Back to Stone

Pocket Magazine / Pockett Videogames ( ) (80%)

Seul petit bémol : la maniabilité, pas aussi précise que l’on aimerait. Il faut dire que la croix directionnelle de la GBA n’aide pas vraiment dans un monde en 3D isométrique. Techniquement, cela reste vraiment d’un très bon niveau. Les développeurs annoncent fièrement une animation en 60 images par secondes et, effectivement, on ne la sent pas faiblir, même lors de l’apparition d’effets graphiques particuliers. L’aspect sonore a été lui aussi soigné et c’est au final une cartouche de 64 Mb qui aura nécessaire pour contenir le tout. La durée de vie pourra paraître un peu légère pour les mordus du genre (comptez 15 heures pour venir à bout de l’aventure), mais pour 20 € (prix du jeu dans le commerce), l’affaire est entendue !

Jan 31st, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Jeuxpo.com (7 out of 10) (70%)

Back to Stone est une bonne surprise. Un titre bien réalisé, assez poussé, peu cher, bref il mérite l'attention.

2006 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Jeuxvideo.com (14 out of 20) (70%)

En dépit de son âge, la GBA continue de nous réserver de bonnes surprises, à l'instar de ce jeu d'action/aventure développé par une équipe française. Dans le même esprit qu'un titre tel que Scurge Hive, Back To Stone réussit à installer un background intéressant sans négliger la richesse de son système de jeu, et le résultat est assez convaincant.

Dec 22nd, 2006 · Game Boy Advance · read review

GameZone (6.8 out of 10) (68%)

A certain type of person will fall in love with this game; others will hate it completely. The good and the bad cancel each other out to a certain degree. Overall, though, an interesting-enough game worthy of a try.

Feb 14th, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Nintendo Spin (6 out of 10) (60%)

I hope this isn't the only time we see Back to Stone, because its basis would definitely benefit from a bigger production on the DS or even as a 3D adventure on a home console. I like that you can turn enemies to stone and use them to solve puzzles. I like that your character slowly transforms into a demon the more he is hurt. I even like the way collecting gems is set up. But none of this fully takes off. It's a GBA game that feels like it's just trying to make ends meet. However, it's still a lengthy and enjoyable experience, and I would have given it a higher score (and higher recommendation) if it weren't for the fact that Back to Stone uses passwords--of all things--to save your progress. If that doesn't bother you, then you've got a decent game waiting for you on Amazon.

Dec 31st, 2006 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Joypad (6 out of 10) (60%)

La GBA est toujours capable de fournir de bons petits jeux d'action/aventure.

Feb 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Just RPG (58 out of 100) (58%)

click to enlarge In the end, there is a good amount of material to be seen within this cartridge. Some of it is above average (art style, technical achievement, story), and others are disappointing (sound, mechanics, block-on-grid puzzles). The one truly abysmal flaw is the lack of an internal battery to save the game, which is unacceptable for today’s standards, even more so in a portable system. Back to Stone can be enjoyed by the hardcore action fan, considering you can get past the bland (and erroneous) text, unimaginative block puzzles, and lack of save files.

2006 · Game Boy Advance · read review

GameSpot (5.5 out of 10) (55%)

It's nice to see that developers are still producing original games for the Game Boy Advance. Unfortunately, Back to Stone is a bland, sloppy adventure game that doesn't bring anything original to the formula apart from a novel twist on the same block pushing we've been doing for years.

Feb 28th, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Thunderbolt Games (3 out of 10) (30%)

It’s sad. Back to Stone must have sounded great when it was still an idea scrawled on some drawing board, but the end result is far from excellence. Its story is fairly dark, offering a glimpse into a world where good doesn’t always triumph over evil. The idea of changing your foes into blocks and using them to solve puzzles is an interesting, if not unoriginal idea. The painfully simple puzzles, hindered platforming aspects, cruddy combat mechanics, pathetic presentation, and a truly loathsome saving system all combine to make this one of the last great disappointments on the GBA. So much for happy endings.

Feb 2nd, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

DarkZero (3 out of 10) (30%)

Back to Stone was to be “One of the surest bets for GBA adventure this holiday season”. Christ, if I got this for Christmas, the only place it’d be going is “Back to shops”.

Feb 13th, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Entertainment Depot, The (2 out of 10) (20%)

Neko Entertainment has created a title that will have players wishing they could turn themselves back to stone, if only to avoid this nightmare of a game. Horrible controls, gameplay, visuals, all compounded by bugs and an archaic password system is not much of a game. I have experienced more satisfying gaming experiences on my calculator. It’s a shame that were some interesting ideas in this game that went to waste.

Feb 27th, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review

Gaming Nexus (F)

Back to Stone is an honest try at a puzzle/actioner hybrid, but its technical limitations mire it in the past. Sketchy graphics, frustrating controls and an archaic password save system kept the game from being immersive enough. Still, the story and gameplay were solid, and there is definitely room for a sequel.

Apr 11th, 2007 · Game Boy Advance · read review