I feel like I don’t need to explain how Back to the Future works to review this game. Of course, if you don’t know about Back to the Future, 1) what’s wrong with you and 2) why are you reading this review in the first place?! Anyway ... not long ago, Telltale Games said it was working on an episodic game for Jurassic Park, and as a huge fan, I kind of freaked out. However, I later found out it was pushed back for another title. All I could think was, “Another title?! Why the hell are you doing this to me? I hate waiting!” Well, when I found out what the new title was, I stopped crying about it and got even more excited! It was a Back to the Future game that would continue the story from the third movie.

I was so excited! I may have been worried they would destroy the game, but knowing Telltale was in charge really took that fear away. They may be known for point-and-click games, which I am not a huge fan of, but they are also known for rich, developed stories, so I knew I could honestly look at Back to the Future: The Game — Episode 1: It’s About Time like a true sequel I could interact with. And trust me, Telltale Games really focused on detail, from locations, to characters, to even the plot! They tied this in so tight, it honestly feels just like a fourth movie.

I want to try my best to not give away any spoilers, but at the same time, we all know Back to the Future always spoofs itself and kind of follows the same ideas and characters — just in different timelines — while still keeping you involved. If you are worried about spoilers, please read on with caution.

The story in Episode 1: It’s About Time picks up six months after the third film, and we find Marty learning to live without Doc, which he isn’t doing very well. The game opens with a dream Marty is having that kind of works like a flashback but really ... isn’t. When he awakes, he goes to meet his father, who is selling all Doc’s things and his property. You go to find Doc’s notebook; once this is done, the DeLorean flashes into Doc’s front yard with Einstien in it, and you find out you must go back in time to save the Doc because he is in jail and is about to be killed. So it is your job to find out where in time he is and how to save him.

If you have ever played a point-and-click game, you know how they work. You can walk around in 3-D environments and click items, people and the dialogue you want to say. This all works very well. The game basically consists of puzzles and having conversations with other characters in the game in order to advance the story, and it all ties together solidly. Some of the puzzles did make me stumble for awhile, but the game also gives hints to help you figure out exactly what the puzzle is you need to solve. You can really tell that Telltale knows the movies or did their research, because it picks right back up from the movies and flows so well with no plot holes.

I really enjoyed the heck out of Episode 1. I loved the films not only for the idea but really for the interactions between Emmett Brown and Marty McFly, and this game really focused in on that relationship if you ask me, because in going back in time, you spend a good amount of time working with the 17-year-old Emmett Brown, and I found that very entertaining. To me, it’s such a simple concept; it makes me wonder why the movies never introduced the idea of having Marty meet Emmett when they are the same age.

I was very impressed with the cartoon look the game took on and the voice acting. Christopher Lloyd actually did his own voice work, which in itself is a selling point, and the voice of Marty McFly is perfect. I worried about the voice actor, but I never second guessed it during gameplay and he ... he just nailed that voice. It amazed me beyond any measure.

I say pick up this game. Right now, it is out for Mac and PC and soon will be out for PlayStation 3 and iPad. This is only Episode 1, and when you purchase the game, you are buying all five episodes, which will come out monthly hereafter. It will take you about three to four hours to work through the first episode — which is excellent because most modern-day games run at $60 and hardly break four hours worth of gameplay. Some of the money is even going toward the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s — so you get to take a trip down memory lane and give to a good cause.

I can’t say enough about the detail and work that went into this episode, let alone without spoiling the full game. I can’t wait to see more and to see what Telltale will do with Jurassic Park. If you haven’t seen the Back to the Future films, go rent them or pick them up, and after you do that, there will be no excuse for you to not buy a copy of Back to the Future: The Game — Episode 1: It’s About Time!

Check out TreavorClark's video review at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOIsooU4MNE.