Back in 1995

Back in 1995: A very strange and flawed game, but that very strange and flawed nature also makes it compelling. It's as if someone found an obscure 3DO horror game from the mid-nineties and released it on Steam completely unaltered. Whether that's a good thing really depends on how you feel about old survival horror. [June/July 2016]

Distorted textures and hulking polygons may not feel as chic or romantic as pixel art, but Back in 1995's paean to the 32-bit era extends beyond aesthetic cognizance. It's a vehicle for the sentiment and devotion of its author, and approach may be limited to a shared fondness of that time and place.

Back In 1995 is a very strange game and tough to recommend, mainly because I was left wondering if I actually enjoyed my time with the game. Its exploration is limited, its combat slow and repetitive, but its story, although not entirely interesting, somehow holds your attention long enough to keep driving you forward. For that reason, it’s worth giving it a shot, but probably only if you’re over 30.

Beyond the aesthetic, it's hard to highlight anything about the game. Still, if you feel like going back all the way to 1995, this game has a few interesting moments in store.

As it stands, and as a review of a product, Back in 1995 is a gimmicky curiosity, not unlike its graphical approach; flat and askew, with some semblance of structure if you squint between the lines.

Quotation forthcoming.

Back in 1995 is a game that aims to make gamers feel like it was 1995 again, and while it succeeds in garnering a retro aesthetic, it falls far short everywhere else.