Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Description official descriptions
The year is 2142. The player takes control of Conrad B. Hart, a man who has lost his memory. After barely escaping from hostile aliens, Conrad's bike crashes on an unknown planet. Conrad finds himself in the jungle, and from that moment on his quest for survival and his lost identity begins.
Flashback: The Quest for Identity incorporates elements of platforming, shooting, and problem-solving. The game can be described as a "cinematic platformer" (commonly referred to as Prince of Persia-style), following a design philosophy that was also manifested in Delphine Software's previous work, Another World. Compared to that game, Flashback focuses more on platforming and exploration of large levels.
While a large bulk of the gameplay is dedicated to running, jumping, and shooting enemies, there is also a considerable exploration element in the game, as well as some puzzle-solving. The player navigates Conrad through platform structures, performing various moves. It is possible to simply jump or do a longer run-and-jump, run, climb, hang off ledges, and pick up objects lying on the ground.
To defend himself, Conrad can shoot enemies with his gun and also use various objects (such as stones) to harm or distract them. Crouching and rolling are possible (and often essential) moves that can be executed during combat. The gun has unlimited ammunition; however, shields that Conrad uses to protect himself from attacks are depleted when he is hit and can be recharged at special stations. Though most environments in the game are hostile, there are a few locations that are devoid of enemies. The player is usually required to talk to characters, gather information, and complete tasks in an adventure-like fashion in these areas.
Most of the versions utilize cutscenes with polygonal vector graphics. The CD versions replace those with pre-rendered 3D animations. The Sega CD version also features voice-overs.
Spellings
- פלאשבק: זיכרון גורלי - Hebrew spelling
- フラッシュバック - Japanese spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Amiga version)
25 People (20 developers, 5 thanks) · View all
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[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Discussion
Subject | User | Date |
---|---|---|
HELP!!_Flashback:Can't do fourth mission | Stephen Labuschagne | 2009-08-25 02:27:07 |
Trivia
1001 Video Games
Flashback appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Release variations
A bargain bin CD-ROM version of the game for Sega CD (which was later adapted to the PC CD-ROM, 3DO and CD-i) contained new cinematic sequences with voice acting and sound effects. This version of the game came only in a jewel case (no box).
Ports and conversions
- Although Amiga version of the game was released as the first one in December 1992, it was in fact a port from the original platform which was Sega Mega Drive. However SMD version was released later in spring of 1993.
- SNES port was slightly censored. Death Tower was renamed to Cyber Tower, New Washington's bar became a cafe and all the enemy mutants were recolored green.
- Amiga version has cut-down introductory sequence and some cut scenes during the gameplay does not exist until the player enables them manually by pressing CTRL+C. The Amiga and DOS versions also had an option to zoom in on the action whenever Conrad opens fire. It was removed from all other versions. Zoomed in option in DOS version can be enabled in the game options screen while in the Amiga version by pressing F9 during the game.
- DOS version contains changed message that Conrad writes in the ending.
Soundtrack
A two-track CD soundtrack was released featuring music inspired by the game, but not directly from it.
Technology
One of the materials in the box of Flashback is a coupon for a rebate on a Gravis Gamepad and a note to "try Gravis' Ultrasound 16-bit sound card." This is ironic because, amongst Gravis Ultrasound enthusiasts, Flashback is notorious for being incompatible with the GUS.
Programmers might be interested in the fact that Flashback is one of very few games that used a screen mode with a width of 256 pixels. This implies that the address of a pixel on the screen could be comfortably stored in a 16-bit register, say AX. The X-coordinate could then be manipulated through AL, and the Y-coordinate through AH. This might have contributed somewhat to Flashback's impressively fluent animations.
Awards
- Amiga Joker
- Issue 02/1994 – Best Genre Mix in 1993 (Readers' Vote)
- Electronic Gaming Monthly
- May 1993 (Issue 46) - Game of the Month (Genesis version)
- November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #92 (Best 100 Games of All Time) (Genesis version)
- FLUX
- Issue #4 - #10 in the "Top 100 Video Games of All-Time" list
- GamePro
- 1993 (Vol. 6, Issue 2) - Action/Adventure Game of the Year (Genesis version)
- Retro Gamer
- September 2004 (Issue #8) – #65 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
- Issue #37 - #15 in the "Top 25 Platformers of All Time" poll
Information also contributed by Brian Hirt, Robert Schmidt, Apogee IV, PCGamer77, and Big John WV
Related Sites +
-
Flashback on Wikipedia
Wikipedia article of Flashback -
Manomio: Flackback
official game website for the iPhone version
Identifiers +
- MobyGames ID: 555
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by faceless.
Amiga added by POMAH. CD-i added by Corn Popper. PC-98 added by Infernos. iPhone added by Sciere. Jaguar, SNES, Genesis added by Rogee. Acorn 32-bit added by Kabushi. Dreamcast added by Iggi. FM Towns added by Terok Nor. SEGA CD added by Unicorn Lynx. 3DO added by Indra was here. Macintosh added by MAT.
Additional contributors: Trixter, MAT, Unicorn Lynx, Sciere, Alaka, formercontrib, Crawly, j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】, Zeppin, Zeikman, Patrick Bregger, mailmanppa, FatherJack.
Game added December 9th, 1999. Last modified May 27th, 2023.