The Flash
Flash, The is a Game Boy action game released in 1991 developed by Equilibrium, Inc.. It centers on shooting and weapon use, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around a monochrome small screen, a directional pad, and two main action buttons.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.5 / 10
About this game
Flash, The is a Game Boy action release centered on shooting and weapon use, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses. Stages build pressure through routes, enemy patterns, and changing objectives, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on campaign length or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Readable animation, hits, and hazards determine whether feedback remains dependable, while silhouettes, contrast, and audio cues need to remain clear on the monochrome display. The main genre-specific friction is that period-specific collision rules, limited guidance, and repeated ground after failure can raise the entry barrier. In addition, password or battery saves, link-cable requirements, display blur, manual dependence, and regional language can affect use of the original cartridge today. This description covers only this release and excludes emulator features, modern-port conveniences, and content from other platforms.
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Game Boy (GB)AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A competent Game Boy platformer that translates speed into useful urgency.
The Flash gives its hero a timed bomb-disposal mission across twelve stages. Punch and kick attacks are joined by a meter-consuming spin and a high-speed dash required in much of the game, so deciding when to bypass enemies has genuine value. A firsthand Game Boy review finds the movement generally sound and the limited lives, timer and modest resource recovery effective at building pressure. It also identifies avoidable irritants: jumping on Up takes adjustment, drops from upper routes can conceal fatal pits, and a few encounter placements punish trial and error. Progress uses passwords instead of a normal save. Those specifics make this more than a generic licensed mascot run, but also firmly a product of its handheld era. It suits players who enjoy concise retro platform challenges and can tolerate imperfect information and manual continuation.
Strengths
- Dash and timed objectives make the licensed premise playable.
Weaknesses
- Blind hazards and password-only progress make retries less friendly.
Who it is for: Retro Game Boy action fans who enjoy short timed stages.
Play notes: Up-button jumping and unseen lower-floor pits require adjustment.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Twelve stages sustain urgency but include frustrating spikes. | Reviewed | 6.3 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Timed bombs and a power-consuming dash suit the character. | Reviewed | 6.9 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension A modest city crisis gives fast stages enough context. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Generally sound controls meet awkward jump mapping, blind drops and passwords. | Reviewed | 6.0 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Equilibrium
- Publisher
- THQ
- Release date
- 1991
- Platforms
- Game Boy (GB)
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Action · Primary genreAdventure
- Tags
- DodgeMain Story Under 10 HoursReal-time CombatShootingReplayable2D GraphicsFast-pacedSolo-friendlyLinear LevelsPlatformingSide-scrolling
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Side view
Release editions
- Game Boy (GB)Worldwide1991
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided