Flashback

For the Sega Dreamcast game, see Flashback (Dreamcast).

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NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J Mega-CD
Flashback
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: U.S. Gold Sunsoft (JP) Sega
Developer: Delphine Software International
Original system(s): Amiga
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action
Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages: English Français 日本語 English
Release Date RRP Code JP 1993-12-29 ¥8,0008,000 T-15083 US 1993-02-20 $64.9564.95 T-79066 EU 1993-06 79066-50 DE 1993 DM 129.95129.95 79066-50 PT 1993 MD79066 UK 1993-06 £39.9939.99 79066-50 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x BR 199x 045070 US 1994-11 4448
Non-Sega versions Amiga Android Archimedes CD-i FM Towns IBM PC iOS Jaguar Macintosh PC-9801 UX PC-9801 VX Super NES
ESRA

Flashback (フラッシュバック), known in the US as Flashback: The Quest for Identity, is a game developed by Delphine Software International and published by U.S. Gold. It is a cinematic platformer inspired by Prince of Persia and Delphine's own Another World.

Arguably Delphine Software's greatest work, the game was well received for its fluid, rotoscoped animations and stealth-like gameplay. Though it was originally developed for the Sega Mega Drive, it was first released for the Commodore Amiga in 1992. The Mega Drive release followed in 1993, and a Mega-CD version was released in 1994 in North America, with a planned European release getting cancelled.

Story

In the year 2142, intelligence agent Conrad B. Hart discovers that shapeshifting aliens known as Morphs have infiltrated human society. He records a message to himself, but before he can warn anyone else, he is captured and his memory erased. He later escapes, but crash-lands his vehicle in a jungle, where the gameplay begins as he drops his recorded message.

The North American Mega Drive and Mega-CD versions include a comic in their instruction manuals, created by Marvel, that covers the events preceding the game.

Gameplay

Flashback is a cinematic platform game in which the player controls Conrad B. Hart. Having escaped from aliens, Conrad finds himself in the jungles of the planet Titan with his memory erased. He must recover his memory and save Earth from an alien attack. Each level spans a large number of non-scrolling screens, nearly all of which feature multiple levels of altitude, requiring Conrad to jump, grab onto ledges, climb, use elevators, and drop onto lower levels. As Conrad progresses through the game's seven levels, he is increasingly presented with spatial puzzles, requiring the player to discover how to guide him toward his destination. Late in the game, Conrad receives a teleportation device, and he is able to progress by throwing the device and teleporting into otherwise unreachable areas.

Conrad walks or turns around with and . He runs with HOLD and HOLD . He crouches with and jumps with . If there is a ledge near him, he grabs it automatically when jumping. If the ledge is below him, he can hang off of it with HOLD when facing away from it (and drops off it when the player releases or pulls himself back up with ). He can hop over a gap or an object in front of him (such as a tripwire or mine) with HOLD . When running, he can leap with or roll along the ground with . He can roll while crouched with or . He can control elevators with HOLD and HOLD .

Conrad also carries a pistol with unlimited ammunition. He draws his gun (or puts it away) with and fires it with (or pistol whips enemies in melee range). He cannot run or jump while holding his pistol, and he stays crouched when the player presses until he stands up with and rolls with or . Conrad finds and collects numerous items over the course of his journey. He picks up objects with . The player can open the item inventory by pausing the game with  START  to select an item. After selecting an item, Conrad can use it or give it to someone with . For items that are used by placing them (such as Stones or the Teleport Receiver), he throws the item with when standing or drops it in place with when crouching.

Conrad has a force shield that absorbs four shots before needing recharging, acting as his health. He has a period of momentary invulnerability after being hit. If he takes damage when he has no more shield points remaining, he dies. Shield points can be restored at energy generators found in levels. Some hazards, such as disintegrators or electric floors, can kill him instantly (but he can run or jump over electric floors). The game ends if he dies, but the player can continue from the beginning of the level or the last save point. The player can see the number of shield points remaining by selecting the shield item in the inventory. Conrad can also find a portable force field with unlimited use, which can act as a temporary barrier to block enemies' shots. Conrad exhibits realistic human running speed and jumping ability, as well as realistic weakness (for example, he dies if he falls from too great a height).

There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Expert). The game uses passwords for continuing (with different passwords for each difficulty level).

Actions

Sometimes an icon appears when Conrad is standing in a particular spot, which indicates an action that can be performed there if the player presses (or presses if the action involves using an item).

	Take
	Pick up an item and place it in the inventory. The inventory can be opened with  START .
	Talk
	Talk to a person.
	Look
	Inspect an object or read a map.
	Activate
	Presses a button to perform an action such as opening a door, calling an elevator, or saving at a checkpoint.
	Recharge
	Restores Conrad's shield points or cartridge.
	Use
	Inserts an appropriate item, such as a key card or a cartridge, or gives an item to someone.

Items

	Shield
	A protective shield that protects Conrad from multiple hits of damage. It is always active and does not need to be selected to use it, though the number of remaining shield points can be viewed by selecting it in the inventory.
	Gun
	A firearm, which can be used to kill enemies. It has unlimited ammunition. Conrad draws his gun (or puts it away) with and fires it with . It is not necessary to select it from the inventory to use it.
	Credits
	A form of currency. Some NPCs provide Conrad with items in exchange for credits.
	Holocube
	The Holocube contains a holographic message recorded by Conrad to his future self. Found in the Planet Titan level.
	Magnetic Cartridge
	The cartridge can be filled at an Energy Generator and deposited in a Cartridge Lock to create a bridge. Found in the Planet Titan level.
	Stone
	Stones can be used to activate objects such as tripwires. It can be picked up again after it is placed.
	Teleporter
	An injured man requests Conrad to bring him a Teleporter to teleport to safety. He leaves an ID Card behind. Found in the Planet Titan level.
	Key Card
	Some switches can only be activated using a Key Card.
	ID Card
	An identity card that can be used as a key.
	Force Field
	A barrier that flashes for a moment and shields Conrad from projectiles. Given to Conrad by Ian in the New Washington level.
	Fuse
	Used to repair a switch that calls a lift. Found in the New Washington level.
	Map
	A subway map for New Washington. Given to Conrad by an NPC in the New Washington level.
	Work Permit
	Used at the Job Center terminals to accept a mission. Missions award credits when completed. Given to Conrad by an NPC in the New Washington level.
	Parcel
	Must be retrieved by Conrad to complete his first mission in New Washington.
	Replicant Photo
	A photo of a replicant who must be assassinated by Conrad in one of his New Washington missions.
	Terminal Card
	Used to fix the generator in one of Conrad's New Washington missions.
	Time
	Shows the time remaining before the generator explodes in one of Conrad's New Washington missions.
	Papers
	Purchased by Conrad for 1,500 credits in New Washington to travel to the Cyber Tower.
	Teleport Receiver
	The Teleport Receiver can be placed or thrown anywhere. Conrad can then use the Teleport Remote Control to teleport himself to the position of the Teleport Receiver. It can be picked up again after it is placed. Found in the Secret Base of "Paradise" level.
	Teleport Remote Control
	After placing the Teleport Receiver, Conrad can teleport himself to its position using the Teleport Remote Control. Found in the Secret Base of "Paradise" level.
	Mechanical Mouse
	A robotic mouse that moves back and forth along the ground once placed (with +). It can be used to set off tripwires. It can be picked up again after it is placed. Found in the first Planet of Morphs level.
	Exploding Mouse
	Like the Mechanical Mouse, it moves along the ground autonomously, but it explodes when it is touched. It cannot be picked up again after it is placed. Found in the second Planet of Morphs level.
	Diary
	The Diary contains information on the alien homeworld's defenses. Found in the first Planet of Morphs level.
	Atomic Charge
	Used by Conrad to blow up the alien homeworld in the final level. Found in the first Planet of Morphs level.

Objects

	Switch
	Activating a switch does various things including opening doors. Some switches are activated with , but others require selecting a Key Card item from the inventory and using it with .
	Energy Generator
	The player can recharge the Shield or Magnetic Cartridge items by selecting them from the inventory and using them on the Energy Generator with .
	Tripwire
	Walking past a tripwire does various things, similar to activating a switch, such as opening a door or summoning a lift. They can be hopped over with HOLD or avoided with the Teleport Receiver.
	Save Point
	Saving the game at a Save Point creates a checkpoint where the player restarts if Conrad dies. Despite the terminology, the game does not use a battery backup.

Levels

	Planet Titan
	Conrad awakens in the artificial jungle of the planet Titan with no memory of the events that brought him there. He finds a Holocube containing a message recorded by his past self, telling him to meet his friend Ian in New Washington. Conrad helps a wounded man teleport away and finds an old man who sells him an anti-gravity belt that he uses to take him to New Washington.
	New Washington
	Conrad meets Ian in New Washington, who uses a regenerator to restore his memories. Afterward, Conrad is determined to return to Earth. Ian tells him that the only way he can afford a ticket to Earth is to win one in Death Tower, a game show in which contestants fight to the death, and false papers are required for a pass. To pay for the forged papers, Conrad takes a series of risky jobs in the city. There are five missions: to retrieve and deliver a parcel, to escort a VIP through a hazardous restricted area, to hunt and kill a fugitive replicant, to replace a damaged circuit in a malfunctioning computer terminal before the generator explodes, and to eliminate a gang of dangerous mutants. This is the longest and largest level in the game. The different areas of New Washington are named after the continents: Africa, Europa, Asia, and America. They are connected by a subway system. Conrad boards a subway car with when standing next to it.
	Death Tower
	Conrad competes in the Death Tower, a life-or-death game show where contestants battle replicants and avoid traps to try to win a ticket to Earth. He starts on the eighth floor and must fight his way to the first floor. This is a fast-paced, action-oriented level that departs from the slower, methodical gameplay of the rest of the game.
	Earth
	Conrad reaches Earth. The Morphs have discovered his true identity and try to kill him. He takes a taxi to the Paradise Club, which conceals the Morphs' hideout. He spies on three Morphs through a ceiling vent. They discuss their plan to conquer Earth within hours. Conrad falls through the vent and is taken to a prison cell.
	The Secret Base of "Paradise"
	Conrad is captured, disarmed, and imprisoned by the Morphs, who intend to interrogate him later. He manages to escape and picks up a discarded alien gun. Exploring the facility, he discovers a teleporter, and uses it to transport himself to the Morphs' home planet.
	The Planet of Morphs 1
	On the alien homeworld, Conrad finds a human prisoner named Phillip Howard Clark. As he opens his prison, a Morph appears and executes Phillip. Dying, Phillip gives Conrad an Atomic Charge. Phillip's diary reveals he had planned to destroy the "Master Brain" that controls the aliens, located at the planet's core, but the "Auxiliary Brain" must be destroyed to open up the communication pathways to the Master Brain.
	The Planet of Morphs 2
	Conrad destroys the Auxiliary Brain and finds the Master Brain's pathway. As he arrives at a certain spot, he hears Phillip's voice, telling him that the atomic charge should be placed on a loose platform. After he does so, he throws a switch, awakening the brain to cause a tremor, which drops the charge towards the core. Conrad escapes to the hangar and takes a Morph's spacecraft out of the planet's atmosphere before it detonates. As he cannot navigate home, due to the Morphs' galaxy not being on any human star charts, he instead puts himself in suspended animation while his ship drifts into space.

Passwords

Main article: Flashback/Passwords.

History

Development

The game was originally developed for the Mega Drive, but it was released first for the Amiga. According to developer Paul Cuisset, "The best version for me is the Mega Drive version. The game was created for this platform."

Release

Reportedly, a European Mega-CD version was rejected by Sega, with the release being considered unviable for launch so long after the Mega Drive version.

Legacy

The game was followed by a 3D sequel, Fade to Black, an exclusive for the IBM PC and PlayStation which was also intended for release on the Sega Saturn but cancelled. Plans for a third game in the series called Flashback Legends was due for the Game Boy Advance, but was cancelled. Leaked prototypes show a significant amount of graphical and story changes that barely resemble the world built up in the previous titles.

A remake of the game was developed by VectorCell, a company formed by original developer Paul Cuisset. It was released in 2013 for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

JoshProd ported both Flashback and Fade to Black: Flashback 2 to the Dreamcast in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

In 2018, Microids re-released the game in both physical and digital formats as Flashback 25th Anniversary for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. These versions of the game include graphics filters, remastered audio, and a "rewind" feature for gameplay. Microids also released the game for Steam and GOG in 2018. The game was ported to the mobile platforms Android and iOS by SFL Interactive in 2019.

Versions

In addition to the Amiga, Mega Drive, and Mega-CD versions, the game was ported to many other contemporary platforms: the 3DO, Acorn Archimedes, Atari Jaguar, CD-i, IBM PC, FM Towns, Mac OS, PC-9801, and Super NES. The PC version was originally released on 3.5" floppy disk but later received a CD-ROM version based on the Mega-CD release.

The Sega versions of the game change the color of Conrad's shirt from red to white, presumably due to the more limited on-screen color palette.

Music only plays during specific cues in the Mega Drive version, but the Mega-CD version has a full, CD-quality soundtrack that plays during the entirety of each level. The Mega-CD version also uses voice acting for NPC dialogue and replaces the in-game cinematic cutscenes with pre-rendered full-motion video. It has different passwords. It is otherwise the same game. Other CD-ROM versions include the FMV sequences from the Mega-CD version but not the CD soundtrack or the in-game voice acting.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

The FlashBack Team is...

• Programmers: Benoist Aron, Philippe Chastel, Paul Cuisset, Frederic Savoir
• Graphic Artists: Patrick Daher, Thierry Levastre, Denis Mercier, Thierry Perreau, Christian Robert, Fabrice Visserot
• Hardware Engineer: Thierry Gaerthner
• Story: Paul Cuisset
• Level Design: Paul Cuisset, Patrick Daher, Denis Mercier, Frederic Savoir, Fabrice Visserot
• Music: Jean Baudlot, Fabrice Visserot
• Sound fx: Benoist Aron, Philippe Chastel, Paul Cuisset, Fabrice Visserot
• Actors: Benoist Aron, Patrick Daher, Thierry Levastre, Denis Mercier, Thierry Perreau, Christian Robert, Fabrice Visserot
• Video directors: Patrick Daher, Thierry Perreau, Fabrice Visserot
• Video Co-directors: Thierry Levastre, Denis Mercier, Christian Robert
• Video sfx: Paul Cuisset, Thierry Perreau, Fabrice Visserot
• Testers: Phil Bradley, Patricia Cuisset, Simon Hadlington, Daniel Llewellyn, Jean-Pierre Luck, Martin Smith
• Many thanks to...: Lori Christensen, Patricia Cuisset, Anne-Marie Joassim, Jean-Pierre Luck, Marc Minier
• Special Credits to...: Cross Products for the SNASM development system., Sega of America for GEMS sound tool.
• Directed by: Paul Cuisset
• Produced by: Delphine Software / US Gold

(c) MCMXCIII

Source:

In-game credits

Mega-CD version

Flashback SEGA-CD Team:

• Programmer: Benoist ARON
• 3-D Graphics: Denis MERCIER
• Additional 3-D Graphics: Thierry PERREAU
• Musics composed by: Fabrice VISSEROT, Jean BAUDLOT, Marc MINIER, Patrick SIGWALT
• Musics recorded & mixed by: Marc MINIER, Patrick SIGWALT
• Additional Engineering: François COUSIN
• In-Game Musics: Pierre-André ATHANE, Pascal PERINO
• Photo Director: Alain RAMOND
• Voices recorded & mixed by: Yves BOURVON
• Voices: Randall PRICE, Bruce BENINGTON-PORTER, Joe MAY, Cary GUY, Lori CHRISTENSEN, Olivier TOUSSAINT, Manone THUMIAH, Anne-Marie JOASSIM
• Testers: Dan LLEWELLYN, Jason SHELDON, Richard HOLDSWORTH, Brian SCHORR, Thomas MARX, Mike SCHMITT
• Art Director: Denis MERCIER
• Project Manager: Benoist ARON
• Directed by: Paul CUISSET
• Music digitally recorded and mixed at: DELPHINE Studios, PARIS.

Flashback GENESIS Team:

• Programmers: Benoist Aron, Philippe CHASTEL, Paul CUISSET, Frederic SAVOIR
• Graphic Artists: Patrick DAHER, Thierry LEVASTRE, Denis MERCIER, Thierry PERREAU, Christian ROBERT, Fabrice VISSEROT
• Hardware Engineer: Thierry GAERTHNER
• Story: Paul CUISSET
• Level Design: Paul CUISSET, Patrick DAHER, Denis MERCIER, Frederic SAVOIR, Fabrice VISSEROT
• Testers: Phil BRADLEY, Patricia CUISSET, Simon HADLINGTON, Daniel LLEWELLYN, Jean-Pierre LUCK, Martin SMITH

• Many Thanks to: Lori CHRISTENSEN, Patricia CUISSET, Anne-Marie JOASSIM, Jean-Pierre LUCK, Henri-Paul CARVALAT
• Supervised for U.S. Gold by: Stuart HIBBERT
• Produced by: Delphine Software International and U.S. Gold ©MCMXCIV

© MCMXCIV

Source:

In-game credits

---

• Product Manager: Peter Loeb
• Associate Product Manager: John Garner
• Product Specialist: Nemer Velasquez
• Manual Designed by: Carol Ann Hanshaw

Source:

US manual

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Magazine articles

Main article: Flashback/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Flashback/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 93 Sega Force Mega (UK) 93

	93
Based on 2 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 98 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 96 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 92 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 73 Consoles + (FR) 96 Cool Gamer (RU) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 94 Digitiser (UK) PAL 95 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 91 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 88 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 90 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6 (RU) 70 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 93 Game Power (IT) PAL 94 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 100 GamesMaster (UK) 94 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 92 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 94 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 60 Joypad (FR) 97 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 90 Mega (UK) PAL 94 Mega Action (UK) PAL 92 Megablast (DE) 79 Mega Force (FR) 97 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U 87 MegaTech (UK) PAL 95 Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U 93 Player One (FR) 96 Power Up! (UK) 92 Sega Magazin (DE) 85 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U 93 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 94 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 94 Sega Force (SE) 96 Sega Force (UK) PAL 93 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 84 Supergame (BR) 95 Supergame (BR) 90 Supersonic (FR) 93 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 86 User (GR) PAL 94

	91
Based on 42 reviews

Flashback

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart PCB

Mega Drive, FR
Manual

Mega Drive, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 75 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 83 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 50

	69
Based on 3 reviews

Flashback

Mega-CD, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 23a9616d MD5 111e1694facbe6879640ccf83040cd20 SHA-1 bce40031f6adab48670c8a2d73e42f3a3dcba97c	1.5MB	1993-01-20	Cartridge (US)
✔	CRC32 33cd2b65 MD5 55977f8786715847ba2061708e49beeb SHA-1 225b405274d39541e07488fdd33de8f854624bf1	1.5MB	1993-01	Cartridge (US)
✔	CRC32 6f311c83 MD5 cef0031bd4612df7d4eac6bd71f7648d SHA-1 31372b2c056eacb747de0a706de3899d224f2c92	1.5MB	1993-01-20	Cartridge (EU)
✔	CRC32 b790e3b4 MD5 9a445d5b0d1cd873ce743743b8faec31 SHA-1 5082180974a125b5f9c01c96410c0fdbfb707d2b	1.5MB	1993-01-20	Cartridge (JP)
✔	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	565,086,816	1994-07	CD-ROM (US)	4448
?	CRC32 82095cb6 MD5 048c86fc053b8e3231d1644d744206b4 SHA-1 3c0b25e090d0c1167714e1a7346a289ffb808b49	2MB	1992-09-18	EPROM cartridge				Page

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Flashback

Flashback games for Sega systems
	Flashback (1993)
	Flashback (1994) | Morphs: Flashback 2 (unreleased)
	Fade to Black (unreleased)
	Flashback (2017) | Fade to Black (2018)