The year is 2142. The player takes control of Conrad B. Hart, a man who has lost his memory. After barely escaping from hostile aliens, Conrad's bike crashes on an unknown planet. Conrad finds himself in the jungle, and from that moment on his quest for survival and his lost identity begins.
Flashback: The Quest for Identity is a game that combines elements of platforming, shooting, and problem-solving. It follows a design philosophy similar to Prince of Persia, with large levels to explore and a focus on platforming. Compared to other games in this style, Flashback has a stronger emphasis on exploration and movement.
The gameplay involves running, jumping, shooting enemies, and solving puzzles. The player navigates Conrad through various structures, using different moves such as jumping, climbing, and picking up objects. To defend himself, Conrad can shoot enemies with his gun or use objects to harm them. Special moves like crouching and rolling are essential in combat.
The game also features areas where the player must talk to characters, gather information, and complete tasks in an adventure-like fashion. The gameplay is balanced between exploration, platforming, and combat, making for a varied experience.
Most versions of Flashback use cutscenes with polygonal graphics, while the CD versions feature pre-rendered 3D animations. The Sega CD version also includes voice-overs.