Backbreaker Demo Review - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

Backbreaker Demo Review Stuck

Posted on May 21, 2010 at 05:40 PM.

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I almost feel bad for having skepticism about Backbreaker...almost.

After a few games, I can honestly say I think Backbreaker will forever change how we look at sports games, even though the game itself is going to make me have one of the worst love/hate relationships I have had in quite some time.

From my time with the demo, Backbreaker can be summed up as one part Tecmo Bowl, one part Madden, and one part something else completely unique. The game is simple, yet it can be deep, yet it is simple....yet deep?

You see where this love/hate thing is going now don't you?

Backbreaker is going to wow a lot of people, the animations are good, the camera angle is nothing short of revolutionary -- even though some are finding it hard to adjust to -- and the controls are downright awesome. However, I'm left with this empty feeling of what could be if only there was fatigue, if only there were injuries, if only....

I'm not sure where Backbreaker is going to rank this year, it's going to be a long few days when I get the full retail version as I try to figure out exactly how to rate the game myself. In some ways, the game puts Madden to shame in a hurry -- in others, the game is so far behind it's peers that I have doubts it can catch them.

Regardless, Backbreaker is going to succeed in delivering a fresh and new look at the game of football, and despite the fact I don't know if the game will have tremendous lasting appeal, I can easily see where the game will change how we look at sports games forever -- the traditional far away broadcast style vantage points kind of seem lame and highly unrealistic in comparison now after playing Backbreaker with it's in your face presentation of the game of football.

Right now, Backbreaker should be at least a rental for every football gamer when it hits stores next Month -- if only to see what a real fresh and fun new take on the game of football on consoles looks like.

Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.

Comments

# 16 MAzing87 @ May 24

Oh and one other gripe was playing with the Oakland team, every single time I stopped the opponent and when they punted, I got flagged for roughing the kicker each and every time. That was a bit frustrating since I had no time to play on offense because of a overly aggressive defense. It's like the defense thought the punter was a QB and was going for the sack, instead get hit with a penalty.

# 17 shavane @ May 24

A few things just to help enlighten...BB2 has already officially been confirmed.
The Devs stated that they wanted a intelligent injury and fatigue system accurate to the action caused by euphoria. They said that they are close but wouldn't have been able to make it for this edition, so it will definatly be in BB2.

I don't see how any football fan wouldn't want this title. I've seen more amazing things from a demo than I've seen in my 15 -20 yrs of football video gaming.

# 18 MAzing87 @ May 24

Shavane, that's good to know. And you're right in the last statement. I just need to get over the gladiator like players and focus on the actual gameplay itself.

# 19 Kaanyr Vhok @ May 25

This is more than a tech demo. Its more of a real game than I expected. The running game is quite possibly the best ever. The passing game is solid. I wish it had button passing with the sticks so you could switch to the other side of the field but unlike other titles you have a narrow view. You have to make quick reads based on one or two defenders and as many have said its rewarding and fun. The defense is a mixed bag. The momentum forces you to make a decision and haul tail which is realistic. The main problem is that it lacks any form of pass defense controls. High hopes that BB 2 lets you use the face buttons to contest passes with different arms. With that in mind the automatic stuff is better than what APF delivered. So all in all I would say the run game trumps anything previous which flat out says a ton. The pass game is solid. Its better than other football games in some aspects worse in others. The defense is lacking but its not bad. That has to make it more than a tech demo.

The only thing I'll really miss are sliders, more ratings, and fatigue/injuries. For a first iteration thats small change when you consider that gameplay is where it is.

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