Mega Drive Longplay [308] Flashback: The Quest for identity

www.longplays.org
Played by: Mad-Matt
Genesis version recorded to compare with current snes longplay and maybe a future pc-dos and Amiga longplay. Played on Expert skill even though the game doesnt reward you for it. Some enemies really do take a while to kill and sometimes no effort at all. On the last level the slime monsters seem to be in hyper mode which messup my timing abit.
Ignoring the CD released versions, I will compare quickly the 4 main original releases. The gameplay , gfx and sfx are largely the same across all versions so I wont judge between them on that. The console versions have quit bad renditions of the music so that puts them in the bottom two, but the snes also suffers from major slowdown in parts. The Amiga version has the best music of the four, but the pc version sounds ok although notably with midi traits., however the dos version also has extended cut scenes.
Hard to say what the correct order of the top two is, but Im going with Amiga - DOS - Genesis - Snes. The music adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game and the Amiga just sounds a whole lot better than the rest. But the extra cuts scenes could put dos version in front. Genesis beats snes just because it sounds marginally better and doesnt slow down as much. -
Disclaimer: Most videos by World of Longplays use SaveStates!

[@rinaldblack]

This is one of the greatest games ever made.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

played it over and over and cant explain why, still iconic to me 20 years down the line!

[@martyg8137]

Yeah it doesn't get enough recognition.

[@notthesameman]

It is

[@paulorufalco]

goooood, goood times

[@DrunKao]

It's the retroscoping.

[@professorpene2395]

couldn't figure this game out as a kid, nor a teenager. finally beat it as an adult and no joke, it's hands down one of the most brilliant action/platform games ever made. this dude makes it looks so easy lol.

[@AJ_Deadshow]

I couldn't figure it out as a kid either, never tried it as a teen though. I want to try it now as an adult and see how it is! I won't even watch this walkthrough because otherwise I'll just know what to do and there won't be a challenge

[@fadheldjender1226]

Me too 😂

[@neil2905]

definitely one of the best games ever made. i was stuck on the last level for about 15 years.

[@fernandopaxeco7709]

papa smurf satan

[@landoc3761]

Lmaooooo so true

[@ludaheracles7201]

Lol

[@DnekarAtkinsonVeriusz]

This game has great music and sound.

[@rixubishi]

I remember the glitch in the game. If you faced a locked door, turned around, sprinted and turned back around as quickly as possible, you could run through the door. Made the last level very easy.

[@cardinalblues_1990]

I remember playing this on the genesis when I was 7, I didn't know where to go, no explanation where to go, I couldn't find the cube for the longest time lmao, and I just ended up shooting guys in the first level then quitting. Coming back to this game as an adult. I figured out what to do and man was it rewarding! I love games like this, that don't hold your hand the whole game.

[@FlexoShootFlexo]

It's difficult to explain to people how revolutionary this game was for its time. Great plot too (even if it is the game version of They Live)

[@FlexoShootFlexo]

@George Blabbermouth Have you seen the film? Have you played the game?

[@ncapone87]

And Total Recall mixed in a bit

[@MrSmokincodz]

This was part of my childhood. Back went you rented games from a store. Loved this one on my sega. I would pay extra to rent it for a extended period of time. Hope everyone is having a great day!

[@johnv7317]

I love of how they used classic Prince of Persia gameplay with a mix of Metroidvania for this game.

[@TheDayd111returns]

Looks like uncharted and tomb Raider were influenced by this game.

[@oome4323]

I would say Another World more than Prince of Persia but ok

[@VinnieInLA]

When I was in the 6th grade, one Friday night. My parents wanted to try this one Pizza Spot. While my pops was ordering, I noticed the owners son playing this game off to the side. While we waited for the pizza, I stood there... amazed by the story and graphic this game held. I eventually bought the game, most likely from bday money. And played it, still to this day, I will always remember how beautiful this game was. I thought this was a game that no one would ever remember. But seeing this post, after searching far and wide on what this game was called, it's still amazing as I remember. The sound track is one of the best as well. Memory Lane for sure

[@Don.1984]

This game's graphics were amazing for it's time. Especially considering, this was running on a 16-bit machine.

[@digiman76]

So many memories from the 90's with this game....a fascinating and magical game for me like a few others...

[@karajoe2822]

Flashback is a masterpiece until this days. A combination of a perfect sci-fi atmosphere plus stunning animation plus amazing story and game play. It’s a pity that sequel is a forgettable game.

[@tokenblack7983]

Dang didn't know there was one

[@feralperil]

the animation in this is super good. I remember my dad playing this for hours, could never get past the reactor part lol

[@stuarthough8440]

snusk u talking about where u hae to put the board cartridge in the generator before it explodes?

[@greveeen]

Bro I remember this game from my uncle playing it 😂. This game looks so good for its age, especially when every other game was cartoonish child games back then

[@luxbellator8659]

the story line of this game is incredible

[@curleed85]

When I was a kid, I wasn’t entirely sure of what was going on. But these days, I do - Conrad had his memory preserved since he knew the Morphs would wipe it, and they’d been on to him when Conrad saw Morphs disguised as humans with abnormal molecular densities are planning to destroy Earth.

[@ThrowedGenji]

This definitely is one of the greatest games ever. It feels like such a journey

[@liamMCR]

gameplay, music, atmosphere. This game is the best. I remember playing this as a kid in the mid 90's on my mega drive and it always had a lasting effect on me. Still play it to this day on the emulator. I never actually managed to complete it until 2010.

[@fortnitepros8025]

Liam B sa W here,it’s amazing how one particular game can have such a lasting effect. I never officially got past the first level as a primary school kid, but got the cheats and marvelled at how awesome the other levels and cutscenes were. 30 years later I got the game for the iPhone and I am equally impressed how awesome the game is and thankfully I now have the skills to progress😂 amazing how a game so old could still teach a few lessons to developers today!! A game I thankfully never forgot and stayed with me and still does.

[@thezog5640]

@@fortnitepros8025 Well, 4 me I completed it back then as a kid, but I gotta admit, I went through hell...

[@diegolemos6763]

Flashback and Another World (out of this world) wonderful games!

[@stuarthough8440]

diego lemos another world was a good game but it was too short flashback is better in my opinion

[@user-hj8lp8cp6j]

The best version of this game! God bless Mega Drive!

[@deg6788]

Amen

[@steveulinski98]

So many memories of this game from my childhood, nowadays I consider this a classic and this game reminds me of Blade Runner (mostly), Total Recall, They Live, 1984, Akira, and The Terminator

[@digiman76]

Same here...a true classic.. many many memories...

[@galacticgalaxyonezerone7235]

To me it’s it’s own thing. And that great.

[@greveeen]

This is actually the only serious game on an old console, majority of the games were basically child cartoonish games back then

[@MajorT0m]

A bit of The Running Man in there too!

[@steveulinski98]

@@MajorT0m yes Death Tower reminded me of The Running Man!

[@Em-su9lm]

Loved it, I remember back when I was...maybe 8 or 9 we had this game for our Mega Drive. And as we had no one able to understand English (yet) - aside from the general stuff like Jump, Run and Attack - the game was always mysterious, yet mesmerizing.

[@ulysses2162]

What country are you from then if you don't mind me asking? (6 years late I know, but I don't care, lol).

[@kanaziras]

@@ulysses2162 I am from Croatia and I had same "problem", I started to play when I was 3-4 years old (first on Commodore 64, then Amiga(s), and I could not understood most of games (language vise), so I had to fail try stuff 100 times before I get them right haha. I remember, most time consuming part of Flashback was those Africa, Asia, EU, USA parts, as they had most text, but as "Em", when I was 7,8,9,10, my English was 20 words, so I would just go to each continent 10 times, just random clicking stuff until I clicked EVERYTHING HAHAHAHA... -.-' :) but best gaming period of my life was Amiga times.

[@CescoManier]

Childhood! Nostalgia level 100%! Thanks for posting!

[@BlondeMcGuinn]

As a kid, I adored Flashback and Out of This World. Played them both last night and nothing’s changed lol. Great experiences.

[@WaffleAfterHours]

Wow, that's some nice animation

[@5daysastranger]

Exactly! Especially if you take into account the year this game was made!

[@Gwynarth]

I think they used the same technique that Jordan Mechner did on Prince of Persia. It is called rotoscoping.

[@TalkSickMass]

@@Gwynarth the cutscenes were also individual frames, which gave the smooth look.

[@yannickdupeyron8390]

Unforgettable Mega Drive game. Just awesome !

[@timjones990]

The animation in this game was outstanding, the character movement was unlike any other game at the time. I never completed it though.

[@MrZillas]

Prince of Persia? They used a very old technique for the animations.

[@imfsresidentotaku9699]

@@MrZillas But it had rarely been used for video games before, and such, Prince of Persia set the template for cinematic platformers. The OP even said, "the character movement was unlike any other *game* at the time."

[@DeathEgg666]

The memories from this are just surreal

[@Rizzawriter]

So many memories! Was and STILL is one of my favorite games of all time

[@Sagarderian]

The soundcard on sega so good. It beats the SNES version

[@davidpfol]

cant remember when i first finished this game, but somewhere between 1993 or 1994. This is seriously one of the best games in the vast catalog of the megadrive/genesis and I'd put it in a list of the top 100 games ever. Addictive like hell, a engaging story and from a technical standpoint flawless. I came to play the sequel, fade to black, 1996 if i recall well. Hours and hours of fun and joy, good memories. 25 years later I wouldn't have any problem to replay the game if I still had the console.

[@whoisyouranime]

24:33 "$1,500???" 😂 I don't know why but I always thought that was funny.

[@Vahid_Isaac]

This game is beyond time

[@KISSFan1977]

I still have my copy of this game and man was it amazing when it came out!

[@azzamatic4190]

This is the bizzaro 'Lester the unlikely' same type of platform, both have red hair, are nerds and both somehow ended up in a strange place

[@Grail_Quest]

I think you mean Lester Chaykin from Another World. Definitely not Lester the Unlikely. Lol You really don't want to compare Flashback to "Lester the Unlikely".

[@albertobocchio9337]

So many flashbacks watching Flashback. It seems I've plaied it just yesterday and it was 30 years ago

[@Xenysys]

Best version. Don't care how wrong I am. 10/10.

[@StivKobra]

The Remake of this game made it too easy. I remember struggling with the original even on easy mode, it always gave a great challenge.

[@stevec6228]

Brings back memories, i played this game a lot when i was kid, i had so much fun!! Good old days

[@CopiousDoinksLLC]

23:18 "What do I do here? I guess I walk over here and press the button- OH GODDAMNIT, wait, come back! Great. I guess I'll just wait for the next one. Christ, what an existence."

[@GuyFromRedBank]

The sequel, Fade to Black, seems to continue off where the first game ended.

[@jamiegough6947]

Loved this game - just hearing the sounds again has taken me back to my childhood ….

[@MrBerksboy]

1992, wow! that was a long time ago, but such a great, great game and soundtrack for it's time, even now I play it on my pc using an emulator, it has such a charm to it, thanks for doing this.

[@TheFartsandCrapsShow]

It's a shame more games aren't made like this any more. Thanks for the helpful upload, WoL!

[@kirkstmoritz4762]

Used to play this game for hours, I remember it had a glitch where you, came across a locked door or even a solid wall, you could press something then run straight through it, like a ghost

[@guillaumeromatif7994]

Bon gameplay ! Hypnotic ! Je redécouvre cette pépite de jeux .

[@SORKTAG1]

Flashback right now in my mind oh jesus long time...this game was so cool i will remembered for all my gamerlife

[@greendogg83]

I fuckin loved this game

[@darkchocolate3009]

I completed this game as a teenager, writing the codes down. I was dedicated to completing this game. When I finally finished I was so proud.

[@KillingDeadThings]

I still boot this game up on Gens Plus just to listen to the music xD and I remember most of the level Codes.

[@dermothealy772]

I got this for my 13th birthday (along with Alien 3 on vhs). Got to play it for 15 mins before having to go to school. Literally couldnt stop thinking about it all day until i got back home to play it again.

[@mossypaw]

I was extremely obsessed with an fascinated by this game as a kid. For some reason the atmosphere was just so intriguing to me. And it got rly hard towards the end.

[@AndrewBrownballroomdru]

This was one of my favorite games all time. One of the best to ever come out on the Genisis.

[@jacobstaten2366]

I really appreciate the art and some of the mechanics they were trying to use, but the layout and how items blend in with the background makes you wonder how you're supposed to know what to do if you don't already know what to do, namely in the jungle level.

[@011mph]

oh my god!! after so many years of trying to remember what this game was, i've finally found it!! I remember playing this game one time as a kid but it gave me a horrible nightmare that I still remember all these years later. but looking at this game as an adult i really don't know why i thought this was scary lol

[@AK47ronin]

The only video game I played in my whole life and guys just remind it to me know!!! Thanks for sharing this

[@belle6631]

New Washington was always my favorite level....we were stuck on that level for hours when I was a kid.

[@gitman3486]

God the atmosphere in this game is fantastic

[@digiman76]

Yes...one of the best futuristic atmosphere ever...absolutely love it....

[@reniisgod]

Iconic. What a game. One of the greatest games ever created

[@japanis1382]

Just like out of this world, flashback is better in genesis with better sound and faster gameplay.

[@myyoutubepage199]

3d0 version was better for me.

[@33Dannyb]

Blast processing.

[@Grail_Quest]

@@myyoutubepage199 This man knows what's up! At the time of this games release, no console matched the pure power of the 3DO. If you wanted the R.E.A.L. experience, that's where it was!

[@myyoutubepage199]

@@Grail_Quest the 3do was the rich mans console and you get what you paid for. For the time it was the best console out there. Alot of people think that when a console does not sale its because of the games but this console was expensive for its hardware just a gaming pc is compared to a ps5 . I had 2 3dos . I had to work weekends and weekdays after school to get my first one and my second one me and my brother went half on it. I was only 13 working at a carwash. Miss those days

[@Grail_Quest]

@@myyoutubepage199 Yes! You remember the struggle. Saw the 3DO when I was 13 too and was blown away! How could games look so great!? Had to wait 3 years until I was old enough to start working at McDonalds and saved up to buy one. It was the first console I ever bought with my own money. You never forget your first! Road Rash, Escape from Monster Manor, Shockwave, Burning Soldier, Alone in the Dark, Bust-A-Move. Great times man!

[@RallyDon82]

a true classic great music and atmosphere.

[@Erinski]

The Sega version is superior to the SNES version in my mind, not just because the mechanics of the game work better on that controller, but also the music for the holocube sequence at the beginning. Little details meant more to me than I realized.

[@Grail_Quest]

Best on 3DO!

[@MajorT0m]

Excellent use of the Exploding Mice good sir!

[@robertbrighton9797]

A game way ahead of its time

[@stantino129]

This game was light years ahead of its time

[@timchristensen2522]

So very far ahead of its time in so, so many ways

[@bmacleod52]

1:45:00 Those blue-red aliens seem to take forever to get rid off.

[@arniepetrie2866]

I literally remember watching my dad and his flat mate trying to play this game and giving up to move onto Kid Chameleon!

[@guillaumemichallat307]

Hahah. Deep 90' memories. 👍😊

[@s.dparks3053]

i was thirteen when this game came out. and I loved it. Its awesome.

[@Billy.Bouline]

13 too for me. Released in France in May 1993.

[@stewartfullerton1965]

The definitive version of Flashback.

[@althejazzman]

It's incredible how many different movements and actions they managed to create with just 3 fire buttons and a D-pad.

[@gameboy5198]

good graphics

[@knutritter461]

I can remember the first time I played it! It was the first time with this kind of movements.... for me it was unbelievable at that time!

[@Kytk7]

Impresionante las cinematicas con polígonos ❤

[@1967mcm]

Man I loved this game!

[@frankzito1]

I was fooled at the end. Just stood there not knowing I was on an elevator

[@DeAngeloStevens]

This takes me back to 1997 almost at the near of my 1st Grade Year while the Sailor Scout were ready to Graduate from High School Class of '97.

[@primayudhistira]

sound effect on 8:35 was my cue to replay those old memories.

[@GB.Gaming]

Those goddamned morphs! Literally hit & miss for me - I'm either very successful at killing them or down-right fucked. Their planet is the hardest level in the game so far for me, and a very long way from a save point too. :( Regardless, this game is unbelievable. I've had it since 94 :) Favourite game on the Mega Drive

[@indifferentone8991]

As a kid I somehow managed to beat it, still don't know how exactly because English wasn't my 1st language and all I had in assistance was a small dictionary lying near me(internet wasn't a thing back then) that gave me some hints of where to go. Also the last level's ambience, that constant "cat's purring" mixed with rifle(?) shots gave me nightmares as a kid.

[@coolbluelights]

I used to rent this game in 1994. forgot the title and lost track of it for over 14 years. Finally tracked it down in 2008 after searching every Genesis title one by one till I found it. Bought it on Ebay and relived my early teen years :)

[@Baximus]

Ah, Flashback. Such a good game, and the Genesis version rocked so much harder than the SNES version.

[@OrugariFr]

Not sure why you say that... Oh yes I know, certainly because you had it on Genesis

[@Baximus]

orugari Because the gameplay was smoother and the music sounded way better. That rocking tune you hear when you jump down the hole with the gravity belt? Non-existent on the SNES. One of the few games that were better on the Genesis.

[@WeskerSega]

+Baximus That's because the SNES version was developed by Tiertex, which was a sluggish developer, while the Mega Drive version was developed by Delphine itself (they also developed the Amiga, PC and Mega-CD versions, while every single other version was developed by Tiertex). And it shows. The SNES version has inconsistent music and it's slow and sluggish as hell, especially during the cutscenes. So much for the SNES CPU or at least in Tiertex's hands.

[@5daysastranger]

It' s Sega VS Nintendo ALL OVER AGAIN :D

[@OrugariFr]

5 Days A Stranger, The Remake I miss my childhood :(

[@mattparr3038]

Wow! Flashback alright. I remember thinking the animation was tops back then, the way the dude moved 😁😁👍

[@intervortex8201]

New Washington looks way more interesting for living in than Earth :D

[@sheltonyoung]

I think I just realized while in New Washington Conrad deals drugs, kills a cop, and breaks someone into the research facility.

[@Ben82077]

Took me at least three months to beat this game. It was addicting. You wanted to see what happened next. (A cross between Uncharted and Total Recall in this)

[@joaquimneto7607]

The soundtrack at the end of the game (at 2:09:42 ) reminded me too much of the Blade Runner soundtrack! Wow!

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

I didnt know you could roll through the green death rays at the end of the game instead of having to throw the teleporter through it, mind blown!.

[@dmensah6631]

I was stuck on this game for years as a kid. Couldn't figure it out

[@theegodelpozo]

This and "Another world" were so different and advanced.

[@notthesameman]

I beat this game when I was 14 years old, greatest game ever

[@yoidog]

This was way ahead of time back in the days, the pixel art animations must have took hours and hours maybe days, this game is impressive, i have the remaster on my playstation.

[@politoons8776]

56:20 always wondered why the change machine was there, you didnt need the photos in the snes version

[@Herv3]

1:46:48 You can save the man with the explosives. Place the teleporter receiver in front of the door that's in front of the man. Then when you hit the switch to open the door; teleport; pause; select force field; and the block the shots. It does nothing and you'll receive the explosive when the final level loads. I just like to do it as an easter egg and pretend he's waiting on the ship.

[@DeanPuckering]

This game is basically Total Recall

[@adorenu1338]

So smooth, just like am indie game from 2020

[@amcmr2003]

The scene on 2:11:39 (teleporting?) doesn't appear on the PC version (but does on the SNES). Where is it used in-game?

[@sandragruber4596]

+Marcos Marin It's not teleporting. This energy spots... energy mines... whatever you want to call them, taht green flicker at the ground. Encounterd first in the Jungle. Step on it... And this is your death animation.

[@amcmr2003]

+Sandra Gruber ahh yes! Now I remember : ) Thanks.

[@sandragruber4596]

Marcos Marin Cheerio

[@joaquimjesus6134]

the 2nd level(or others) have secrets? what i mean is that i can see doors that i don't open

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

How do you manage to survive jumping through the green stuff near the end? Every time I try to jump or roll through it I get killed.

[@Bandit-Darville]

Yeah that's not supposed to work like that. I saw some more out of the ordinary stuff happening in this play through..

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

@@Bandit-Darville Fair Enough.

[@Bandit-Darville]

You are supposed to throw the Receiver and then teleport.

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

@@Bandit-Darville Yes, it's so you can't teleport to the end of the level rather than running all the way back.

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

@@Bandit-Darville Hi, curiosity got the better of me. Played on the mega drive last night and you can jump/roll through the green stuff at the end, and teleport back rather than running.

[@25tet1]

sick game i remember borrowing of my mate in class played it for weeks

[@ghifarynaufal8215]

Does anyone know what the name of this graphic style ? Looks like pixel art at some point but i'm not sure.

[@sspotter1978]

It's called rotoscoping.

[@Valduria]

The alien homeworld always freaked me out as a kid. It looks like the whole planet has tonsillitis. Sentient tonsillitis, judging by the sounds.