Football Manager Handheld 2010

Of course, the true test of any FM game is the quality of its tactical and match day options. For all the franchise's impressive depth, it's always been the incredible levels of control you have over on-field affairs that has ultimately defined the series. And it's here that Football Manager Handheld starts to betray its true limitations.

While most of the restrictions are admittedly down to the iPhone's technical shortcomings as a gaming platform, it's hard to escape the feeling that Football Manager Handheld could have given us more in the team and player tactics departments. Your limited strategic options include the ability to define your team's formation, line-up, mentality, passing and tackling styles and overarching tactical ethos, for example counter-attack, or getting men behind the ball. While such a basic breakdown may work well for a more casual audience, it just doesn't feel adequate for a game carrying the Football Manager emblem. Now I'm not suggesting I'm expecting anywhere near the level of depth of the PC version, but a few more tactical options and a little more control over individual player tactics could have made such a difference.

As it stands, it only takes a few matches to realise that other than substitutions, formation changes and a few broad strategic sweeps, there's little you can do to turn the tide of a match. You often feel more like an interested spectator than an all-powerful tactical puppet master.

Matches can be viewed either as commentary or via a combination of commentary and 2D highlights. While the 2D perspective offers a decent representation of the action both from a full pitch view or zoomed-in perspective, highlights often boil down to a series of short, unsatisfying snippets that reveal little or nothing about how your tactical choices are influencing the game. Rather than being shown passages of impressive play or seeing extensive build-ups before shots are unleashed, most 2D clips involve little more than a pass or short dribble, followed by a shot.

There are also a number of irritating bugs on show, with the action sometimes suddenly freezing mid-highlight or players embarking on strange, meandering runs to the byline, then either inexplicably standing still or running along the line without purpose or end product. So while the essence of FM's matches is present and correct, substance and realism are somewhat lacking.