Backbreaker News Post

Backbreaker Hands-On Preview w/ Gameplay Videos (IGN)

08:17 PM - March 2, 2010 by backbreaker

IGN has posted their hands-on preview of Backbreaker.

Quote:


	"Passing seemed to work a little better in the frantic football world that Backbreaker presents. The approach is certainly different than any I've seen for hurling the pigskin. Actually passing the ball is done entirely by the right stick, while targeting a player is done by holding the left trigger and moving between receivers with the left analog. The AI is largely in charge of the strength of the pass you're throwing (something that I'm worried about) unless it's a bomb pass, in which case you can move the analog down and then up to emulate a throwing motion of sorts. Every other pass is done with a simple flick upwards. Passing didn't feel all that great when I played with rigid camera movements that strain to follow the ball down the field and some wonky physics when the ball hit either the ground or a player's hands. Aside from standard quick play games, there's also an 8, 16, and 32 team season option and something called Road to Backbreaker which I'm guessing is designed to deliver some sort of loose tournament structure in the same vein as Mortal Kombat (escalating difficulty with meaner and meaner opponents)."

Game: BackbreakerReader Score: 6/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 51 - View All

Backbreaker Videos

Member Comments

# 21 Dudd @ 03/02/10 11:36 PM

Quote:


	I did notice on the run play where the quarterback got rolled up into the tackle that the defenders where already in the backfield. I may be wrong about this but it makes sense for the quarterback not to follow through with the boot becuase the defense already keyed on the running back. I dont see why he would continue to pass off the defense by immitating a pass play when the ball carrier just got creamed.

No, it's has nothing to do with guys being in the backfield, the qb just inexplicably follows the running back right from the get go. Football is about forcing the defense to defend space, both the front side and the back side, because if you don't do that, the defense can easily just overwhelm the point of attack. Having the quarterback follow the running back on run plays means that the backside defenders don't have to worry about keeping contain anymore since both players who could possibly have the ball are in the same general area, and if the defense only has to defend 1/3rd of the field, it makes it very, very easy on them. Such a basic AI mistake makes me really doubt that they have put together an AI system that is any better than Madden's, and AI is what is going to truly take football games next gen.

# 22 CreatineKasey @ 03/02/10 11:40 PM

This game is definitely different! Wow passing is nothing like I"ve seen.

# 23 DubTrey1 @ 03/02/10 11:42 PM

Well the tackling looks decent...beyond that - well, I doubt Ian Cummings and Co. will be losing any sleep over this title just yet.

# 24 mgoblue678 @ 03/02/10 11:56 PM

Looked pretty good for the most part particulary the run game and defense videos. Playing defense using that camera angle looks like it will be a lot of fun. There was some things in that passing video that I didn't like however . The drop back animation is very strange looking and the offensive vs d-line interaction looked very stiff and mediocre in that video. It looks like the game suffers from the same problem as EA's football games where d-linemen, particular defensive ends don't get up field and basically get stood up at the line of scrimmage. I was expecting Backbreaker considering the emphasis on physics and player interactions to really excel in that area.

Still looks like a first day purchase to me even with those problems.

I would like to point out as well, that the videos at least gave us a glimpse of the playbooks. There was Shotgun play in there, as well as what looked like a draw and trap. Looked like there was a sweep in there from the pro set formation with two split backs also . On defense there was a couple different blitzes I saw including a cb blitz. I am really hoping the playbooks in the game are at least somewhat similar to All-Pro playbooks in terms of number of formations and and plays . At this point we have no idea though as they could be very basic and limited.

# 25 KBLover @ 03/03/10 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreatineKasey


	This game is definitely different! Wow passing is nothing like I"ve seen.

It's like the Vision Cone on steroids.

I liked the other views as well. Very different, but still able to see the action going on well enough to play.

# 26 sb24 @ 03/03/10 12:33 AM

I will be having a blast come May. Assuming they actually release it in May of course.

# 27 noshun @ 03/03/10 01:00 AM

O.O looking nice.. This game cant get here fast enough.

# 28 LeonM @ 03/03/10 01:02 AM

The graphics look amazing. Extremely realistic. No football video game has ever looked like or played like this.

Because the game is from the player perspective and not the broadcast perspective. It will take awhile to get used to it.

One thing to consider is that the person testing out the game, is not playing with the final build. With that being stated, May 18th can't get here soon enough.

# 29 kjcheezhead @ 03/03/10 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimixiii


	LoL wow, I don't know if it was the tone of the article that's bringing all this doubt out or what, but I've never seen this much concern about the game until this thread...strange. I'm still pumped about it, this writer took every shot he could at this game it seemed like, even the fact that it's been taking so long to make had a negative tone to it. What's wrong with taking their time to o what's needed to avoid major problems...?

I agree. It's from IGN. These guys always go higher than everyone else with Madden reviews and before I clicked on the article I expected to see a lot of pop shots taken at this game. Don't know why everyone is so down from this review. The other subjective guys have been positive overall.

I liked the gameplay vids. The sound is pretty weak/generic and not having any commentary/background music adds to that effect, but other than that I am still excited for May.

# 30 Hooe @ 03/03/10 01:23 AM

The passing mechanic is intriguing to me. Looks alright.

Only thing I might consider adding for the next iteration is a "check-down" button, where one could easily go to a checkdown receiver, if available, in the event that no one is open down the field. I'm concerned that the player quarterback is going to get sacked a ton using the focus feature.

# 31 turftickler @ 03/03/10 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krioniq


	The passing mechanic is intriguing to me. Looks alright. Only thing I might consider adding for the next iteration is a "check-down" button, where one could easily go to a checkdown receiver, if available, in the event that no one is open down the field. I'm concerned that the player quarterback is going to get sacked a ton using the focus feature.

We will be able to quickly toggle/check down receivers while we are using the QB.

# 32 LingeringRegime @ 03/03/10 02:23 AM

Defense looks amazing. Nice to see that you can switch players also.

# 33 Hooe @ 03/03/10 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turftickler


	We will be able to quickly toggle/check down receivers while we are using the QB.

If that's the case, someone should mention it to this IGN guy because he has got (and I likewise would have) tunnel vision on some plays, lol.

# 34 Valdarez @ 03/03/10 05:34 AM

@bigsmallwood

The devs have sounded off on the GameSpot board that there will be a multi-season mode, but for some reason they aren't calling it a franchise mode. As for the lack of injuries, has this been confirmed? Seems very odd for a game called 'backbreaker' to not have injuries in the game. For a game that emulates the bone, muscle, and electrical structure of the human body, you'd think it could easily represent injuries.

As for the passing game, I love the view. I hope the controls feel good. I REALLY hope you don't have to use the analog stick to pass. IMHO that's a bad design decision. Use it for the running game, sure, but not the passing game.

# 35 sportyguyfl31 @ 03/03/10 08:46 AM

The defense looks like it is going to be quit fun for the user.

I like the passing view as well.

I was a little underwhelmed by the run blocking though...it looked like every play was jail break..cant tell if the blockers arent blocking, or the D just happened to make a call to blow the play up.

I also noticed the LBs REALLy close together on one running play clip, but again..dont know if that is their natural alignment, or the result of a shift.

# 36 sb24 @ 03/03/10 11:48 AM

I cannot say this enough....... (and probably wont stop until well after the game is released)......

I am amazed at what people are expecting from this game.

They dont have nfl support, they dont have base game to build from, and they are trying to innovate new things into football games. People have a hard time accepting whats new so they hate. We are guessing how much we may or may not like something based on a few videos

.

This reminds me alot of the 2k/madden wars. Guys are dismissing the game before giving it a real shot. Oh well everyone will be complaining and i will be in a league with some good os'ers and will be having a blast with whatever short comings this game will have

# 37 djordan @ 03/03/10 11:55 AM

I see nothing wrong with the IGN article. He makes some valid points such as the A.I controlling the passes and their being only one camera angle.

# 38 djordan @ 03/03/10 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb24


	I cannot say this enough....... (and probably wont stop until well after the game is released)...... *I am amazed at what people are expecting from this game.* They dont have nfl support, they dont have base game to build from, and they are trying to innovate new things into football games. People have a hard time accepting whats new so they hate. We are guessing how much we may or may not like something based on a few videos . This reminds me alot of the 2k/madden wars. Guys are dismissing the game before giving it a real shot. Oh well everyone will be complaining and i will be in a league with some good os'ers and will be having a blast with whatever short comings this game will have .

No.. It's the fact that people thinks this game is better than Madden already.

# 39 sb24 @ 03/03/10 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djordan


	No.. It's the fact that people thinks this game is better than Madden already.

Yea that completely shocks me. Can we at least play it before we start making crazy claims.

# 40 WDOgF0reL1fe @ 03/03/10 12:08 PM

There was double team blocking on some of those pass plays. Kinda neat

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