Back to the Future: The Game - Episode III: Citizen Brown

For fans of the films, you can hardly go wrong with the Back to the Future adventure games. If you've already bought the first, then you know the kind of quality you're in for. If you're hesitant and looking to see if it's maintained throughout the series, then you're in luck, because the Back to the Future games are still right up there with the gold standard that Telltale's set for licensed adventure games.

The expanded scope of the story, great dialogue, and improved puzzles all combine to ensure that this game makes good on the premise's potential, and even if you weren't sold on episodes 1 and 2, if you're a fan of the series it is definitely worth your time to catch up so you can check out all the goodness episode 3 has to offer. For Back of the Future fans, Telltale has delivered.

It has tons of nostalgia for the Back to the Future fans, as well as some good entertainment for newcomers. The acting is still top notch and the puzzles are interesting, keeping players on their toes. I can't recommend this series enough.

While it would be nice to see some side quests or branching environments worth exploring, and a few minor glitches result in some awkward scenes, Telltale's Back to the Future remains one of the better film adaptations in video games, and I can't wait to see where this series goes as Telltale begins to build towards a conclusion. If episodes 4 and 5 build on the series as much as this entry has, you won't want to miss it either.

Back to the Future remains a satisfactory experience for fans of the movie - but not for adventure fans who will be disappointed yet again.

The game is definitely growing on me, as much as I want my hands on the next series, I do not want the adventure to end. This will be one of the few great story-telling game there is. Using an old point and click formula of all things too!

In the end, the leap forward in the story helps a lot to counter any disappointment with the gameplay, though the latter won't change the minds of anyone let down by it in the series so far.

Citizen Brown is as good as the whole series, but the difficulty of the puzzles still is a problem. They are a bit more diverse and funny now, but still not really challening enough. But after three of five episodes it looks like this adventure series will be a milestone.

This third episode improves compared to the previous ones and we hope this is not just a mirage, but a sign of what to expect in the next two episodes.

TellTale Games improves his Back to the Future game with this third chapter. Nice dialogues and plot, however it's still too short and pretty easy for many gamers.

I dig the humor, the puzzles, the voicework and the setting. I think the story takes the characters to some goofy places in the end and I didn't feel like I'd accomplished much when everything was said and done, but that's far from a deal-breaker.

Citizen Brown has the most intriguing story so far, but it's still short, easy and holds few surprises for adventure game veterans.

It may be a step back for the series, with lots of dystopian clichés and few ordinary puzzles, but we are still eager to know what Telltale is planning to do next. [June 2011, p. 100]

Back to the future Citizen Brown is sure to satisfy the fans with his witty humor and great writing, those who expected some good puzzles are going to be disappointed though.

Citizen Brown is without doubt the worst episode so far published. We hope for a sudden improvement in the fourth chapter.

It's like watching a DVD that pauses automatically from time to time: we just have to press a mouse-button and it goes on again. That's all the effort it takes to solve the puzzles and finish the game.

"Citizen Brown" has a great overall plot that spends too much time on bland details and bland puzzles.

Citizen Brown's story is predictable, its dialog lacks Telltale's usual subtlety, and it takes far too long to ramp up the action. [July 2011, p.77]

Although the story helps a lot to improve the third episode, playability this series is still walking the same path. Same mistakes, same rating as the previous part. [Issue#204]

Citizen Brown is like a mediocre sitcom. There's loads of talk and not much else. The puzzles are dull and simple, the scope is extremely limited and the situations are silly at best. But at least it'll make you laugh from time to time.

It's sterile, it's empty, and has no sense of fun. [June 2011, p.95]