Flashback: The Quest for Identity

The Good
Flashback itself is a great game, and they didn't change anything in the missions or actions of the main character (Conrad). The graphics are really clean and the cut-scenes are an improvement on the SNES, Genesis, and Sega CD versions (about the same as the 3DO).

The Bad
Sluggish controls, slowdown, lack of dedicated button for the menu, bars on the sides of the screen.

The Bottom Line
Flashback is a great game for the unique character movement, challenging action, and fun levels. Just to provide some background, I've played this game on the Sega Genesis, Sega CD, 3DO, SNES (and Super Famicom), and...unfortunately, the CD-i. So, I've got a relatively good feel for how the game SHOULD play. The graphics and animation show a substantial polish uncommon for action games and the story adds a neat sci-fi flavor. The game is broken down into digestible chunks accessed using easy to remember passwords. All these positive traits are present on every release of the game. The CD-i adds three negative aspects to this fine game: slowdown, poor controller layout, and odd screen layout.

First, the most distracting problem: slowdown. The CD-i is a "more advanced" machine than either the SNES, Genesis, or Sega CD. So why, when the game plays fine on those systems, does it suffer so much on the CD-i. When more than three characters are moving on the screen at a time, the controls become sluggish and unresponsive. Of course, this is in the heat of battle and failing to get the character turned around in time to dispense some copper-jacketed justice results in more untimely deaths than warranted.

Speaking of deaths: the controller itself bears a little of the burden for the failures as well. Maybe this is just me, but it seems when I need to draw the gun quickly and fire I tend to instinctively hit the wrong buttons. I think part of the issue is that the button layout on the CD-i controller requires you to access the item menu by holding "down" and hitting one of the buttons. I think this subconsciously makes it harder to associate the primary purpose for the button due to it having two functions. Additionally, it seems very difficult to roll without having the gun drawn. Not critical, but a bit of an annoyance factor.

The final issue for me is the presence of two static, non-game related bars with kind of a camo/marbled design on the sides of the screen. These bars eat up a substantial amount of real estate. Also, sometimes it's unclear whether there is a wall to the side or you can walk to the next screen. I'm not sure why they did this except for, perhaps, a resolution difference between the CD-i and other systems. Again, this is something that is only on the CD-i release, not any other system.

Overall, this is really only recommended for CD-i collectors. While it is the worst version of Flashback, it is one of the best games for the CD-i (as sad as that is). It's significantly more expensive than the other versions (except for the Atari Jaguar version) so if you just want to play the game get it for another console.

The Good
After the success of Another World, Delphine decided to cash in on its success and create Flashback. The game was supposed to be top secret. Most game magazines were offered no information about the game, and they assumed that it was the sequel to Another World, due to the development house and that it was based on games such as Prince of Persia. However, this is not true as AW's real sequel is Heart of the Alien.

In every action/adventure game like POP, the character's background is laid out for you and what the character must do first. However, Flashback is subtitled The Quest for Identity for a reason. After crash-landing on an alien planet, it is up to the player to discover who he is and how he got into this mess. The best way to do that is walk around and pick up something that will tell you what you need to do next.

There are a wide variety of moves that you must accomplish to get through the game. Every one of Conrad's movements was done with rotoscope animation, a technique used previously in Prince of Persia and Another World. A few moves, such as the run-and-roll, take time to get used to.

The graphics make you feel that you are actually walking around in the future populated by alien creatures who have no respect for humanity. I know that Flashback is set sometime in the a future, judging by the signage in some levels and the use of superior technology such as teleportation. The sound effects are excellent as provide a realistic experience. As soon as you enter the jungle planet, and hear the sounds of insects chirping in the trees. And on each level, you always get to hear any creature activity in the distance.

As usual, there are a wide variety of alien creatures that get in your way. Most of the creatures are a bitch to deal with, especially those slime creatures you encounter near the end of the game. It's just a matter of timing and the right moves. For example, it's easy to roll left or right to get away from the aforementioned slime creatures, but performing the roll at the wrong time causes damage to yourself.

Like most action/adventure games of its time, Flashback allows the player to pick up a huge range of items - including ID cards, keys, force fields, and even his own gun - and you can actually see Conrad pick up something. The most useful item is the tele-receiver which you get much later in the game; and with it, you can throw it anywhere, and using the equipped controller, you can immediately warp there. This method is not only ideal for getting past some obstacles in the game, but also attacking enemies at different angles. Everything that was present in most action/adventure games is included in the game – locked doors, lifts, on/off switches, and the like.

Flashback uses a ton of movie references. But the most obvious one is on level three where you participate in a game of Death Tower which is based on The Running Man, in which the object is to reach the top of the tower to win a ticket to Earth, blasting enemies and getting past obstacles in the process. Before that, you hunt down a cyborg on the second level – a homage to the Blade Runner movie. Earth itself consists of nothing more of large towering structures in a smoggy sky. Not to mention the reference to the Alien films in the final levels.

Delphine decided to make the game a bit easier for people that have just gotten into the game. First, there are save points scattered throughout the levels, and also energy generators which you can use to recharge your shields. The best thing about the generators is that they recharge your shield at full capacity and not by individual increments, allowing you to take hits while you are defeating creatures, and going back to refuel. Without the use of generators, you are allowed to inflict damage five times before it's game over.

Although there were a handful of ports, I believe the Sega CD version is superior. Not only has it got a number of pre-rendered cinematic sequences with accompanying voiceovers, replacing the cartoon look of the cut-scenes, but it also has voiceovers during gameplay. The included CD-Audio tracks for each level further add atmosphere to the game.

The Bad
There is nothing that I noticed during the game.

The Bottom Line
Flashback uses some elements from Another World and takes them to the next level. It is also unique in the way that players are given no story on the character and must find that out for themselves by walking around each level and picking up things then using them. The rotoscoping is excellent, and there are plenty of moves that you have to perform if you want to survive. The great graphics make you feel that you are actually there, and the sound effects bring atmosphere to the game. If you like Another World and want more of that puzzle-solving and action, then give Flashback a go.

The Good
I think the problem solving based gameplay is great. Obviously this game is like Prince of Persia and Another World (previous Delphine Game), but I think Flashback outdoes them. Another World had a great story, told through cut scenes, but the platforming and problem solving wasn't so great. I think in Flashback you get the sense that the game makers want to challenge you, but they also want you to succeed and beat the game. The game's cut-scenes are good and unlike Another World, there is also text to explain the story. Very good music too, co-composed by French pop composer Jean Baudlot.

The Bad
The combat in the last stage of the game could have been thought through better and improved. Dodging the blue aliens is a fun challenge, but there are tight spots where it's so hard to dodge and have proper battles. Also I think Conrad is a bit slow at drawing and pointing his gun.

The Bottom Line
Based on what I've played, I could probably call this the best platformer ever. Intelligent combat and problem solving and good cut-scenes and music.