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Back in 1995

Have some high points, but they soon give way to glaring faults. Not the worst, but difficult to recommend.
Back in 1995 Game Cover
61%Game Brain Score
humor
story, graphics
65% User Score Based on 82 reviews
Critic Score 40%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Back in 1995 Game Cover

About

Back in 1995 is a single player survival shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Throw the warped code out and was released on April 28, 2016. It received negative reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Back in 1995 screenshot
Skip User Reviews

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews
humor2 positive mentions
story6 negative mentions
  • The game successfully captures the nostalgic essence of early survival horror games, reminiscent of the PS1 era.
  • Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique and interesting narrative twist that engages players who appreciate meta-commentary on gaming.
  • The visuals and atmosphere evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, appealing to fans of classic horror games.
  • The gameplay is plagued by slow movement and clunky controls, making it frustrating for players accustomed to more modern mechanics.
  • The story lacks depth and resolution, leaving players unsatisfied with an abrupt ending and vague narrative elements.
  • Many technical issues, such as poor enemy AI and awkward camera angles, detract from the overall experience and immersion.
  • story
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is characterized by a nostalgic homage to classic horror games, but it suffers from vague narrative beats and an abrupt, unsatisfying conclusion. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise and thematic commentary, many criticize the lack of character development and a coherent plot, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete and underwhelming. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a missed opportunity, overshadowed by gameplay issues and a failure to deliver a compelling horror experience.

    • “It's roughness feels deliberate and with affection for its inspirations, and it definitely works to tell the game's wider story.”
    • “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 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
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Back in 1995" aim to replicate the nostalgic low-fi aesthetic of early 3D games from the PS1 era, evoking a sense of nostalgia for fans of 90s survival horror. While some players appreciate the homage to dated graphics and mechanics, others criticize the execution, noting issues like warping and poor visual quality that detract from the experience. Overall, the game's graphics are a polarizing aspect, appealing primarily to those who embrace retro aesthetics, while potentially alienating players accustomed to modern standards.

    • “A self-aware trip to 90s horror and dark game aesthetics.”
    • “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 graphics look a bit worse than they should.”
    • “The story is weak, the gameplay is weaker, and the graphics are somehow worse than games from 1995.”
    • “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
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Back in 1995" is characterized by its nostalgic homage to 1990s mechanics, featuring tank controls and simple combat that can feel cumbersome and easy. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and slower-paced experience reminiscent of early survival horror games, others criticize the frequent loading screens, fetch quests, and lack of depth in puzzles, leading to a polarizing reception. Overall, the game is seen as a short, charming tribute to its era, but may not satisfy those seeking modern gameplay complexity or narrative depth.

    • “The combat mechanics are simple yet fittingly cumbersome, making timing a necessity in combat.”
    • “Overall, back in 1995 is a solid game, albeit a short one, that evokes mid-90's gameplay in a way that is successful enough to believe it was made that year.”
    • “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.”
    • “You might get four loading screens just trying to walk from one place to another; it really drags down the gameplay when most of the time is spent waiting as you explore a room just to wait to get out, then again and again.”
    • “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
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of *Back in 1995* is a nostalgic homage to the early survival horror genre, effectively capturing the essence of classic PS1 titles with its low-poly graphics and exploration elements. While some players appreciate the game's focus on atmosphere and narrative over mechanics, others criticize it for lacking depth and excitement, ultimately feeling that it falls short of delivering a truly immersive experience. The music, while attempting to evoke a retro horror vibe, is noted as inconsistent and not particularly enhancing the overall atmosphere.

    • “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

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and a few standout tracks, while others criticize it for being forgettable or jarring, failing to enhance the horror atmosphere. Many feel that the soundtrack is too relaxing for a horror game, lacking the tension typically expected in the genre. Overall, the sound design does not effectively contribute to the game's intended sense of fear and danger.

    • “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, bar a few encounters with enemies that triggered music.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 them disappointed.

    • “Toilet humor is not my forte, but this game inspires it plentifully.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, users report that the game is generally stable and playable without major glitches, though some express frustration with abrupt endings that disrupt the experience.

    • “All of those things are fantastic, how the game changes and glitches while playing it, but unfortunately just as it gets interesting, it ends.”
    • “Playable with no major glitches.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy is perceived as a blatant cash grab, leading to negative user sentiment regarding its fairness and value.

    • “This game feels like a bad cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game when it constantly pushes me to spend more money.”
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40%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Back in 1995 is a survival shooter game with horror theme.

Back in 1995 is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Back in 1995.

Back in 1995 was released on April 28, 2016.

Back in 1995 was developed by Throw the warped code out.

Back in 1995 has received negative reviews from players and negative reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its story.

Back in 1995 is a single player game.

Similar games include Tormented Souls, Hollowbody, Crow Country, Alisa, Dementium II HD and others.