Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[jmood88]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I don't disagree about it being a little cumbersome to switch receivers, but in real life a qb wouldn't be able to make it to their 3rd /4th receiver or stand in the pocket forever without eating turf that often either.

I do wish there was way to make it easier to see when my receivers are open deep, so far that is what I am having trouble with so far.

There should be a rating so that if your quarterback is better at seeing the field you can either switch a lot faster, focus lasts longer or the effect is more dramatic with higher rated quarterbacks, or have it like the vision cone where you can see more of the field somehow.

[mrprice33]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

The physics and tackling absolutely destroy everything that Madden has done so far.

That being said, the game has some really big warts that are too hard to ignore.

1) Yeah, the camera. Has been discussed ad nasuem. Sometimes, though, I find it switching players without my input (especially on defense) which really stinks.

2) QB play. All of the QBs seem short to me, and it's impossible to see anything going on past your blockers. Also, the field seems a bit small. CPU QB play is really bad, and it hasn't really varied from team to team.

3) User input. The controls just don't seem fluid to what's going on on the field, and the players all feel a little "off." Playing the ball in the air seems impossible, and doing anything on defense as the user (other than tackling) it's really awkward.

Bottom line: seems to me like the devs spent most of the dev time making an awesome physics engine/tackling system, and they have. They forgot the rest of the game though. In terms of playability, APF, 2K5, and Madden all are better than this game, at least judging from the demo. I went from being mildly interested to no buy. I would buy tackle alley for 10 bucks on XBLA/PSN, though.

[J-Unit40]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Bummer. This game just went from being a Day One purchase to a doubtful purchase.

I just had a game (Indy vs. Pittsburgh) where there was a total of 8 INTS. 8! Are you kidding? To end the game there were back-to-back-to-back-to-back INTs. Yes. 4 consecutive interceptions.

Damn shame because this game is has very high potential.

The fun and realism just gets sucked out of a game when nonsense like that happens (and it happens too often).

Returning kickoffs is soooo fun though. I just love busting a spin move and juking in the open field....and then get tripped up or clobbered. :wink:

[NoDakHusker]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

My biggest issue with the demo is the time. There just isn't enough time to get into a rhythm offensively. I'd take 1, 4 minute quarter over 2, 2 minute quarters.

[mrprice33]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Bummer. This game just went from being a Day One purchase to a doubtful purchase.

I just had a game (Indy vs. Pittsburgh) where there was a total of 8 INTS. 8! Are you kidding? To end the game there were back-to-back-to-back-to-back INTs. Yes. 4 consecutive interceptions.

Damn shame because this game is has very high potential.

The fun and realism just gets sucked out of a game when nonsense like that happens (and it happens too often).

Returning kickoffs is soooo fun though. I just love busting a spin move and juking in the open field....and then get tripped up or clobbered. :wink:

I had some of the same issues. Me and the CPU had 7 ints and 5 sacks in 4 minutes of game time with 2 good teams on medium.

[buckeyes787]

Worst Football Demo ever!!!!!! Madden And NCAA 11 Will Own This Game All Day. Keep Up The Great Work EA.

[fldash]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Worst Football Demo ever!!!!!! Madden And NCAA 11 Will Own This Game All Day. Keep Up The Great Work EA.

Doubtful.
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[Dudd]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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.

[Illustrator76]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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

[VanillaGorilla]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

"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.

[Blitzburgh]

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.

[rckabillyRaider]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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.

[mrprice33]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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.

[mgoblue678]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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.

[Jukeman]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

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...