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 (JP),
Sega Mega-CD
Sega
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
GEMS
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,0008,000 T-15083
Sega Mega Drive
US 		T-79066
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		79066-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
BR 		045070
Sega Mega-CD
US 		4448

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, 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.

Gameplay

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.

History

Legacy

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. A remake of the game developed by VectorCell was released in 2013.

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


Magazine articles

Main article: Flashback/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • Mega Drive US print advert 2

  • Mega-CD US print advert

  • 1993 05 - Flashback.jpg

    Mega Drive ES print advert 1

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #43: "February 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
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Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #44: "March 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in GamePro (US) #48: "July 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
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Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #57: "April 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
also published in:
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Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Sega Magazine (UK) #2: "February 1994" (1994-01-10)
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Print advert in Megazone (AU) #28: "June 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
also published in:
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
96 №18, p56-60
94 №138, p34-37[10]
94
100 №43, p36/37[11]
93 №7, p78
94 №19
97 №18, p72-75
90 №10, p14-17
94 №9, p52/53
92 №2, p22/23
97
93 №7, p16-20[12]
96 №29, p64-67[13]
96
93 №43, p32-35
94 №20, p42/43
94 №8, p36-39
93 №18, p32-35[14]
Sega Mega Drive
 94
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
98
[15]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
96
[16]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
92
[17]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[18]
Consoles + (FR)
96
[19]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[20]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
94
[10]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
95
[21]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
91
[22]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
88
[23]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
90
[24]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6 (RU)
70
[25]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
93
[26]
Game Power (IT) PAL
94
[27]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[11]
GamesMaster (UK)
94
[28]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
92
[29]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
94
[30]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[31]
Joypad (FR)
97
[32]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
90
[33]
Mega (UK) PAL
94
[34]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
92
[35]
Megablast (DE)
79
[36]
Mega Force (FR)
97
[37]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
87
[38]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
95
[39]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
93
[40]
Player One (FR)
96
[41]
Power Up! (UK)
92
[42]
Sega Magazin (DE)
85
[43]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
93
[44]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
94
[45]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
94
[46]
Sega Force (SE)
96
[47]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
93
[14]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
84
[48]
Supergame (BR)
95
[49]
Supergame (BR)
90
[50]
Supersonic (FR)
93
[51]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
86
[52]
User (GR) PAL
94
[53]
Sega Mega Drive
 91
Based on
42 reviews

Flashback

Mega Drive, US
Flashback MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Flashback MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Flashback MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
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 CartTop.jpg
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 Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, FR

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
75
60 №4, p93[54]
Sega Mega-CD
 68
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
75
[55]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[56]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
50
[54]
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

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 23a9616d
MD5 111e1694facbe6879640ccf83040cd20
SHA-1 bce40031f6adab48670c8a2d73e42f3a3dcba97c
1.5MB 1993-01-20 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 33cd2b65
MD5 55977f8786715847ba2061708e49beeb
SHA-1 225b405274d39541e07488fdd33de8f854624bf1
1.5MB 1993-01 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 6f311c83
MD5 cef0031bd4612df7d4eac6bd71f7648d
SHA-1 31372b2c056eacb747de0a706de3899d224f2c92
1.5MB 1993-01-20 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 b790e3b4
MD5 9a445d5b0d1cd873ce743743b8faec31
SHA-1 5082180974a125b5f9c01c96410c0fdbfb707d2b
1.5MB 1993-01-20 Cartridge (JP)

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Flashback
  1. ↑ File:EGM US 043.pdf, page 69
  2. ↑ File:Mega UK 16.pdf, page 26
  3. ↑ File:CVG UK 156.pdf, page 71
  4. ↑ File:GamePlayers US 0710.pdf, page 12
  5. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 22
  6. ↑ GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 124
  7. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 52
  8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 159
  9. ↑ Megazone, "July 1993" (AU; 1993-0x-xx), page 96
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:CVG UK 138.pdf, page 34 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 138.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:GamePro US 043.pdf, page 38 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 043.pdf_p38" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega07UK.pdf, page 16
  13. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 029.pdf, page 60
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf, page 32 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf_p32" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 82
  16. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
  17. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "September 1993" (DE; 1993-08-09), page 139
  18. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-08), page 26
  19. ↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 56
  20. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 86
  21. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-05-21)
  22. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 63
  23. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 24
  24. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 41
  25. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 24
  26. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 46
  27. ↑ Game Power, "Luigio/Agosto 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 41
  28. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 2, episode 9" (1992-11-26, 24:00) (+6:48)
  29. ↑ Game Informer, "March/April 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 6
  30. ↑ Game Informer, "May 1998" (US; 1998-0x-xx), page 66
  31. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-03), page 40
  32. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 72
  33. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 14
  34. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 52
  35. ↑ Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 22
  36. ↑ Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 40
  37. ↑ Mega Force, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 94
  38. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/93" (DE; 1993-05-19), page 26
  39. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 56
  40. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 18
  41. ↑ Player One, "Mars/Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-03-10), page 64
  42. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, June 05, 1993" (UK; 1993-06-05), page 1
  43. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 66
  44. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 32
  45. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 42
  46. ↑ Sega Zone, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-xx), page 36
  47. ↑ Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 6
  48. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  49. ↑ Supergame, "Abril 1993" (BR; 1993-04-xx), page 6
  50. ↑ Supergame, "Maio 1993" (BR; 1993-05-xx), page 20
  51. ↑ Supersonic, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 10
  52. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 14
  53. ↑ User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 26
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 File:NextGeneration US 04.pdf, page 95 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:NextGeneration US 04.pdf_p95" defined multiple times with different content
  55. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  56. ↑ GamePro, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 68
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