Flashback 2

32%
Game Brain Score Based on 44 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.
Starting at $15.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on PS Store

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.

Play Modes

Reviews

32%
Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews
story5 positive mentions
optimization6 negative mentions
  • The graphics and art style are well done, capturing a cool cyberpunk aesthetic that resonates with fans of the original.
  • The story has intriguing elements and some enjoyable twists, providing a nostalgic feel for long-time fans.
  • The game offers a decent experience for those who approach it with an open mind, especially after recent patches that improved performance.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including stuttering and unresponsive controls, making it frustrating to play.
  • Many players feel the controls are clunky and imprecise, detracting from the overall gameplay experience compared to the original.
  • The game has been criticized for its lack of depth and engaging mechanics, leading to a feeling of boredom and disappointment among fans.
  • story28 mentions

    The story of the game is described as intriguing with some interesting twists, but it suffers from a lack of coherent structure and development, leading to a fragmented and sometimes confusing narrative. While some players appreciate the familiar elements reminiscent of the original game, many criticize the dialogue, voice acting, and overall storytelling quality, suggesting that it falls short of expectations. Additionally, technical issues such as bugs and save point problems further detract from the overall experience.

    • “The story is intriguing with some twists.”
    • “I found the locations and story to be interesting.”
    • “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.”
    • “A hollow, idiotic story conveyed with some of the worst voice acting in modern gaming memory.”
    • “The story was kind of fragmented and at times confusing.”
    • “Unfortunately, even taking off my rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia, this is nowhere near those games in terms of story and atmospheric adventure.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with players reporting significant performance issues such as constant stuttering, FPS drops, and long loading times across various platforms, including high-end PCs and consoles. Many users describe the game as "unplayable" due to these issues, indicating a pressing need for improvements in graphics and overall performance. Despite some acknowledging that the stuttering is comparable to other recent titles, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and requires urgent attention from developers.

    • “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.”
    • “Game is sometimes broken, unoptimized, with a bunch of lagging bugs and nearly no interesting level design or game mechanics.”
    • “With 3080 Ti, Ryzen 5900X, and 32GB DDR4, there is a lot of stuttering and FPS drops.”
    • “This game is extremely poorly optimized.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics in the game 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 genre. However, some players note issues with optimization, low frame rates, and a lack of customizable graphic settings, detracting from the overall experience. While the art style is appreciated, it is also described as somewhat generic, leaving room for improvement.

    • “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.”
    • “There is so much potential here with the graphical design and the built-in nostalgia from the original.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay has been criticized for being unoptimized and plagued by bugs, leading to a frustrating experience with clunky mechanics and poor level design. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements reminiscent of the original game, many feel that the current systems, such as the bike mechanics and auto-saving features, require significant improvement to enhance engagement and overall enjoyment.

    • “Even with the indie vibe to it, I like the artistic direction for the gameplay, but the foundation really needs a major upgrade.”
    • “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.”
    • “I played the demo and was horrified by the performance and gameplay, but still bought the game at full price.”
    • “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 one player - it becomes appalling when it goes to a more 3D section; aiming is absolutely horrible.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report smooth performance with high-end hardware, many experience significant glitches, stuttering, and coding issues that can hinder gameplay, including mission progression problems and long loading times.

    • “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.”
    • “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 is random stuttering along with glitches in NPC clothing.”
    • “There are many stutters and glitches that cause missions to not progress.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it generic, others appreciate its quality and how it complements the well-designed graphics and immersive environments. Overall, the sound and music contribute positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “Nice graphics and music.”
    • “The graphics were really well done and the sound/music is great.”
    • “Cool environments, ambiance, and music.”
    • “The music is too generic.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks originality and feels repetitive.”
    • “I found the music to be uninspired and forgettable.”
  • humor4 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 Aisha. While some humor is derived from the absurdity of the situations, there is also a bittersweet undertone due to the involvement of the original developer. Overall, the humor is a mix of lightheartedness and irony.

    • “I found it funny that I'm not hating this game.”
    • “A few times I laughed at the characters' lack of reaction to the dramatic events they witnessed, lol.”
    • “The exchanges between Conrad and his girlfriend were cute and funny, especially their discussions about pheromones and heart rate analysis, along with the AI-powered gun and assistant.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy is criticized as a blatant cash grab, exploiting the established brand for profit without offering substantial value to players.

    • “Nothing more than a cash grab, exploiting the nostalgia of the franchise.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the character Conrad is perceived as emotionally unresponsive and lacking depth, with some users criticizing him as a poorly written sociopath. This has led to a negative impact on the overall emotional engagement of the game.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Many users note a lack of replay value in the game, which some find refreshing, suggesting that the experience is satisfying enough to not require multiple playthroughs.

    • “There isn't really any replay value, which is fine, and I find it very refreshing.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The lack of diverse outcomes makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the game's atmosphere falls short compared to classic titles, lacking the engaging story and immersive adventure elements that defined those earlier experiences.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

35% average critic score

Buy Flashback 2

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News