BTTF "Share your disappointment" Thread
Okay, so 2 months or so ago, I posted a comment about how this game was going to suck for the following reasons..
A.) Point and click
B.) Linear gameplay
After getting bitched out by telltale radicals I thought, well...maybe it won't be as bad as I am thinking. And at least it's a modern, 3D BTTF game. God was I wrong. After playing the demo and watching in horror at the gameplay videos online..I totally lost all hope in getting an awesome BTTF game. And the worst part is, look at the Jurassic Park trailer. It looks awesome. It's not cartoony, and from what Ive read its NOT going to be point and click. Apparently the designer said it wouldnt feel right to walk around aimlessly solving puzzles..? So why the hell is the Back to the Future game just that?! Whats the difference between BTTF and JP? Theyre both adventure movies. So why does JP get to be an awesome adventure game and BTTF, which is probably more popular anyway, is a cartoony, restricted, puzzle game? I just don't get it.....And to those of you out there who are going to rip me to shreads about not knowing what BTTF is about or sarcasticly tell me theyre sorry that its not like GTA, this time I know I am right that BTTF did not get the game it deserved.
So anyone out there who agrees with me, share your story. And if you disagree with me, please tell me why I should like the BTTF game.
Thanks
A.) Point and click
B.) Linear gameplay
After getting bitched out by telltale radicals I thought, well...maybe it won't be as bad as I am thinking. And at least it's a modern, 3D BTTF game. God was I wrong. After playing the demo and watching in horror at the gameplay videos online..I totally lost all hope in getting an awesome BTTF game. And the worst part is, look at the Jurassic Park trailer. It looks awesome. It's not cartoony, and from what Ive read its NOT going to be point and click. Apparently the designer said it wouldnt feel right to walk around aimlessly solving puzzles..? So why the hell is the Back to the Future game just that?! Whats the difference between BTTF and JP? Theyre both adventure movies. So why does JP get to be an awesome adventure game and BTTF, which is probably more popular anyway, is a cartoony, restricted, puzzle game? I just don't get it.....And to those of you out there who are going to rip me to shreads about not knowing what BTTF is about or sarcasticly tell me theyre sorry that its not like GTA, this time I know I am right that BTTF did not get the game it deserved.
So anyone out there who agrees with me, share your story. And if you disagree with me, please tell me why I should like the BTTF game.
Thanks
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Comments
Telltale's games have always been about the storytelling, which is a reason to give this game a shot if you are a BTTF fan.
There is nothing anybody can say to you which will make you like this genre of game though.. it is not for everybody.
Maybe they could've given us something with more realistic graphics and made it similar to something like Fahrenheit or Heavy Rain in terms of gameplay but seriously, it's Back to the Future. It's never going to be a 3rd person shooter or an FPS is it?
you're adoreable
I like the use of the point-and-click style game, however I do have to admit that I think Telltale have put more effort into the story rather than the game itself. It almost feels like they've made an animated movie and decided to add in a few light interactions to keep the story rolling.
The people who insist BTTF needs to be an adventure game are clearly wrong, but we're not going to ever convince them otherwise (unless maybe one comes out in the future). In a proper BTTF game there HAS to be action sequence DeLorean chases, hoverboard escapes, skateboarding, etc. This isn't debatable.
It's also really annoying when my fellow adventure gamers harp so hard on "story" and "characters" and how adventure games are the only genre that has them to any great extent. That is completely untrue, and even the GTA games, which are whipping boys around here, have much better, more interesting, more fleshed out characters than the vast majority of adventure games I've played (a lot). There was a character in GTA3 whom I was legitimately sad to see go. Adventure games do not have a monopoly on story and characters.
Nobody said adventure games had a monopoly on story and characters, and if they did, they're moronic. Look at RPGs, interactive fiction, and yes, action games (though I think Red Dead Redemption had a better story than GTA III). However, let's look at this. Nobody could make a serious BTTF RPG work. Nobody would fund an interactive fiction BTTF game, and not many other than die-hard fans would play it. And as has been said millions of times, Back to the Future and action game don't match up well. When did Marty or Doc ever intentionally harm anybody besides a Tannen in the movies?
So that leaves the adventure game. It may not be perfectthe perfect genre for BTTF, but it matches the tone of it best.
As for linear gameplay heaps of games are made like that, there's nothing wrong with it. Many of the great Adventure games are linear. Many of the greatest games ever made are linear.
It's widely documented on the forum that the puzzles are too easy. Having practically items drop on the floor in front of you isn't a puzzle. Having numerous characters tell you what to do isn't a puzzle. Unless they're finding it difficult to come up with inventive and interesting ideas there's simply no excuse when there's a hint system built into the movie... err I mean game.
I'm hoping in future episodes they might also demonstrate a little of the gameplay mechanics they're using in Jurassic Park. Not too much of it, just enough to create a little tension. For instance, if there's another chase scene (which surely there will be) or some instance where Marty is racing against the clock to get something to Doc in time, the QTE control method would be perfect.
But to those who are unhappy about the kind of game BTTF is, your beef should really be with Universal, not Telltale. Universal controls the BTTF property, and TT surely told Universal what kind of game they had in mind when they pitched it. It wouldn't have been done as an adventure game without Universal's say-so. Creative people (or at least one person?) from the movies were involved with the project, and they would have more authority than anyone here to say what kind of game is right for the franchise. Seriously, though -- if you're dissatisfied with the BTTF game for that reason, then write to Universal.
in fact I can see a point and click sequence working perfectly when doc was hanging from the clock tower trying to get the wire to reconnect with the lightning rod wire then figuring out you can use the rope to zip line your way down to connect the other wire.
I felt the very same way, and in certain ways I still do. I'm quite enjoying this game now after getting into it. The music and some of the cut scenes are epic BTTF, but I DO agree that this game would have been better as an action game, such as getting to drive the delorean and exploring, a bit more like Grand Theft Auto.
Then it wouldn't fit at all. Unless you time travel to the future, you'd be on foot because you'd have to hide the DeLorean. Make for rather boring gameplay if you ask me. BttF is story driven. Plain and simple.
Also, quick thing to the OP: Jurassic Park is not an adventure movie and neither is Back to the Future. Jurassic Park is a sci-fi suspense thriller. Back to the Future on the other hand is a sci-fi romantic comedy. The only thing that the two have in common is the "sci-fi" aspect.
Although a LOT of new people came here when this license was announced, TTGs core fan base is still made up of avid adventure gamers. It's those that might feel very disappointed because BTTF turned out to be not a good adventure game.
My question is this. Who would be satisfied with these games? Who is the target audience? Gamers have come to expect a very high level of polish, challenge and overall quality from their games. BTTF is buggy, boring, bad storytelling, bad adventure-gaming, bad puzzle-gaming, bad action-gaming, etc, etc, etc. Who, exactly, is this supposed to appeal to? Adventure gamers? No. Puzzle-gamers? No. Action-gamers? No. The only category left are "casual gamers," and I doubt that even they would really enjoy this. So who is Telltale aiming for and why do they think they need to dumb down the BTTF games so much?
Remember Telltale, many of the most successful games have been the most sophisticated and complex for their time - the early Sierra and Lucasarts games, Myst, the Civilization series, all the amazing games put out by Bioware, the Modern Combat games, Bioshock, etc. Gamers want rich, complex, challenging experiences. Where do you get the idea that they want dumbed down, insipid, boring, diluted rubbish like the first two BTTF games? Who do you think your customers are?
Unfortunately, it's much like Doctor Who: The Adventure Games. They got the atmosphere right, but the puzzles lack originality and they are overused (like the Einstein sniffing puzzles). The bugs take you out of the game (in particular for me, the lip-synch problems in the first episode, and the problem with characters calling you multiple names in both episodes).
On the good side puzzle-wise, I did enjoy the doorman puzzle in the second episode. It required thinking outside the box, yet still within the realm of real-world logic, and it was a nice shout-out to a puzzle in Monkey Island 2 without being a direct copy.
Telltale always seems to get their act together by the third episode after listening to fan criticisms, so I still remain hopeful for this one. I'd like to be able to play a great Back to the Future game instead of just a decent one.
wut
Yeah, it has ATROCIOUS action gaming! It's so bad, it has......none of that at all.
Bad storytelling? What game are you playing?
Lastly, I think it's pretty clear at this point that Back to the Future: The Game is NOT FOR ADVENTURE GAMERS! It's for fans of the movies, and many of those are not too great at games. Therefore, the game is toned down in difficulty and complexity.
It's not for gamers, adventure or otherwise. It's for those who liked the Back to the Future story and wanted to see more.
Fans of the movies who really, really want a fourth movie.
It is as simple as that, I think.
Which is why they made it a game?
I think this is a fair point actually. I'm enjoying the story so I don't mind that I'm not that thrilled with the gameplay. It'd just be nice if it didn't have so many glitches.
You're right. It is a fair point, and it's a hilarious point. The game is not for adventure gamers, nor even for gamers. A game not for gamers. Brilliant. I really don't know why it hadn't dawned on me before. It all makes perfect sense.
:rolleyes:
Here is a post from another forum from a couple of years ago that sums it up nicely. Since it was a general video game forum and not just people who think adventure games are the only valid storytelling genre (like here), it was very well received:
Yea, it's incredibly obvious to make a licensed Back to the Future game GTA-style. Somebody has to get moving on that.
At least 4 different time periods in approximately the same area of land - 1885, 1955, 1985, 2015. Maybe throw another time period in for game plot purposes. I actually envision it taking place in 1986, so possibly move each era up a year. BttF is tied so much to "1985", that starting a new game or movie with that slow music and the subtitle "Saturday, October 25th [pause]... 1986" rather than '85 would induce a goosebumps feeling I cannot describe.
You can travel through time whenever and wind up in the same spot in whatever period you travel to, obviously, piece of cake. If the hardware is advanced enough they could possibly record some of the player's actions so that you could risk running into your "other self" if you dick around too much.
Much of the gameplay is so glaringly obvious, it's just sitting right there ripe for the picking. It starts off with you getting hold of a new DeLorean time machine (shouldn't be terribly difficult to figure out a story here - Doc writes a letter from the past saying that his family is in trouble and he had previously hidden a new time machine for Marty in case something like this ever arose, whatever). In the beginning, you're limited by the vehicle's capabilities. You need plutonium for travel so you have to find it and use it sparingly (this is obv the basis for some missions). You also need to find long enough stretches of road to get up to 88 MPH, sometimes while being chased or under time constraints, etc.
Eventually you are able to get some upgrades, Mr. Fusion (use garbage instead of plutonium) and flight added to the car.
All this, and I haven't even MENTIONED the word "hoverboard" yet.
Michael J. Fox can reprise his role since it's just voice. Obviously Christopher Lloyd would do it.
Jesus Christ get the **** on this.
Where's the money to make this game coming from? Grand Theft Auto IV cost $100 million to make. I can't imagine how much they're spending on L.A. Noire.
If I had a choice between:
a) a far-off chance of playing a game based on a licensed property that I love that takes five to ten years to make and costs millions of dollars to produce, potentially flopping due to its niche audience and bankrupting the game studio
and
b) getting quick, episodic games based on that property that are mildly buggy with sluggish movement, but capture the atmosphere of the property pretty damn well
I'll go with b) just about every time.
What does that matter? AAA games cost money. The game "recording some of your actions" is the only aspect of that description that would be unreasonable compared to other A+ games of today, and that part is acknowledged in the post as unlikely with current hardware.
Older movie licenses such as The Godfather 1 & 2, Scarface, and The Warriors have recently been made into open world games, and Ghostbusters as a regular action game. All were well received except for GF2. To say that BTTF is not worthy of an A+ budget and development cycle doesn't really fly.
That said we're still very much entitled to our opinions.
Clunky and frustrating controls
Awkward looking animations (Marty's run, for example)
Sparse, uninteresting environments
Dull puzzles that play themselves
Distractingly poor audio quality
Crap, ugly UI
It seems these episodes have been a thrown together and then booted out the door with little concern for quality. I have concern for Telltale's upcoming projects since they seem to be taking on a whole lot more work when they can't cope with what they've got on their plate now.
Your on foot for this game too....
The difference is that with all of those games there's an element of combat. The moment you give Marty a gun it stops being a Back to the Future game.
You say that the gameplay is glaringly obvious but aside from driving around and collecting plutonium what exactly is the game? A driving simulator? You mention hoverboards too so now it's Tony Hawks or SKATE?
Look, I love GTA as much as anybody (Red Dead Redemption was my favorite game of 2010) but nobody has yet come up with a good enough reason for Back to the Future to be made in that style other than "being able to drive the DeLorean around".
Objective: Save Doc or whatever- like in this game
Setting: Hill Valley, Free Roam
Problem: Do we expect them to create a billion Hill Valleys from different times?
Answer: No, butt head. Have the game center around 3 or so main time periods. Yes it would take a little longer to design 3 hill valleys but it would be worth it.
Problem 2: It would take them a long time to design the one Hill Valley. How do they know how big it is?
Answer2: They can use their imagination. And it is a VALLEY, so the borders of the town could be steep slopes that the player cannot climb up.
Character: Play as Marty able to explore Hill Valley (Yes, like GTA). Marty is able to walk, run, ride skateboard, possibly drive his truck, etc.
Problem: How can you give the player absolute freedom without Marty being like CJ or Nikko- running people over and such.
Answer: While driving, for example, If you hit another car there is a consequence. Maybe you have to "start over" from a predetermined spot.
And when walking or running, If Marty bumps into people he says "Oh, sorry mam. Oh, excuse me sir."
Delorean: The player can have free control over the Delorean at certain points or all during the game. They can drive it in 1985 because it exists there.
Problem: They can't drive the Delorean in past times. How are they supposed to get around? By walking?
Answer: Yes and no. The player could walk, or use a means of transportation from that time (bike, car, horse?) after they hide the Delorean. And If they do drive the Delorean in a time where it doesn't exist, there could be a meter that goes up every time a towns person sees the car. If one person sees it their just one eye witness, but If too many people see it the meter would raise. If the meter got too high, the player would have to "start over" from a predetermined spot.
Problem: If they can drive the Delorean, maybe they can't hit other cars, but what about people or trees/buildings. Will Marty hit and run or will the Delorean get smashed up?
Answer: Yes and No. If Marty hits a person, again, you would have to start over. If you hit a tree/building the car would sustain only a certain amount of damage before it would be inoperable and the player would have to start over.
Time Travel: There would be open spaces (farmland) where the player could potentially travel through time without towns people seeing.
Problem: What is the explanation for only being able to travel to certain time periods?
Answer: It could be something wrong with the time circuits that you can only travel to certain points or the last 3 times you had traveled to (DEPARTED, PRESENT, DESTINATION).
Problem: How would Marty fuel the Delorean?
Answer: Depending on WHICH Delorean was, most likely the 2015 upgrade one, he could gather trash for Mr. Fusion in order to time travel.
Problem: What about paradoxes? What if Marty changes something in the past?
Answer: Its already been said that Marty can't kill people, but If he were to run over, oh lets say, a pine tree. Or maybe something as small as a garbage can or street sign or something else..that would be a problem right? No. As Marty neared a seemingly unimportant object, it could turn red or have a red marker hover above it that would signal that it is important to history. If the player destroyed it, they would have to start over from a predetermined spot.
Look/Style: If the game was good enough- I personally wouldn't care if it were photo-realistic or slightly cartoony.
Music: During general game play it would be BTTF style background music and epic during action scenes. When Marty drives he could also listen to the radio and it would play of course, Johnny B Goode, Huey Lewis, and maybe other hit 80s tunes.
So this is my idea of how a good BTTF game should operate. It can still have heart and story while still having a good amount of action and free roaming fun.
Thanks for reading
I was just about to add an addition. The player would be given missions to accomplish. It could be a mystery type game like the telltale one. Marty could go around Hill Valley looking for clues as to where Doc is or how to save him. Also if Marty is in a different time period, he could be challenged by the Biff of that time period or something. Biff could have some important clue and Marty would have to beat him in a challenge in order to obtain it. I'm just thinking off the top of my head. But it could be done...