Doctor Who: Return to Earth

Doctor Who: Return to Earth
Developer(s)	Asylum Entertainment
Writer(s)	Oli Smith
Series	Doctor Who
Platform(s)	Wii
Release date(s)	November 19, 2010
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	OFLC: G PEGI: 3
Media/distribution	Wii Optical Disc

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.

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 March 12, 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.^[3]

On August 24, 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,".^[4][5]

Doctor Who: Return To Earth features the Cybermen and Daleks, unlike its Nintendo DS counterpart, which features The Doctor's other enemies.

On September 6, 2010, it was announced that the game would support a Wii Remote accessory modelled to look like the Eleventh Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver.^[6]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
Publication	Score
Official Nintendo Magazine	19%

The game was panned by critics. Official Nintendo Magazine, scoring only 19% and branded 'an insult to Doctor Who fans'.^[7] However it ranked at 11 on the UK Wii sales charts for the week.^[8]

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." Also saying that the graphics looked like a PlayStation or Nintendo 64 game and that with the gameplay that you spend as much time trying to actually see the enemies as you do 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.^[9]

The gaming website Screwattack.com awarded Dr Who: Return To Earth it's SAGY award for Worst Wii Game of 2010.^[10]

See also

• Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth - another video game released alongside Return to Earth.

References

1. ^ Stuart, Keith (August 24, 2010). "Doctor Who games announced for Nintendo DS and Wii". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/aug/24/games-doctor-who. 
2. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2010/08_august/doctor_who_console_games.shtml
3. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/s7/doctor-who/news/a208256/doctor-who-game-heads-to-nintendo-wii.html
4. ^ http://www.mcvuk.com/news/40592/Doctor-Who-confirmed-for-WiiDS
5. ^ http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/08/24/doctor-who-games-coming-to-ds-and-wii-outside-the-us/
6. ^ http://doctorwhotv.co.uk/sonic-screwdriver-accessories-for-wii-ds-9094.htm
7. ^ http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=21460
8. ^ http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=21579
9. ^ "Good Game stories - Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth & Doctor Who: Return to Earth". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2010-11-29. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s3079647.htm. 
10. ^ http://screwattack.com/videos/Worst-Wii-Game-2010-SAGYs

External links

	BBC portal
	Doctor Who portal
	Video games portal

• Doctor Who: Return to Earth on TARDIS Index File, an external wiki
• Interview about the games on the Official Nintendo Magazine UK website
• Doctor Who: Return to Earth on GameSpot
• Announcement at the Doctor Who News page