Back to the Future: The Game: Episode 5: Outatime! Review for PlayStation 3 (PS3)

Back to the Future: The Game: Episode 5: Outatime! Box Art

System: PS3, PC
Dev: Telltale
Pub: Telltale
Release: June 23, 2011
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

It's at this point that fans get a special treat: the first of two cameos by Michael J. Fox himself, this time as an ancestor of Marty's. (I won't spoil the second one.) Fox says only a few lines throughout the game, but this is a great touch. Fans have waited far too long to see Fox playing the role of a McFly again, and hearing him side-by-side with LoCascio dramatically underscores what a great job the latter did.

Back to the Future: The Game: Episode 5: Outatime! Screenshot

By the end of the game, you're back in 1986 and everything seems fine—at first. The ending leaves the door wide open for another game series, and we can only hope Telltale will explore this possibility.

On a technical level, Episode 5 is in line with the rest of the series. The graphics aren't particularly detailed, and the facial animations aren't realistic, but you can tell that every character, item, and environment was crafted with utmost care. The music adds a cinematic touch. The WASD controls are easily the worst-handled aspect of the production, but you can move Marty with the mouse instead if you'd prefer.

We've gone far too long without a high-quality Back to the Future story, and this game does a great job of filling that need in fans' hearts. The gameplay is tepid, and of course that's a very significant factor in the "minus" column. It is a video game, after all, not a movie. But the bottom line is that it's worth sitting through the lame puzzles to watch as Doc and Marty try to fix all the problems their time-traveling has caused. Despite all the fiction that has used time travel as a plot device, none has done it quite the way that Back to the Future did.

Someday, hopefully, this story will be available in other forms. Until then, it's highly recommendable as a game.

By Robert VerBruggen
CCC Contributing Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.1

Graphics
They're lovingly crafted, but not exactly cutting-edge.

3.5

Control
The WASD setup is pretty clunky, but the mouse controls aren't bad.

4.8

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The voice acting is terrific, and the music sounds truly cinematic.

2.9

Play Value
This game isn't very much fun to play, but the storyline is a joy to watch.

3.4

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

New storyline with Marty and Doc. Featuring A.J. LoCascio as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd returning to voice Doc.

Thrilling new Back to the Future experience delivered in five parts. Released over five monthly episodes featuring incredible story twists, turns, and cliffhangers.

Cinematic adventure. Play as Marty McFly in an experience true to the films—with all the challenges, excitement, and comedic stylings of a bona fide Back to the Future adventure.