Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[sparkyiii2k]

Great point the demo is just an introduction to the series not the final product we have no idea how the other tier teams will play.

[hatisback]

There has to be more ratings in this game that we are not seeing. Columbias QB has 94 Focus and 85 Strength, both up there with Wagoners. Either that or the devs didnt know what they were talking about in the help thread.

[TheWatcher]

Is anyone else getting a lot of fumbles? I cause like 3 per game on average. That's a pretty high number, and I've gotten that on each difficulty setting, in rain and in clear weather. Very odd, but at the same time, trying to track down a fumble is a lot of fun in this game.

[mgoblue678]

Ok, so I played a game against Indy using the Cougars who have have 29 rated defense on hard. I punted the ball anytime I got in order to maximize their possessions on offense. They had 5 possessions total and managed only 64 yards and one field goal. Good news is their qb looked decent, didn't throw a pick. I only called a 2 blitzes, one worked the other didn't.

A 73 rated offense should manage more than 64 yards on 5 possessions against a 29 rated defense. I also sacked their qb 3 times.

Unfortunately another issue cropped up in this game that I have been noticing and that is cpu clock management. They were at my 26 with about 27 seconds left in the half and decided to kick a field goal. They had no timeouts but still they are kicking a field goal with 27 seconds left in the half.

I then punt the ball back to them after the field goal and kickoff. They have about 15 seconds left and are at midfield. Instead of throwing it to get into field goal position they run the ball on first down to about the 45. Then they spike the ball with about 8 seconds left, throw an incomplete pass. With 2 seconds left instead of throwing ball into the end zone from my 45 they run the ball instead.

I think people should do what I did and play Indy using the two worst defenses on hard. Punt them the ball back when they get the ball and see what they do on offense. That seems like a good test to me.

[mgoblue678]

Didn't the info they gave us on the teams a say Greathouse, the qb of the Cougars was actually the best qb in the demo and perennial all star selection?

Has anybody compared his 4 ratings to the other qb's? If they are lower, that has to mean their are other attributes we can't see.

[hatisback]

Quote: Originally Posted by mgoblue678

Ok, so I played a game against Indy using the Cougars who have have 29 rated defense on hard. I punted the ball anytime I got in order to maximize their possessions on offense. They had 5 possessions total and managed only 64 yards and one field goal. Good news is their qb looked decent, didn't throw a pick. I only called a 2 blitzes, one worked the other didn't. A 73 rated offense should manage more than 64 yards on 5 possessions against a 29 rated defense. I also sacked their qb 3 times. Unfortunately another issue cropped up in this game that I have been noticing and that is cpu clock management. They were at my 26 with about 27 seconds left in the half and decided to kick a field goal. They had no timeouts but still they are kicking a field goal with 27 seconds left in the half. I then punt the ball back to them after the field goal and kickoff. They have about 15 seconds left and are at midfield. Instead of throwing it to get into field goal position they run the ball on first down to about the 45. Then they spike the ball with about 8 seconds left, throw an incomplete pass. With 2 seconds left instead of throwing ball into the end zone from my 45 they run the ball instead. I think people should do what I did and play Indy using the two worst defenses on hard. Punt them the ball back when they get the ball and see what they do on offense. That seems like a good test to me.

Thats a really good idea. Ill look into it.

If I remember correctly, I think the devs said there would be a mix between number ratings and APF ratings. They had a vote over at the BB forums and that was what was decided upon.

[hatisback]

Quote: Originally Posted by mgoblue678

Didn't the info they gave us on the teams a say Greathouse, the qb of the Cougars was actually the best qb in the game and perennial all star selection? Has anybody compared his 4 ratings to the other qb's? If they are lower, that has to mean their are other attributes we can't see.

Cougar Greathouse
F-88, A-73, SP-82, ST-80

Which means by just those numbers, Columbias QB should be better I would think.

[blazer003]

Initial thoughts: This game is sweet. After play a bit, I think it's going to be fun, I am going to buy it, but there are some concerns.

The Good:

Animations are off the hook. So many realistic situations. It's all physics based, so it makes sense but interactions look like they should. Night and day compared to NCAA/Madden.

The feel like you are the player you are controlling. Some won't like the camera, but I love it.

Making big plays is rewarding. When you make a big play, you feel like you did. I pulled off a kick return for a td with some nifty moves, some sweet sacks from the DE and LB possition, and a sick Int where I read the play with the safety and stepped up and picked off the pass.

The Not So Good:

Too many interceptions. I just had the CPU throw 4 in my last game. Have had a couple others that were interception fests.

The running game doesn't seem to be very effective. I've broken a couple decent runs and one long one, but by and large running is usually -2 to 1 yards. Same for the CPU, though they too have busted a couple on me here and there.

Player control (sometimes): I'm sure this is probably just getting used to it, but especially when I'm running a toss or throwing to the flats, it seems like it takes forever for my guy to turn up field. Maybe I just need to break my EA habit of holding turbo all the time.