Flashback 2, the took-your-time-getting-here sequel to the traditional ’90s platformer Flashback, has a candy new trailer and, lastly, a correct launch date: Writer Microids introduced at this time that after greater than 30 years of ready, followers will lastly get their follow-up on November 16.
Flashback is a sidescrolling platformer that tells the story of Conrad B. Hart, an agent of some unknown intelligence company who discovers that human society is being infiltrated by shapeshifting aliens generally known as Morphs. He is captured by the Morphs, who wipe his reminiscence, however manages to flee and uncover a message he left to himself that sends him to the town of New Washington. A lot operating round and violence ensues, and Conrad finally finds himself on the aliens’ homeworld, which, as and dutiful human, he blows up.
One of many extra uncommon issues about Flashback is its connection to the groundbreaking platformer One other World (launched in North America as Out of This World), which got here out the 12 months prior. There really was no connection between them, other than the truth that they got here from the identical studio (Delphine) and shared some superficial visible similarities, however there was a type of implied sequel-prequel relationship between them again within the day, and that hazy, imprecise hyperlink between them has persevered. Writer Microids capitalized on that relationship a couple of years in the past by releasing them collectively in a console-exclusive bundle a couple of years in the past.
Regardless of the title and its billing as a sequel, Flashback 2 actually appears to me like extra of a reboot or re-imagining of the unique recreation. As soon as once more, it follows Hart as he goes in the hunt for his outdated good friend Ian, who has gone lacking within the metropolis of New Washington amidst an invasion by the shapeshifting Morphs. Additional complicated the difficulty is that Flashback already had a sequel, the 1995 3D motion recreation Fade to Black, which sees Conrad resuming his battle in opposition to the Morphs, this time on Earth. Thankfully, his victory solely ends in the destruction of Easter Island, slightly than the entire rattling world.
It feels like old-time followers looking forward to an entire new journey could also be upset, however regardless of the plain similarities between the 2 video games, a Microids consultant instructed PC Gamer that Flashback 2 is “the correct sequel to the sport Flashback.”
“It’s like Fade to Black by no means existed (or occurs after really),” the rep mentioned. “Flashback 2 has its personal story.”
Flashback 2 has clearly come a great distance technologically—New Washington appears much more three-dimensional than it did again within the day— and we’ll learn the way carefully it hews to the unique quickly sufficient. Flashback 2 is on the market for wishlisting now on Steam and the Epic Video games Retailer.