Chris' Backbreaker Review - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

Chris' Backbreaker Review Stuck

Posted on June 1, 2010 at 02:54 PM.

(26)

Pros

Tackling/Player Interactions - The game never 'feels' stale in the sense that each play often brings about some new looking outcome of a play.

Tackle Alley - I LOVE this mini game. If the developers were wise, they'd package this mode as a $10 DLC or something.

Control Scheme - The controls are simple, and they are effective. Probably my favorite part of the game.

New Take on Football - The game does offer a unique and interesting take on football with the almost first person perspective. Your first impression will likely be one which you might really like the game. Madden should totally take note of how defense is done in Backbreaker, perspective wise and nothing more though.

Cons

This is sim? - No injuries. No fatigue. Limited playbooks. Need I say more?

Artificial Unintelligence - Your computer opponents will be so bad that the progression of AI over the past 20 years might have been set back a decade. I have yet to lose a game, even while stacking the deck against me.

Stats? What Stats? - The stats are just bad. If you want realistic stats with your football games, steer clear of Backbreaker...unless you are into your games resembling Pop Warner stats with 5 - 21 with 6 INTs being the norm for opposing QBs.

That's not a penalty - The penalties are just bad. I'm not even sure how to describe them except to attach bad and inaccurate to most calls. Some penalties are implemented wrong.

Random Bugs - There are just so many little bugs that it really does drag down the experience.

Conclusion

Backbreaker is a first effort best left on the shelf. It has been the subject of immense hype because people hope every football game not made by EA can stand up to the giants in the room. Backbreaker not only doesn't stand up to Madden in any way, it also offers no reasonable reason to do anything but rent it. It's a shallow game of football which offers no real reason to consider single player and has too many bugs to make the multiplayer experience more than average at best.

Chris' Backbreaker Rating:

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

# 1 Yankees_CT @ Jun 1

I think that was a very fair review and represent my feelings on the game as well. While I love the tackling technology and the controls are handled pretty well...the rest of the game just doesn't feel like or accurately portray football. I was hoping for more, maybe next year.

# 2 CreatineKasey @ Jun 1

Good review. I have similar feelings towards Backbreaker.

# 3 GoToledo @ Jun 1

Very accurate review IMO.

# 4 tswiatkowski @ Jun 1

The bottomline is so accurate in this piece. Congrats for not falling victim to the hype train.

# 5 adamgod8 @ Jun 1

who is chris and why should i care?

# 6 charter04 @ Jun 1

Who is adamgod8 and why should anybody care? If you have been on this site for any amount of time at all you would have already seen a number of his reviews. He seems to play the games and give and honest opinion of them. Nice accurate review Chris.

# 7 Blitzburgh @ Jun 1

I am sorry but I personally think this game is fun as hell! Yes, it is not a full out sim with all the bells and whistles that Madden has but it is different, challeging and fun. The camera view takes a lot of getting used to and getting stuffed on the running game in the backfield is a bit frustrating at times. But this game has something different to offer than the other games and if you dont mind a less sim game then this is a must BUY not just a rental as you say.

# 8 RaychelSnr @ Jun 1

Online was merely ok. If a patch fixes the bugs, I could see the game being quite fun if you get playing in a league with the right people. However, don't even bother with single player.

Also anyone got any thoughts on the bullet list review format? I figured I'd give it a try once and I really liked how much easier it was to write and how it reads...but your critiques are definitely welcome!!

# 9 stlstudios189 @ Jun 1

nice review but, I am still leaning towards buying this game after a price drop.

# 10 RaychelSnr @ Jun 1

STL, I'd say that's not a bad plan. It'd probably be patched by then and the multiplayer experience might be worth a look. But I cannot stress enough how bad the single player experience is. If it wasn't for the tackling engine, control scheme, and the outstanding Tackle Alley Mini-game, I probably would've given the game a 1-star rating. That's how bad the single player experience is with the AU (that's artificial unintelligence). At the very least, it's worth a rental, especially from a few individuals living in Orlando to perhaps take an idea or two. The defensive play is outstanding in theory, and if implemented in a game with more polish and balance like Madden, would completely change how that game is played for the better.

# 11 RaychelSnr @ Jun 1

One more note, I think you could sum up Backbreaker as a great set of ideas with bad execution.

# 12 qcsavagelife25 @ Jun 1

GREAT review, but due to all of the hype this game will do decent numbers and by the time madden drops most of the "Backbreakers" will be very upset with their purchase and will draw more appreciation for good ol' madden

# 13 DJDReW3102 @ Jun 1

i have enjoyed backbreaker so far and that is overlooking some very bad areas of the game that need improvement, i.e. the actual football being played on the field. the action of each play, like most people have said over and over, is top notch with the physics, etc...but until they get the cpu ai , sacks/ints, and certain other buggy issues fixed, its a rent only right now, buy it if it drops under 20$ even just for tackle alley!