On May 14, 1986, Marty McFly is trying to adjust to a life without his best friend, Doctor Emmett "Doc" Brown, when to his surprise, the time-traveling DeLorean suddenly shows up, driverless, carrying a recorded message. Using the clues from the car, Marty discovers Doc has been arrested for the arson of a speakeasy in 1931. It is now up to Marty to rescue his old friend one more time. Ever since I was a kid, I have adored the Back to the Future trilogy, so when I heard of a video game telling an original story in the series, I was quite intrigued. Especially, since the game takes place six months after the events of Back to the Future Part III (1990). Whilst that ending is the most perfect and definitive conclusion, I always wondered what another adventure could've been like and that's what this delivers. It is the closest thing we fans will ever have to a Part IV that, even Bob Gale (the co-creator and writer of the originals) stated as much when working closely with the developers. Naturally, the most integral aspect of this game is its story, which had a great deal to live up to and, frankly, it easily delivered a phenomenal experience. Thankfully, the game's development was handled by hardcore fans, who knew exactly what people would want and hope for from this title. That being said, they take it in ways I would not have expected that honestly were quite ingenious. Travelling to the 1930s was quite an interesting choice for the focal setting of the expedition but once the story gets in full swing its potential only flourishes. Seeing another time period interpretation of Hill Valley was a lot of fun but what truly captivated me was the characters. Marty encounters many faces, new and old, with some stellar interactions from a young Emmett Brown to even Biff's father, Irving 'Kid' Tannen. The attention to detail was exceptional as they carry forth the mannerisms and attitudes we have come to expect from these characters and their families. This adventure also further strengthens the relationship between Marty and Doc when Marty must befriend the younger Emmett, whose inventions could rescue his future self. I found this interpretation of a young variant to be a marvellous addition and outstandingly portrayed by actor James Arnold Taylor. He has the most superb voice acting delivery, which brings unwavering believability as to what a young Emmett would be like. I won't dive further into the story, as it is a thrilling experience best played first-hand and spoiler-free. The story is split into five chapters, each filled with a rollercoaster of emotions to get hooked on. Over each chapter, I thoroughly loved the exploration of the multiple aspects of time travel as seen in the movies, which is expanded upon here with new ideas. Throughout this journey, we naturally play as Marty McFly, while not voiced by Michael J. Fox, he is brought to startling likeness by A.J. LoCascio who delivers an unprecedented performance worthy of the character. Christopher Lloyd does reprise as Doc and is just as great as in the movies, plus, Fox does have a cameo so the duo do get to work together. Initially released in 2010, the game received a 30th Anniversary Edition in 2015 to commemorate the first film's release, which has become the ideal version to use and is the one I played. Unfortunately, the graphics are a bit dated and could be improved alongside some gameplay elements, but it didn't ruin my experience. The title is a point-and-click adventure that features many interactive elements, such as choosing dialogue options and a plethora of puzzles to solve. I loved having options for dialogues that made it fun to pick how to approach situations, allowing for great replayability unearthing lines you might have missed beforehand. Anyone who has played a Telltale game will be familiar with this format, which they perfected and expanded upon over the years. Overall, I had a blast with this video game that extends the Back to the Future story delivering that long-awaited Part IV. It carries across all the familiar beats we have come to know and love of the originals whilst taking the story further and down new paths never before considered. It holds many twists, thrills and heartfelt moments worthy of the series that fans will adore.
Platforms: PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Wii / Windows
