Scientific experiments deep in the middle of a busy city mean that absolutely nothing can go wrong until they do. Alone, isolated, and trapped in an abandoned skyscraper, Kent finds himself in the middle of a nightmare. His only hope is to make it to a glowing tower, deep in the distance, but he can only get there if he can survive the monsters. From Ratalaika Games and Toss Out The Warped Code comes an ambitious love letter to survival horror in Back In 1995. This unique survival horror certainly doesn’t have the bells and whistles of modern horror, but it’s got a big heart, and sometimes, that’s all a game needs.
Visual Throwback
Back in 1995 is a tip of the hat to survival horror video games of the 1990s in all of the best ways; from graphics to gameplay to sound. Back in 1995 uses low-resolution polygons akin to an early PSOne game. The levels, enemies, and main character all appear three dimensional, but warp and distort in their movement. A fixed camera means a forced viewpoint for players, locking in their views from observing the rest of the environment. Character models, from the main protagonist to the monsters are greatly distorted and misshaped. Most noticeably, Back in 1995 features one of the most historical, albeit frustrating, controls scheme of the time: tank controls. All of these mechanics may sound frustrating to potential players, but this deliberate choice of gameplay heightens the incredibly solid gameplay experience.
Intentionally Aged Controls
For those unfamiliar, tank controls involve one control piece controlling the forward and backward movement of a character, as well as turning. When the PlayStation One launched in the United States, the console arrived with one PlayStation gamepad. The earlier gamepads did not have dual analog sticks, and they wouldn’t be introduced until the Dualshock controller debuted in 1998. Coupled with the fixed camera angles, this meant that the player could control the character with the D-Pad, but it made moving and turning clunky, slow, and polarizing, especially in a tight situation. Some could argue the controls helped heighten the level of fear, while others felt the controls were a chore. Back in 1995 uses these controls, and the opinion of these controls vary, but for me, it further created a sensation of terror and confusion, much like the emotions of the protagonist Kent. 
Back In 1995 has players searching their environment for weapons and items, as well as items that progress the story. As they search, players encounter grotesque and horrifying monstrosities. Kent is not a superhero. He is a regular guy with only a basic understanding of how guns work. The enemies may be grotesque indescribable monstrosities but the real threat is in priming and timing attacks against them. Players balance ammunition and health resources, especially as they enter a dangerous area to uncover keys and documents for story progression. Back in 1995 isn’t the hardest horror game, but is certainly no cakewalk.
Frightening Fun
Back in 1995 wears its heart on its sleeve, and is made all the better for it. Playing Back in 1995 felt charming and enjoyable, while still feeling uneasy and scary. Perhaps a low-resolution assembly of triangles isn’t as scary as it once was, but it’s in the struggle for survival where the terror lies. A few moments in Back in 1995 had me holding my breath as I carefully lined up the few bullets I had to eliminate monsters. Some of the enhancements from the PC version, which include CRT filters, help heighten the horror experience as well. The narrative and story, and ultimately where it leads to, is also solid, serving the gameplay well. Combat may not be anything special, as there is a delay to fighting the monstrosities, but in a strange way, the clumsiness of using weapons heightens the sensation of survival in a dangerous situation.
Closing Thoughts
Back in 1995 is a small, competently developed game. Its short length of 3 to 4 hours works well. That said, I cannot help but feel it could have been double the amount. Back in 1995 is a small self-contained story, but leaves a lingering feeling that there was more we could have seen or more to be seen. Many games attempt to emulate or recreate a gaming time long past, but Back In 1995 neither emulates, nor imitates, but most importantly embraces that earlier time in survival horror gaming. A time where trying to fight the monsters was just as frightening as fighting the monsters themselves. It’s a strong horror game that, while short, sets out what it wants to do and succeeds. It may only last an afternoon, but it’s worth going Back In 1995.
Back in 1995 is available now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita.
A PlayStation Vita review copy was provided thanks to Ratalaika Games.
