If you’re expecting Arcade Football, like NFL Blitz or something, you best turn around and look for something else (you can pick up the Retail Backbreaker which is arcade football for cheaper than this if you look around a bit). Backbreaker: Vengeance is basically 3 different football themed minigames wrapped up in a pricy package.
The three gametypes are Tackle Alley, Vengeance and Supremacy. All three utilize the same mechanics of matching button presses to the type of defender you come across with the added option of juking and spinning. If you are a fan of the old Simon Says color matching game, you may want to look into picking up Backbreaker: Vengeance. The game features a pick up andplay system with the option of 2 people on one Xbox or Online Play via Xbox Live.
The online play is similar to the single player variants, with the only difference being that one of the other players is also controlled by a real live person. I can only assume the local play option is similar, but was unable to test it out.
Graphically the game looks pretty good with smooth animations that lead to some real grimaces if a tackle goes bad. The game’s biggest problem in my book would be the controls, which while simple, are lacking. You don’t ever stop running, which makes maneuvering the obstacle course of Tacklers, Obstacles and Boundaries a pain since you have to slow down for a turn as opposed to just stopping, turning and going. Add to that the fact that (this could just be my controller but I doubt it as it doesn’t happen in other games) the controls are hypersensitive, and you will spend a lot of time veering into things that you shouldn’t. And the timing on your button presses needs to be exact because a stray knee tapping you from a tackler as you slide under him will cause you to fail that wave.
Personally I feel this game is lacking in content for the 1200 MSP price point. Had it been offered up for 600 or 800 I would probably say that it’s worth a look, but unless you are a fan of the game and love minigames to death you will quit playing this pretty quick.
