Flashback

"Another cinematic sci-fi adventure--about the future and an alien conspiracy."

Here we are with a review of Flashback. This game is quite similar to Out of this World: Heart of Darkness(which I have also reviewed)--it's a port of a computer game on Sega CD that is a side-scrolling adventure game. Out of this World was strange and surreal science fiction--Flashback is more action packed and futuristic. The other similarity with Out of this World is that this game also features versions for the Genesis and SNES, the difference is that this Sega CD version is based on the Director's Cut version of the game that came out when CD-ROM's were first introduced for personal computers and there are extra levels, better music and many quality computer generated cinemas. Now that's explained, away we ago.

Story--9
This game has a nice story laid out with some decent cinema. It begins with a simple premise--you have amnesia and "men in black" type agents are trying to kill you for some reason unbeknownst to you. The game jumps in with your escape from then and following the clues to regain your memory an discover the conspiracy that is occuring on this future Earth--yes the game has many similarities with the film Total Recall. I must tell you that the game's story is more than this over used premise. As you travel through the game and things are revealed and the conflict it revealed that the story definitely deserves a nine. One of the nice things about the game is the strange situations you find yourself in and the many very different locations you reach(a futuristic game show where people must survive a trap laden complex, for example). Perhaps this game isn't quite movie quality, but it's a lot closer to such than the usual game.

Graphics--9
The game has it's own nice science fiction art style that is used on every graphic of the game. The backgrounds are detailed and diverse. The characters are complex and fluid--very well animated like most characters in side-scrolling adventure games. The high tech and futuristic feel of the game is a nice change of pace, graphically. The last thing to mention are the high quality cinemas that are sprinkled throughout the game-very nice indeed.

Gameplay--9
This game plays quite similar to other side-scrolling adventure games and features the usual movements like running, jumping, switch pulling, ledge climbing and such(think Prince of Persia, the original side-scrolling adventure game). Also similar to other games of this genre, the controls kind of hard to use because they are very precise--get used to it, it's part of these games' virtues. The game separates itself from the others because it is a futuristic Earth and many strange situations and technology is used to spice things up(riding futuristic trains for one thing). Lastly I must mention that it is similar to Out of this World in that the main character uses a laser gun, except this main character also uses bombs--which actually adds alot to the game's combat and puzzles. The gameplay is quite diverse and decent.

Sound and Music--8
This game also has some nice near-film quality sound effects for all the various things in the game including the many many technological devices and machines. Where the game falters is the background music. It's actually quite good, but it's kind of repetitive and does not feature interactive aspects like other games in this genre(like the oft mentioned Out of this World). The songs are dynamic and composed well, but they are missing that undescribable "UMPH" that cinematic games should have. Oh well.

Conclusion
There is not much else to say about this game except giving it a comparison to Out of this World(which I have reviewed for Sega CD and should definitely be read). Flashback has a unique style of play, compared to Out of this World, because the game's premise and environments are so different. Out of this World wins for story hands down, but Flashback is more action backed and less experimental(a good thing to some, a bad to others). In my opinion both games should be played, they're both good and Flashback stands up quite well. As I said in the Out of this World review, if you can't find the Sega CD version than play any of the others--they are ALMOST as good(the cinemas will be quite loss, but the gameplay is still there). The final things to mention is that there is a sequel to Flashback called Fade to Black for computer and Playstation--it's now first person. I've never played it so I don't know how good it is, but it looked strange and too different from the original Flashback. Well, that's it. I hope you all enjoy this game, as well as the other games I recommend. Happy gamin'!!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99