Flashback: long lost sequels and things

[Rado]

Hi. Long time lurker, first time poster, finally stumbled upon something I can't restrain myself from discussing, and this place seems to be THE place.

For some reason, I can't make new threads - God knows I tried and even bothered a Mod about it - so I apologise for taking my business here.

So, without further ado, here are my recent findings:

1) Videos taken by me:

Dull as hell, but hey, it is what it is:

This one is more exciting, but I screwed up while recording. Ekhm.

Also, a nice screenshot:

More info may be forthcoming IF Frederick Raynal decides to reply to my e-mail and IF he won't mind me sharing his insight.

2) A fascinating peak into what could have been:

http://www.bozocircus.free.fr/e_fb2.php

Discuss.

Please.

PRETTY please with a cherry on top.

[miffy495]

Keep on posting. At 10, you can create threads. But don't expect the posts in idle banter to help. That doesn't count for some reason.

As for the project, it's a really interesting idea. I hope it works out, but honestly these restoration things never really seem to pan out the way that the creators hope. Best of luck, but there's a lot of work to be done if it's ever meant to come even close to the original game.

That said, the demo level looks solid, so I hope they don't get discouraged.

[Rado]

Here's why the ambiguity of my post sucks

Both of these were official. The first two links are for some kind of a GBA sequel that Adeline was making for Delphine right before both companies folded. As I mentioned on YouTube, a beta exists with almost all of the content, but a severely untested gameplay.

The second project was an original Flashback 2, being made on the heels of the first one, with Conrad manning some kind of an Evangelion armour As is said by the animator, it was scrapped in favor of a heroic fantasy title (that never got off ground either), and then ressurected, albeit in a vastly different form, for Fade 2 Black.

Hope all is clear now. And thanks for the info about posting.

Keep on posting. At 10, you can create threads. But don't expect the posts in idle banter to help. That doesn't count for some reason.

As for the project, it's a really interesting idea. I hope it works out, but honestly these restoration things never really seem to pan out the way that the creators hope. Best of luck, but there's a lot of work to be done if it's ever meant to come even close to the original game.

That said, the demo level looks solid, so I hope they don't get discouraged.

[Spaff]

Sorry about not being able to make threads, it's an anti spam thing. I'll move this now... there done.

I'm working on making it clearer that that is the case when you sign up..

as soon as i can find the blasted thing i need to edit

And now i will look at your videos!

[Tommy Gun]

Duuudeee...I love Flashback. I would have loved for a GBA sequel to come out! Thanks for posting it.

[miffy495]

Holy crap, Tommy's alive! Flashback seems to have resurrected him somehow...

[Spaff]

the videos and pics and things are really cool.... someone needs to docuemnt this stuff into a nice article somewhere ¬¬

[Rado]

Duuudeee...I love Flashback. I would have loved for a GBA sequel to come out! Thanks for posting it.

Be careful what you wish for

To be honest, the game is bizarre. Graphically, for example, it’s a generic GBA platformer #2981, with the original Conrad sprite thrown in, as the Flashback meets Rayman screenshot below proves:

I’m pretty sure Conrad’s sprite is a placeholder anyway.

Gameplay itself is like a distilled version of Flashback. You know how at the beginning, first person shooters were all about finding keycards and collecting power-ups? And then, such details as plot started to appear in subsequent games, a motivation for the hero, fleshed out characters and so on. Also, the surroundings were becoming less abstract with game space trying to imitate an actual living space.

With Flashback and Flashback GBA it’s the opposite. Whereas in the first one everything at least pretended to make sense, here it’s just mazes filled with two kinds of items: keycards and batteries, which are basically keycards anyway (you use them to power up switches that let you operate elevators).

The plot is also rather spotty, with an NPC appearing once every three or more levels to tell you why you are doing what you’re doing. To be fair, some cutscenes may be missing, but even that wouldn’t help matters much if one takes the senseless level design into account (well, it’s fine, but absolutely unconvincing in relation to the narrative).

What’s also weird, is that while the plot follows from Fade 2 Black, the levels seem to be based on the original Flashback (in terms of theme, not layout). You start off on a jungle planet, then travel to New Eden (a space port similar to New Washington), fix a reactor, battle with the police and the Running Man guys in a city, to finally land on the Morph homeworld and blow it up. Death Tower seems to be the only thing that’s missing.

One thing I’ll give them, though, is that it plays right. It’s hard to forgive the developers for screwing up gunplay (check out the video to see what I mean), but Condrad controls exactly as he’s supposed to.

And hey, it’s Flashback. It’s Adeline. It deserves a closer look

the videos and pics and things are really cool.... someone needs to docuemnt this stuff into a nice article somewhere

Who do you mean, Dear Sir?

On thing I’ll say, I have a very old e-mail address for Raynal – it’s possible he’ll never get my message, and if even if he will, a little Idle Thumbs star power wouldn’t hurt, so if you want to take it on, I won’t stop you.

On the Flashback 2 front, however, something fantastic may be coming my way, assuming the developer will manage to find that thing on his Amiga. If he does, and is cool with me sharing, I’ll surely do so.

And by the way, I strongly recommend checking out his site (the one with FB2 info) – it has many cool things, like the scan of the Flashback comic, the French commercial, and all the cutscenes from Fade 2 Black (excluding the alternate ending for some reason).

You can also find some stuff on his older site, for example, this: http://www.bozo3000.free.fr/material/delphine/tddiable/f_tdfra.htm. While the game was cancelled, it packs some impressive technology.