A character with lost memory, overcoming pitfalls and death traps, exchanging firefights with mutants and corrupt police, all the while uncovering a deep alien invasion with a cyberpunk backdrop. This is Flashback. Initially released in 1992 on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, it was developed by Delphine Software and published by U.S. Gold.
Flashback utilized rotoscope-style animations, similar to the original Prince of Persia, which at the time was a unique look in video games back in the 8- and 16-bit era. It was pretty different back in this era of gaming, considered to be a hidden cult classic, has seen ports on PC, 3DO, SNES, Dreamcast, and other platforms.
Developers Microids ported a remaster version to the Nintendo Switch, but does this cult classic from 30 years ago still have a place in these modern times?
Lost Memories of an Invasion Plot
In the far-off year of 2142, Conrad, an intelligence agent, is being chased by hostile enemies. As he escapes, his vehicle is shot down in a jungle, with no memory of how he got there. A message from himself, stored on a holocube telling him to meet his friend, Ian, in New Washington, serves as his only clue.
Embarking on the journey takes the player to follow Conrad to recover his missing memories involving aliens infiltrating the planet. Anyone familiar with the plot will draw its influences from a mash-up of classic 1980s films Total Recall, and They Live. It’s a typical sci-fi plot but a tried-and-true one leading the players on an adventure.
Explore Exotic Levels, Hurdle over Gaps, and Slay Enemies
Flashback is played in a 2D environment where Conrad can move in four directions. Going offscreen moves to another scene or an area of a level.
Players can move Conrad left and right using D-pad or the joystick. Holding the A button with left or right directions makes him sprint. He can crouch down by holding the down direction. If near an edge, pressing the up direction will cause Conrad to jump and climb up the ledge, or pressing down while holding the A button will allow Conrad to hang off the edge.
The + button brings up inventory, and the – button activates the pause menu. Bringing up the inventory to select specific items and using the X button to activate them. The A button is used to activate switches, levers, and other controls. Pressing the Y button unholsters Conrad’s pistol, followed by using the A button to fire it.
Each level is a series of environmental puzzles, which include jumping over pitfalls, avoiding harmful sludge, activating doors to open new areas. Recurring elements are keys, or some important item, needed to unlock another door is spread throughout the level, which means a lot of backtracking. Each area is a level having to be explored, leaving no stone unturned, no enemy dispatched to stumble onto credits, key cards, teleporters, and explosives.
Occasional combat engages the player and ups the intensity of gameplay, breaking up the mundane of exploring. Enemies will be offscreen, so when Conrad crosses from one area to the next, he can be shot without any warning. Players are allowed 5 hits before the game-over screen. Peppered throughout a level are a recharge stations for the shield, but they are far and in-between, so it can be frustrating when enemy combat is unforgiving. However, satisfying when conquering puzzles and taking down enemies, you’ll feel relief when you stumble onto a shield generator. Giving you more of a chance to survive your next encounter.
Players will most likely die over and over again until memorizing all enemy placements and hazardous environments. But anybody up to the challenge will find combat and exploration satisfying.
Recommended if You’re Willing to Adventurer
I enjoyed playing through and finishing Flashback twice before I wrote this review. I’m more than happy to come back to it again at a later time.
Flashback emphasizes level exploration, memorizing enemy placement and attack patterns, and hazardous encounters. Its slow-to-medium pace is not for every gamer out there. It is a fun game, albeit enemy attack patterns are sometimes frustrating and unforgiving, but taking the time to memorize where enemies are located after the 5th try can be satisfying, if at times.
Any gamer willing to die repeatedly while memorizing areas in levels, and enjoy a solid sci-fi adventure can take comfort that this game is recommended to them.
Still Foxes 