Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

[swaldo]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Well one thing is clear, if hard-core football gamers don't like the camera then what do you think casual & younger players will think? Especially being that some of the issues in the game is excessive INT's, sacks and runs that get stuffed for negative yards (I like to call them gags.)

They are already disoriented, confused and feel partially blind from the camera, so once these "gags" start happening it's gonna be "Heck with this!" The only way to keep a casual player interested is if the ball moves forward, keeping the user interested and the game fun. In it's current state I sense there will be too much frustration.

More camera angles should've been put in the game - plain and simple!

[Methlab]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

If you add another cam, then everyone would use that online and take away the point of the game. With the zoomed out cam, you have an advantage when you can see the entire field including the pass rush as QB and who is in your blind spots when running the ball.
I personally think if a game is fun and cooll, a casual gamer will enter practice mode and figure out how to play the game. Not being able to practice yet is a major reason why people are not comfortable with the view. I also would like to have a game where casuals and kids are not saturating it. That means less glitchers and cheesers.


While it is not realistic to see yourself , it is more realistic the way the cam is now because you can only really see what is in front of you and not to the sides and behind. That makes the game a lot tougher.

I am sure they can continue to tighten up the cam and make it faster and better. I just beat Indy as CHI with a last second 61 yard bomb. It was pretty awesome. I established a run game with them and it opened up the pass. The single back HB dive is a nice run play to try. Outside runs are not as easy, and that is ok. They usually are easier to cover unless the D is set up to not expect it. It's harder to get blockers to pull wide as opposed to run blocking up the gut.

Sometimes I hit RT too late and it sends me into the hurry up which sucks. It also takes a little while to throw the bomb, and I am still getting that timing down.

I have not played a demo this much before. It is really something. It is also a demo and I am sure they will make some patches and really support this game. Hopefully there are a lot of playbooks in the final version.

Making a tackle is so satisfying on D.

So far I enjoy this football game more then the others. One reason is that it is fast. A half takes no time, and I would imagine 5 min quarters would be around 30-35 minutes. It just moves quickly and gets to the point.
Running the ball for a first down..converting a 3rd with a pass to your TE, getting the D to bite on play action...all those types of things really feel great in this game.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Well one thing is clear, if hard-core football gamers don't like the camera then what do you think casual & younger players will think?

Personally I think the casuals will be more accepting of the control scheme than those hardcore that are staunchly against it. Some of the hardcore fans seem far too concerned w/the game being Madden-like, in terms of expecting the AI to be at a certain point, worried about stats, the ability to recreate the NFL, the camera options, etc. Most casual fans will likely accept the game for what it is I would think

[LoostheMoos]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I did not see this discussed eariler, so I apologize if it was and I missed it...

Has anyone else been able to block XP's and FG's with alarming ease? I manually took the deep man on the FG-Block, brought him into the A-gap and was able to block 3 kicks in 2 games, twice I was actually able to tackle the holder...I am hoping it was a fluke more than a glitch...

[TheWatcher]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

The average gamer is bound to be frustrated by the camera. I like the camera, some others don't mind it, but I just see no way this is going to go over well with the masses.

If anyone remembers, there have been public outcries for multiple and adjustable cams in other football games that didn't have the type of view BB has. People complained about the view in those games... so what do you think they will do with BB? I just have a strong feeling that AI issues had a lot to do with it if not the main reason, but I'll be more inclined to conclude on whether that's true or not, based on the full game. If the full game doesn't have adjustable replay angles, I think I'll have my answer as to what they were thinking.

The foundation is really solid, but the uphill battle for acceptance is going to be even tougher than I originally thought.

[fldash]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Personally I think the casuals will be more accepting of the control scheme than those hardcore that are staunchly against it. Some of the hardcore fans seem far too concerned w/the game being Madden-like, in terms of expecting the AI to be at a certain point, worried about stats, the ability to recreate the NFL, the camera options, etc. Most casual fans will likely accept the game for what it is I would think

Yea, I think casuals are much more forgiving than the hardcore, I didn't get his point at all.
<div_prefs id="div_prefs"></div_prefs>

[Jimixiii]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Yes I finally got my own pick! As I've stated before, I've never really played anything other than DL on defense in football games but I was the LB playing man on the TE & got a nice pick. This is the best prospective on D & best feel for playing D I've ever witness. I don't feel completely lost or always on the scramble with the way the game is setup for once while covering the offense. Loving it!

[Afrikan]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Yes I finally got my own pick! As I've stated before, I've never really played anything other than DL on defense in football games but I was the LB playing man on the TE & got a nice pick. This is the best prospective on D & best feel for playing D I've ever witness. I don't feel completely lost or always on the scramble with the way the game is setup for once while covering the offense. Loving it!

yes, I can't WAIT to play final game....2mins per qtr really hinders the gameplay experience, imo......the fact that it is fun with little time we have, man.....the full game should be much funner.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

The average gamer is bound to be frustrated by the camera. I like the camera, some others don't mind it, but I just see no way this is going to go over well with the masses.

Well, we'll see. Like I said in another thread, when the Blitz developers were here trying to garner support for their game, people here wanted to change it into something it wasn't intended to be. "It needs to have 11vs11 or it's gonna fail miserably". "Needs full customization". Etc. The first one was successful mainly because the people that brought the game weren't looking for a traditional game. The BB devs have said repeatedly they were trying to do something new; the traditional route is a path pretty well worn. Again I'd love to have additional options. But as the devs themselves have stated (dev diary #1 & #3) - changing the view changes what they were shooting to accomplish. This is their first attempt at a football game w/o the benefit of user feedback - overall I think they did a great job, considering. I say at least allow them the opportunity to adjust instead of immediately burying the game

[Sport73]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

I wanted to take my time with the demo before rushing to judgment, but I can sum up my thoughts in 3 words:

Move Over Madden.

I've played at least 100 games in the demo of BackBreaker, and while there are certainly the flaws, rough edges and gaps of a first-generation product, it already plays a better game of Football than Madden. For comparison, I played the Madden 10 demo again, and it's just night and day. Madden feels like it has for over a decade, just a step up from the vibrating table form of football where everything is floaty and loosely in your control. Everyone's in the right spot in Madden, so it 'looks' like football, but there's a layer of abstraction that ensures it never feels like football.

BackBreaker feels like football. If using a physics engine was just a gimmick, call me a sucker, because it makes a world of difference. The hits in Madden are laughable compared to the complex variety of animations and player interactions in backbreaker. Guys fighting on the line look and feel like guys fighting on the line, every step feels like a step, and you can see how each foot being placed down equals motion, not the ice-skating of so many games - we're talking 1:1 between what you see and the physical movement in the game.

The passing game, while difficult, is a breath of fresh air. It takes a while to become decent, but once you do it's just a ton of fun. If you practice the progressions pre-snap it make it easier to know what you have to do after the hike. Focusing in as a player makes his cut and hitting him with the pass at just the right time is fun, and the low-level camera makes you feel like you're in the eyes of the quarterback. You have very little time to make a decision, because you will get blind-side sacked if you delay. There's also a clear talent difference between the good offensive lines and QB's in the game, and the bad ones.

The running game is light years beyond Madden. The controls are easy to pull off, and the 'in the RB role' view is great for finding the seams. But the best part is that this is where the physics really shines; glancing hits are shaken off, jukes can leave guys in the dust, and the eventual take-down is unique and appropriate to the circumstance. A perfect example is that in Madden, you might get stuffed on the 1st down as soon as the RB meets the defender, regardless of whether his forward motion or the specific way in which offensive/defensive players collided would have kept him moving forward. In BB, you'll pick up the extra yard if the hit is off to your side, but you'll get pushed back if you were moving more laterally than forward at impact. The diversity and realism of hits is just sweet, and an utter embarrassment to Madden.

Downsides? The player models are not diverse, and the 'on-the-field' presentation, while great, just doesn't have the polish of Madden. Online offerings seem pretty limited (just exhibitions, no leagues), and the play books are not as diverse as they could be.

Mostly, it will just take a lot of adjustment for you to get used to the view, controls, feel, and 'method' of this game, but if you take the time to figure it out (be sure to play on Pro and not arcade by pushing right on that menu item) you will be rewarded by a solid foundation, fun to play game that is also a glimpse into the future of football sims.

Maybe I'm over-selling it, but I'm very impressed and have decided to get this and likely skip Madden this year.

[NoDakHusker]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

^that's quite an analysis. Well done

[Bears_16_and_0]

sorry if this has been mentioned but i dunno about going through all 46 pages =P Whats the deal with focus mode? What are the drawbacks/bonuses? Am I just supposed to pull LT every time I drop back to pass?

Im kinda impressed, I wish the camera wouldn't like swing all the way around for example if you're trying to run to the outside. You should still be able to keep your head upfield, you never just blindly run around in real football, I learned that when I was 8. (well i shouldnt say never, but you dont turn your back to the entire defense on a sweep)

How you you knock down passes and stuff on defense? Is it auto?

[SIM RULES]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

Wow, thanks genius. But the developers CLEARLY STATED MANY TIMES that this camera angle was the only one for a reason. So if you are so much smarter then everyone else, why don't you design a game that does what you want it to do?

If you can't see the logic in why it is more realistic to not see every player on the field and simply hit a button to get them the ball then you must have never played any kind of sport in your life before. To fire off insults on my logic and say it is "the worst" just shows you are either horrible at this game and lashing out, or do not understand what the BB game is about.

Good post. I do not understand why some people continue to torture themselves if they hate the camera angle. If you have posted that you can't play with it 50 times, maybe BB is not for you. Maybe next year they will add more. As for now, it is what it is...I love that phrase.

[mgoblue678]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

sorry if this has been mentioned but i dunno about going through all 46 pages =P Whats the deal with focus mode? What are the drawbacks/bonuses. Am I just supposed to pull LT every time I drop back to pass? Im kinda impressed, I wish the camera wouldn't like swing all the way around for example if you're trying to run to the outside. You should still be able to keep your head upfield, you never just blindly run around in real football, I learned that when I was 8.

You don't have to pass with focus mode on every pass, but it does greatly improve your accuracy. The downsides are that since the view your looking at is smaller than when not using focus you risk getting blindsided and it makes it more difficult to evade/see the rush.

I agree the camera on outside runs could be better, I have still had some success on outside runs as I got used to the running, but the camera could defiantly be better on them.

[Bears_16_and_0]

Re: Backbreaker Demo Available, Post Your Impressions Here

does focus put the game in slow motion at all? how about at positions other than QB?