Double Visions -- Episode Four in
the Back to the Future: The Game series -- begins with Marty McFly
once again trapped. He's stuck in a holding area for people awaiting
"reeducation" under the Citizen Plus program. Since brainwashing would put
an end to Marty's schemes to correct this particular timestream, escaping
the locked room is top priority.
Episode Four picks up
right where Episode Three left off. It's vital to play the first three
episodes before you attempt the fourth -- if you don't, you will spend
your time in Double Visions wondering what on earth has happened to
Hill Valley and its formerly fun-loving citizens. (For a review of the
first episode, which contains some story background,
click here.)
Those who don't want
more plot information should now cover their eyes.
It's hard holding someone
as elusive and inventive as Marty against his will, so it isn't long
before our hero finds himself out of confinement and hanging out at the
local high school. He's seeking the younger version of Doc Emmett Brown.
Hill Valley High is sponsoring a history/science fair of sorts: the "Hill
Valley Exposition 1931," and young Emmett is submitting an exhibit that he
hopes will make his name as a scientist. Marty has his hands full by
mid-episode, as he's trying to persuade younger Emmett to take certain
actions, while also persuading the older version of Emmett that the
timestream must be changed.
Science can be fun!
The Hill Valley
Exposition 1931 provides some amusing venues for puzzles, as different
dioramas explore Hill Valley's past and potential future, together with
odd stuff that can be stolen and animatronics that can be tweaked. Also
the multi-stepped puzzle in young Emmett's lab is a humdinger and quite
amusing when you finally figure it out. The exposition and lab puzzles
ramp up the overall difficulty when compared to previous episodes. Other
challenges include dialog and inventory conundrums.
The quality of the
dialogs and voiceovers in the fourth episode continues to be excellent.
This episode develops characters we've already met, rather than
introducing anyone new. You'll spend more time with younger Emmett, for
instance, learning more about his relationship with Edna and what
motivates him as a thinker/tinkerer.
Structurally, the episode
doesn't do much that is novel, but provides a bridge between the
terrifyingly "perfect" Hill Valley of Episode Three, and an unexpected
conflict that emerges near the end Episode Four, setting up the series
denouement. Episode Five: OUTATIME! will pit Marty against the toughest
opponent he's ever had. Let's hope the conclusion is a rip-roarer -- the
story, so far, certainly has that potential.
Quick List for Back
to the Future: The Game -- Double Visions
The fourth episode in a
series of five, featuring Emmett Brown -- a scientist whose younger self
doesn't know what his older self is up to -- and Marty McFly -- a fast
talker just trying to avoid disaster. Colorful 3D graphics, familiar
characters, excellent dialog and voiceovers, occasional spicy language. To
understand the story, you should play the previous three episodes before
this one. Appropriate for older children and up.
Inventory and dialog
challenges. No sliders, no mazes, no sound matching puzzles. The most
difficult puzzle is the lab sequence, which has multiple association
sequences. You can't die.
Third person perspective.
Three options for navigation: mouse (click-and-drag), keyboard (WASD or
the arrow keys) or a game controller. The Options menu provides access to
different graphical and auditory tweaks, plus hint features. About three
hours of gameplay. No problems with installation. No glitches.
Aimed at those who would
enjoy knowing more about the young adulthood of Doc Emmett Brown and at
anyone who has secretly longed to sabotage science fair exhibits.
Final Grade: B
What I played it on:
Dell
Studio XPS 8000
Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel
Core i5-750 processor
6GB
DDR3 SDRAM
1024MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
Soundblaster X-Fi
Back to the Future:
The Game -- Double Visions can be purchased via download from
Telltale Games.
GameBoomers Review Guidelines
June 2011
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2011
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