Backyard Football 10

SCORE: 90

There are games that come along every once in a while that are just fun to play. Games that have nothing fancy or over-the-top, but are just fun and enjoyable for the entire family. And this fall, one of those games is Backyard Football ’10. Backyard Football ’10, from Atari, provides an enjoyable gaming experience for sports fans and non-sports fans alike.

The controls are so user friendly anyone can simply pick up the controller and start playing some 7-on-7 football. The game modes include All-Star Game, Season and Quick Game. Playing a single game allows the player to select their roster from over 40 NFL stars and neighborhood kids. It is so much fun to select your players and setup your roster, knowing the players play offense and defense. Seeing my quarterback play nose tackle was definitely hilarious. The selecting players option also applies to the Season mode. One of my favorite things about Backyard Football ’10 is playing with friends. All modes allow for up to four players to join the action. Players will also have fun tracking their milestones for their various players. Milestones include various game, season and career statistics.

The presentation and menu system in Backyard Football ’10 is simplistic and easy to use. Atari did a fantastic job of making the game usable for the target audience – kids. The backgrounds and settings of the different football fields are bright and remind me of a Saturday morning cartoon. The in-game graphics are pretty basic. However, the game itself is so much fun that the lack of realistic graphics really is not an issue. And remember, the target audience is not going to get caught up in the graphics.

Backyard Football ’10 has a fun soundtrack, and at times the players even look to be dancing on the field – like when the kick returner is waiting for the ball. The only issue I had with the music itself was it does become repetitive after the first couple of games, and can get old (it can be turned off). Game commentary will be entertaining for younger players. The comments are often one-liners that do not pertain to the on-field action. They can be funny at times, but do grow annoying for older gamers.

There are a few control issues worth noting as well. When playing defense and a pass is tipped, the user controlled defensive player is unable to move towards the ball – and therefore has no chance of intercepting the pass. Also, the gamer can simply line up at the line of scrimmage and hold down the turbo button and directional pad preparing for a pass rush. I am sure the emphasis was placed on not having off-sides, but this can lead to the defense having an advantage. Lastly, it would be nice to have defensive player lock, as scrolling through the defensive players before each snap does get tiring. These issues are not going to ruin the gameplay, but can be frustrating at times.

I appreciate the emphasis on making the game playable for all ages. Parents can definitely enjoy good clean fun playing with the kids. There is the option for taunting the kickers before kicks, so this can provide discussion starters for good sportsmanship. Minus a few gameplay and soundtrack issues, Backyard Football ’10 scores a touchdown for Atari.
- Alan

Graphics: 84%
Sound: 86%
Replay/Extras: 90%
Gameplay: 88%
Family Friendly Factor: 98%
System: Xbox 360/Playstation 2
Publisher: Atari
Rating: 'E' for Everyone

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