GamesRadar+ Verdict

Reasons to buy

+
Very watchable 2D matches
+
As addictive as ever
+
Seasons never end

Reasons to avoid

-
2D matches don't look too great
-
Player movements aren't that realistic
-
Hard to see when zoomed out

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Just like its bigger PC brother, the PSP version of Football Manager 2009 has a new view for watching matches. The 2D engine makes its debut on the PSP, having proven to be a winner with PC FM fans over the last few years. And it makes a difference – seeing the action unfold makes the game much more believable and cements FM 2009 Handheld as the best footy management game on any handheld. However, it’s not perfect – and it’s certainly a long way short of the PC 2D engine. The player movements aren’t that realistic and it’s not abundantly clear what’s going on when zoomed out. But seeing the action unfold really adds thrills to the game.

Should you wish to, you can choose to turn the highlights off. There’s also the choice to play several leagues at once and two different skins to try out – although there’s not a great deal of difference between them. Of course, all the transfers between teams are bang up to date so that Dimitar Berbatov is at the Evil Empire Man Utd. We advise that you start at Man City and enjoy blowing their transfer kitty of £211 million on the world’s best players.

There isn’t enough new stuff to make this a true Champions League contender. But despite the 2D matches not looking great (and strange stuff such as some AI managers being sacked after just one league game) this is still the best footy management game for on the move.