Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Get me Out of this WorldGenre: adventure - platform
Publisher: U.S. Gold
Year: 1993
System: Genesis
Gameplay Score: 2
Gameplay Notes:
Weird control scheme. Jumping is fine by pressing Up. A running jump must be done while holding Right or Left and A and then Up at the right moment. Meanwhile a standing leap forward is done by pressing Y and Up. This is all very not intuitive and leads to a ton of missed jumps. Why not just have a dedicated jump button like all other platformers ever made? Ah, because the Genesis controller only has three buttons. Stupid Genesis controller. The same deliberate movement of all the PoP clones. This one feels even more robotic and tank-like than the others. It's not all bad but since there's an emphasis on platforming rather than combat or puzzles I'd say the controls are not up to snuff for the game's design.
Level Design Score: 2
Level Design Notes:
Ok let's talk about this here game. I'm sure it has its fans but I, for one, hate the designs of the levels. It's like a western dev 101 master class of horrible platforms. Where are they? Where do the platforms begin? Where must I stand in order to reach them? Will a standing jump reach that platform or of I need a running jump? How do I activate the elevator? That answer to each of these questions is an emphatic "sorry, don't know". As you might expect, this makes the game just a bit annoying to play. Blackthorne was a bit better but also had NPCs standing around to drop subtle clues about what to do next. This game gives the player no help whatsoever. It's obtuse and confusing.
Theme Score: 2
Theme Notes:
No idea what's going on. I guess that's the whole point - you're an amnesiac with a gun trying to figure out who you are - but it's just not compelling.
Art Style Score: 4
Art Style Notes:
Remarkable animations and background artwork. Sprites are tiny though, and lack any details. They're faceless, for example. The cutscenes look great but run at about 5 FPS.
Audio Score: 1
Audio Notes:
Sounds are way too loud and repeat incessantly. No music. Instead there's a repeating track of jungle ambiance playing. Short musical segments are triggered by certain events or arriving at places on the map to create a cinematic feel, but I'm not feeling it. The world just feels empty. Super Metroid has the cinematic music segments but it also pairs of with an amazing score. C'mon guys
Overall Score: 42
Review ID: 924
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