C&VG


Back To The Future

Publisher: Electric Dreams
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #53

Back To The Future

You've seen the film, read the book, got the stickers out of your favourite breakfast cereal - now play the game!

Martin Walker's computer translation of the blockbuster movie bravely attempts to capture the charm and spirit of the film.

All your favourite characters are there - Marty, Doc, Biff the bully, Lorraine and, of course, Marty's drippy Dad, George.

Back To The Future

The object of the game follows the plot of the film - you, as Marty, must get your future mum, Lorraine, to fall in love with your future Dad, George - otherwise you won't even be a twinkle in anyone's eye. Then you must get Back to the Future and resume your everyday existence helped by the Doc's time-travelling DeLorean supercar.

To get George and Lorraine to fall in love you have to make use of several items which you'll find dotted about the various locations.

You can visit Doc's house, the school, coffee bar and the dance hall. Each location contains something useful. And each item or object has a specific effect on the rest of the characters in the game. You have to discover which does what, and to whom, in order to succeed.

Back To The Future

The main screen is divided up into four main areas. There's the main playing screen which shows you the different locations - you begin on the main street of Marty's hometown, Hill Valley. Other locations can be visited by walking up to the doors of the places you want to enter and pushing the joystick up.

On the right hand side of the screen you'll see Marty's family picture. This is your indicator of how well you're doing. Fail to get George and Lorraine together and parts of the picture disappear. Once it's disappeared completely the game is over - and Marty has no future!

On the left hand side of the screen is a similar picture of Marty - a digitised still from the film. This behaves in a similar fashion to the family snapshot.

Back To The Future

Also at the bottom of the screen is a clock which tells you how long you've been playing. The quicker you complete the game, the more skillful you are.

Just below the main screen as four "character icons". These relate to George, Lorraine, the Doc and Biff.

Otherwise they flash white when they come into contact with Marty or each other. These help you keep track of who's doing what and where! Useful for telling when George and Lorraine are together.

Back To The Future

Above the main play screen are the "object icons". These represent love poems, a space suit, a cup of coffee, a guitar and a skateboard.

If you've seen the film you'll have a better idea of what effect these objects will have on the characters when you attempt to influence them.

Back To The Future is a nicely presented and cleverly thought out game. But will it capture the imagination of games players currently caught up in all the action Commando/Rambo trend? That remains to be seen.