You are looking at the HTML representation of the XML format.
HTML is good for debugging, but is unsuitable for application use.
Specify the format parameter to change the output format.
To see the non HTML representation of the XML format, set format=xml.
See the complete documentation, or API help for more information. 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<api>
  <query-continue>
    <backlinks blcontinue="0|Main_Page|1195" />
  </query-continue>
  <query>
    <backlinks>
      <bl pageid="815" ns="0" title="Secret Worlds" />
      <bl pageid="863" ns="0" title="Torvus Temple" />
      <bl pageid="1047" ns="0" title="Judgement Drop" />
      <bl pageid="1105" ns="0" title="Skip Map" redirect="" />
      <bl pageid="1186" ns="0" title="Temple Assembly Site SW" />
      <bl pageid="1187" ns="0" title="Early Power Bomb Expansions" />
      <bl pageid="1190" ns="0" title="Mining Station B SW" />
      <bl pageid="1191" ns="0" title="Torvus Grove SW" />
      <bl pageid="1192" ns="0" title="Mining Plaza SW" />
      <bl pageid="1194" ns="0" title="Agon Map Station SW" />
    </backlinks>
  </query>
</api>