SFL Games has created something really special with their new mobile version of the legendary 1992 sci-fi platformer, Flashback. The environments, music, and overall quality of the game paid perfect homage to the original work. That being said, there were definitely some aspects of the original game that were lost or harmed by the crossover onto a mobile device.
The player is dropped into the year 2142 in the role of a young scientist named Conrad B. Hart with a severe case of amnesia. The player must then navigate the perilous environment of Saturn’s now-colonized moon of Titan. With cutthroats and environmental dangers nipping at his heels along every stretch of his journey, Conrad must work to unravel an alien plot that jeopardizes the fate of everyone on Earth.
In the player’s efforts to uncover what is really going on in their surrounding environment, they must use a variety of tools in their inventory such as holocubes (devices that hold messages and clues from Conrad in the past that are meant to aid his future self in solving the mystery), a shield, and his gun. One thing that particularly stood out to me upon playing Flashback was the mechanics behind the movement. Running, jumping, climbing down from ledges, slowing down from a sprint, and shooting motions were all incredibly realistic. Examples of this being that if Conrad is sprinting in one direction and the player makes him stop suddenly or turn directions, his body changes stance and he slides a little bit as he decelerates or turns around. I also thought it was a nice touch that Conrad moves differently when he has his weapon drawn. Instead of moving as he normally does, when Conrad’s pistol is out, he shimmies slowly from side-to-side while pointing the pistol up into the air and away from his body. This aspect of the game added a certain amount of realism that I would not have expected from a game originally made in 1992.
The biggest drawback of Flashback was the difficulty that seemed to be had when it came to developing the touch controls for the game. I found it incredibly difficult to make Conrad actually perform the task that I wanted at each time. There were so many different controls involving tapping, holding, and swiping that it took me forever to progress through each level until I eventually just grew so frustrated that I had to put the game down and call it quits. This is an issue that can very easily be remedied by some updating of their touch-control technology, however, it is definitely a problem that needs to be addressed by SFL as soon as possible if they are to be able to sell this otherwise fantastic game.
Flashback does an excellent job of paying homage to one of the most influential games in history. Fans who played the 1992 version will certainly be delighted by this wonderful reboot of a game that revolutionized the “platformer” genre. I was certainly impressed by the game’s unique story, amazing mechanics, and nostalgic feel that gave a nod to video games of the past. Once SFL manages to fix the issues with the game’s touch mechanics so that it is just a tad easier to navigate, this will certainly be one of the best apps we’ll see in 2019
Check Out the Flashback Trailer:
FLASHBACK is available now in the App Store and Google Play.
I've been playing video games since I got a Playstation 2 when I was about 5 or 6 years old. The original Star Wars: Battlefront series and the Spyro series initially ignited my interest in gaming, but it wasn't until I got older that I truly appreciated the subtle details that make video games such a unique form of entertainment. My favorite type of video game would have to be any lengthy and plot-driven open world game, with my favorite games of all time being Batman: Arkham City, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Firewatch.
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