Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[NoDakHusker]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

My first game I wasn't doing too bad as QB, but man I am struggling. I like it though, it shouldn't be easy and I when I do complete a pass, I get pretty excited.
This game adds a whole new element to being a QB, it's intimidating when you've get 2 LBs bull rushing you on top of the lineman getting in your face.

[allBthere]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Like others are saying...I'm impressed.

So far I find the game difficult, my first game I didn't complete more than one pass, and had 9 yards rushing on 3 attempts. I won 3-0. It was a special teams fest.

The kicking/punting/ST game is best in football games imo. The biggest moments of satisfaction are tackling someone or breaking a tack, or watching replays of mid-air collisions. Nailing the QB on a blitz is great.

Some things I'd like changed or feel need tweaking:
Some may disagree, but the camera while running I would like it to be kind of like the defensive side of the ball as far as CONTROLS only. I would actually like to be able to look around with the right stick and use buttons for moves. Almost like RDR in theory or most FPS's.

I like the passing, but it's not registering my change receivers commands in the game. I wish it was rb(shoulder) to cycle them. It would make life a lot easier, as I've passed once when all I wanted was to change recievers. So the controls need to be tightened up a bit.

One more thing is the game seems to move between plays a bit fast, like I don't have time to analize what's going on or think about what player I want to be in a situation and switch to him. I may have to pause quickly just to make sure I'm doing what I want. Another option is to stick with one player for a whole possession which is ok with me depending on the teams.

Overall the game has met if not exceeded my fairly high but realistic expectations. Playing my first game cemented my long-time commitment to buy it (but had I not liked the game at all I would not have said that)...the game plays like it looks like only you feel it more.

I love the human touches like the feint heart beats before kicking and while running and the slight but smooth camera movements. Looks like I'm going to have fun playing the game. The issues need to be addressed, but they don't kill it at all for me.

Next game I'm going to just pound the ball running...this game seems to lean that way for success anyway lol

Things I need to know - how do you pick up a loose ball?

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

It's just tackle alley but, i don't think there have been enough comment on pursuit angles.

I've been just running down the sidelines and at least in tackle alley(which is the only thing i've played so far) they have great pursuit angles.

Great observation. The pursuit angles are much easier to appreciate in Tackle Alley. I love how you can get someone to miss and because of the camera you can't tell they're still trying to track you down from behind. You may just happen to catch their shadow and think to evade while trying to focus on the defender in front of you. And none of the movement feels cheap; just a matter of taking the time to get comfortable/accept the control scheme. Also really like that acceleration is very well done and feels very natural; best in game since NCAA '06 last gen in terms of acceleration/deceleration. But this is so much better, because of the physics aspect of it all

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

So far I like alot.....camera view will turn off some.....learning curve means some patience is necessary.....passing is pretty easy when in focus mode but running the ball is a little difficult to get consistency....defense is fun but sometimes hard to get in correct position.

Overall,I think this game will grow on people the more you give it a chance.A Madden player would need to adapt to the difference....sorta like playing a 2k football game for the first time.

I'm accepting the challenge to improve myself because I think this is the football game that will give you that wow factor that's been missing.

If I get this game and it's fun and exciting then this will be the only football game I need. Once I get used to one game and then switch back to another It's just to weird in sports games IMO.

Also has anyone successfully hurdled anyone yet? I sure haven't and as hard as it is to do in TA I couldn't imagine trying to do it in a real game(which is great).

[Solidice]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

only played 1 game on hard so far, so not going to say too much. I won 21-0 due to 3 punt returns for TDs(my team was better than the CPU team, don't remember which teams I picked though). the CPU kept trying to go for the "kill" shot and I just side hop to avoid them. passing will take some time to get used to. defense will probably take even more time for me to get use to. camera, probably the worst thing in the demo for me so far. just don't like it.

my kicker was a beast though. killed their returner when he tackled him.

[JP_84]

I que'd this up from xbox.com, left my office early, and it was downloaded by the time I got home. Been playing for about 15 minutes, camera angle takes a little getting use to. Tackles look AMAZING, gameplay exceeded my expectations, already took this off my gamefly que, this is now a def first day purchase for me, running to gamestop later to order.
I'll post more later, too busy playing right now.

[TracerBullet]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Something funny just happened in my game. The CPU audibled on offense and their own TE trucked the FB before the play even start so he had to get up and get back into posistion. I wasn't sure what happened till I look at the replay I was just wondering why the FB was on the ground.

[roadman]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

My quick impressions after the first two games.

Greatest physics and animations in a sports game, yet.

The tackles are amazing.

The camera, especially on D, will take getting used to.

Eh, the scoreboard looks like my 3rd grade blackboard, but easily overlooked.

At this time, what I can't overlook, is the computer A.I. I'm playing on Pro Medium and the play calling is very questionable. After the quarter ends, the computer team has the ball on the 7 yd line and it's 2nd down. They run a play and gain 4 yds and call a timeout. 1:52 on the clock. That's questionable A.I #1. (If anything, I should have called timeout) #2. A.I. Is down by 4pts with 10 seconds left in the game and the ball on their 30 yd. line. They line up in shotgun and throw a swing pass. Really, no hail mary try?

Also, as BK said, the passing mechanic has me concerned as well.

I'll try bumping up to pro hard and check out the A.I playcalling in those games.

The A.I. will be a game maker or breaker for me.

[NoDakHusker]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Something funny just happened in my game. The CPU audibled on offense and their own TE trucked the FB before the play even start so he had to get up and get back into posistion. I wasn't sure what happened till I look at the replay I was just wondering why the FB was on the ground.

Something kind of similar happened to me, on a running play I accidentally trucked one of my lineman and then got flattened by 3 defenders.

[hatisback]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

My quick impressions after the first two games.

Greatest physics and animations in a sports game, yet.

The tackles are amazing.

The camera, especially on D, will take getting used to.

Eh, the scoreboard looks like my 3rd grade blackboard, but easily overlooked.

At this time, what I can't overlook, is the computer A.I. I'm playing on Pro Medium and the play calling is very questionable. After the quarter ends, the computer team has the ball on the 7 yd line and it's 2nd down. They run a play and gain 4 yds and call a timeout. 1:52 on the clock. That's questionable A.I #1. (If anything, I should have called timeout) #2. A.I. Is down by 4pts with 10 seconds left in the game and the ball on their 30 yd. line. They line up in shotgun and throw a swing pass. Really, no hail mary try?

Also, as BK said, the passing mechanic has me concerned as well.

I'll try bumping up to pro hard and check out the A.I playcalling in those games.

The A.I. will be a game maker or breaker for me.

#1: Maybe they wanted to make sure they had enough time to score before the half.

#2: Its the half, not the end of the game. Why go for a hail mary if you are not near the 50?

[SouthernBrick]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Great observation. The pursuit angles are much easier to appreciate in Tackle Alley. I love how you can get someone to miss and because of the camera you can't tell they're still trying to track you down from behind. You may just happen to catch their shadow and think to evade while trying to focus on the defender in front of you. And none of the movement feels cheap; just a matter of taking the time to get comfortable/accept the control scheme. Also really like that acceleration is very well done and feels very natural; best in game since NCAA '06 last gen in terms of acceleration/deceleration. But this is so much better, because of the physics aspect of it all

Agreed.

I think the regular juke is to up right(or maybe it's just me) but, if you go into training mode and do spin moves you can really just mess around and get that feel for it without having to worry about defenders. When your running and you change a completely different direction that is when the ball carrier gets at his lowest point.

[TerryP]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Playing on Pro/Hard, enjoying the hits/tackles, but the cpu offense sure seems inept.

[Phobia]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Question for someone who might know.

If I queue the Backbreaker demo to start downloading from the xbox.com website. Will it turn on my Xbox at home to start downloading? Reason i am asking is I don't want my 360 just sitting on for another 5 hours before I get home from work.

[hatisback]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Playing on Pro/Hard, enjoying the hits/tackles, but the cpu offense sure seems inept.

I thought that too at first, but the teams are really different and play differently. I found that out when I went against the Spartans.

[roadman]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

#1: Maybe they wanted to make sure they had enough time to score before the half.

#2: Its the half, not the end of the game. Why go for a hail mary if you are not near the 50?

Down 7-3 at half, don't you want to try to get into position to score points. If you don't score points before the half, why not run the ball?

#1, they had enough time to score in the half. 1 min 52 secs and the ball is on the 7 and there isn't enough time to score in the half on 2nd down? Wind the clock down, theory.

Man, constructive criticism can't be applied in this thread. Someone has to shoot holes in your own observations all the time.