Flashback: The Quest for Identity

Doesn't anyone remember this game? Paddy and I sat up late looking up gameplay videos of this 16 bit gem and I'd forgotten how fantastic it looks. It was one of the first games I'd played with a truly fluid style of animation, reminiscent of a Prince of Persia. The rotoscope sounds old-timey, but I guess when you apply it to exciting new 16-bit technology it approaches a new level of adventure (check out Paul Rudd in this SNES commercial to get a feel for the type of excitement I'm talking about):



Level design and detail is unparalleled here, I believe this game was ahead of its time. The gameplay reminds me of Oddworld when I think of it, but the whole cyberpunk dystopian future theme acts as a better backdrop if you ask me.



You're Conrad Hart, some sort of intergalactic agent whose girlfriend is kidnapped or some shit, you're escaping from somewhere, you get shot down off your speeder bike, you land on an Earth-like planet, and then you're given control. Despite having a button to draw and sheath your weapon (a feature I never really had any love for in any game except when it applied to Mitsurigi in Soul Calibur 2), the gameplay is rewarding. It really makes me miss having my Genesis around. At least to play the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Game.

Flashback's predecessor was called "Out of This World", a game I played only after I'd fully cracked out on Flashback. It's equally impressive, with realistic cutscenes and thoughtful puzzle action. I'm dreaming of a day when we can all play these games, free from fear of copyright details or technical issues, whenever and wherever we want. Maybe on this very website. I'm talking about convenience. In the same way that you can wake up with a song in your head, turn on your computer, and immediately hear that song, whether you own it or not, these games should be out there. Wait. All those things are possible? Oh.


Check out the graphics on this leg wound from "Out
of This World." Stunning!

I give Flashback: The Quest for Identity a "Tits" out of "Toucher".