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Let's Play

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Here is my full playthrough of Flashback on Normal difficulty done live on IGTV

Follow me on instagram @CabinSNES_fever to join me live or via my reviews and uploads to witness me take down all the games currently in my SNES colleciton, following on from having already beaten all 234 licenced UK releases for the NES. I only use original carts, no cheats & no save states.

REVIEW:
-While Delphine's first puzzle adventure; Another World is unquestionably a masterpiece for its era, I doubt many would argue that the teams 2nd offering; Flashback, is a monumental leap forward in game design & story telling which frankly is still highly enjoyable today, boasting inventive gameplay, endearing combat & a beautiful artstyle that effortlessly encaptures the futuristic Cyberpunk setting it portrays.

The essence of Another World is captured nicely, but Flashback feels it's own game in every way, staying true to the action puzzle setting of its predecessor, while improving almost everything. One ghost it hasnt shaken from its past is the painful hardware slowdown! Unfair to blame Delphine for the crippling of Another World since the game was designed for an Amiga, but it's a shame to see the sequel suffer once again given the addition of hindsight to work with. Flashback is nowhere near the handicap of before, but it's still frustrating to see gameplay slow to a snail's pace with each new additional moving sprite on screen. It certainly adds to the nightmare Merry-go-Round that makes up the control!

Jumping; Hold a button, push a direction, simple right? So why did Delphine screw it up so badly? Let me explain:
To Jump Up = Hold Up.
Jump forward = Jump then hold Up (UP TO GO FORWARD!!!)
Running Jump = Run & hold forward, then hold Up!
High Jump = Run & hold forward then let go of forward?

Any of that make logical sense? Didnt think so, the gun mechanics can be equally frustrating too, especially when the slowdown really kicks in.

Thankfully what the game does well in story & artstyle, is enough to keep you just enough in love with it to forgive it's more frustrating aspects

General difficutly & puzzle solving seems more relaxed than Another World, which is good given the game demands you to complete very long segments before awarding a password. Save stations do exist but only act as temporary checkpoints lost when the system is powered off. Thankfully enemies stay dead so returning to previous save & shield stations is advised!

A wonderful & highly original game that could have perfect with some control tweaks.