Skip to main content

Flashback 2

Flashback 2 is a slapdash sequel that trades heavily on nostalgia, while misunderstanding everything that made its predecessor a classic.
Flashback 2 Game Cover
34%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, music
38% User Score Based on 73 reviews
Critic Score 35%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom $2.48
Buy NowGet on Steam €39.99Buy NowGet on PS Store
Flashback 2 Game Cover

About

Flashback 2 is a single player arcade action adventure game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Microids Studio Paris and was released on November 16, 2023. It received negative reviews from both critics and players.

"Flashback 2" is a platform shooter game that continues the story of Conrad B. Hart, a agent of the GBI, in the 22nd century where the peace of the United Worlds is threatened by the Morph invasion. Players will search for Conrad's lifelong friend, Ian, and navigate through a heart-pounding adventure filled with twists, turns and revelations while using A.I.S.H.A, an AI-powered weapon. The game is a sequel to the legendary game "Flashback" which was released in 1992 and is considered as one of the greatest video game of all time.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Flashback 2 screenshot
Flashback 2 screenshot
Flashback 2 screenshot
Flashback 2 screenshot
Skip User Reviews

38%
Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews
story6 positive mentions
optimization8 negative mentions
  • The game successfully captures the nostalgic sci-fi noir aesthetic of the original, with immersive environments and a retro-futuristic vibe.
  • Some players appreciate the engaging story with twists and layered narratives, as well as the callbacks to the original Flashback.
  • The updated visuals and art style have been praised for their quality, and the game runs well on certain high-end systems.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, including constant stuttering and bugs that can hinder gameplay, making it unplayable for many users.
  • Controls are clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in combat and navigation.
  • Many players feel that the game fails to live up to the legacy of the original Flashback, with a lack of engaging gameplay mechanics and a convoluted story.
  • story
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Flashback 2 has received mixed reviews, with some praising its intriguing premise and nostalgic ties to the original, while others criticize it for being convoluted and poorly executed. Many players found the narrative to be fragmented and cliché, with unnecessary twists that detracted from the core plot of one man's battle against an alien invasion. Overall, while the game attempts to build on its predecessor's legacy, it struggles with storytelling coherence and depth, leaving some players disappointed.

    • “Released in 1992, the first Flashback was a cinematic platformer developed by Delphine Software, often praised for its rotoscope animation, deep story, and immersive world-building.”
    • “The game was ahead of its time, blending action, puzzle-solving, and storytelling in a way that felt revolutionary.”
    • “The story seems to feel so familiar like the very first one; for me, this is a good thing and I felt at home straight away.”
    • “The story is passable, and I totally lost interest in the second half of the game.”
    • “For whatever reason, Flashback 2 spends all its time trying to make itself seem deeper by taking this simple story of one man against an alien invasion and adding unnecessary twists and turns to the plot just for the sake of making it seem like there's more to the story than there is.”
    • “A hollow, idiotic story conveyed with some of the worst voice acting in modern gaming memory.”
  • gameplay
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Flashback 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its lack of polish and responsiveness, often describing controls as stiff and mechanics as simplistic. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements reminiscent of the original game, others criticize the overall execution, citing bugs, unoptimized performance, and a lack of engaging level design. Overall, the game struggles to meet expectations, especially given its legacy, and feels more like a missed opportunity than a worthy successor.

    • “The best way to explain Flashback 2's gameplay style is twin stick shooter.”
    • “Yes, it's different from the first game with the 2.5D environment, but the gameplay takes me back to the original in some ways.”
    • “One of the best parts of the original Flashback was the linear side scrolling and interactions across the gameplay.”
    • “Controls can feel stiff at times, and some mechanics might frustrate players looking for tight, responsive action.”
    • “The gameplay feels like it's an Xbox Live Arcade game from the 360 era.”
    • “Nothing really pops out about Flashback 2's rather basic gameplay and honestly makes me feel as if the Flashback name was just slapped onto this to try and shift an extra few purchases.”
  • graphics
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the immersive sci-fi noir aesthetic and modernized visuals that build on the original's legacy. However, performance issues such as stuttering and low frame rates, particularly on lower-end graphics cards, have been highlighted as significant drawbacks. While the art style is appreciated for its nostalgic appeal, optimization remains a concern, with some users noting a lack of graphical settings and smoothness.

    • “Like its predecessor, it leans heavily into its sci-fi noir aesthetic, crafting a world that feels immersive, mysterious, and distinctly retro-futuristic.”
    • “It has better graphics, better cut scenes, better animations, better enemies, better story, better everything.”
    • “The graphical style is great and exactly what I wanted from a modern sequel.”
    • “If it's still a stuttering mess at 180fps on a 5090, I dread to think what it's like on lower-end graphics cards.”
    • “Art style is generic.”
    • “Even if put aside the simple graphic options that would be found in indie games under $5, it’s a problem that the frame rate is low.”
  • optimization
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues even on high-end hardware like the RTX 5090 and 3080 Ti. Many users experienced lag, frame drops, and glitches, leading to an overall perception that the game is poorly optimized and unplayable at times. Despite some acknowledging that performance is comparable to other recent titles, the consensus is that substantial improvements are needed to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “Performance is okay on 3080 Ti.”
    • “I feel that it's still possible to salvage that feeling with optimization and fine-tuning controls a bit.”
    • “Devs, please take note of comments on optimization for the game and controls, and you may win back some nostalgic love from users.”
    • “A stuttering mess even on a 5090 as of September 25.”
    • “If it's still a stuttering mess at 180fps on a 5090, I dread to think what it's like on lower-end graphics cards.”
    • “This game is extremely poorly optimized.”
  • music
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has been criticized for being forgettable and lacking the memorable quality of the original, with many players expressing disappointment that it doesn't evoke the same emotional response. Some reviewers suggested that remastering the original tracks or incorporating brief musical clips during gameplay could have enhanced the experience. While a few comments noted that the sound design and ambiance were decent, the overall consensus is that the music falls short of expectations.

    • “The graphics were really well done and the sound/music is great.”
    • “Cool environments, ambiance, and music.”
    • “+ Nice graphics and music.”
    • “The music and sound aren't memorable at all, unlike the original Flashback for console.”
    • “I just finished two hours of gameplay and I can't even remember any of the music; I still hum the original music to this day... they definitely missed a great opportunity here.”
    • “I would have preferred they remastered the original music or at least added some remastered music at certain parts, maybe during travel or non-combat, like in the original, where it would play a quick 3 to 4 second music clip when you got to certain areas.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with players noting minor stutters and occasional bugs that do not significantly hinder gameplay. However, many have reported more serious issues, including coding glitches, long loading times, and mission progression problems, leading to a consensus that the game is quite buggy overall. While some users experienced smooth performance on high-end systems, the prevalence of glitches detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Nice to play, great feel, and runs great on Linux Mint. There are minor stutters on some cut scenes, but nothing major. Gameplay is great, with nice controls, and it's a fantastic retro game brought into the 21st century.”
    • “For the most part, this runs great for me.”
    • “With a 4090, Ryzen 7800X3D, and 32GB DDR5, it runs great with only a couple of stutters.”
    • “It's buggy as hell even after the patch, and one 'bug,' if you can call it that, was the only reason I was able to complete it without ripping my hair out in the later levels.”
    • “This one had so many coding glitches where I can walk through walls and fall through the ground.”
    • “I didn't have any crashes, but the loading times are quite long, people just plop in, random stuttering, and often some kind of glitches with the NPC clothes.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and unexpected moments, such as the lack of character reactions to dramatic events and amusing dialogue between characters, particularly regarding relationships and AI interactions. Some players find the humor to be darkly funny, especially given the involvement of the original developer from the first game. Overall, the humor adds a unique layer to the experience, blending lightheartedness with a touch of melancholy.

    • “I found it funny that I don't hate this game.”
    • “A few times I laughed at the characters' lack of reaction to dramatic events they witnessed, lol.”
    • “The exchanges between Conrad and his girlfriend were cute and funny, especially about pheromones and heart rate analysis from Aisha, Conrad's AI-powered gun and assistant.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Flashback 2 is praised for its immersive environments, featuring neon-lit cityscapes and shadowy corridors that evoke a sense of isolation and intrigue reminiscent of the original game. However, some reviewers feel that despite its atmospheric appeal, it falls short in storytelling and overall adventure compared to its predecessor.

    • “If you're someone who values mood and atmosphere over pure gameplay mechanics, Flashback 2 might just hit the sweet spot.”
    • “The environments are drenched in atmosphere, with neon-lit cityscapes and shadowy corridors that evoke the same sense of isolation and intrigue that made the original Flashback a cult classic.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over its perceived exploitation of the franchise's name and the overall quality of the product.

    • “Nothing more than a cash grab, exploiting the nostalgia of the flashback name.”
    • “Don't buy this broken cash grab.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the emotional depth of the character Conrad is lacking, with one user describing him as a "stone cold sociopath" and noting his minimal emotional responsiveness, likening it to that of a "wet paper towel." This suggests a significant disconnect in the character's emotional portrayal, which may detract from the overall emotional impact of the game.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers minimal replayability, which some players find refreshing and acceptable.

    • “There isn't really any replay value, which is fine, and I find it very refreshing.”
Skip Critic Reviews

35%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Flashback 2

2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Flashback 2

Games Like Flashback 2

POSTAL 4: No Regerts Image
54%7.9kreviews

POSTAL 4: No Regerts

2022Shooter
PCPlaystation 5Playstation 4+2
MindsEye Image
42%1.2kreviews

MindsEye

2025Action Adventure
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+6
Wild West Dynasty Image
44%1.5kreviews

Wild West Dynasty

2024Open World Role Playing
PCWindows
Silent Hill: Homecoming ImageSilent Hill: Homecoming ImageSilent Hill: Homecoming Image
49%757reviews

Silent Hill: Homecoming

2008Survival Puzzle
Playstation 3Xbox 360PC+2
Everreach: Project Eden Image
44%380reviews

Everreach: Project Eden

2019Role Playing Shooter
Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5+6
More games like Flashback 2
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Flashback 2 is a arcade action adventure game with science fiction theme.

Flashback 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Flashback 2.

Flashback 2 was released on November 16, 2023.

Flashback 2 was developed by Microids Studio Paris.

Flashback 2 has received negative reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Flashback 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include POSTAL 4: No Regerts, MindsEye, Wild West Dynasty, Silent Hill: Homecoming, Everreach: Project Eden and others.