"Back to the Future" and "Jurassic Park"

[Datadog]

I was just watching "Back to the Future" last week and kept thinking "This would make a GREAT adventure game." Then I find out that Telltale is already on it - with Jurassic Park as well. Two of my favorite movies getting the adventure game treatment from one of my favorite developers - this is enough to make my head explode fifty times over. If they tackle "Bill and Ted" anytime soon, I may need resuscitation. In any case, I'll really have to get back in touch with their HR department. I want in.

Full Press Release Here

[Collector]

Of course Jurassic Park has already been made into an action game by Ocean. An adventure would be far more interesting.

[DeadPoolX]

It's interesting that in the last few years there have been more and more games made about older movies: The Godfather, Scarface, Ghostbusters and now Back to the Future and Jurassic Park.

What's even more interesting is that these games (with the possible exception of BttF and JP since they haven't been released yet) have all been quite good. Contrast that with games that are released concurrently or shortly thereafter the movie. Most of those in the latter category do "okay" at best, while even more are terrible.

Look at the two Iron Man games. If there was ever a movie property that screamed "turn me into a video game!" it's Iron Man. But those two games sucked. IM is hardly alone in that category as well.

The only explanation I can come up with is that game developers rush to get these games out alongside the movie. Games based on older movies have no such limitations. Maybe that allows developers to take their time and create a better product.

[Datadog]

I agree. I mean, the new Ghostbusters game was fantastic. Especially compared to the old NES version. Of course, the new game had a lot of fan-devotion behind it. It was made by the very same people who dreamed of being Ghostbusters when they were kids, so for them, the experience had to be perfect. Not that fan-devotion can't backfire horribly, of course, but in the right hands it's a powerful tool.

I played the Iron Man 2 demo, and I agree - I couldn't even stand it for more than ten minutes. It's just fighting endless strings of enemies on recycled maps with terrible controls that don't even lock onto the right guys. Then I tried playing it as War Machine and I was dead in 30 seconds. I figured it was a game I'd have to practice at, but it didn't seem worth it. The demo alone actually made me glad I wasn't Iron Man.

[MusicallyInspired]

This is bloody amazing.

[Maiandra]

I could really see Back to the Future being a great adventure game, especially if done by Telltale games, since they can do that adventure/humour combination so well.

[Datadog]

The Trailer for "Back to the Future" is up!

[Collector]

Too bad. I'm getting bored with cartoon graphics.

[Maiandra]

The one good thing about cartoony graphics is that usually they are less taxing on the system and don't look dated as quickly. They aren't as cartoony as some, at least.

I wonder how much of the game takes place in the 80s? That would be so cool. Nostalgia here I come!

[MusicallyInspired]

I can't wait for this game. I wish I could preorder it right away but it looks like I won't be able to.

[Tawmis]

The Trailer for "Back to the Future" is up!

Admittedly impressive.

[audiodane]

looks cool!

[tassieboy]

This sounds very cool - especially the 'Back to The Future' one.

I must admit though, I'm a little skeptical about whether these games will fit into my definition of 'adventure game'. The recent 'Doctor Who Adventures' were marketed as Adventure Games but they barely count.

In fact the press release doesn't even specifically say that the games will be adventure games. The only reference to adventure I found was at the bottom saying that the publisher has won an award for 'adventure game of the year'.

Still - we can live in hope.

Also, the episodic nature that they mention sounds intruiging.

[DeadPoolX]

TellTale Games makes real point-and-click Adventure games. They've already produced an entirely new Monkey Island series, two remakes (MI1 and 2) and several Sam & Max games.

All of their content (with the exception of the MI remakes) are in episodic format. Although I don't care for that myself, it seems to work well with gamers.

Although I'm not sure how Jurassic Park might work, Back to the Future sounds very much like an Adventure game. I'd like to read some reviews before buying it, but that's my attitude towards all games, regardless of genre or developer.

[tassieboy]

Cool. It excites me to think that there is a commercial software publisher out there keeping the genre alive.

The Back to the Future game could have some interesting time-travel puzzles a little like those that we saw in Day of The Tentacle.