Back in 1995

About

"Back in 1995" is a survival horror game that meticulously recreates the atmosphere of the original PlayStation era. With retro 3D visuals, fixed camera angles, and tank controls, players are immersed in a surreal world to solve the mystery of a daughter's disappearance and a city's calamity. This passion project by Takaaki Ichijo aims to capture the unique emotional resonance of 90s gaming.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews

humor2 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Back in 1995 successfully captures the nostalgic feel of 90s survival horror games, evoking memories of classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil.
The game features an interesting meta-narrative that breaks the fourth wall, providing a unique twist that adds depth to the experience.
Despite its flaws, the game offers a charming homage to retro gaming, appealing to fans of the genre who appreciate its aesthetic and atmosphere.

The gameplay is plagued by clunky controls, poor enemy AI, and a lack of challenge, making combat feel unengaging and easy.
The story is weak and poorly executed, with an abrupt ending that leaves players feeling unsatisfied and confused about the narrative.
Technical issues such as long loading times, awkward camera angles, and low-quality graphics detract from the overall experience, making it hard to recommend at full price.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its homage to classic horror narratives and themes of nostalgia, while others criticize it for being poorly executed, vague, and lacking meaningful character development. Many found the plot to be straightforward yet unfulfilling, often relying on notes and dialogue that fail to create a compelling narrative or satisfying conclusion. Overall, while there are interesting elements, the story is often described as weak, confusing, and ultimately disappointing.
- “The story and inner meaning itself is pretty good too; it very much feels like an homage while also pointing out that holding onto the past isn't always the way to go.”
- “Back in 1995 attempts to put the player back in the glory days of horror gaming, all the while telling a complex story.”
- “The notes tell the story and give you a feel for what's going on in this world.”
- “The story itself does not seem to evolve or have any kind of meaningful conclusion by the end of the game, which just left me wishing there was more to it.”
- “In the end, there is somewhat of closure, but in all honesty the tale just feels like bits and pieces of a larger story being woven unevenly together.”
- “The game lacks any real substance in terms of plot, story devices, or a conclusion.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The graphics of "Back in 1995" are a deliberate homage to the low-fi aesthetics of 90s survival horror games, featuring dated polygonal models and tank controls that evoke nostalgia for the era. While some players appreciate the retro style and atmospheric design, others criticize the execution, noting that certain graphical elements appear poorly rendered or glitchy, detracting from the overall experience. Ultimately, the game's visual appeal largely depends on the player's tolerance for outdated graphics and mechanics.
- “Back in 1995 is an enjoyable game that serves as a nice homage to the days of survival horror of the early 3D graphics era (think PS1, 3DO, and DOS); it's more 'Alone in the Dark' or 'Doctor Hauzer' than 'Silent Hill' or 'Resident Evil', though the latter two do provide some minor influence in my opinion.”
- “The controls, the graphics, the combat, and the inventory system have great attention to detail and bring a sense of nostalgia.”
- “If you enjoy both (1) the impressionistic look of early, primitive 3D graphics as seen on the PS1/Saturn/3DO; as well as (2) slower-paced, puzzle-sprinkled gameplay that is lighter on action but heavy on atmosphere, I think you'll love this game.”
- “The story is weak, the gameplay is weaker, and the graphics are somehow worse than games from 1995.”
- “If you turn this effect off, the game just looks bad... and not even in an old PSX graphics style kind of bad, just plain bad.”
- “What I will say is some of the graphics start to contort and stretch in strange ways sometimes which honestly looks horrid; I'm not even sure if this is intentional or not, but it reminded me more of a weird emulator glitch rather than something on actual hardware of 1995.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The gameplay of "Back in 1995" is a nostalgic homage to 1990s gaming, featuring tank controls and simple combat mechanics that evoke a sense of clumsy tension. While some players appreciate its retro charm and atmospheric focus, others criticize it for being bogged down by fetch quests, overly simplistic puzzles, and a lack of depth, leading to a short and sometimes tedious experience. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy a slower-paced, atmospheric journey reminiscent of early 3D titles, but may not satisfy players seeking more engaging gameplay.
- “The concept is about taking the player back to the gameplay mechanics and graphics aesthetics of the 1990s, and this implies that the mechanics are 'dated' to that period; movement is achieved with tank controls, an oft maligned and underrated form of movement that, when placed in an appropriate game, can heighten the player's tension with clumsy navigation.”
- “The combat mechanics are simple yet fittingly cumbersome, making timing a necessity in combat.”
- “If you enjoy both the impressionistic look of early, primitive 3D graphics as seen on the PS1/Saturn/3DO, as well as slower-paced, puzzle-sprinkled gameplay that is lighter on action but heavy on atmosphere, I think you'll love this game.”
- “Gameplay that constantly gets bogged down by fetch quests and dirt simple puzzles.”
- “The story is weak, the gameplay is weaker, and the graphics are somehow worse than games from 1995.”
- “This is tough to recommend as it feels unfinished with no real gameplay and no depth.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The atmosphere of *Back in 1995* is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to classic PS1 survival horror games, effectively capturing the essence of early 3D graphics and slower-paced gameplay. While some reviewers appreciate the game's spooky ambiance and attention to detail, others criticize it for lacking depth in plot and emotional engagement, ultimately feeling that it falls short of delivering a truly compelling atmospheric experience. Overall, the game is seen as a mixed bag, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics but leaving some players wanting more in terms of narrative and excitement.
- “Even though really short experience, 'Back in 1995' is a love letter to the golden era of gaming, evoking the atmosphere and gameplay of the hit titles for the original PlayStation.”
- “If you enjoy both (1) the impressionistic look of early, primitive 3D graphics as seen on the PS1/Saturn/3DO; as well as (2) slower-paced, puzzle-sprinkled gameplay that is lighter on action but heavy on atmosphere, I think you'll love this game.”
- “Well, you already know that graphics don't matter to enjoy a good game, and this is what 'Back in 1995' brings us: a fun little experience that everyone left behind more than a decade ago. The little details of the items and the spooky atmosphere make this an enjoyable experience.”
- “The music went between being forgettable and a few nice tracks, but didn't really ever help the atmosphere, I felt.”
- “The rest of the negative reviews on this page really explain in far more detail than I'm willing to go into about why this game completely whiffs on what makes older survival horror games fun and interesting, but this game is basically an hour of kinda meandering build-up and an absolute blue-balling mess of an ending sequence with very little substance to its plot or atmosphere.”
- “It missed the key things that made these games great: atmosphere, plot (good or bad), fear, and most importantly climax. All of those games had excitement, and genuine endings, conclusions to the gameplay.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The music in "back in 1995" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and a few standout tracks, while others criticize it for being overly relaxing and failing to enhance the horror atmosphere. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack often felt forgettable or jarring, lacking the tension typically expected in survival horror games. Overall, the sound design was seen as a missed opportunity to create a more immersive and frightening experience.
- “Nevertheless, 'Back in 1995' has charm, especially the slow-paced gameplay and soundtrack.”
- “The music was, well, I at least enjoyed the opening track.”
- “A good horror game, whether it be new or old, should have tense music, but this game has a very relaxing soundtrack.”
- “The sound is also horrendous, sporting some of the worst music I've heard in a horror game coupled with tepid sound effects that perfectly match.”
- “Usually a focal point of survival horror games is the use of sound design in order to create tension, fear, and a foreboding sense of danger, whereas in this game it was mostly just some noise in the background, barring a few encounters with enemies that triggered music.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's humor is largely perceived as lacking depth, with some players finding it to rely heavily on toilet humor. Additionally, the exaggerated flaws intended for parody often detract from gameplay, leading to frustration rather than amusement. Overall, the humor fails to resonate with many players, leaving it feeling unintentional and ineffective.
- “Toilet humor is not my forte, but this game inspires it plentifully.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game is playable without major glitches, though some express frustration with abrupt endings that disrupt the experience. While the gameplay is engaging, occasional changes and glitches can detract from the overall stability.
- “All of those things are fantastic, how the game changes and glitches while playing it, but unfortunately just as it gets interesting, it ends.”
- “The game is playable with no major glitches.”