Flashback 2

31%
Game Brain Score Based on 95 reviews
  • story
  • optimization
  • graphics
Flashback 2 Game Cover
Flashback 2 is a slapdash sequel that trades heavily on nostalgia, while misunderstanding everything that made its predecessor a classic.
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In "Flashback 2," players step into the shoes of agent Conrad B. Hart once again as they face off against the Morph invasion in the 22nd century. With the help of AI-powered weapon A.I.S.H.A, Conrad embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with heart-pounding action, twists, and turns. This platform shooter boasts a gripping story, fluid gameplay, and intricate level design, promising an intense and immersive experience for players.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

31%
Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews
story10 positive mentions
optimization12 negative mentions
  • The graphics are very good and capture a cool cyberpunk aesthetic.
  • The story is intriguing with some interesting twists, appealing to fans of the original Flashback.
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience for long-time fans, with some enjoyable moments despite its flaws.
  • The controls are clunky and frustrating, making gameplay feel unresponsive and awkward.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, including stuttering and game-breaking glitches.
  • Many players feel that the game fails to live up to the legacy of the original Flashback, lacking the depth and quality expected from a sequel.
  • story56 mentions

    The story is described as intriguing with some interesting twists, but many reviewers feel it lacks depth and coherence, often appearing fragmented and poorly structured. While some appreciate the familiar elements and engaging moments, the overall execution is criticized for weak dialogue, subpar voice acting, and a lack of polish, leading to a disjointed narrative experience. Additionally, technical issues such as bugs and save point problems further detract from the storytelling experience.

    • “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.”
    • “I found the locations and story to be interesting.”
    • “The story is intriguing with some twists.”
    • “A hollow idiotic story conveyed with some of the worst voice acting in modern gaming memory.”
    • “Most of the time, you have the feeling there were more than one storywriter and no one knew of each other.”
    • “The story was kinda fragmented and at times confusing.”
  • optimization30 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting significant stuttering, frame rate drops, and performance issues across various platforms, including high-end PCs and consoles like the PS5. Many users describe the game as "unplayable" due to these persistent performance problems, suggesting that substantial improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience. Despite some players experiencing acceptable performance on high-end hardware, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires urgent attention from developers.

    • “Performance wise it stutters a little bit but no worse than any other recent game.”
    • “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 buy back some nostalgic love from users.”
    • “Game is sometimes broken, unoptimized bunch of lagging bugs nearly without interesting level design and game mechanics.”
    • “Constant stuttering, making the game unplayable.”
    • “This game is extremely poorly optimized.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics are generally praised for their quality and alignment with the desired aesthetic, particularly the sci-fi cyberpunk theme, which resonates well with fans of the original. However, some users note that the art style feels generic and that optimization issues, such as low frame rates and limited graphic settings, detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the potential of the graphical design and the accompanying sound and music.

    • “I've played a few hours but the art style is right on with the dystopic-utopic Total Recall-ish feel of the original.”
    • “The graphics were really well done and the sound/music is great.”
    • “The graphical style is great and exactly what I wanted from a modern sequel.”
    • “The graphics are not noticeable.”
    • “Graphics need to be optimized to be smoother.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay24 mentions

    The gameplay has been criticized for being unoptimized and plagued by bugs, leading to a frustrating experience with clunky mechanics and sporadic auto-saving that can result in lost progress. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements reminiscent of the original game, many feel that the level design lacks depth and the driving mechanics need significant improvement to enhance engagement. Overall, the game requires substantial polish and a more robust foundation to meet player expectations.

    • “Luckily the gameplay, like the original, is similar enough to blast through it and catch back up.”
    • “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.”
    • “The auto saving is sporadic, so I lost 45 minutes of gameplay because I couldn't even load my previous save when a mission got bugged; halfway through the mission I was on, it got bugged every time.”
    • “The gameplay is already clunky in single player - it becomes appalling when it goes to a more 3D section; aiming is absolutely horrible.”
    • “I mean it works, but only so much so that it acts as a hub to other levels; the driving mechanics and game feel are just 'meh'.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance with high-end hardware, many others experience frequent stutters, glitches, and coding issues that can disrupt gameplay, such as walking through walls and mission progression bugs. Long loading times and visual glitches, particularly with NPCs, further detract from the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “With a 4090, Ryzen 7800X3D, and 32GB DDR5, it runs great with only a couple of stutters.”
    • “This game has 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 pop in, and there are random stutters and glitches with NPC clothes.”
    • “There are many stutters and glitches that cause missions to not progress.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it generic, while others appreciate its quality and how it complements the well-executed graphics and immersive environments. Overall, while the ambiance is praised, the music lacks distinctiveness for some users.

    • “The graphics were really well done and the sound/music is great.”
    • “Cool environments, ambiance, and music.”
    • “Nice graphics and music.”
    • “The music is too generic.”
    • “The music lacks originality.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and unexpected moments, such as the characters' lack of reaction to dramatic events and amusing dialogue between Conrad and his AI assistant, Aisha. Players find the humor to be both cute and darkly ironic, especially given the involvement of the original developer from the first game. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, making the experience enjoyable despite its flaws.

    • “A few times I was laughing at the absence of characters' reactions to anything dramatic that they witnessed, lol.”
    • “The few lines between Conrad and his girl were cute and funny, especially about pheromones and heart rate analysis from Aisha, the AI-powered gun and assistant of Conrad.”
    • “It's funny in a sad way because the original developer of the first game is also involved.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the character Conrad is perceived as emotionally flat and unresponsive, likened to a "stone cold sociopath" and described as having the emotional depth of a "wet paper towel." This characterization suggests a lack of emotional engagement that detracts from the overall emotional impact of the game.

  • replayability2 mentions

    The game has minimal replay value, which some players find refreshing and acceptable.

  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has been criticized for falling short of expectations, particularly when compared to nostalgic titles that offered richer storytelling and immersive adventures. Reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the current experience lacks the depth and engagement of its predecessors.

  • monetization2 mentions

    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 labeling it as broken and unworthy of purchase.

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

Critic Reviews

35% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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