Doctor Who: Return to Earth
| Doctor Who: Return to Earth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Asylum Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | BBC Multimedia |
| Director(s) | Jon Hare |
| Producer(s) | Glen Parry (Producer) Simon Bailey (Executive Producer) Howard Neumark (Executive Producer) |
| Designer(s) | Steve Venezia |
| Programmer(s) | Paul Johnson Steve Haggerty Michael Bobotsaris |
| Writer(s) | Oli Smith |
| Composer(s) | Chris Green Glen Parry |
| Series | Doctor Who |
| Platform(s) | Wii |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Doctor Who: Return to Earth is a video game for the Nintendo Wii based on the BBC TV series Doctor Who.[1] The game was released for distribution in limited markets, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and selected European markets.[2]
The game is written by Doctor Who writer Oli Smith and features Matt Smith and Karen Gillan providing voices for their characters.[3]
It was the second Doctor Who video game released for the Wii after the Wii port of Top Trumps: Doctor Who.
Plot
The Doctor and Amy arrive on the deserted starship the Lucy Gray, which was the first ship to return to Earth after the solar storms of the 26th century. However, on the ship are the Daleks and Cybermen, who are after the dangerous Time Axis. The Doctor and Amy must prevent them from obtaining it.
Development
On 12 March 2010, it was first reported that Nintendo had signed a £10 million contract with the BBC to bring Doctor Who to the Wii and DS consoles.[4]
On 24 August 2010, it was revealed the game would be titled Doctor Who: Return to Earth and would be released with a DS counterpart titled Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth. In a press release managing director Simon Bailey of Asylum Entertainment said "We are incredibly excited to be collaborating with BBC Worldwide on these two new games," further saying "It is our firm belief that the franchise has massive potential on the Nintendo DS and Wii formats and it's an honour to be bringing 'Doctor Who' video games to the show's huge fan base".[5][6]
Doctor Who: Return To Earth features the Cybermen and Daleks, unlike its Nintendo DS counterpart, which features The Doctor's other enemies.
On 6 September 2010, it was announced that the game would support a Wii Remote accessory modelled to look like the Eleventh Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver.[7]
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 19% |
The game was panned by critics, and it has come to be regarded as one of the worst games ever made. Official Nintendo Magazine gave the game a 19% rating, and branded it "an insult to Doctor Who fans".[8] However, it ranked at 11 on the UK Wii sales charts for the week.[9]
Australian video game talk show Good Game's two presenters gave the game a 1 and 1.5 out of 10, saying, "It's one of the worst games I've ever played." They also stated that the graphics looked like a PlayStation or Nintendo 64 game and that the player spends as much time trying to see the enemies as trying to avoid them. The reviewers went on to state that the game had only two good points, the Sonic Screwdriver Wii remote cover and that it makes Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth look like a masterpiece.[10]
The gaming website Screwattack.com awarded Doctor Who: Return to Earth its SAGY award for Worst Wii Game of 2010.[11]
See also
- Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth - another video game released alongside Return to Earth.
- List of video games notable for negative reception.
References
- ^ Stuart, Keith (24 August 2010). "Doctor Who games announced for Nintendo DS and Wii". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "BBC - Press Office - Doctor Who console games to debut on Nintendo DS and Wii". bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "The CURSE of WHO: WHY has there never been a decent videogame with the Doctor?". theregister.co.uk.
- ^ "'Doctor Who' game heads to Nintendo Wii". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Doctor Who revealed for Wii/DS". MCV UK.
- ^ "'Doctor Who' Games Coming To DS And Wii (Outside The U.S.)". MTV Multiplayer.
- ^ "Sonic Screwdriver Accessories For Wii & DS". doctorwhotv.co.uk.
- ^ "Nintendo of Europe". Nintendo of Europe GmbH.
- ^ "Nintendo of Europe". Nintendo of Europe GmbH.
- ^ "Good Game stories - Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth & Doctor Who: Return to Earth". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 November 2010.
- ^ http://screwattack.com/videos/Worst-Wii-Game-2010-SAGYs