Flashback

[Zerosquare]

Wonder if there's any slowdown in Another World for Jag?...

Nope

[Rick Dangerous]

The 3DO version of Flashback mops the floor with the Jaguar version, just in case anyone is wondering. Smoother, slightly better graphics, quite a bit better controls, and the CD music/cut-scenes make a world of difference.

 

I imagine it's better than the sega CD version as well, due to higher video quality. Definitely going with Night Trap on the 3DO over the Sega CD as well, but that's off topic.

 

I was having a hard time getting into this on the Jag, but I think i'll play it through on the 3DO and THEN go back to the Jag and give it another go. The cut scene art on the Jag, while not CD game pre-rendered slickness, is pretty cool Amiga style art, like Another World. So it has it's merits.

 

This game and it's clunky 90's controls piss me off to no end, but I can't stop playing it for some reason...

Edited September 26, 2014 by travistouchdown

[NeoGeoNinja]

I was having a hard time getting into this on the Jag, but I think i'll play it through on the 3DO and THEN go back to the Jag and give it another go. The cut scene art on the Jag, while not CD game pre-rendered slickness, is pretty cool Amiga style art, like Another World. So it has it's merits.

 

I have the 3DO & JAG versions of FB. Didn't notice THAT much of a difference, but now I'm gonna have to investigate again, huh?

 

Also, I MUCH preferred the smoothness of the original intro on Jag > 3DO's pre-rendered scenes, personally.

[KidGameR186496]

I still think that flashback on The jaguar is The definitive cartridge version

[Lost Dragon]

@Travistouchdown:Flasback, along with Red Zone were 2 prime examples (back in the day) of UK press at least commenting that you really did'nt need to spend £270 on a CD add-on for the Megadrive as Flashback was delivering stunning animation, cinema-style cutscenes along with Red Zone with a superb 'FMV' intro and manner of clever sprite tricks via clever coding.

 

 

Basically cartridge oftware had reached such a high standard, it was eclipsing a lot of the 'dross' coming out on the MCD during same era.

[JaguarBrett]

Flashback holds a special spot in my heart. I originally had it for The Genesis the first time I owned/beat it. It truly was a marvel of technology at the time when it was on 16 bit consoles, I remember the first time I played it how amazed I was at the animation of Conrad at the time. The game is almost puzzle like, trial and error so to speak. However it still holds up very well today. If you've never played it I highly suggest you pick it up for your Jag, you won't be dissappointed.

[Rick Dangerous]

For anyone twiddling there thumbs waiting for Another World who doesn't own this game, I highly recommend you pick it up. It comes fromt the same people and has a very similar feel/gameplay style.

[Austin]

I imagine it's better than the sega CD version as well, due to higher video quality. Definitely going with Night Trap on the 3DO over the Sega CD as well, but that's off topic.

 

 

The Sega CD version is the best, IMO, because it has in-game music, not just little jingles when something major happens on-screen. It makes a major impact to the feeling and it is for the better.

[Rick Dangerous]

The Sega CD version is the best, IMO, because it has in-game music, not just little jingles when something major happens on-screen. It makes a major impact to the feeling and it is for the better.

Sega CD is good about the in game music, which adds a lot as far as I'm concerned. That is one of the very reasons Sonic CD is rocking my world right now. Will pick up Flashback on sega CD if I every stumble across it

[JaguarBrett]

Sega CD is good about the in game music, which adds a lot as far as I'm concerned. That is one of the very reasons Sonic CD is rocking my world right now. Will pick up Flashback on sega CD if I every stumble across it

Just sold my genesis/sega cd/32x combo cause I bought the Retron 5 for me genesis games, you're making me regret that decision. Still have Snatcher sealed, but that's a "hold on to it" game. I agree with you like always it seems, Sonic CD was amazing.

 

My Genesis/Jag versions will have to do I suppose :/

[Bill Loguidice]

@Travistouchdown:Flasback, along with Red Zone were 2 prime examples (back in the day) of UK press at least commenting that you really did'nt need to spend £270 on a CD add-on for the Megadrive as Flashback was delivering stunning animation, cinema-style cutscenes along with Red Zone with a superb 'FMV' intro and manner of clever sprite tricks via clever coding.

 

 

Basically cartridge oftware had reached such a high standard, it was eclipsing a lot of the 'dross' coming out on the MCD during same era.

 

Stating the obvious here, but really all the CD format did in most cases was add extra storage space for bigger games, so there's no reason a cartridge game couldn't be as good as a CD game. In the Sega CD's case, though, it did actually add extra hardware features, but they were unfortunately rarely used. In retrospect it seems a bit of a silly statement by the UK press at the time, but I suppose there's nothing wrong with making your target audience feel like they're not missing out on anything. In many ways, we have the equivalent right now, with masses of people still sticking with the PS3 and Xbox 360 over the PS4 and Xbox One, despite both of those selling quite well. We have yet to reach that tipping point where it's flat-out obvious that it's time for most people to finally move on.

[NeoGeoNinja]

In many ways, we have the equivalent right now, with masses of people still sticking with the PS3 and Xbox 360 over the PS4 and Xbox One, despite both of those selling quite well. We have yet to reach that tipping point where it's flat-out obvious that it's time for most people to finally move on.

 

Not sure if I am misinterpreting your POV here Bill, but... I'm not at all sure how 'obvious' it will ever be concerning last gen and new gen hardware.

 

So far, I've seen precisely F'All worth getting up and leaving my trusty, longstanding PS3 in the dust for. And we're nearly 1 year in. Even when the 360 came out followed by the PS3, it WAS obvious that the tipping point (i.e. necessity) was just around the corner, and killer titles like BioShock and Gears of War helped necessitate change over.

 

But with these 'two' at the moment, I cannot in ANY way, right now, see how they will represent a move forward necessary enough to bother wanting to spend on a new console, outside of those so called "killer apps".

 

Really. I feel like at the end of the 360, PS3 & Wii era, I've done all there is to be doing in my 30 years of gaming. I think it's pretty much time for me to draw a line under it all after last gen, as I really do feel as all I'm doing now is just supporting the industry and lining the unimaginative pockets of the hardware industry as opposed to being in it for myself, which after all, is why you should be 'in', in the first place. Not just for the sake of it. And let's admit it, anyone buying PS4's right out of the gate weren't in it for the right reasons and were just responding to the hype and negativity thrown in MS's negativity re: Don Mattrick and the XB1 launch.

 

It really COULDN'T have worked out any better for Sony if they tried, save MS going bankrupt the week before the launch etc. Everything I wanted from Sony ran it's course in the last gen (thus why I went with Sony again last gen) in the shape of God of War sequels, Yakuza Sequels, WipEout sequel, Ridge Racer sequel, Virtua Fighter sequel, birth of the Motorstorm series, Uncharted series and InFamous series and more I can't think of off hand.

 

Between the PS4, XB1 and WiiU... right now, I think I would struggle to care less about all three.

[Bill Loguidice]

My point of view is pretty simple. Regardless of the details, once must-have games are exclusively on the PS4 and Xbox One to the exclusion of the PS3 and Xbox 360, people will move. That's the tipping point. It's happening anyway, of course, even without any truly killer games to this point if you just look at the pure console sales numbers.

[Rick Dangerous]

Really. I feel like at the end of the 360, PS3 & Wii era, I've done all there is to be doing in my 30 years of gaming. I think it's pretty much time for me to draw a line under it all after last gen, as I really do feel as all I'm doing now is just supporting the industry and lining the unimaginative pockets of the hardware industry as opposed to being in it for myself, which after all, is why you should be 'in', in the first place. Not just for the sake of it. And let's admit it, anyone buying PS4's right out of the gate weren't in it for the right reasons and were just responding to the hype and negativity thrown in MS's negativity re: Don Mattrick and the XB1 launch.

This pretty well sums it up for me. It's a decision each gamer has to make for themselves. I happen to have bought a Wii U, but if I knew what I know now I probably would have just cut myself off at the PS3/Wii. Since it's backward compatible and a few good Nintendo IP's are coming out I'll hang onto it, but I'm done with "new" gaming for a long time to come. Something pretty special will have to be released for me to take the plunge, like VR!!

[Rick Dangerous]

The 3DO version of Flashback mops the floor with the Jaguar version,

 

Okay, after spending a few hours with the Jaguar version last night, I want to revise this statement and admit that I may have been a bit hasty.

 

So, let me try to do a little comparison.

 

Cutscenes: The 2d jaguar ones are fantastic. I think the 3do pre-rendered ones are nice as well, giving the game a more modern feel, but aren't necessarily as cool as the Jag 2d scenes. It's totally subjective and up to the player which they like more.

 

Graphics: Slight edge to the 3do. The graphics are darker, more heavily saturated, and slightly lower res in the Jag version. The jaguar graphics are still good though and it doesn't effect gameplay.

 

Sound: Nearly identical, in game music non-existent with occasional chime when entering a new area. Slight edge to the 3do just because of voice acting and music during cutscenes.

 

Control: This game has a steep learning curve regarding controlling your character, and this is what initially frustrated me with the Jaguar version, this would have been the same with the 3DO version had I played it first. To do a standing long jump hit A and then press left or right on the dpad, to do a run and grab a high ledge jump, hold A and double tap in the direction you want to run, you will then jump automatically. This is different than the running long jump, which confused me. When you grab the ledge press up to climb. These two jump styles were giving me the most grief early on, as well as "climb down." Master the controls and this game is your oyster.

 

I felt like the 3do version was slightly more crisp in the control department, but the difference is negligible, and the Jaguar version is highly controllable and playable once you master the movement functions.

 

 

So all in all it would not surprise me if the Jaguar version is the definitive cart version, the game is great and is a real hidden gem. It really doesn't get much attention (probably because its a 16 bit port) but I hope this thread prompts some people to pick it up. I got through the first level last night and just went far enough in New Washington to have my memories re-implanted by Ian. The artwork and the scene in general gave me goosebumps like the scene in another world where you observe the alien city, or get to the baths. I'm definitely going to keep working on this one on the jag until i beat it. Reccomended for anyone wondering whether or not it's worth the time investment.

[Lost Dragon]

@Bill Loguidice:

:-) The UK Press has a long, on-going history of making 'silly statements', just read Zzap 64's Operation Thunderbolt review on C64 or Mean Machines claim that Alien Trilogy on Saturn will make Jaguar AVP look like the Wizzard Of OZ and this based on a CGI render, no actual in-game graphics, or certain threads on here for far more recent examples.

Re:Happy to stick with PS3/360-That's exactly the boat i find myself in, just tried GTA 5 on 360, could'nt get into it at all, got The Last Of Us on PS3 here to try, prospect of playing 'nicer' looking versions on say PS4 not enough to tempt me to upgrade.

For me, personally, niether Ps4 or XB1 has a 'Killer-App' that makes them an essential purpose and fact my PS3 is a better media player than PS4, plus i'll have pay to play online...means PS3 currently offers me far better VFM.

[Lost Dragon]

Good a place as any to drop this in:

Not sure if people are aware (or care) but Flashback started off as a 'futuristic adaptation' of The Godfather Movie, believe it or not...Denis Mercier said they (Delphine) originally wanted to put the Godfather Character into a Space Adventure, hence your character was originally called Michael, after Michael Corleone, but game morphed (no pun intended) into a Space adventure on it's own and the concept of putting Mafia elements into the game, never appealed to the other team memembers.

So, another..What Could Of Been..brought to you by....

:-)