Flashback

From Sega Retro

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Flashback Title.png

Flashback
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: U.S. Gold, Sunsoft (Japan)
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Genre: Action

















Release Date RRP Code

Flashback (フラッシュバック), known in the US as Flashback: The Quest for Identity, is a platform-action game for the Commodore Amiga developed by Delphine Software and published by U.S. Gold in 1992. Arguably Delphine Software's greatest work, it has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD, as well as 3DO, Acorn Archimedes, Atari Jaguar, CD-i, DOS, FM Towns, iPhone OS, Mac OS, NEC PC-9801, and SNES. CD-based versions tend to include full motion video cutscenes and an enhanced music soundtrack, but are essentially the same game.

In Flashback the player controls Conrad B. Hart, who having escaped from aliens finds himself in the jungles of Titan with his memory erased. He must recover his memory and save earth from an alien attack. The game is largely inspired by Prince of Persia, though has many notable improvements such as a weapon system. The game was well received due to its fluid animations and stealth-like gameplay.

The Sega versions of the game have one notable difference than other versions - Conrad wears a white shirt, presumably due to a more limited on-screen color palette.

The game was followed by a 3D sequel, Fade to Black, a PC and PlayStation exclusive which was also intended for release on the Sega Saturn. 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. As Delphine Software no longer exist, the chances of a new sequel are slim.

Production Credits

Mega Drive Version

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...: 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

Mega CD Version

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: Francois 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 MARXX, Mike SCHMITT
Art Director: Denis MERCIER
Project Manager: Benoist ARON
Directed by: Paul CUISSET
Music digitally recorded and mixed at: DELPIHNE 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

Promotional Material

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
96 №18, p56/57/58/59/60
94 №138, p34/35/36/37
94
93 №7, p78
97 №18, p72/73/74/75
90 №10, p14/15/16/17
94 №9, p52/53
92 №2, p22/23
97
93 №7, p16/17/18/19/20
96 №29, p64/65/66/67
96
93 №43, p32/33/34/35
94 №20, p42/43
94 №8, p36/37/38/39
93 №18, p32-35[1]
Sega Mega Drive
94
Based on
16 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
98
[2]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
96
[3]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
92
[4]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[5]
Consoles + (FR)
96
[6]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
94
[8]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
95
[9]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
91
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
88
[11]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
90
[12]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6 (RU)
70
[13]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
93
[14]
Game Power (IT) PAL
94
[15]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[16]
GamesMaster (UK)
94
[17]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
92
[18]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
94
[19]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[20]
Joypad (FR)
97
[21]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
90
[22]
Mega (UK) PAL
94
[23]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
92
[24]
Megablast (DE)
79
[25]
Mega Force (FR)
97
[26]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
87
[27]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
95
[28]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
93
[29]
Player One (FR)
96
[30]
Power Up! (UK)
92
[31]
Sega Magazin (DE)
85
[32]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
93
[33]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
94
[34]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
94
[35]
Sega Force (SE)
96
[36]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
93
[37]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
84
[38]
Supergame (BR)
95
[39]
Supergame (BR)
90
[40]
Supersonic (FR)
93
[41]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
86
[42]
User (GR) PAL
94
[43]
Sega Mega Drive
91
Based on
42 reviews

Flashback

Mega Drive, US
Flashback MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Flashback MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Flashback MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Flashback MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Flashback md jp cover.jpg
Cover
Flashback md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Flashback md br cover.jpg
Cover
Flashback MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Flashback md br manual.pdf
Manual

Mega CD Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Sega Mega-CD
Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[44]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[45]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[46]
Sega Mega-CD
69
Based on
3 reviews

Flashback

Mega-CD, US
Flashback MCD US Box Back.jpgFlashback MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Flashback mcd us disc.jpg
Disc
Flashback mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
  1. File:SegaForce18UK.pdf, page 32
  2. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 82
  3. Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
  4. Aktueller Software Markt, "September 1993" (DE; 1993-08-09), page 139
  5. Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-08), page 26
  6. Consoles +, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 56
  7. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 86
  8. Computer & Video Games, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-15), page 34
  9. Digitiser (UK) (1993-05-21)
  10. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 63
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 24
  12. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 41
  13. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 24
  14. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 46
  15. Game Power, "Luigio/Agosto 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 41
  16. GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 38
  17. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 2, episode 9" (1992-11-26, 24:00) (+6:48)
  18. Game Informer, "March/April 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 6
  19. Game Informer, "May 1998" (US; 1998-0x-xx), page 66
  20. Hippon Super, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-03), page 40
  21. Joypad, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 72
  22. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 14
  23. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 52
  24. Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 22
  25. Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 40
  26. Mega Force, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 94
  27. Mega Fun, "06/93" (DE; 1993-05-19), page 26
  28. MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 56
  29. Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 18
  30. Player One, "Mars/Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-03-10), page 64
  31. Power Up!, "Saturday, June 05, 1993" (UK; 1993-06-05), page 1
  32. Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 66
  33. Sega Power, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 32
  34. Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 42
  35. Sega Zone, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-xx), page 36
  36. Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 6
  37. Sega Force, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 32
  38. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  39. Supergame, "Abril 1993" (BR; 1993-04-xx), page 6
  40. Supergame, "Maio 1993" (BR; 1993-05-xx), page 20
  41. Supersonic, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 10
  42. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 14
  43. User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 26
  44. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  45. GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 68
  46. Next Generation, "April 1995" (US; 1995-03-21), page 95