Flashback 2 Returns to Form In This Sequel to a 16-bit Gem
There is finally a bonafide sequel in the works for one of the most beloved gems of the 16-bit era. Flashback 2 was recently announced this summer and it literally came as a surprise for fans worldwide. Now, technically, there was a sequel released back in 1996 by Delphine Software titled Fade to Black. It followed the further adventures of agent Conrad Hart fifty years later after he defeated the alien menace called “The Morphs.” After waking up in suspended animation, Hart finds himself in prison by The Morphs called New Alcatraz. Of course, an epic adventure unfolds from that starting point. With Flashback 2, however, it appears that players will be taking control of Conrad Hart, again. Thus, it will aesthetically be going back to its roots by using 2D design as opposed to the 3D shift that Fade to Black used. Whether or not Flashback 2 will have any connective tissue from Fade to Black remains to be seen.
What is known about the plot is that Conrad Hart is now trying to stop a plot from The Morphs, once again. His friend Ian disappeared and Hart sets off on a journey to find out where he is and what happened to him. Chances are that The Morphs are the mastermind of his disappearance and, if so, what do they want with him? This is the basic premise of Flashback 2 and it’s enough to entice players into seeing what will happen next in Conrad Hart’s life. With this new installment, it will be going back to form by creating highly realized 2D environments rife with traps, enemies, and environmental hazards. Of course, this sequel won’t be an exact retread of the original. It came out 30 years ago after all, and there will be some notable improvements and changes in the core gameplay.
Life of an Agent
It appears that the level design in Flashback 2 will come in layers and both the foreground and background will be interactive. Conrad can now hide in the shadows and slink his way across dangerous situations. The main appeal to the Flashback games isn’t the action, however. Instead, it’s more of an adventure game where players must figure out which items they need to bypass sundry blockades and even defeat enemies. It is almost like the earliest rendition of a Metroidvania game before Castlevania: Symphony of the Night came out. There was a lot of backtracking in these games and that’s what made them fun. With Flashback 2, Conrad will now be able to ride a hoverbike to travel to different places. Chances are, there will now be a hub world of some sort where players will need to go back and forth with an upgraded inventory to break through various obstacles.
The main gameplay features will remain the same. Conrad will be able to pull out his gun when he needs to fight and holster it when exploring. It is the practicality that gave Flashback its charm back in 1992. This main element will still be intact with Flashback 2, for sure. Of course, since the gaming industry evolved over the last three decades, there will be some features in this sequel that will echo the popular tropes that many games share today. One, in particular, is the fact that Conrad will now be able to upgrade his items and weapons. There will be some new toys for Hart to play with in this sequel. Things like grenades, a cloaking device, and shields will now be able to be utilized. Thusly, these items can also be customized to give them all a little flexibility on how players would want to use them.
Out of the Shadows
Even with the stealth mechanics intertwined with the gameplay, it looks like the gunplay will be a little more intense. The enemy encounters in the original were one by one with an intimate feeling of desperation between the firefights. With Flashback 2, it appears that the gunplay will be a little more bombastic this time around. There will be more enemies on screen and the gunplay is more elaborate. Apparently, there will also be a little more focus on melee takedowns in this sequel. This will especially be true with the stealth takedowns that Conrad can now do. As far as the environment, there will be respect for the original in terms of their design. Hart will see himself, once again, in a jungle, a factory, and even inside a starship. Whether or not Hart will need to win a game show again, remains to be seen. However, it’s not too far-fetched that something like that will be a part of this installment.
Lastly, Flashback 2 will also be introducing a new element into this series. This will be in the guise of a giant mech with Conrad can pilot. How this will be implemented with the overall gameplay is currently a mystery. It may be just a key scene in this game where Conrad will need to clear a certain area using this machine. Then again, maybe he can utilize it whenever he needs to. Details on Flashback 2 are pretty vague at the moment. Nobody really expected this to be announced. Especially, after thirty years of anticipation, gamers pretty much gave up on it. Whatever the case, there is now an official Flashback sequel in development, and it’s releasing pretty soon. Hopefully, there will be more insight on how the game will play to help whet the appetite of fans of the original who have been patiently waiting for another installment for three decades.
Flashing Forward
The details with Flashback 2 are still a little bit of a mystery. With the obscure footage shown via the recent trailer, fans of this IP will generally know what to expect. There is no release date in place for Flashback 2, however, it is slated to drop sometime late this year. Unless something happens and there is a delay. When it finally releases, Flashback 2 will be available for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. A port for the Nintendo Switch will be released in 2023.
