Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[kgisyourfather]

I agree with you guys. After messign with the demo a bit more. It's not perfect. I just don't understand why more attention isn't being paid to stuff that really has potential to be good. People should really give props to gideon prime on his vids regarding this game. Madden blows man. They have the license and the control over the estate when so much better can be done. This is reality. It's not like this is perfect and there aren't tweaks that need to be made. It needs an nfl license and backing.

[hatisback]

^ I would take your previous statement and delete it before a mod sees it.

[kgisyourfather]

why because i don't like being deceived and lied to?

[Primal80s]

Quote: Originally Posted by kgisyourfather

why because i don't like being deceived and lied to?

No, because it's off topic and not constructive .

I don't really follow football, so the lack of licensing hasn't affected my decision. I've spent about as much time with a Madden game as with the Backbreaker demo.

My impressions as an unbiased sports gamer; Wow, I am a convert to football games. I checked this out because I enjoyed the Euphoria engine in GTAIV and the idea behind the engine and went from vaguely interested to first-day purchase after a few games. I'm repeating what many have said here. I don't know when I'll stop being amazed at the real-time tackles, probably never because it's constantly fresh and literally never the same.
I enjoy the diversity in the stats and team strengths too. It seems to have a real effect on how the game plays out.
Other sports games (namely EA's NHL series, the game I have most experience with) the stats don't seem to matter so much. You can basically pick any NHL team and have a decent game against any other NHL team without worrying too much about the team's OVR. I do not get that impression from BB. Receiving not your team's strength? Your passing game will blow. High D vs. weak O stats? Expect the D to make lots of blocks, sacks and gather turnovers.

The running game is outstanding and makes me feel like I have earned every single yard I gain. Jukes and spins feel fluid and I "feel" every contact, from successful stiff arms to getting completely obliterated due to my own poor judgement.

The game feels very fair. I do not detect any sort of CPU bias, no rubber-banding or catch-up AI. If I make a mistake, I pay for it. If I play well, I am rewarded. The same goes for the AI. I'm having trouble receiving punts right now, but I think that's due to inexperience more than anything.

As a demo goes, it's HUGE. A load of teams, some good, some clearly less so, practice mode, exhibition and tackle alley? They could have sold tackle alley independently in the XBLM and made megabucks. This is a rich and full demo.

Umm what else?

Graphics. They are lovely and shiny. Stadiums looks great, as does the weather effects, grass and player models. As a non-follower of the NFL, I don't look for all the nitpicky features such as the right number of officials, benches, coaches or anything. I feel privileged (whether or not you agree) for this because I feel like I'm enjoying the game so much more that those who have become used to tiny details present the other football game. I like the fact that all the players wear black visors. It just looks cool. IMO.

Sound. Ah the sound. The sounds actually present in the demo are good. It still makes me smile when I avoid a tackle by inches and hear the guy behind me let out a small cry of disappointment.
The sounds that are missing in the demo stand out a little, even to a non-football gamer such as I. No commentary. A lack of variety in music (though don't get me wrong, when I'm stoked up after making a great TD play, it's very satisfying when "Boom" starts to play and I get ready to flatten some dudes). I understand these features may not be included as it is a demo though. In fact, I've read that custom soundtracks will be available in the retail version, so I look forward to that. How long until I'm chasing the punt return to the Benny Hill music? That remains to be seen

The presentation of stats, playbooks, half-time is good in my eyes. I've not been spoiled by other football games in this regard and I find it adequate. I can understand other people's higher expectations in this department, but a shinier stat box would add nothing to the gameplay enojyment for me. I felt that the playbook was big and varied enough for my liking. Again, people that are used to encyclopedic-scale playbooks will be a little disappointed.

That's all I can think of for now. Will post more if I think of anything.

I'll share a couple of my favourite moments thrown up by the Euphoria engine;
1. It was after the play and I was lying face first on the floor. Two of my team mates came walking over, obviously thinking about something else. The first guy proceeded to trip over my legs and fall on top of me. So did the second guy. Then I lol'd at the three guy man-train that had formed on my screen.
2. Again, after the play, the camera was focusing on the guy who got sacked. Usually in this real-time cutscenes, the player just gets up and walks around a little. This time, he still had the chap who sacked him lying on top of him. No matter how he tried, he couldn't get up and the sacker wasn't helping at all. It was funny to see him stuck floundering on the floor. Talk about rubbing it in.

[e0820]

Played the demo, thought it was OK. Graphics seemed good not great as some other impressions have said. Sound was good. Gameplay needs some getting used too. At this point unless its 29.99 I may have to pass. I will still try the PS3 demo when it comes out though.

[kbigmike2121]

I hope that one day theres an option for different camera angles. Don't get me wrong... I like the default camera angle, but sometimes it can be hard to use. I guess that comes with playing madden for 14 years...LOL

[blitzkrieger]

Havent played the demo yet but Im glad to hear that it has been well received. Still way too early to see what kind of impact the game will have on that other Football game but I am real curious to see how the sales go. It will be a important two months for us football gamers..

[Pete1210]

I tried the demo yesterday. The game looks great. The animations look more fluid and natural than Madden. The stadium and field also looked better.

Gameplay is hard for me to compare because with the Backbreaker camera angle I can't see all the action, just the action around the player I control. Offense with the close up view was OK, but defense I felt limited. There's not really time to switch players - by the time I did and got reorientated the play was over. So most of defense was not around the ball and with the limited view you miss seeing most of the action around the ball.
The tackle alley mini-game is fun.

I wasn't planning on buying Backbreaker and the demo didn't change my mind. I need the "normal" football game camera. Also I was turned off when I read there are no injuries and no fatigue in the game.