Kicker Manager 2004

Kicker Manager 2004 is a typical German soccer manager game where the player is responsible for the athletic and financial success of his team and his character. Of course the first step in the career is to choose the team and in this game there are three playing modes: A real career starting at a small club in a low league, a real career starting at a chosen club and a lifetime-job at a chosen club without ever getting fired. There is also the possibility to start as national coach but only when playing on the lowest of three difficulty levels.

The main portion of the game is spent in statistics screens and menus which the player reaches by clicking on corresponding items in his office, e.g. training gear for the training menu. Alternatively he can click the right mouse button to choose from a list. The menus itself have various submenus which are arranged at the bottom of the screen. The settings itself are extensive and can basically be divided into three subcategories: financial, athletic and personal options.

On the athletic side the player sets everything that has to do with his team or the development of his team, e.g. training, lineup, tactics or youth support. The finances of the club are an important and large part of the game (even for a German manager game). Here the player buy or sell his players, expands the stadium, negotiates with sponsors or even participate in the stock market. He has also the option to hire assistants which take his responsibilities. If they have a high competence level (and of course a corresponding salary) their decisions are better.

Lastly the personal options concern the relationship to the management, the own rating and financial status. The rating rises and falls with personal successes or failures. If it rises the player gets points to divide on his abilities, e.g. training, which affect the effect of his action. Here the player also can spend his hard-earned money on status objects or stock options. He even can found his own soccer club and become its president.

The match presentation offers either a text or graphical mode. The former uses text messages to describe interesting scenes which happen in the match, the latter uses prerendered movies. During the match the player can make tactical changes. The license is restricted to the game's name based on a German sports magazine; the names of the teams and players are fictional. There is an editor to change them.