Parents' Guide to

Full Throttle Remastered

By David Wolinsky, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Classic adventure gets new paint job, keeps old issues.

Game PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows 2017
Full Throttle Remastered Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Full Throttle Remastered screenshot 1
  • Full Throttle Remastered screenshot 2
  • Full Throttle Remastered screenshot 3
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Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Justin F.
Justin F. Adult
April 24, 2017
age 13+

Let the Throttle Out and Fly - Game History Returns

First released in 1995, Full Throttle tells the story of Ben, a tough, stoic, leather jacket-wearing biker. Framed for a crime he didn't commit by a sinister businessman Adrian Ripburger, Ben must clear his and his gang's name and stop the machinations of Ripburger before he takes over the last motorcycle manufacturer in the country and starts producing - *gasp* - minivans! What distinguishes Full Throttle today is to some extent different from what made it stand out when it was new, and while the fresh coat of paint on the graphics and gloriously remastered sound makes closes some of that distance (though not all), the game's well-executed story, unique atmosphere, and memorable characters are what really make this worth experiencing again (or sharing with someone for the first time). In the interest of fairness, let me momentarily doff the rose-tinted goggles of nostalgia and point out a few caveats to the experience. For those unfamiliar with this game, I will say: It's fairly short, it's quite linear in structure, and the action portion in the middle is annoying. For those revisiting, the new HD artwork is a mixed blessing - at its best it is a loving restoration, and at its worst it looks like a crude imitation. Also, the action portion isn't less annoying (but it does look better). Finally, it's worth mentioning that in creating this remastered version, the good folks at DoubleFine have also lovingly encapsulated the original version of the game within, and you can even mix and match your graphics, music, audio, and interface experience. There are also commentaries for those interested in the behind-the-scenes of the game's development. This is definitely worth playing if you're into gaming history or want to share it with someone who is.

This title has:

Great role models
Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

FULL THROTTLE REMASTERED is a rerelease of a 1995 point-and-click adventure game. In it, you play Ben Throttle, the leader of the biker gang known as the Polecats. One day, Ben gets framed for the murder of the head of Corley Motors. In one fell swoop, you have to figure out how to clear your name, make the public aware of what's really going on, and prevent a hostile takeover of the company. On his journey, Ben encounters rival gangs and must convince as many of them as they can that they'll need to team up and confront the man who is trying to ruin his reputation as well as biking. The remastered version comes with newly drawn visuals and remastered audio, as well as developer commentary about the game.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This adventure game is fun to play, but many of the same issues from the original release are present in the remastered version. Full Throttle was always one of the odder and more intriguing outings for LucasArts. This faithful rerelease two decades later doesn't change that, and players new to the game won't have nostalgia to potentially cloud some of the game's clunkier aspects. A few of the puzzles seem designed to make people call hint lines or seek out hint books, and indeed, in the commentary, some of the creators apologize for the needlessly coy puzzles. The game's later sections that attempt to inject some action into the flow -- road rage brawls, a demolition derby -- still feel as undercooked today as they did 20 years ago.

None of that should prevent people from trying it. It's an atypical take on a seemingly "tough" world -- you play a 200-pound biker who walks around solving puzzles. Also, 20 years later, it's hard not to feel that the game is shorter than it deserves to be. That's a subjective complaint, but one frequently levied one against this game. It's perfectly suited for pick-up/put-down play on a handheld, but it's unusual to be able to finish an adventure game in a weekend if you're really determined. Indeed, in the commentary, the developers confess that "too much" was taken out of the game. But as it stands, what's here is worth seeing and trying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why there is so much nostalgia in seemingly every medium. Do you think this is surprising? Has there always been this much nostalgia, even going back centuries and millennia?

  • Why do people become bikers? Why do people rebel against the status quo? How do people who rebel against the status quo indirectly help or provide some benefit to those who adhere to it? What about vice versa?

Game Details

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