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
Official in-game languages:

Sega Mega Drive
  • English
  • Français
  • 日本語
    • Sega Mega-CD
  • English
    • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    JP     		¥8,0008,000 T-15083
    Sega Mega Drive
    US     		$64.9564.95[2] T-79066
    Sega Mega Drive
    EU     		79066-50
    Sega Mega Drive
    AU
    Sega Mega Drive
    BR     		045070
    Sega Mega-CD
    US     		4448

    This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

    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 International 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, IBM PC, FM Towns, iPhone OS, Mac OS, PC-9801, and Super NES. 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 and was released for Dreamcast in 2018 as Fade to Black: Flashback 2. 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.

    JoshProd released a new version for the Sega Dreamcast in 2017.

    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


    Source:
    In-game credits


    Source:
    US manual
    Error creating thumbnail: /bin/bash: line 1: 1699003 Done '/usr/bin/gs' '-sDEVICE=jpeg' '-sOutputFile=-' '-dFirstPage=1' '-dLastPage=1' '-dSAFER' '-r150' '-dBATCH' '-dNOPAUSE' '-q' '/home/sonicret/domains/segaretro.org/public_html/images/a/a5/Flashback_mcd_us_manual.pdf' 1699004 Segmentation fault | '/usr/bin/convert' '-depth' '8' '-quality' '95' '-resize' '2197' '-' '/home/sonicret/domains/segaretro.org/public_html/images/temp/transform_997dd57dd85a.jpg'
    [7]

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Flashback/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Flashback MD US PrintAdvert.jpg
    Mega Drive US print advert 2
    Flashback MD US PrintAdvert.jpg
    Flashback MCD US PrintAdvert.jpg
    Mega-CD US print advert
    Flashback MCD US PrintAdvert.jpg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #43: "February 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #44: "March 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in GamePro (US) #48: "July 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Mega Drive print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #57: "April 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Mega Drive print advert in Sega Magazine (UK) #2: "February 1994" (1994-01-10)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #14: "Junio 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Megazone (AU) #28: "June 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Physical scans

    Mega Drive version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    92 №9/93, p137[13]
    73 №1994-01, p24[14]
    84 №, p83[15]
    96 №18, p56-60[16]
    94 №138, p34-37[17]
    93 №1, p46[18]
    94 №19, p39-41
    100 №43, p36-37[19]
    93 №7, p78
    94 №19
    60 №1994-01, p40
    97 №18, p72-75[20]
    90 №10, p14-17
    94 №9, p52-53
    92 №2, p22-23
    97 №15, p94-98[21]
    93 №7, p16-20[22]
    96 №29, p64-67[23]
    93 №43, p32-35
    94 №20, p42-43
    94 №8, p36-39
    93 №1, p89[24]
    96 №4/93, p6-7[25]
    93 №18, p32-35[26]
    95 №21, p6-7[27]
    90 №22, p20-23[28]
    93 №8, p10-11
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 92
    Based on
    27 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    98
    		[29]
    Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
    96
    		[30]
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    92
    		[13]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    73
    		[31]
    Consoles + (FR)
    96
    		[32]
    Cool Gamer (RU)
    90
    		[33]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    94
    		[17]
    Digitiser (UK) PAL
    95
    		[34]
    Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
    91
    		[35]
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    88
    		[36]
    Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
    90
    		[37]
    Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6 (RU)
    70
    		[38]
    Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
    93
    		[18]
    Game Power (IT) PAL
    94
    		[39]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    100
    		[19]
    GamesMaster (UK)
    94
    		[40]
    Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
    92
    		[41]
    Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
    94
    		[42]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    60
    		[43]
    Joypad (FR)
    97
    		[44]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
    90
    		[45]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    94
    		[46]
    Mega Action (UK) PAL
    92
    		[47]
    Megablast (DE)
    79
    		[48]
    Mega Force (FR)
    97
    		[49]
    Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
    87
    		[50]
    MegaTech (UK) PAL
    95
    		[51]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
    93
    		[52]
    Player One (FR)
    96
    		[53]
    Power Up! (UK)
    92
    		[54]
    Sega Magazin (DE)
    85
    		[5]
    Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
    93
    		[55]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    94
    		[56]
    Sega Zone (UK) PAL
    94
    		[57]
    Sega Force (SE)
    96
    		[25]
    Sega Force (UK) PAL
    93
    		[26]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    84
    		[58]
    Supergame (BR)
    95
    		[59]
    Supergame (BR)
    90
    		[28]
    Supersonic (FR)
    93
    		[60]
    Tricks 16 bit (RU)
    86
    		[61]
    User (GR) PAL
    94
    		[62]
    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

    Flashback MD FR Manual.pdf
    Manual

    Mega-CD version

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    75 №65, p44/164[63]
    83 №66, p44[64]
    60 №4, p93[65]
    Sega Mega-CD
    		 73
    Based on
    3 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    75
    		[63]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    83
    		[64]
    Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
    50
    		[65]
    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

    1. ↑ File:EGM US 043.pdf, page 69
    2. ↑ File:VG&CE US 50.pdf, page 32
    3. ↑ File:Mega UK 16.pdf, page 26
    4. ↑ File:CVG UK 156.pdf, page 71
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:SegaMagazin DE 01.pdf, page 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaMagazin DE 01.pdf_p66" defined multiple times with different content
    6. ↑ File:GamePlayers US 0710.pdf, page 12
    7. ↑ File:Flashback mcd us manual.pdf, page 30
    8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 22
    9. ↑ GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 124
    10. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 52
    11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 159
    12. ↑ Megazone, "July 1993" (AU; 1993-0x-xx), page 96
    13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 File:ASM DE 1993-09.pdf, page 139 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ASM DE 1993-09.pdf_p139" defined multiple times with different content
    14. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1994-01.pdf, page 26
    15. ↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85
    16. ↑ File:ConsolesPlus FR 018.pdf, page 60
    17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 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
    18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
    19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 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
    20. ↑ File:Joypad FR 018.pdf, page 75
    21. ↑ File:MegaForce FR 15.pdf, page 98
    22. ↑ File:MeanMachinesSega07UK.pdf, page 16
    23. ↑ File:PlayerOne FR 029.pdf, page 60
    24. ↑ File:SegaForceMega UK 01.pdf, page 89
    25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 File:SegaForce SE 1993 04.pdf, page 6 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce SE 1993 04.pdf_p6" defined multiple times with different content
    26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 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
    27. ↑ File:Supergame BR 21.pdf, page 7
    28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 File:Supergame BR 22.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 22.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
    29. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 82
    30. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 72
    31. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-08), page 26
    32. ↑ Consoles +, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 56
    33. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 86
    34. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-05-21)
    35. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 63
    36. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 24
    37. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 41
    38. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 6, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 24
    39. ↑ Game Power, "Luigio/Agosto 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 41
    40. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 2, episode 9" (1992-11-26, 24:00) (+6:48)
    41. ↑ Game Informer, "March/April 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 6
    42. ↑ Game Informer, "May 1998" (US; 1998-0x-xx), page 66
    43. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-03), page 40
    44. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 72
    45. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-04-29), page 14
    46. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 52
    47. ↑ Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 22
    48. ↑ Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 40
    49. ↑ Mega Force, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 94
    50. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/93" (DE; 1993-05-19), page 26
    51. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-23), page 56
    52. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 18
    53. ↑ Player One, "Mars/Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-03-10), page 64
    54. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, June 05, 1993" (UK; 1993-06-05), page 1
    55. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-06), page 32
    56. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 42
    57. ↑ Sega Zone, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-xx), page 36
    58. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
    59. ↑ Supergame, "Abril 1993" (BR; 1993-04-xx), page 6
    60. ↑ Supersonic, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 10
    61. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 14
    62. ↑ User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 26
    63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 File:EGM US 065.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 065.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
    64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 File:GamePro US 066.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 066.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content
    65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 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
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