Backbreaker News Post

Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

07:23 AM - May 21, 2010 by wickedbadman

The Backbreaker demo is now available on the Marketplace. Post your impressions here.

Quote:


	"BACKBREAKER� is a new, revolutionary football experience that takes you straight onto the field. Breakthrough euphoria tackles, non-canned animation, and stunning on-field graphics make BACKBREAKER� the first truly live football game."

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

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# 341 Dudd @ 05/21/10 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	If you watch Dev Diary 3 on XBL the devs explain the camera was a conscious decision they made early on, and they explain why. I don't think it's an issue of them being short-sighted, or trying to be cute. They had a vision of what they wanted the game to be and had the skill to implement it. You have a right to your view, but it could be argued it's similar to someone saying a game like Call of Duty or Halo needs a third person camera because they don't like first person shooters.

Well, the first person shooter is a pretty standard genre by this point, we all know how they play and how it controls. Sports games haven't used the tight third person view, so you're asking us to embrace something completely new by breaking from the normal view and control scheme. That's a definite risk because there isn't twenty years of prior works that provide a roadmap of what works and what doesn't work. I think it would have been wise to include a more traditional camera view because that's what sports gamers know and that's what sports gamers expect. Perhaps down the line when people are more acclimated to the third person view and the kinks have been worked out you can design solely around that, but right now it's expecting a lot for people to learn a completely new way of playing a game with no other options.

# 342 Illustrator76 @ 05/21/10 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22


	If you watch Dev Diary 3 on XBL the devs explain the camera was a conscious decision they made early on, and they explain why. I don't think it's an issue of them being short-sighted, or trying to be cute. They had a vision of what they wanted the game to be and had the skill to implement it. You have a right to your view, but it could be argued it's similar to someone saying a game like Call of Duty or Halo needs a third person camera because they don't like first person shooters.

I hear what you are saying, but I still think it's short-sighted on their part. I know Backbreaker is not trying to compete with Madden, but All-Pro Football had a great camera and it got crushed in sales by Madden, so much so that it wasn't even worth coming out with a new one. I think the same thing may happen to Backbreaker mainly because of the camera, I just don't see it appealing to the masses. It's not really the camera itself, it's the lack of any option to change it that bugs me. There is no (really successful) sports game out right now that has ONE camera that is zoomed way in with no option to change it.

As far as your analogy goes, I say that Football is a game and can be seen and played from many different angles/views. A first person shooter is just that, first person, so adding a third person camera doesn't make it a first person shooter anymore. Whoever would complain about that would need to be re-educated on what a first person shooter is in the first place

NBA 2K is considered a "sim" basketball game and even that game has multiple cameras, because not everyone is going to want to play it on the same camera. That's just the nature of the beast, some people feel more comfortable seeing things in a different view. Either way, I am glad that you are enjoying the game and I am not trying to discourage you or anyone else who is

# 343 VanillaGorilla @ 05/21/10 10:41 PM

"In real life.." this, and "In real life..." that. Yes, in real life, a QB couldn't see all 5 receivers at once. Well, this ISN'T REAL LIFE, IT'S A VIDEO GAME. Are some of you people THAT serious about games being "sim" that you use reasoning like this? If that's the case, why not just obscure portions of your TV to make it seem like you're looking through a football helmet?

In any case, in "real life", this demo is mediocre.

# 344 Blitzburgh @ 05/21/10 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudd


	Well, the first person shooter is a pretty standard genre by this point, we all know how they play and how it controls. Sports games haven't used the tight third person view, so you're asking us to embrace something completely new by breaking from the normal view and control scheme. That's a definite risk because there isn't twenty years of prior works that provide a roadmap of what works and what doesn't work. I think it would have been wise to include a more traditional camera view because that's what sports gamers know and that's what sports gamers expect. Perhaps down the line when people are more acclimated to the third person view and the kinks have been worked out you can design solely around that, but right now it's expecting a lot for people to learn a completely new way of playing a game with no other options.

I agree Dud. My initial impression of the demo was really good but after 5 more games not so much. The camera is very distracting to me and gives me a headache. I can't get any running game going at all and the passing game is kind of a guessing game or I get sacked. I have made some cool long pass plays but they are very few and far between. The problem with this camera view is you dont have the peripheral vision as you would in real life so the passing game has to have a more drawn back camera so you can see the rush. I really like what I'm seeing this year frm NCAA & maybe Madden so I will probably rent this game but not buy at this point.

# 345 rckabillyRaider @ 05/21/10 10:45 PM

The Euphoria engine is the real deal! The animations, physics, and life like movements are spot on. However, the camera view is too much of a deal breaker for me. I don't know if I can get used to that. The minute they put in camera options, I will purchase this game because it has HUGE potential.

# 346 mrprice33 @ 05/21/10 10:53 PM

The main problem is this, I think...they took the 3rd person shooter metaphor a little too far. This game controls too much like Gears of War, and not enough like a fluid athletic contest. Football requires quick, precise movements, and the controls do not provide that. When you're going north/south, this game is awesome. As soon as east/west come into play, things go south in a hurry.

# 347 mgoblue678 @ 05/21/10 10:56 PM

Unfortunately, the more play the more I am noticing that the defenses seem to be dominating way too much. Offensive ai isn't that great with too many INT's occurring. Blitzes also seem to affective, blockers aren't doing a very good job of picking guys up.

Just played the Indy team who has the best offense twice using the two worst defensive teams on hard. I held them to a a combined 30 yards and 3 points in those two games. I just shut them out and held them to 0 total yards and forced 2 ints. That shouldn't happen. Not to mention I was held to about 30 total yards in those two games including -8 the last game.

I don't know the more I play the demo the more I have second thoughts about buying it day one. The offenses are too incompetent and the defenses are to good so far for my liking.

And something else that is starting to annoy me is that for some reason when I try to run sweeps and tosses I don't feel like I have control of the runner at all. I keep on making him go backwards without meaning to. Not to mention every one of them seems to get blown up by 3 defenders.

# 348 Jukeman @ 05/21/10 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrprice33


	The main problem is this, I think...they took the 3rd person shooter metaphor a little too far. This game controls too much like Gears of War, and not enough like a fluid athletic contest. Football requires quick, precise movements, and the controls do not provide that. When you're going north/south, this game is awesome. As soon as east/west come into play, things go south in a hurry.

This,

This game is not football...

It may have the ooo's and aaaaah's

but its not football..

not saying the game will not be fun, but to me it is not...

# 349 ramzes93 @ 05/21/10 11:07 PM

i like the camera but i think it could be implemented much better. When running the ball towards the left sideline for example the camera should shift to the right as if your player was looking back towards the field so you could see more. Also changing recievers by flicking the stick is incredibly uncomfortable, and is why i am having trouble passing. Sometimes it just doesnt switch, and i always get sacked trying to pick the right reciever. I love the close camera but i feel like it needs to be better optimised to show what you need to be looking at to be successful.

# 350 mrprice33 @ 05/21/10 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgoblue678


	Unfortunately, the more play the more I am noticing that the defenses seem to be dominating way too much. Offensive ai isn't that great with too many INT's occurring. Blitzes also seem to affective, blockers aren't doing a very good job of picking guys up. Just played the Indy team who has the best offense twice using the two worst defensive teams on hard. I held them to a a combined 30 yards and 3 points in those two games. I just shut them out and held them to 0 total yards and forced 2 ints. That shouldn't happen. Not to mention I was held to about 30 total yards in those two games including -8 the last game. I don't know the more I play the demo the more I have second thoughts about buying it day one. The offenses are too incompetent and the defenses are to good so far for my liking. And something else that is starting to annoy me is that for some reason when I try to run sweeps and tosses I don't feel like I have control of the runner at all. I keep on making him go backwards without meaning to. Not to mention every one of them seems to get blown up by 3 defenders.

see my post above yours. kinda hard to run a toss play when you're "roadie running" all over the place.

# 351 FroznYogurt @ 05/21/10 11:13 PM

Dug my 360 deep out of my closet, made a new profile to get a 1 month free gold membership, and finally downloading now! Better late than never I suppose. Pumped to try it out!

# 352 therizing02 @ 05/21/10 11:17 PM

The camera is the epic fail for me with this game. I'm sure it will work for some but I'm not into it.

This game has a lot going for it graphically, but because of the camera it's very difficult to see how good the Euphoria engine works in a football game.

This first person never works in sports games especially football games because "feel" and peripheral vision are extremely important. Without that the camera is useless IMO.

I give them credit though, they went out and tried something completely fresh. A couple of additions and the game could be enjoyable.

# 353 bvb24 @ 05/21/10 11:31 PM

The camera is taking a lot of heat but I love it. Working through a progression as the QB instead of seeing the whole field is awesome. Not to mention this is the first football game to have true blindside hits. Great scene I saw earlier, made a tackle with the LB and as he celebrated the tackle he tripped over a downed DT. It made me laugh out loud. Absolutely amazing demo.

# 354 Crimsontide27 @ 05/21/10 11:33 PM

You have to get out of the mindset of other football titles and going all aggressive / turbo mode to run. Instead of holding down the right trigger, hold down the left one for much better control of your runner. I too was using the right trigger too much and found I had no control over the runner because he was in aggressive mode. If you do the left trigger you will find you have a lot more control over your runner.

# 355 Xs n Os Cheerios @ 05/21/10 11:37 PM

Game play is unbelievable

No camera options not so much

# 356 mgoblue678 @ 05/21/10 11:44 PM

Still finding the defenses to be too dominate though. Once I got used to the camera on defense, the CPU now can't move the ball on me at all even on hard with a worse rated defense than their offense.

CPU AI QB just isn't cutting it right now no matter what team/qb it is.

# 357 sportyguyfl31 @ 05/21/10 11:50 PM

What are you seeing AI wise...are AI controlled players playing as they should be?

# 358 permanent1 @ 05/21/10 11:59 PM

Love the game has great potential just think having just the one camera angle is going to turn a lot of folks off and could turn this into more of a niche type game.

# 359 blackscorpion11 @ 05/22/10 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar3970


	what? nobody's looking for jersey patches, hand towels, and where the cornerbacks eyes are at all times? it's funny how with Madden every single detail is nitpicked, but not so here. I just think everybody's so starved for something different that this is bound to be overrated a bit.

Whats your impression of the game?

# 360 mgoblue678 @ 05/22/10 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportyguyfl31


	What are you seeing AI wise...are AI controlled players playing as they should be?

At this point I would consider it a mixed bag. Defensive ai for linebackers and the defensive line seems to be pretty good for the most par especially on runs.

Defensive back AI is a little hit and miss, sometimes they make really good plays, but there is also the occasional play where they are in good position and don't really make a real effort on the ball.

Offensive line AI seems to be pretty shaky at least to me, blitzes seem too effective in terms of confusing them and there seems to be too man running plays where guys are in the backfield almost immediately.

CPU QB AI is the biggest problem I have seen two far even from the two better teams in the demo who are supposed to have good qb's. On hard the CPU QB has thrown too many interceptions and I have seen them forcing the ball into coverage way more than they should. Haven't seen one run yet either in terms of them scrambling.

Reciever AI seems to be good except for the fact they don't seem very good at dragging their feet. I have seen a few drops as well, even though I would have liked to see a couple more.

I am really hoping the AI was at least somewhat tweaked in the final game because the CPU QB AI is really killing it for me right now. I guess worse case scenario in the final game is to create your 32 teams and jack up all the qb's ratings.

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