Join the cast of Another Videogame Webcomic as we peek behind the curtain to see what exactly goes into bringing your favorite video games to the small screen. It may be a job in video games, but it's still a job.
Back to the Future: the Game, Episode 1: It’s about time
Platform: PC, MacPrice: $24.95
Everything about Back to the Future: the Game is a throwback to a simpler time. A time when games didn’t have overly complex control schemes. A time when you could show a kooky old scientist hanging around a teenage boy and have it not be creepy in any way. And that’s probably exactly as it should be for a game is based on the time travel franchise from the 80s.
Back to the Future is a point and click adventure game, a genre that hasn’t seen a lot of prominence since somewhere in the mid-90s. The game mechanics are pretty simple, just use your cursor to click on and interact with the world. The simple interface really allows the story to be the focus of the game. And if you’ve seen the Back to the Future movies, the story should be familiar. Doc Brown is stuck in the past and it’s up to Marty McFly to save him. Along the way, he’ll meet more branches on the McFly and Tannen family trees. Wacky hijinx ensue.
That’s not to say there aren’t hiccups with the controls. Unlike most point and click adventure games where you just click to a point in the environment to move your character, to move Marty, you click and drag him to different points in the environment. It feels a little clunky but doesn’t really effect gameplay since the game doesn’t depend on precision movements and ends up being pretty forgiving.
The game feels like it belongs in the Back to the Future universe. Everything from the presentation to the music to the voices (only Christopher Lloyd reprises his role from the movies but the other soundalikes do a pretty good job of imitating their sliver screen counterparts) reminds me of watching Back to the Future. Unfortunately, the playtime is also comparable to a movie. From start to finish, the game took me about two hours to complete. Luckily, it’s only the first part of a five episode series of games to be released this year.
There’s not a lot of game in this game, but what is here is good. It’s over before you know it, but like all good entertainment, it leaves you wanting more. It’s nice to see the Back to the Future franchise find new life, if not at the movies on your computer screen.
Rating
When the game fires on all cylinders, it’s a pretty good experience. But it’s hard to recommend this fully being such a short experience. If this were a game you could “rent”, I’d say do that. But since it isn’t, you can’t. You can, however, try the first episode via Telltale Games’ special offer (though you won’t get a chance to download it until February).
Recommendations
Simplified Back to the Future Timeline shirt - Ok, so this is kind of shameless self-promotion, but we’re offering the previously convention exclusive shirt in the Digital Pimp store. We’ve only got a limited number of these shirts left, so if you want one, pick one up sooner rather than later...Player Two
After the resurgence of multiplayer co-op, GameBizCo Inc. hired Player Two to be the Goose to someone else's Maverick. His workload isn't quite as heavy as most of the other people working at GameBizCo Inc. and as a result, he spends a lot of time in the break room or playing computer solitaire.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction
Player One
Player One is top dog at GameBizCo Inc. Nearly every game, from Pong to Mario Bros to Grand Theft Auto, requires Player One's expertise. His cocksure and sometimes inappropriate attitude is an annoyance to his coworkers but seeing as every game needs a first player, they make due.
First Appearance: Bonus Stage! Here comes Player One!
Damsel I. Distress
Whether it be a castle, a dungeon or mystical island, Damsel always needs to be saved... and she hates it. Damsel longs for the day when she's given the role of a strong female lead character who doesn't have huge breasts with hyper accurate physics.
First Appearance: LittleBIGPlanet
Final Boss
Underneath the huge brute that is Final Boss lies a timid creature who wouldn't hurt a fly. He puts on his "angry face" when throwing barrels down ramps or breathing fire but deep down he feels sorry for doing so. He's been known to throw a game or two in the player's favor.
First Appearance: World Record
John Minion
John Minion, or Min for short, is the hardest working employee at GameBizCo Inc. Playing everything from Goombas to no name thugs, Min gets beat up on a daily basis but loves every minute of it. He always wanted to work in the gaming industry and was originally hired as an intern. After years of getting coffee, his big break came when someone called in sick... and the rest is history.
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Middle Manager
Middle Manager works in the Human Resources department. He runs staff meetings and interviews prospective employees. The other 90% of his time is spent playing Freecell on his computer.
First Appearance: Another Videogame Webcomic?!? An Introduction