In a nutshell:
Upset with the fortunes of your favourite team? Think you could do better? Sega provides a rare chance for PS2 owners to put their tactics where their mouth is, in this all-encompassing football management sim.

The lowdown:
Football management games have never really worked on the PS2 but this game has been made from the ground up with nothing but Sony’s console in mind. Rather than just putting you in charge of squad tactics you control every element of your favourite club from sponsorship deals, merchandising, stadium expansion and even the design of your kit. The game starts off with you struggling to avoid relegation in one of various European leagues before starting on your way to league, cup and international success. Buying and selling players, organising training regimes, dealing with the media, and ultimately success or victory are all down to you.

Most exciting moment:
As worthy as games like Football Manager on the PC may be the fact is they’re about exciting to look at as a business spreadsheet. Let’s Make a Soccer Team! has full 3D graphics for all its matches that put many an action sports sim to shame.

Since you ask:
The Let’s Make a Soccer Team! series has been popular in Japan since 1996 when it first appeared on the Sega Saturn and subsequently the Dreamcast and GBA. This game is based on the special Euro Championship edition of the franchise released in Japan earlier in the year.

The bottom line:
Probably the best football management sim yet for the PS2.
HARRISON DENT