Flashback 2

Big fan of the original Flashback, Out of this World, Fade To Black. Loved these games as a kid. So it is with some reluctance that I have to give this a 'not recommended' unless you are a major fan of the series... and honestly probably not worth it even then. Whats good; The levels are beautiful, not the layout (thats kinda 'meh') but the artstyle is very good at setting an atmosphere. The missions are a grab bag of seeminly random ideas, pulled from a hat then blended together. Worse, they make no sense. To stay spoiler free, I'll stick to one that you get within the first 15 min of the game. A wealthy Gang Boss type tells you he wants you to buy a mecha and defeat his nemesis in an area battle. So you are sent to a temp job agency to earn 1000 credits to buy this mecha. The rich crime boss, doesn't simply give you one. Or put you into one of the many he owns. No you have to buy it, by playing delivery boy. Now perhaps 1000 credits is alot... no a 'top of the line' fake Id is advertised as being 5000 (maybe 50,000... I didn't care to remember). And a basement dwelling rebel group simply hands you one of those, a short while later. This isn't the best example of the 'wtf plot' issues, but its the best I can think of thats Spoiler free. It also brings us into what I consider to be the major issue with the game. The Story; Again without spoilers its hard to really get into specifics. Suffice to say, it's bad. I am not even talking 'cheap video game' bad. I mean like, "I've seen better written and more engaging stories while browsing amateur Fan-Fic bad". I don't kow if something happened during development but the story plays like it was supposed to be this long, complex story (frankly not something the series is known for), thats had large sections cut out of it. The gameplay is 'ok' for janky, low grade indy type games, and would probably be easy enough to overlook IF the game A) didn't have history & B) Had a story worth following. The only thing this game has going for it is the levels atmosphere. Everything else is middling at best. The story - garbage. Plot is full of holes, dropped threads, go no where points and pointless additions. V/O work - ranges from ok to 'meh' (not that they had much to work with. Level design - Artistically fantastic, funtionally bland and or confusing depending on the level. Music - Surprisingly ok. Character art - If I had to guess I would say its A.I generated, but I don't know for sure. The 'Travel' bike system is clearly added as a nod to previous games, it's fun for the first 5 min. Gets old by the first 15 min, but thats ok as it's never used again. The game also doesn't have MTX, DLC. Pre-order BS (at least now when I purchased and played it). It is also blessedly free of any kind of real-world socio-political messaging and lacks any 'Modern Audiance' BS ... truthfully it lacks appeal to any audiance so not sure if I can call this a point in favor. Last thing is the price. If you are going to punish yourself and decide to purchase this game look around and see if you can get it on discount. I purchased it for $5-10 which is probably about $12 more than its worth. The base $49.99 asking price (At least that's its base price for me) is probably the most (and only) humerous think about the whole 'Flashback 2' experience. It is NOT a good game.

I gave this game a chance after getting it in a bundle... But oh god... Poor colision, bad performances, etc... It feels like a bunch of students made an unfinished project that needed to be aptched later one but never got corrected because there was no wya to fix it properly. If you like flashback, get the classic one, also... Technically this game is flash back 3 cause the second game is called fade to black... ANIWAY. Avoid this game.

If you're someone who values mood and atmosphere over pure gameplay mechanics, Flashback 2 might just hit the sweet spot. Like its predecessor, it leans heavily into its sci-fi noir aesthetic, crafting a world that feels immersive, mysterious, and distinctly retro-futuristic. The environments are drenched in atmosphere, with neon-lit cityscapes and shadowy corridors that evoke the same sense of isolation and intrigue that made the original Flashback a cult classic. Released in 1992, the first Flashback was a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software, often praised for its rotoscope animation, deep story, and immersive world-building. It followed Conrad B. Hart, an agent who uncovers a plot involving alien shapeshifters and memory loss. The game was ahead of its time, blending action, puzzle-solving, and storytelling in a way that felt revolutionary. Flashback 2 picks up the torch with reverence. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and that’s part of its charm. There’s enough fan service to satisfy longtime fans—familiar characters, callbacks, and thematic continuity—but it never feels like it’s pandering. Instead, it builds on the original’s legacy with updated visuals and a more modern presentation, while keeping the soul intact. The plot? It’s convoluted. But that’s not a complaint. If you enjoy layered narratives with twists, shadowy conspiracies, and a bit of ambiguity, Flashback 2 delivers. It doesn’t spoon-feed the story, and that’s part of the appeal. You’re meant to piece things together, to feel a little lost, just like Conrad himself. Gameplay-wise, it’s not always the smoothest ride. Controls can feel stiff at times, and some mechanics might frustrate players looking for tight, responsive action. But if you’re here for the vibe, the story, and the nostalgia, those shortcomings are easy to forgive.

Loved the first Flashback. This one has so many flaws. The biggest are gameplay and story/dialog. Quite core parts of the game. There are a number of bugs, so far nothing game breaking. And so many logical issues. Why is there a medkit inside a prisson cell? Why are explosive mortar rounds spawning next to walls I need to break?

Simply put: [b]no[/b]. [i]Flashback 2[/i] is a completely unnecessary sequel that brings absolutely nothing new and borders dangerously on cash grab. Buy the remastered version of the original '92 game on Steam or play one of the many indie games inspired by the classic. [b]Good:[/b] [list] [*]Scenery - The rich 3D backgrounds are probably the best element of the game. Lots of detail, perhaps a bit too colorful, but definitely pleasing to the eye. It's no wonder the trailers look very inviting - they're shot from a distance. [*]Some lore - If you're curious about the background of Flashback and can stomach skipping existing lore, you can find a lot of information about the in-game world. The quality varies, but there are some interesting ones, such as the expansion of the mutant story on Titan. [*]Major update - the developers, overwhelmed by the wave of criticism, made a commendable attempt to "fix" their work. A major patch overhauled the mechanics, which slightly improves the game. [/list] [b]Bad:[/b] [list] [*]Story - you'll find one of the messiest storylines in video games here. Events make no sense, character actions lack any logic, and the entire story is some bizarre fanfiction blending storylines from the original [i]Flashback[/i] and [i]Fade to Black[/i]. Magical artifacts, ancient aliens, sentient trees, a multiverse... The main character is Conrad again. Or his clone. Or an alien. Or an entity from another dimension. Morphs are evil. And good. The game's story is a sequel. And a prequel. And a sidequel. Literally no one knows what's going on here, and the whole thing hurts like jumping into the New Washington pit without an anti-gravity belt. [*]Mechanics - The game is a hybrid between a 2.5D platformer and a full 3D dual-stick shooter. The mix is ​​very heavy and clunky. You can only jump in predefined locations. The main character often bumps into obstacles or walls, as the developers decided that having to navigate in three dimensions with a side-on camera and a partially obscured view provides "even deeper immersion". And aiming at enemies off-screen is a hallmark of an "intricate action-shooter." The animations are choppy and worse than in a game from 30 years ago. The combat controls are absolutely terrible (pre-patch) or bizarre (post-patch). The game tries to convince you to complete some sections in stealth mode, but it's much easier and faster to just shoot everyone. Instead of the pseudo-realistic cinematic experience of the original, here we have an arcade-style shooter (there are even health packs and temporary weapon power-ups...). [*]2D graphics - while the 3D elements are nice or simply adequate, the 2D assets are atrocious. Generated cheaply using some AI tool in the style of Asian mobile games, lacking any taste or artistic direction - especially in the case of the avatars. Conrad has a completely different face in different shots because the AI ​​can't maintain consistency. After another stunning image, you'll want to wipe your memory and send it to a friend for safekeeping. [*]Optimization - regardless of your hardware, the game will stutter and experience frame drops. The game is from 2023, and we have a mere THREE graphical options to choose from (level of detail, DLSS, and dynamic resolution – that's all). [*]Forced humor - the game has a certain humorous approach to itself, which isn't a bad thing, but the whole thing falls into a kind of parody. The main character never. shuts.up. and cracks stale jokes. Nobody takes anything seriously, which calls into question the attempts to build tension and threat. The game repeatedly makes a joke about Conrad's underage status – apparently in a distant dystopian future, age is an obstacle to ordering a drink, but not to getting hired as an assassin. The world is on the brink of invasion, but let's take a moment to laugh at Conrad's high school crushes. Welcome to [i]Flashback - High School Musical Special[/i]. [/list] It's high time to accept the fact that the franchise should either pass into new hands or remain a classic. You may disagree with me, but it's hard to disagree with the market - and the "original creators" of [i]Flashback[/i] have already bankrupted two development companies.

It runs even worse than Cyberjunk did at launch. Im talking about the lowest settings too. Truly shameful.

A STUTTERING MESS even on a 5090 as of September 25. Bought in the sale and I'm refunding. If its still a stuttering mess at 180fps on a 5090 I dread to think what it's like on lower end graphics cards.

Awesome Sci-Fi adventure! Very nice! For anyone having stuttering in this game, adding this line: -window-mode exclusive in the game´s Launch Options fixed it for me.

Flashback 2 arrives with the weight of a legacy behind it, aiming to revive one of the most influential cinematic platformers of the 1990s. The original Flashback was remembered for its fluid animation, clever design, and gripping sci-fi intrigue. Flashback 2 seeks to rekindle that spark by bringing Conrad B. Hart back into the spotlight, wrapped in a modern presentation and expanded 2.5D gameplay. On paper, this continuation of the Morph invasion storyline sounds like a fitting resurrection of a classic. In practice, however, the game struggles to balance nostalgia with contemporary expectations, resulting in an experience that frequently feels unpolished and unfocused. From the beginning, the game tries to immerse players in a dense cyberpunk universe filled with neon-soaked cities, alien threats, and technological conspiracies. Visually, Flashback 2 occasionally captures the atmosphere it strives for. The futuristic hubs and off-world environments hint at the rich worldbuilding the franchise once excelled at. There are brief moments—riding a hoverbike through glowing city streets, or navigating the overgrown bio-tech jungles—where the game brushes against the cinematic flair that made its predecessor a classic. These glimpses of potential give the impression of a world that could have been compelling, if the rest of the experience had been executed with the same attention to detail. Gameplay, unfortunately, is where Flashback 2 falters most. The shift toward a pseudo-3D structure brings with it numerous control, camera, and collision issues. Combat feels loose and unresponsive, with awkward aiming and repetitive encounters that lack the tactical tension of the original game’s methodical pacing. The platforming, once a hallmark of the series, now suffers from imprecision that makes navigation frustrating rather than satisfying. Whether you are battling Morph creatures or maneuvering across platforms, the game often works against the player through inconsistent physics, clumsy enemy behavior, and unreliable environmental interactions. Technical issues further undermine the experience. Performance hiccups, erratic framerates, and bugs ranging from cosmetic glitches to progression-blocking problems appear throughout the campaign. Characters may clip through scenery, events may fail to trigger, and environments sometimes load incorrectly. These problems chip away at immersion and make the overall production feel unfinished, especially considering the pedigree of the franchise. Even when the game attempts to guide the player strongly through markers and hints, the overabundance of direction comes across as compensating for unclear design rather than enhancing accessibility. Narratively, Flashback 2 situates itself as a continuation and expansion of the original story, with Conrad once again facing the Morph threat while dealing with personal stakes tied to missing allies and new antagonists. The plot contains hints of classic pulp sci-fi charm, but it rarely digs deeply into its themes or characters. Dialogue often feels thin, emotional moments arrive abruptly, and much of the story unfolds without the dramatic build-up needed to make it impactful. Fans hoping for a richly written return to Conrad’s world may find the experience serviceable at best and underwhelming at worst. The pacing reflects the game’s broader inconsistencies. While the campaign is relatively short, it can feel padded by repetitive combat or backtracking caused by unclear objectives. On the other hand, players seeking exploration or depth will find the game too linear and restrictive. As a result, the experience lands in an uncomfortable midpoint: too guided for adventurous players, yet too erratic for those who want a smooth, polished ride from start to finish. Despite its shortcomings, Flashback 2 is not without merit. For long-time fans of the franchise, there is a certain appeal in revisiting Conrad Hart’s world, seeing familiar elements reimagined, and catching the occasional glimpse of what made the series special. However, these moments are fleeting, overshadowed by flaws in design, performance, and execution that make it difficult to recommend at full price. The game feels like a passion project striving to honor its roots but hampered by production issues that prevent it from realizing its ambitions. In the end, Flashback 2 stands as a reminder of how challenging it is to revive a beloved classic. While the intention is admirable and the vision occasionally shines through, the final product lacks the cohesion and refinement needed to live up to the legacy it inherits. For those curious about the continuation of the Flashback narrative, the game may still offer value—particularly after patches or at a discounted price. For everyone else, especially those who hold the original in high regard, it is best approached with cautious expectations. Rating: 5/10

Не смотря на плохие отзывы, скажу так - мне игра понравилась. Да, управление там страдает и иногда бывают застревания в текстурах (у меня это было один раз за игру). Но это не доказывает мне, что я ее зря купил. Вовсе не зря. Я получил удовольствие от игры.