Flashback (computer game)
| Flashback | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Delphine Software International |
| Publisher | US gold |
| Senior Developer | Paul Cuisset |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1992 |
| platform | Amiga , Acorn Archimedes , Mega Drive , MS-DOS , NEC PC-9801 , SNES , 3DO , Atari Jaguar , CD-i , FM Towns , Mac OS , Sega CD , iOS , Nintendo Switch |
| genre | Action-Adventure , Jump 'n' Run |
| Subject | Science fiction |
| Game mode | Single player |
| control | Gamepad , joystick , keyboard |
| medium | Floppy , CD-ROM |
The Flashback series is a two-part computer game series by the developer Delphine Software International , which was released between 1992 and 1995 . The first part in particular was characterized by a technology that was very innovative for the time and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling French game of all time.
Flashback: The Quest for Identity
The game Flashback: The Quest for Identity (English literally " flashback : The search for identity ") is an action platformer , which also includes adventure and shoot 'em up elements. The game was so successful in the early 1990s that it was ported to a number of other gaming platforms ( MS-DOS , Apple Macintosh , SNES , Atari Jaguar , Philips CD-i , Sega) in addition to the Amiga for which the game was originally developed Mega Drive , Sega CD , Archimedes , 3DO , FM Towns ).
The graphics and the atmosphere created by the story and its implementation are seen as particularly successful .
action
Conrad B. Hart is an agent of the GBI (Galactic Bureau of Investigation) as well as a budding scientist and, with the help of his professor , has invented a device - in the form of VR glasses - with which the molecular density of living beings can be measured. As he tests his invention, he is dismayed to find that beings with extremely high molecular density have mixed with the population of the earth in the year 2142, who cannot be humans. These beings call themselves Morphs because they are shapeshifters, and they aim to destroy the human race. When his girlfriend Sonya disappears without a trace, he takes security measures to save his memory in a holo-cube. Shortly thereafter, Conrad is kidnapped by the Morphs and his memory erased. With all his strength, he manages to escape from prison, but he finds himself with no memory of his previous life on Titan - a human colony . Armed only with a pistol, he has to find his memory again and explain who these beings are and what they are up to. Ultimately, Conrad has to teleport to the home planet of the Morphs to first destroy the main brain of the Morphs and then their planet. Conrad escapes the bursting planet in a spaceship at the last minute.
Game mechanics
Although Flashback contains many elements of the platforming genre, it is fundamentally different from other genre representatives. Similar to Prince of Persia or Another World , Flashback uses realistic movements for the protagonist; There are no giant comic-like jumps in the game. Another major difference is that there is no scrolling in Flashback . The action is displayed screen by screen and when the edge of the screen is reached, the system switches to the next screen. Flashback also contains many adventure elements; so objects can be collected and used elsewhere. There is also character interaction via dialogue, although this is limited to simple sentences instead of offering complex dialogue trees.
There is usually a short cutscene between levels; in some ways to die as well, similar to in Another World .
| Fade to Black | |
|---|---|
| Studio | Delphine Software International |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Senior Developer | Paul Cuisset |
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
DOS August 31, 1995 1995  PlayStation June 24, 1996 July 1996  May 2, 1997 |
| platform | MS-DOS , PlayStation , PlayStation Network |
| genre | Action adventure |
| Game mode | Single player |
| control | Keyboard , mouse (computer) , gamepad |
| medium | CD-ROM |
Fade to Black
In Fade to Black (English literally “fade to black ”, meaning “disappear in the shadows”), Conrad Hart is again the protagonist of the plot, who, after 50 years of deep sleep, is once again dedicated to the fight against the alien morphs. As in Another World , the game world consists of polygons - but now in real 3D. The game was released on July 1, 1995 for PC - DOS systems, later also for the PlayStation .
The controls and the unfavorable camera perspectives on the character (played in the third-person perspective ) were criticized many times. The title could no longer follow the success of its predecessor.
Flashback (remake)
A remake developed by VectorCell in 2013 under the direction of Paul Cuisset with five other members of the team already involved in the original and published by Ubisoft received only mixed to negative ratings. The version for XBox 360 achieved 50/100 points at Metacritic.
Flashback - 25th Anniversary
In 2018, Anuman Interactive re- released the original together with a revised edition for PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch under its games brand Microïds . The revision was made again under Paul Cuisset. In addition to the newly recorded sound, the graphics were only slightly improved in order to preserve the nostalgic character and Metacritic rated it with 77/100 points significantly better than the remake.
Web links
- Flashback at MobyGames (English)
- Fade to Black at MobyGames (English)