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The original Out of This World was an incredible game, combining awesome storytelling with a solid gameplay experience. The sequel, Heart of the Alien, was released for the Sega CD (along with the first game, all on a single CD), and it received less fanfare than its predecessor. Is it because it’s an inferior game, or did the media just pass by this one entirely?
It’s been ported to almost every single console you can imagine (I think there’s a Game.Con rev somewhere), and Genesis owners were enthralled at the way Out of This World seemed to push their consoles harder than any other game. Even today, the fluidity of the animation and the polygonal cut scenes are something of a marvel, considering the hardware pushing them.
There’s something special about games like Flashback: The Quest for Identity. With its roots planted firmly in the computer legacy left by such classics as Out of This World, the way it manages to mesh action with an amazing story captivated gamers the world over. After seeing release on the Genesis and other consoles, the Sega CD was treated to a version that boasted enhanced cut scenes and a great soundtrack. That may not seem like much of a rationale for a CD release, but considering how great the actual game is, there really isn’t much to tweak.
It’s been ported to just about every platform on Earth, but it’s always just as grand. Delphine Software’s Flashback: The Quest for Identity set a new standard in just how much could fit into a cartridge, and it showed us that a great story, wrapped around excellent gameplay, was the true way to create a classic.