Premier Manager 3

Premier Manager 3 is a football management simulation game developed by Realms of Fantasy and published by Gremlin Interactive in 1994.

It is the third installment in the Premier Manager series started in 1992. If the first game was published for many different platforms, including Mega Drive, Acorn 32-bit, and Atari ST, Premier Manager 2 was developed only for DOS, Amiga, and Atari ST, and Premier Manager 3, only for DOS and Amiga AGA models.

The game was highly anticipated upon release and lived up to expectations, receiving critical acclaim for its in-depth gameplay and attention to detail.

In Premier Manager 3, you play as the manager of a football team starting from the Conference, the fifth division of English football. You are responsible for various tasks, including buying and selling players, managing finances, setting up tactics, arranging training schedules, and preparing for matches. You must also manage the finances, appoint the board of directors, and even improve the stadium.

The gameplay mechanics in Premier Manager 3 are immersive, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your team effectively. The AGA chipset of the Amiga is used properly, with all the 256 colors shown on the screen. For a game that is mostly text, the graphics are really beautiful. This is not a surprise since we are talking about Gremlin.

The game also offers a range of customization options, including the ability to create your own custom team or edit existing teams and players. The tactical options are extensive, allowing you to set up your team to play in a variety of styles, from a defensive counter-attacking game to an all-out attacking approach. You can position the players on the pitch to decide how they will play similarly to Sensible World of Soccer. If this is not enough, the game simulates many factors that can impact your team's performance, such as player injuries, weather conditions, and even the media's influence on your team's morale.

Unlike the first two games, matches are represented visually. There is a nice isometric view of the pitch, with the match happening in real-time. You can follow the actions and suffer like a real manager.

Of course, you will find people that prefer the first Premier Manager, or the more famous Championship Manager 2 and Sensible Soccer, but the truth is Premier Manager 3 is a very good soccer sim that remains enjoyable to play today. Its depth of gameplay, attention to detail, and customization options make it well worth checking out, both if you are already a fan or if you have never played it. Good luck, coach!