Back to the Future: The Game

Despite being a massive franchise/cash cow, BTTF has had a pretty choppy history when it comes to video games. The first game for the NES was unbelievably awful. BTTF Part II had two completely different incarnations for the Commodore Amiga and Super-Famicom (never available outside of Japan) that were somewhat true to the story but never successful. Only Back to the Future Part III (Mega Drive) had a wider release as a video game. I owned it on the Commodore 64 and Genesis but it was way too hard.

Now, after 25 years, Telltale Games have finally given the fans of the movie and the video-gaming community an official, real-deal BTTF adventure series co-written by Bob Gale himself. How does it measure up? I'll review each episode individually.

Episode 1: It's About Time

Opening a few months after the events of BTTF Part III, with the DeLorean destroyed by a train and Doc living out his life with Clara and boys in many different eras, Marty begins to miss his old friend and is sad to see the city auction off his belongings. But when the time vehicle suddenly reappears (since it's a time machine it can never be completely destroyed forever, I guess) Marty must travel back to 1931 and break Doc out of jail for burning down Kid Tannen's speak-easy.

As a graphic adventure game, and as a BTTF adventure, it's very entertaining and well-written without giving the impression it's put together by sycophantic fanboys. It really does feel like an authentic extension of the BTTF universe and even casual fans of the movies will get a kick out of it.

Episode 2: Get Tannen

After rescuing Doc and Artie McFly from Kid Tannen, Marty travels back to 1986 to find his dad in a wheelchair and that the Tannens are now a local crime family. Obviously something has gone seriously wrong with the timeline so it's back to 1931 to put things right. Hang on, is this BTTF or Quantum Leap?

Once again the early 1930s Hill Valley setting is pretty much the only location to explore. The 1930s setting is getting a bit tired by this point.

Episode 3: Citizen Brown

As he returns from defeating Kid Tannen in 1931, Marty discovers that Hill Valley has been transformed into a sterile, emotionless utopia/dystopia and that the brain behind this new world/town order is Doc, only he's no longer Doc, he's Citizen Brown and he ain't so friendly no more.

Marty then has to wander across town meeting people and putting together the clues as to where the timeline went askew this time. It feels much shorter than the first two games, with most of the action once again limited to the town square and the alley behind the soup kitchen (which was actually an aerobics gym in the first movie I my memory serves me correctly). Also, at this halfway point in the series there is still no truly epic feel.

Episode 4: Double Visions

Marty begins the game locked up in the Hill Valley courthouse, waiting to be re-educated in Edna Strickland's dystopian 1986. After escaping with the alternate Doc they head back to 1931 for what feels like the hundredth time. Fortunately, in this game the action is not centered around the town square and the alley behind the soup kitchen but mostly young Emmett's lab and the Hill Valley High School.

Story-wise, it's nothing too brilliant. It feels more like a stop-gap entry in the series than a complete story on it's own. There haven't been many epic moments in the series so far, but young Emmett swinging by his feet from the clock-tower was a nice touch.

Episode 5: Outatime

With Bad Doc still unsure about betraying Edna Strickland, Marty must help young Emmett complete his real demonstration at the Hill Valley science expo. But after his success the entire town mysteriously vanishes.

The story in this episode is much, much better and really does come together well. There are long character scenes which work perfectly, giving the story some soul, and the climax feels like you're actually taking part in a BTTF adventure.

Michael J. Fox even voices William McFly (who we've seen peeing on Marty) and several older Martys who all appear at once. Overall, it's a satisfying 'conclusion' to a long journey, but I feel there are still plenty more adventures in store for Marty and Doc in the future...or the past...on an alternate present.

In summary then, it's a good, if not great effort. I'm glad that they got Christopher Lloyd to voice Doc, no offense to Dan Castellaneta, but Lloyd is the only way to go for Doc. He's irreplaceable. Even Claudia Wells returns as Jennifer, now matching Elisabeth Shue with 2 appearances each.

The graphics though, are very dated, and the controls...don't get me started. Plus there are numerous other glitches that should have been fixed before the game was published. I've seen mid-90s CD-ROMS look and play better than this. Maneuvering Marty around Hill Valley is a nightmare. It may work fine with a mouse but with a PS3 controller it's like peeling an orange while wearing boxing gloves. The graphics and controls threaten to spoil the game, but fans will be so engrossed in FINALLY being able to take part in a real BTTF adventure that it won't matter.

The entire package features 60 trophies (including a Platinum NOT available with the PSN version).

Graphics D
Sound B
Gameplay C+
Lasting Appeal C

I don't like writing bad reviews - I can normally focus on the positive on even the poorest of games- with this I am struggling. If you didn't know this game is made up of a series of Playstation network games that were popular enough to trigger a retail release (this). I didn't buy the PSN games so I had no idea what to expect really but as the screen shots looked good I pre-ordered and bought this. I have played it to 100% completion and gained the platinum trophy in 3 nights casual play. In the end I wasn't even watching the screen - its barely interactive at-all - its: blah blah blah - press X - blah blah blah - select option and press X... rinse and repeat. The graphics are OK but its just cut scene after cut scene of pre-set responses so any joy in that quickly disappears. I was falling asleep playing it - otherwise I could of completed it sooner. Each episode is just a continuation of the story that you watch and influence by who you talk to and what you look at - nothing that will get your pulse racing. It's the same play type as the 'Blue Toad Murder Files' PSN game if you are familiar with that one. I am a big fan of the films - not of this game. The only good thing that can come of this is if you want a very easy platinum trophy. Also if you did already buy the PSN versions - the trophy list for this game is separate so effectively you will get a whole new set of trophies and a platinum. I wouldn't recommended this at all unless you really like this sort of minimal interaction type of game. Needless to say mine is listed on an auction website...

I have to admit Back to the future's stock doesn't sound promising on paper. a film tie in (remember CSI fatal conspiracy? - Exactly) and when I mention that this is more point and click than platform and hoverbaord racing you'd be understandably unexcited.
But in actual fact it's actually more enjoyable than it has any right to be. this is partly due to a pretty decent storyline that clearly respects the original trilogy. Of course this time is the Grandads turn tyo meet Marty as he tries to find out why Dr Brown went missing a year after the original Delorean experiment. Which means that Marty gets to viit gramos in Prohibition ersa (guess what Biff Snr snr does for a living)and a VERY young doctor. But it's Emmet Brown's 1985 that shoines as one of the games highpoints.
The voice ecting is pretty decent, With Christopher Lloyd voicing the Doc. Ok Michael j Fox only has a bit part and not Marty McFly, but the voice is very close (i'm guessing the same guy who voices Ratchet from Ratchet and Clank)and quite funny in places too. It certainly feels like a typical Back to the Future story
Visually it's quite cartoony and not going to set a new standard for games and with the controls being mostly walk point and click not too much of a challenge. a few mildly taxing puzzles are sometimes made harder by the odd hints system that also gives away too much on others.
Trophy hunters will also get some mileage out of this as most are pretty easy from first playthrough. Overall not everyones cup of hot caffinated beverage butwith a good story is not to bad for the budget price