Nerdicus NES Review #53 : Back to the Future Part 2 + 3

Title : Back to the Future Part 2 + 3

Publisher : LJN

Genre : Action Adventure

Players : 1

Release Date : 1990

Estimated Value (as of today's date) : $5-$6

*sigh*

No, wait. Make that....*SIGH*

Just when I thought that LJN couldn't ruin my beloved Back to the Future series, they went ahead and pulled this out of their arses. Instead of doing Back to the Future Part 2 and 3 as individual games, they merged them both into one extreme cluster *insert expletive here*. 

In case you don't remember the flicks, BTTF 2 takes place in 2015. Yes, that's next year. So apparently we need to have hover boards, hover cars, and wear extreme outfits with steel helmets...I have no idea, doesn't look like it's happening. Anyway, Marty has to prevent his future son from getting thrown in prison and stop Biff from taking over Hill Valley with the use of the SPORTS ALMANAC. Come on, Marty you should have known better than to mess with the future!

Now BTTF 3 takes place right after BTTF 2 when Doc Brown gets blasted back into the Wild West after the DeLorean gets struck by a stray lightning bolt. Marty now has to go back in time to prevent Doc Brown from dying at the hands of Biff Tannen's ancestor, good 'ol Bufford Tannen.

Surprisingly enough, the game actually somewhat follows these plot lines. BARELY. It's the way they go about doing it that just makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry in the corner.

They've down right MUTILATED IT.

The game is a traditional side scrolling adventure. Collecting items (most of which you have no idea what they do), stomping on enemies (which apparently there were a lot of in the BTTF movies, right?), unlocking doors, and solving puzzles. OH IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE! Yet, not.

It starts in the BTTF 2 story line where the DeLorean drops you off in a side scrolling adventure in 2015. Well, at least we're not running vertically down streets avoiding those retarded obstacles ripped out of paperboy. Unfortunately, now it's ripping monsters out of the Super Mario Brothers games. Tell me that isn't supposed to be a Koopa Troopa and a Spike. Were they even trying!?

Let's get straight into it. Figuring out what the hell you're supposed to do with this game is downright impossible without the use of a guide. If you managed to figure it out on your own, then you have the patience of a saint. I couldn't deal with it. The game gives you no explanation of what you're supposed to do and you're just tossed into it. 

You'll end up mindlessly wandering the stages until you finally realize you're supposed to be collecting items and bringing them back to specific rooms that require those items. But first you have to solve some damn puzzle to figure out what item goes there. Then you have to find the item? But where the heck are they!? WHO KNOWS!! I seriously think they just randomly appear.

There wasn't a single moment while playing this game that I had any clue as to what I was doing. For almost an hour it seemed I was just running back and forth, accomplishing nothing but stomping on things and collecting an item that I happened to grab if I managed to notice it pop out of a bush or something.

At least with the first game, the linear path gave me a set goal. This game does nothing to explain what you have to do. I'm not the type of person that requires hand holding, but if the game is like this, PLEASE just tell me what my objective is!

If you do manage to get all the items you need, and somehow find the DeLorean remote, then you can finally travel through time. TO THE SAME GOD DAMN PLACES YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN!! This time with different backgrounds.

So enjoy the mid west. Enjoy 1955....and enjoy 1985........it's the same crap. Find the missing items. Solve the puzzles. Waste your time. They should hold competitions to see who can suffer through this game the longest.

Oh, and have fun hearing the most annoying sound in the world in this game. When flying birds enter the screen that sound like a screeching car alarm.

I'm sorry folks, I wish I could say more about this game but it has frustrated me beyond all that is good and holy. Stay away. Stay far away. This is the epitome of LJN fail. I'd take the first game over this, any day.

I need to now pop in the DVD's and at least get a good taste back in my mouth. 

Great Scotts..........

Final Score (out of 5) :

Until next time. Keep on gaming!