Product ReviewsBackbreaker (Microsoft Xbox 360, 2010)

Backbreaker

There's no question that football has a cerebral side, but much of the appeal of the sport comes from the explosive hits that happen on nearly every play. Backbreaker highlights these bone-jarring collisions like no other football game before it. The realistic manner in which players use their bodies as a weapon while on defense and crumple limply to the earth on the offensive side of the ball encourages the same sadistic yells the real sport so frequently elicits, but the rest of the experience falls far short of that Sunday-afternoon excitement. A frustrating passing system and an unpredictable running attack make marching down the field a chore, and the presentation leaves a lot to be desired. There are enough wow moments to make Backbreaker worth checking out for football fans looking for something other than the pervasive Madden series, but there are too many holes in this debut game to give it a starting spot in its rookie year. The animation in Backbreaker is incredibly realistic and makes every action you take on the field pop off the screen. Players react like you would expect real people to, obeying the laws of physics so strictly that when their bodies contort and bend, you can imagine the pain these digital beings must be in. There has simply never been a sports game that so accurately reflects a player's movement and momentum. Get a clean shot on a quarterback, and watch the shock wave ripple through his body, forcing his head to snap back like a jack-in-the-box and his legs to lose the ability to support the weight above them. Running backs can be pulled down by just their arm or held in place by a falling lineman, while a surging linebacker rushes in to finish off the job. Although the animations are usually incredible, they are not without some faults. The throwing and kicking motions are a little off, and the lack of any injuries limits the ramifications of these punishing hits. But it's amazing how realistic Backbreaker looks.

Unfortunately, the actual football experience is not able to match this fantastic animation system. Much of the blame falls on the nonadjustable camera, which is set far too close to players. Because the camera places you right on the field, all of the hits carry even more weight than if you were zoomed farther back, but the positive aspects are overshadowed by an inability to see the entire field. As the quarterback, not only can you not see all of your receivers at one time, but you can barely see the pass rush barreling toward you, making it difficult to get the ball out of your hands before you find yourself flat on your back. On the defensive side of the ball, the extreme close-up makes it fun to claw your way past an offensive lineman, but you have no way to know what's happening on the other side of the field. And though you do have the ability to switch whom you're controlling midplay, you're liable to completely mess up a situation if you inhabit a new body without knowledge of your surroundings. Because of the claustrophobic camera angle, local matches against another player are handled with split-screen, although online play gives you the full screen to work with. The camera does a good job of putting you in the action, but it's so restrictive that it becomes a liability before long. The suffocating camera is just the beginning of Backbreaker's problems, though.Read full review...

My Kid loves it..

Good game. Easy to play and understand. Good entertainment. My kid is 6. But, advanced gamer....lol

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: powerupvideogames

Recensione italiana e inglese.Italian nd english review

No posso scrivere moltissimo riguardo a questo prodotto poichè lo ho acquistato per un amico,ma sicuramente è ottimo,nuovo incellofanato e il bello è che funziona anche con console europee(almeno italiane) anche se è in NTSC.Posso dire che è molto vantaggioso perchè in italia almeno costa 50-60 euro,quindi ragazzi compratelo,è consigliatissimo.Ciao a tutti!!
I can't write a lot because i bought this game for a friend,but it's a good product,new and it works wery well also with european PAL consoles.It very cheap because in italy it costs like 50-60 euros.It's very recommended.Goodbye at all!!Read full review...

Unbelievable Physics!

This game is awesome. I love the "feel" the game has solely because of the gameplay angle. It makes you feel like you are actually in the game. One thing I love about this game is that there isn't any animation n regards to tackles. You will NEVER see the same tackle twice.Read full review...

I need to be a better educated Consumer

This game is still not backwards compatible on Xbox Series X.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kevinlawrence001

Cool game 🙏😎

Cool game 🙏😎

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: codycose

fun game

this is definately a defensive minded video game. controls are a little weird compared to othe football games but i think it is mostly due to the camera angle. very fun game

good deal

game is a cool change from the madden line up. takes a while to get use to the controls. ...........................................................................................................................................................Read full review...

Awesome buy. Great product.

This a great game for an excellent price. This a good change of pace from the normal football games.

Great

Great product

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: chobieshedwell