Crash


On The Bench

Author: Phil King
Publisher: Cult Games
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K

 
Published in Crash #55

On The Bench

On The Bench is a text-only soccer management game featuring four divisions and is very up-to-date - even the newly-introduced promotion playoffs are featured. The player can choose to manage any one of 22 teams, though he always starts in the depths of Division 4. The game can be customised to your own requirements with a useful option allowing you to change the names of the players as well as teams.

Players in the same division may be bought directly at a price set by the selling team -they may also be sold to raise extra cash. The team is initially given an overdraft limit of £250000. If this is exceeded, the bank will automatically sell off some of the team's players.

Before each match, training may be given to strengthen any part of the team, or the whole lot if it needs it. The players are selected for the match along with one substitute. During the match, a clock counts the minutes played. A screen display gives a current match rundown of players, scorers and anyone that's been booked or sent off.

After the match, the results of the team's division are shown. They appear very slowly, followed by an even longer wait for the new league positions.

The program suffers from slowness and a general lack of control over the team's performance. Due to little involvement there is a clear lack of atmosphere. Only two pounds, though.

Phil King

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