Back to the Future: OUTATIME
Review
Well worth experiencing for fans of the films
by Chris Capel
reviewed on PC
“One of these days I really should stop falling for that.” (cntd)
It has been much advertised that Michael J Fox would be in this episode, and he plays quite a key role… or two. He’s just as awesome as ever (especially doing an accent!), but his appearance drives home just how uncanny an impression of him AJ LoCascio’s doing – the two sound nigh identical! LoCascio also does a passable Christopher Lloyd, as we find out in the course of the episode.
It is these two wonderful characters that have held together this adventure game (not to mention the film trilogy itself). The Game really digs into the heart of why these two are close friends, and goes a lot deeper into Doc Brown’s motivations and history than the films managed (which were more about Marty). Emmett’s Dad appears properly for the first time, and gives Doc the kind of… wait, no, no spoilers. Suffice to say, fans will love it.
“Burn you sucker, burn!”
It’s fascinating, entertaining and wonderful to watch, but to play the puzzles could have been more difficult or satisfying to solve. Still, this isn’t meant to be a challenging game for experienced adventurers like myself. In every episode the same problems keep raising their heads, but Telltale have fixed things along the way.
In what seems like a direct response to my complaints about Emmett’s confusing lab in the last episode, particularly my comment that it “would’ve been much easier in the old days with item names showing on the screen”, well, Telltale have put in item names appearing on the screen as you hover the mouse pointer over them. Hi Telltale, thanks for listening!
It can’t be denied however that some things got rushed along the way. Even with two months to make the final episode they still forgot to put people in the Science Expo and had another final scene featuring Marty clambering over a vehicle. And I finally know for sure that the Roulette Table in episode two was indeed totally irrelevant, despite seeming like it definitely should’ve had a purpose. You thought I had forgotten, hadn’t you?
“This is your cue to skidaddle!”
Nothing changes the fact though that despite some easy, dodgy, or rushed gameplay mechanics, Back to the Future: The Game is well worth experiencing for fans of the films. The voice-acting is superb, the music evokes Hans Zimmer’s iconic score well, the writing sharp and usually funny, the characters (both old and new) are interesting and the plot hits all the right notes. And the ending? I was grinning from ear to ear like I’d just watched Back to the Future for the first time.
As an adventure game it may be a bit lackluster, but I defy any Back to the Future fan to not play it and love it. Yes there may be technical issues like a few bugs and rushed moments, but from the first moment Doc yells “Great Scott!” you’ll be hooked. And for the non-fan? Watch the films first. If you still don’t like them there is nothing we can do for you.
While the score is just for episode five, you can take it for the whole season. Frankly though don’t worry about numbers – while it’s merely an okay game, it is a fitting and memorable Back to the Future Part IV. Oh, and keep watching until the end of the credits (not that you would skip them with that brilliant song playing)… this might not be the last trip in the DeLorean we take with Telltale.
7.6
fun score
Pros
Story is utterly wonderful, characters go through some interesting developments, THAT ENDING.
Cons
Really easy, the Hill Valley Science Expo is boring and utterly unbelievably empty, another vehicle clamber, we didn\'t go to 2015.
