New Backbreaker Screenshots
by 
Backbreaker remains somewhat of an enigma. Announced over two years ago the game has been in something akin to a PR lockdown since. While the allure of dynamic tackles remains intriguing there has been little else shown from the game and general details have been scarce. Gamestop had put it up for presale on its website and it looked like a fall release for the game with Atari as the publisher, only to pull the listing a few days later putting those things back in doubt.
Earlier today two new screenshots were released for the game. These are the first that really show off what it will look like during gameplay as they display pre-snap alignment and assignments. Click the thumbnails below to view full size.
E3 looms large for Backbreaker. If the game is on display and fully playable (not just the Tackle Alley demonstration) then there could be justification for anticipating it. If it isn’t then questioning of the legitimacy of the game will continue.
I’ve always been open to and enjoyed arcade style games, and Backbreaker appears to be straddling the line between arcade and sim along with the futuristic feel, glowing football, and glowing user controlled player. There is a place in the market for unique takes on the sports as long as they have the fundamentals down and ultimately are fun. Hopefully there will be a breakthrough coming from Backbreaker now that E3 is on the horizon less than two weeks out.
May 21, 2009 at 2:34 am
looks promising still if they can finally pull it together
May 21, 2009 at 3:46 am
with so little known about the game this is really all that can be said
May 21, 2009 at 3:45 am
i have just 1 question…… WHAT THE HELL IS THIS HAHA….
May 21, 2009 at 3:55 am
There is nothing wrong with how long this game has been getting developed. they arent strangling themselves like other sports companies by putting out a game a year.
May 21, 2009 at 3:55 am
i would love to have a different football game from someone besides EA Sports. Does anyone know when the nfl player license expires so we can have NFL teams and players from 2k sports again instead of just madden?
May 21, 2009 at 4:44 am
The contract currently runs through Madden 2013.
May 21, 2009 at 4:07 am
from those screen shots look like some blitz sh*t.
May 21, 2009 at 4:09 am
looks REALLY stiff from those pictures…guess we will have to wait and see…
May 21, 2009 at 4:46 am
that's what she said
May 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm
hey-oh!
May 21, 2009 at 4:43 am
This is horrible
May 21, 2009 at 9:06 am
hell I hope they dont get sued using that phoenix coyotes logo with the colors too lol…….even if the hockey team's stay in AZ is in jeopardy
May 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm
The doesn't look good from those shots. Glowing players and glowing footballs? Yeahhhhhh… nahhhhhh.
This will fail.
May 21, 2009 at 12:28 pm
man FLUCK this game LOL… they should have been dropped this, who cares now… If 2k couldnt do it, how they gonna do it (w/ no NFL licence?). Nobodys excited anymore, i would only play it if it was a DL game on Xbox Live for like 500 points LOL.
May 21, 2009 at 12:34 pm
This looks bad. Thank god for Madden.
May 21, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I thought Backbreaker was going to be a simulation game not an arcade type game. This is kinda disappointing only if Madden doesn't deliver again this year. If Madden is the game I've been waiting for since '05 than BB becomes moot to me. All things being equal I'd stick with Madden because of the name and it's history. But, if Madden stinks this year, it would have been nice to have an alternative sim not arcade, for me anyway. Under normal circumstances, a football game without licensing would not have stood a chance; however, people have been so disillusioned with Madden lately that I think it would actually sell if the gameplay was better.
May 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I don't know why companies who make football games try and go the 'traditional' route. You are not going to beat Madden or even compete with them, because nobody wants to play with a bunch of fictional players. However, if they really wanted to do something to set themselves apart, make it a league set in the future. Heck, I wouldn't even care if they made something similar Mutant League!! I'd rather play with a fictional player like Bones Jackson again as opposed to random Jack Smith. Everyone is clamoring for a 'sim' game leave that to Madden to tinker with, why can't the alternative be fun and ejoyable?
May 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I don't know why companies who make football games try and go the 'traditional' route. You are not going to beat Madden or even compete with them, because nobody wants to play with a bunch of fictional players. However, if they really wanted to do something to set themselves apart, make it a league set in the future. Heck, I wouldn't even care if they made something similar Mutant League!! I'd rather play with a fictional player like Bones Jackson again as opposed to random Jack Smith. Everyone is clamoring for a 'sim' game leave that to Madden to tinker with, why can't the alternative be fun and ejnoyable?
May 21, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I don't know why companies who make football games try and go the 'traditional' route. You are not going to beat Madden or even compete with them, because nobody wants to play with a bunch of fictional players. However, if they really wanted to do something to set themselves apart, make it a league set in the future. Heck, I wouldn't even care if they made something similar Mutant League!! I'd rather play with a fictional player like Bones Jackson again as opposed to random Jack Smith. Everyone is clamoring for a 'sim' game leave that to Madden to tinker with, why can't the alternative be fun and enjoyable?
May 21, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I can't wait for this game. Pretty funny reading some of the comments on here from the EA homers who wouldn't know an innovative football title if it bit them on the ass.
May 21, 2009 at 2:44 pm
They need to fix the angle on the play art viewer and the defensive cam quick.
Other than that, the videos they posted made it look fun enough to play a couple of times, hope someone makes nfl rosters for it.
May 21, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I don't like the distant perspective. The field looks too small, the glowing player is just wrong, and the screenshots look strangely interlaced, like they're half the full screen of video.
Organic tackling=cool. Other stuff=not cool. Hey Backbreaker guys… SH!T or get off the pot!
May 21, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I was pretty pumped for this game a while back… It looked innovative and sim based with great tackling animations and such…but these screenshots look pedestrian at best.
Where is the sideline and/or sideline players and coaches? Do teams in the "future" not need subs or coaching? What's with the glowing football?
Oh well…looks like another year of Madden…. until the license expires.
May 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Come on, this looks and sounds awful. It reminds me of the first time I played Madden on PS2.
May 21, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Co'mon guys?! These are the first screen shots in over a year! THIS GAME IS GOING TO SUCK! Why are other gamers even giving this a shot? CRAP! Nice Phoenix Coyote logo for your "San Jose" team…Loosers. It takes you over a year to give us a formation screen shot?! Are you kidding me, and on top of that it looks like Midway's Blitz!? Garbage, people, garbage…Don't buy in to the nifty takles either.
May 21, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Looks awesome
May 21, 2009 at 8:01 pm
The real excitement is about the tackling engine, so I gotta say, I'm not getting much out of still photos. Although it does look decent for the release still being a ways off.
May 21, 2009 at 8:02 pm
The real excitement is about the tackling engine, so I gotta say, I'm not getting much out of still photos. Although it does look decent for the release still being far away.
May 21, 2009 at 8:03 pm
The real excitement is about the tackling engine, so I'm really not getting much out of still photos. Although it does look decent for the release still being far away.
May 22, 2009 at 7:01 pm
this game sucks
May 23, 2009 at 3:15 am
Anything will be better then Madden
May 23, 2009 at 9:15 am
Naw, the graphics look generic. But I hope the gameplay is awesome.
May 23, 2009 at 4:11 pm
People can say this game will suck, and hold on to their fanboy game for 20 years now, but noone can argue that the tackling in this game will reinvent football, over the same scripted crap Madden puts out.
May 24, 2009 at 4:26 am
No sidelines, no refs, no handtowls, all the guys look exaclty the same….This game sucks!!!!