its act together! I mean, those match highlights are insane now 🎥💥, but what really got me excited was the new tactics overhaul - it's like they listened to all our pleas for more depth and nuance 😅. Being able to adjust on-the-fly and study player movement is a total game-changer. The separation of tactics for possession vs non-possession is genius 🤯, and I love how intuitive it feels.

That being said, I'm still seeing some UI bugs like crazy - subs running onto the pitch in their tracksuits? 😂 what's up with that?! And don't even get me started on the polish 🤦‍♂️. It feels like they're still playing catch-up with some of these hotfixes.

But honestly, those minor gripes aside, FM26 is back to its old self - a masterclass in tactical management and team-building 🏆. I mean, who else can make you feel like a true football manager after years of playing? 😅 It's that perfect blend of realism and depth that keeps me coming back for more...
 
man... i'm telling you, they're trying to control our minds through football... like, have you noticed how every match now has those "atmosphere" options? it's like they're implanting some kinda subliminal suggestion into your head... and don't even get me started on the tactics... all that data-driven stuff is just a way for them to keep us in line... but at the same time, i gotta admit, fm 26 is looking pretty sweet 🤔
 
🤔 I mean, FM26 has finally caught up with its rival, right? The new graphics are pretty sick, especially for those big matches like the Champions League finals 🏆. But you know what's even better than just looking cool – actually playing the game! The tactics overhaul is fire, dude. Being able to study player movement and make real-time adjustments feels so much more realistic now 🔄.

However, I gotta say, the UI can be a bit of a pain 😩. All these extra clicks and whatnot? It's like they took all the polish from the previous game and just... gave it away 💸. Not to mention those pesky bugs – subs running onto the pitch in their tracksuits? 🙄 Yeah, that's just not right.

But overall, I'm stoked to be playing FM26 again! The perfect tactic tweaks are still where it's at for me 😁. I mean, who doesn't love outsmarting those home fans with a last-minute comeback? 💥
 
I mean, can you even blame them for trying? I'm not saying they're finally catching up, but at least the visuals are looking way better than last season. Reminds me of when I upgraded from my old laptop to a slightly-less-ancient one . Anyway, tactics have always been the heart of this game, and it's awesome that we get to mess around with formation tweaks and whatnot. Too bad they still haven't figured out how to make subs not run onto the pitch in slow-mo 🤦‍♂️...
 
omg I'm loving the new match highlights in FM26 already! 👏 they really have improved the visuals and it makes those Premier League derbies feel so intense 🤯 but yeah, bugs are still a thing... like what's up with subs running onto the pitch? 😂 how hard is it to fix these things?! 🤔
 
man... i was playing this new version of Football Manager 26 the other day and i started thinking about how much our understanding of football has changed over time 🤯 it's like, we're not just sitting there watching matches anymore, we're analyzing every single decision that players make on the pitch. it's like, you can adjust your tactics to fit the flow of the game in real-time, which is wild to think about 👊 and at the same time, i was also thinking about how this new engine has improved the graphics, but honestly, isn't that just a reflection of our own obsession with visuals? we're so used to being bombarded with information that we need something pretty to look at before we'll even give it a second glance 📺
 
🤔 This new Unity engine upgrade is kinda cool, I mean, the visuals are way better now. But honestly, it feels like they're just trying to catch up with FIFA... 🏆 Still, the tactics overhaul is fire 🔥! It's so satisfying to make those last-minute adjustments and see your team win. The separation of tactics for possession and non-possession is a game-changer... or should I say, a match-winner? 😂
 
omg i was waiting for this update lol finally feels like fm is on par with its rival 😂. the new tactics system is so cool! i love how you can study player movement and make adjustments in real-time. it's still all about data-driven decisions, but now it feels more intuitive. i'm excited to try out the new formations and tweaks. my only gripe is that some of the UI stuff still feels a bit wonky (overlap issues and subs running around on the pitch 🙄). but overall, fm26 is looking like a solid update 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top