Well, well, well. Only Goliath Games' second product and it's making quite a name for itself. Tracksuit Manager received a big eight of out ten from our Snouty back in September 1988. And World Championship Boxing Manager, to give it its full title, promises to be equally exciting, so don't be put off if you thought boxing games were old hat.
    Taking a step away from the usual norm for this type of game (your traditional side-on, waggle-the-joystick-to-punch boxing thingy), Goliath has opted for what, at first sight, seems to be rather a dull angle, the management side. But (but. But!). half an hour on this and you'll be totally submerged. It's brilliant!
    The first thing you have to do is to get yourself some boxers. At the start of the game you're approached by punch-'em-uppers hoping to make it big in the world league. Should you spot one you like you offer him a contract (consisting of things such as a guaranteed shot at one of the titles). At this stage of the game you can basically offer anything you want -- the boxers are too stupid to refuse!
    Your 'boys' (you can have any number up to six, decimal points notwithstanding) now start at the bottom in all rankings - these are the World. National and Area tables, in both the FWB (Federatlon of World Boxing) and the WCIB (World Council of International Boxing). And, surprise, surprise, from here you've got to take them to the top.
    In theory, getting there is simple. Check the tables to see the boxers just ahead of your own. Say. For example, Geoff Tate is at 95 and your boxer is at number 100. You decide that fighting and beating him would move you up a good five notches at least and improve your status in the councils' eyes. So you check Geoff Tate's record and, discover his manager to be Peter Mensch. You call Peter and arrange for the fight to take place in three weeks. Peter agrees, so then you phone the relevant boxing board to get agreement from them. The next day they send you a letter okaying the fight, and you pop into the gym to see Jim (a Terry Lawless type of bloke) and tell him just how you want your up-'n'-comin' hopeful trained.
    Now that's more or less how the system runs in 'real life', so I'm told, although it is simplified to a large degree, of course. The main game screen is your office, and from here you can open your filing cabinet, your filofax, call people up and progress to the next day. Step through the door and you can walk into the gym or pop into the physio.
    The fight itself works in a similar way to Tracksuit Manager. Between rounds you're given a list of various tactics to use. And you can instruct the boxer to try and follow any one or more of them. There's also a chance to work on his cuts and bruises.
    As with Tracksuit Manager, you don't see any of the action as it happens. Instead, you're given a running commentary, the speed of which is completely adjustable as before. This really shows you how clever the Speccy is, as it works out all the relevant factors contributing to the outcome of the fight. There are no unrealistic moves. There are no stupid responses or impossible attacks. Everything is worked out to the nth degree, and it shows.
    Boxing Manager is terrific - even to me, hardly the greatest fan of boxing there is! Buy it, you'll love it.

Ratings given by other magazines

6/10      8/10

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