Game:

Flashback (1992)

Duration: 0:00

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This is one of those legendary titles that we owned essentially, since it was a very cinematic experience while telling a story. Without the manual that includes a comic book at the start that sets the stage, you really are thrown into the deep end where you are literally about as clueless as the protagonist to what's going on as indicated by when you pick up the holocube, which is placed in a spot where you have to get it or else it keeps a door shut until you get it, that you learn you've lost your memories and need to try and get them back.

For comparison, this game is effectively Prince of Persia with guns, and a superior version of Another World/Out of This World depending upon where you're from and the specific console you got it. Conrad controls extensively better than either protagonist as while his movements are locked to a grid, where specific movements move him select number of tiles, once you really master these movements you can really maneuver around the levels in stylish and cinematic ways.

Which is what I aimed to do while playing on Expert difficulty, using his movesets to the fullest. What Expert difficulty does is three things. It increases how many points you get, how many enemies are in the areas, and enemies who actually have health get a health increase. Those who only have 1 health stay one health. So the stage one enemies aren't any tougher as much as they are a smidge more numerous.

Nothing else changes after that. The first stage is very much a playground, with the first couple screens designed for you to practice your skills. To this extent, Conrad's memory loss, depending upon how well you play, uses the trope of where he may not remember who he is, but his skills certainly weren't lost.

So yeah, we're a bit lost as to where we are exactly. Clearly a jungle somewhere, but we learn in stage two after meeting Ian, we're not on Earth anymore. Not only were we abducted and had our memories wiped, we got moved to an entirely different planet, and have to work to get back to Earth. And stage 2, well I'll talk about stage 2 in the next part.