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With the latest announcement {that a} true Flashback sequel (imaginatively titled Flashback 2) is heading our approach in late 2022, we thought it acceptable to solid our minds again to the latest previous and take one other take a look at the formally sanctioned Flashback titles launched on the Dreamcast. 

It’s not likely widespread information that Flashback was given a full bodily launch, full with a hyper fragile PAL case, again in 2017. Well regarded writer JoshProd was behind this unbelievable version of Delphine Software’s sprite primarily based motion journey, and the discharge was even given a full seal of approval by authentic creator Paul Cuisset.

We reviewed the sport on the time, and gushed on the lovingly crafted bundle. From the superb (and genuine) field artwork and printed disc, to the extra extras lavished upon the Dreamcast remaster, it actually was glorious and filled with content material.

This included such notable options as a full and uncut intro cinematic (earlier console variations featured a reduce down intro from the Amiga model), the choice to allow pre-rendered reduce scenes from the PC launch, full voice performing, different soundtracks, 16-bit emulated variations, and fast saves utilizing the VMU. 

Furthermore, high quality of life enhancements got here within the type of quite a few graphic filters and absolutely customisable controls. Underneath all of the polish although, Flashback for Dreamcast was/is simply plain outdated Flashback…however when ‘plain outdated’ Flashback is pretty much as good as it’s, that is no dangerous factor.

The launch of Flashback on Dreamcast went nearly unnoticed by the mainstream gaming press although, and it was rapidly forgotten about as the sport was subsequently ported to fashionable platforms such because the Nintendo Switch. Naturally, the Dreamcast is a little bit of a distinct segment system as of late in order that’s comprehensible, however the reality stays that the Dreamcast port of Flashback is as stable as they arrive and will arguably be considered because the blueprint for the present gen re-releases that got here after it.

What hapenned subsequent was equally seemingly ignored in the primary – the 1995 observe as much as Flashback, titled Fade to Black, was additionally given a completely accepted ‘official’ bodily launch on Dreamcast. Fade to Black first got here to the PC and PlayStation within the mid-nineties to some reasonable success, eschewing the prequel’s facet on, rotoscoped gameplay for a extra fashionable (for the time) leap into 3D. 

Once once more assuming the function of major protagonist Conrad B. Hart, gamers of Fade to Black have been thrown into one other sci-fi journey involving the wanton taking pictures of outdated foes the Morphs, fixing of simplistic puzzles, discovering keys and getting hopelessly misplaced…however this time from a pseudo over-the-shoulder perspective.

Again launched by JoshProd and given full approval by the rights holder and designer Delphine Software and Paul Cuisset, Fade to Black on Dreamcast was launched in 2018 to little or no in the best way of fanfare outdoors of the Dreamcast group. The Dreamcast launch, in a similar way to the prequel, is a kind of mash-up of the opposite variations of the sport, with the primary bulk of the sport seemingly primarily based on the PC iteration. 

This is particularly evident within the comparatively clear visuals and relative lack of extreme pixellation and texture warping related to numerous PlayStation titles. Something that units this recreation aside from the opposite indie Dreamcast releases of the period is that it’s certainly a completely 3D recreation, that runs effectively on the Dreamcast and showcases simply how effectively the Dreamcast is likely to be used for the porting of different basic DOS or Windows video games (one thing that has come to additional fruition with the latest launch of Postal). 

Controls can take a little bit of getting used to, particularly because the recreation employs a Soldier of Fortune type ‘maintain down a button to entry a secondary menu’ sort system; and you’ll’t manually goal Conrad’s sidearm making for some irritating firefights. Overall although, Fade to Black is a good third individual journey, albeit one which could be very a lot of its time.

There are a few fascinating asides about this Dreamcast re-release of Fade to Black which are worthy of notice. The first is that the sport was initially printed by Electronic Arts, an organisation which famously went on to utterly ignore the existence of the Dreamcast. Does this make Fade to Black the only Electronic Arts recreation to be formally launched on Dreamcast, then? 

Also intriguing is a hearsay abounds that the Dreamcast recreation has completely redrawn field artwork (drawn by Philippe Dessoly, see above) as a result of the unique excessive decision variations of the Fade to Black paintings are misplaced to the mists of time. How true that’s, I am unable to make sure, however it makes for a pleasant bedtime story.

So there now we have it. Not one, however two Flashback titles got here to the Dreamcast in an official guise. Most individuals studying this most likely already knew this, however for many who did not…effectively now you do. Both releases are excellent renditions of their respective supply materials, and are effectively price in search of out (go right here for Flashback and right here for Fade to Black – notice these are not affiliate hyperlinks). 

It’s most likely price mentioning right here that I’m greater than a bit biased in my views as an enormous fan of the collection, having owned or performed just about each single launch of Flashback throughout quite a few completely different plaforms over time. Of course the Atari Jaguar model is the very best (and has the superior variant of the field artwork), however the Dreamcast model provides it a run for its cash. Fight me within the feedback.