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Logo by Max Layne Photography
| Microsoft Xbox 360 |
It is clear from the very beginning that “Backbreaker,” the latest release from 505 Games, is in no way attempting to try to be the next
Madden football game. It doesn’t look like Madden, it doesn’t feel like Madden, and in no way is an NFL license tied to the game.
However, not having the elements of a Madden football game isn’t the problem with this game, instead it is the fact that it tries to go
away from a football system that has worked in the past in an attempt to be something different. There is nothing wrong with deviating
from the norm, but there are a lot of elements that have worked in past football games that are completely ignored in “Backbreaker.”
The first thing that many players are going to notice is the fact that the professional football players in the game don’t feel professional.
Unless players take on the role of an expectedly sluggish lineman, the rest of the players on the field feel the same. A wide receivers
juke should feel different than that of a running back, though it doesn’t. All of this would be fine if the game offered enough
entertainment to keep the player’s mind off of these flaws. And for some reason, players are given one camera angle to watch all of the
action play out.
Luckily, from what players are able to see from behind their player, the physics live up to the hype as no two tackles are the same.
Some are more impressive than others, but seeing the physics of each hit never gets stale, though there are occasional issues. Once
in a while a running back will drop to the ground at the first sight of a hit with another player, even if it is a teammate.
However, before players notice any of these issues they will have to get a handle on the controls that “Backbreaker” tries to present. It
needs to be applauded that “Backbreaker” tried to move away from the face button focused controls, but there is a feeling of a loss of
abilities and control. Leading a receiver for instance, using the right analog doesn’t feel as accurate as using a face button in
conjunction with an analog stick. Thankfully juking, stiff arming and spinning all feel fine if it weren’t for the sluggish movement of the
players.
One questionable issue with the controls is the focus mechanic. On defense, holding the left trigger causes the player to either focus
on the nearest opponent, or on offense, the quarterback to focus on his targeted receiver. This is all fine, until players find themselves
having to tell their defense where to look. Using the right trigger to use turbo brings the camera extremely close, restricting the view of
the rest of the field. This is only worsened when switching players.
When it comes to different game modes, the game feels a bit light. Most players will begin with Training Camp which offers players
activities designed to teach players the finer points of the game. They work well, but for a few controls players will be looking at the
instructional manual. Players will also find the standard season mode, which houses the only appearance of a scouting ability. Road
to Backbreaker is nothing more than an expanding league that starts at eight teams and expands to 32 as players progress through
different years. The biggest difference between Road to Backbreaker and Season Mode is that players will need to create their own
squad for use in Road to Backbreaker.
“Backbreaker” sounds a lot like it’s trying to be a realistic simulation of football, but it comes without a lot of the trimmings that players
of the genre would expect from a football game. Players aren’t able to assign coverage audibles on defense, pre-snap options on
offense are very limited, and the playbooks are identical from one team to the next. If seems as though the game is caught between
trying to appeal the casual football fan with its over the top hits and amped up visuals, and those gamers that are waiting for the latest
Madden game to be released.
Visually, things in the game have worked out fairly well in the game. Player animations look great on the field, though they are
sometimes a little bit robotic when running in a straight line. Details can been seen a little more clearly on the Xbox 360 than on the
PlayStation 3. However, the difference in the details doesn’t affect the game play at all. Details could shine through a bit more so that
players feel like separate entities, but it is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. As it stands, it sort of feels like players are
playing as a hive of drones with no individual personality.
“Backbreaker,” despite its many flaws and poor design choices, actually does have potential thanks to the graphics engine used to
create the game. The groundwork has been laid for a good football experience but the developers need to re-think some of the steps
they've taken to get to this point, mainly in the core game play of the game. As it stands, this game feels more like an Xbox Live Arcade
or PlayStation Network release on steroids searching for its identity. Sadly it doesn’t feel like anything that should be making its way to
store shelves yet.
Madden football game. It doesn’t look like Madden, it doesn’t feel like Madden, and in no way is an NFL license tied to the game.
However, not having the elements of a Madden football game isn’t the problem with this game, instead it is the fact that it tries to go
away from a football system that has worked in the past in an attempt to be something different. There is nothing wrong with deviating
from the norm, but there are a lot of elements that have worked in past football games that are completely ignored in “Backbreaker.”
The first thing that many players are going to notice is the fact that the professional football players in the game don’t feel professional.
Unless players take on the role of an expectedly sluggish lineman, the rest of the players on the field feel the same. A wide receivers
juke should feel different than that of a running back, though it doesn’t. All of this would be fine if the game offered enough
entertainment to keep the player’s mind off of these flaws. And for some reason, players are given one camera angle to watch all of the
action play out.
Luckily, from what players are able to see from behind their player, the physics live up to the hype as no two tackles are the same.
Some are more impressive than others, but seeing the physics of each hit never gets stale, though there are occasional issues. Once
in a while a running back will drop to the ground at the first sight of a hit with another player, even if it is a teammate.
However, before players notice any of these issues they will have to get a handle on the controls that “Backbreaker” tries to present. It
needs to be applauded that “Backbreaker” tried to move away from the face button focused controls, but there is a feeling of a loss of
abilities and control. Leading a receiver for instance, using the right analog doesn’t feel as accurate as using a face button in
conjunction with an analog stick. Thankfully juking, stiff arming and spinning all feel fine if it weren’t for the sluggish movement of the
players.
One questionable issue with the controls is the focus mechanic. On defense, holding the left trigger causes the player to either focus
on the nearest opponent, or on offense, the quarterback to focus on his targeted receiver. This is all fine, until players find themselves
having to tell their defense where to look. Using the right trigger to use turbo brings the camera extremely close, restricting the view of
the rest of the field. This is only worsened when switching players.
When it comes to different game modes, the game feels a bit light. Most players will begin with Training Camp which offers players
activities designed to teach players the finer points of the game. They work well, but for a few controls players will be looking at the
instructional manual. Players will also find the standard season mode, which houses the only appearance of a scouting ability. Road
to Backbreaker is nothing more than an expanding league that starts at eight teams and expands to 32 as players progress through
different years. The biggest difference between Road to Backbreaker and Season Mode is that players will need to create their own
squad for use in Road to Backbreaker.
“Backbreaker” sounds a lot like it’s trying to be a realistic simulation of football, but it comes without a lot of the trimmings that players
of the genre would expect from a football game. Players aren’t able to assign coverage audibles on defense, pre-snap options on
offense are very limited, and the playbooks are identical from one team to the next. If seems as though the game is caught between
trying to appeal the casual football fan with its over the top hits and amped up visuals, and those gamers that are waiting for the latest
Madden game to be released.
Visually, things in the game have worked out fairly well in the game. Player animations look great on the field, though they are
sometimes a little bit robotic when running in a straight line. Details can been seen a little more clearly on the Xbox 360 than on the
PlayStation 3. However, the difference in the details doesn’t affect the game play at all. Details could shine through a bit more so that
players feel like separate entities, but it is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things. As it stands, it sort of feels like players are
playing as a hive of drones with no individual personality.
“Backbreaker,” despite its many flaws and poor design choices, actually does have potential thanks to the graphics engine used to
create the game. The groundwork has been laid for a good football experience but the developers need to re-think some of the steps
they've taken to get to this point, mainly in the core game play of the game. As it stands, this game feels more like an Xbox Live Arcade
or PlayStation Network release on steroids searching for its identity. Sadly it doesn’t feel like anything that should be making its way to
store shelves yet.
| Genre: Sport Developer: NaturalMotion Publisher: 505 Games |
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