Football has long needed an overhaul in terms of organic realism, something the Madden series has recently strived to accomplish, but really hasn’t to be honest. This is where Backbreaker has tried to step in and take over, and they do so, with mixed results overall however.

The stuff behind Backbreaker for the PS3 is amazing. From a technological stand-point Backbreaker slaughters Madden in almost every area. Running animations, tackles and kick-offs are incredibly realistic, providing an experience that no other football game has matched.  Every animation has a particular attention to detail that I have never seen in any other football game. The way players shed blocks or spin away from tacklers is so authentic that we wonder what Madden has been doing all these years.

Backbreaker is played with an on-field camera and while we agree with this decision, it’s not without some issues. There’s a lack of precision with this system that can often become frustrating. Switching between players is quick but it’s also very hectic. For instance, if you blitz and miss the Quarterback or Running Back and want to switch to another defender this creates problems. Sometimes your player gets cluttered up in a group of players and cannot break free, which in turn, makes it very difficult to tackle the opposing player.

The sound design doesn’t match the visuals, there’s very little commentary and the same song is played every time you kick-off. At first it gets you pumped up but after a while becomes repetitive. Everything on the field seems a bit too quiet and if they work on a sequel, the sound design needs a huge overhaul.

Despite these shortcomings Backbreaker defines itself as a next generation football title. It’s frustrating at some points but overall, the enjoyment far exceeds it. Backbreaker delivers on the promises it made years ago. Madden can step off his high horse; there’s a legitimate contender in this genre.