1st April 1990
Back To The Future Part II
One of the biggest films of last year was Back To The Future II, the further exploits of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Emmet Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Having travelled forward in time to 2015 to influence the lives of his children, Marty buys a sports almanac which contains all the sporting results of the 20th century, the idea being that when he returns to 1985 he can place bets and win loads of money, and thus become very rich. Doc talks him out of this, saying that messing with his destiny is very dangerous, and Marty throws it away.
However, evil Biff overhears this conversation, and while Marty and Doc are busy, he picks up the almanac, steals the Delorean time machine, travels back in time and gives the almanac to his younger self before returning the car to its rightful place.
When Doc and Marty return to 1985 they discover that history has been completely altered and set about the nearly impossible task of making things right...
Sounds like the ideal subject matter for a computer game? Imageworks certainly think so - they bought the rights and are currently programming the game of the film!
The action is split into five distinct missions. The first is set in 2015 and sees Marty racing around Hill Valley on a hoverboard being pursued by Biff's son, Griff, and his gang.
Outwit them and you're onto level two, a logic puzzle where Marty is trying to get Jennifer out of his future house before she meets her future self! Mission three is set in 1985 and is a scrolling arcade adventure where you have to find out why history has been changed.
The next mission is a sliding puzzle game where you have to assemble an animated picture of Marty playing at the Enchantment Under the Sea ball in 1955. Finally, mission five, set in 1955, sees Marty again on his hoverboard chasing after Biff in an attempt to retrieve the almanac - while avoiding the attentions of his marauding gang!
Back To The Future II is out this summer - we'll be reviewing it as soon as it's available.
Back To The Future Part III
The final episode in the Back To The Future series will appear in Cinemas this autumn. Imageworks have just announced that they've acquired the licence and will produce a game based on the film this coming Christmas - we'll keep you posted.
