Backbreaker Review

[Dogslax41]

Quote: Originally Posted by Exonerated

I completed 1/21 passes in my first game. There's nothing much misleading about the review. It unnecessarily scathing but that his opinion.

You may have gone 1/21 and if you did then that is your issue not the game's, but even if you did then that is not 12 turnovers on 12 successive possessions. That is exactly what is misleading.

My last game I went 20/22 for 285 yards with 0 interceptions on pro/hard with random form. In addition I ran for about 65 yards. Do these somewhat realistic stats make the game great...no. The game is lacking in quite a few areas but I expect an honest review not a misleading one. A game where I can go 20/22 with no pics (the cpu threw 4 that game by the way, which is the portion of the game that I do have an issue with) can not be reviewed as siimply, the first 12 possessions were turnovers so this game is awful and worse than Blitz.

[mbmonk]

I don't have a problem with the score, but the fact that the reviewer counts the community as a negative towards the game seems a bit unfair.

Quote:

Beware of playing Backbreaker online because it has already turned into a big cheese fest. While the servers are very impressive and stable, the opponents really ruin the online experience. "Cheesing" in Backbreaker is very easy to do because of the game speed. After you snap the ball online, you will be sacked early and often. However, turnovers are not as rampant online because you are playing a real person rather than the unintelligent CPU-controlled teams.

Are we reviewing the game with this article or the community? I don't know if it's fair to blame the game for what the community does. Madden community can blow balls as well. They glitch and exploit anytime they get a chance. I played the dog snot of of Madden 10 online, so I know of what I speak. "Cheesers" are in every community for an online game.

Also what people who join sim leagues? They don't have to worry about cheesers. So that negative doesn't even apply to them. Again to knock the game for what the community does is unfair. And if you are going to bring the community into the review then why not bring up the good things the community is doing to improve the game?

Quote:

Online: Great servers, but bad opponents.

Doing it again.

I think you start walking a slippery slope when you bring the community aspect into a game review.

[mestevo]

Quote: Originally Posted by mbmonk

I don't have a problem with the score, but the fact that the reviewer counts the community as a negative towards the game seems a bit unfair. Are we reviewing the game with this article or the community? I don't know if it's fair to blame the game for what the community does. Madden community can blow balls as well. They glitch and exploit anytime they get a chance. I played the dog snot of of Madden 10 online, so I know of what I speak. "Cheesers" are in every community for an online game. Also what people who join sim leagues? They don't have to worry about cheesers. So that negative doesn't even apply to them. Again to knock the game for what the community does is unfair. And if you are going to bring the community into the review then why not bring up the good things the community is doing to improve the game? Doing it again. I think you start walking a slippery slope when you bring the community aspect into a game review.

The typical person is going to go online and join a quick match or whatever, it's a fair concern. If you are any of those other use cases then you are likely a minority and you know that it doesn't apply to you. I don't see the big deal, it's a fair point. Some people even posted in the impressions thread that they are glad that this game has less cheese, the review indicates otherwise, and as you said, cheese exists in all games. If that's most/all the reviewer saw online, then it's clearly fair game to include.

[swaldo]

Absolutely no mention of the greatest advance in football gaming in a long, long time (tackling/physics)?! Oh wait, at the very bottom of the review in the summary it does state "+ Tackling Animations." Wow, that's all the love you can give to this groundbreaking technology? And how every play is unique, calculated on the fly with absolutely no cheap AI cheating involved?

Also, to slam and penalize the game because online players use cheese is not right. My online experiences have been great, with no lag or cheesers. What game doesn't have money plays which users can exploit? If you're frustrated with the AI shortcomings then online is a great alternative and they should be rewarded for making this is a solid experience.

BB has...

One of the best mini-games ever
One of the best customization features ever
The greatest tackling/physics ever

So you'd think it would get a higher rating than a 5. I predicted mass media reviews would come in around 6-7, and if NM puts out a decent patch it could easily elevate it to a 7-8.

PC Gamer rated 'Dues Ex' the best game ever made, although it has really dumb AI. There's something about this game as well - it's addicting although the CPU QB isn't the smartest kid on the block.

[RaiderKtulu]

Quote: Originally Posted by mestevo

The typical person is going to go online and join a quick match or whatever, it's a fair concern. If you are any of those other use cases then you are likely a minority and you know that it doesn't apply to you. I don't see the big deal, it's a fair point. Some people even posted in the impressions thread that they are glad that this game has less cheese, the review indicates otherwise, and as you said, cheese exists in all games. If that's most/all the reviewer saw online, then it's clearly fair game to include.

So, does watching your corpse get teabagged by a 13yr old make Halo 3 a worse game? I don't recall that getting mentioned in any reviews.

Seriously, "some of the people that play this game are a-holes" is not a valid criticism.

[mbmonk]

Quote: Originally Posted by mestevo

The typical person is going to go online and join a quick match or whatever, it's a fair concern. If you are any of those other use cases then you are likely a minority and you know that it doesn't apply to you. I don't see the big deal, it's a fair point. Some people even posted in the impressions thread that they are glad that this game has less cheese, the review indicates otherwise, and as you said, cheese exists in all games. If that's most/all the reviewer saw online, then it's clearly fair game to include.

Well I looked at his past reviews of other games and he does bring up the community in those as well. So at least he is consistent. Though disagree with it.

I hope he writes up a Madden 11 revew. Can't wait to hear about the cheese of that community.

[swaldo]

Quote: Originally Posted by RaiderKtulu

So, does watching your corpse get teabagged by a 13yr old make Halo 3 a worse game? I don't recall that getting mentioned in any reviews. Seriously, "some of the people that play this game are a-holes" is not a valid criticism.

Exactly, now if a developer has a history of taking no effort in fixing obvious cheese plays then his point may be valid. But c'mon, this is the first game in the series so give them a break! And the devs have been very active on their boards noting all the complaints, so stuff like the Field Goal block cheese will get fixed.

[Dogslax41]

One problem deals with the amount of turnovers that are committed in each game. I’m not talking about three turnovers a game. No, I’m talking about turnover numbers that can range from 10 to 20 per game. Here are just two quarterback stat lines I have witnessed:

(5-28), 7 INT
(1-16), 12 INT

That's really bad.


And this is exactly what I meant in my earlier comment of writing a misleading review, one problem is the amount of turnovers committed each game...Not exactly. This issue is the cpu AI not the prevalence of turnovers. The cpu ai creates turnovers for your defense. Your inability to play the game creates turnovers the other direction.

Just as he quotes "just two stat lines I have witnessed (5-28) 7 int and (1-16), 12 int"..."That's really bad." I can say 20-22 for 285 with no pics. Wow thats really realistic this must be a text based sim game.

This is misleading. Agian I am not saying Backbreaker is the end all be all nor am I saying it is a great game. Is it a good game, in my opinion yes, but to me it is because of the fun factor and the opportunity to see something completly unique on each play not because of some stat line.

Do I see flaws in the game yes. The cpu ai is awful and there are a numebr of things that make it so, third down knowledge, the cpu qb constantly throwing to his left side, end of half timeout issues, and sweep running angles creating negative gains for the cpu.