Were you to simply look at the control layout for Flashback odds are you wouldn’t be surprised — move with the left stick, aim with the right, jump, roll, etc. In action, however, this title takes some getting used to because jumping vertically and horizontally are done with different inputs. Here, any ledge you can grab will be reached by pressing up on the left stick. Meanwhile, the “A” button is only used to jump over obstacles and across distances that are essentially parallel to one another.

Sure, it improves as the series moves along, but even then it just feels slow and clunky by modern standards. Add to that the unfortunate use of the rear touch pad and the controls turn out to be the biggest hindrance to enjoying the game.

Standard brawler controls apply to much of the action with heavy/light attacks, jumps and grabs assigned to the face buttons. Blocking is done via the left trigger, and you can consume items on the fly with the bumpers. Holding down the right trigger brings up your “anar-chi” menu, with up to four powers (one for each of the face buttons) assigned at a given time. Chaining combos together is fun and satisfying, and the game’s litany of weapons to grab and use keeps things fresh.

What makes the game deviate from the norm is the introduction of teleportation as well as the ability to deploy “telepods,” which allow you to warp back to the point you dropped them — it’s an essential tool once pathways start branching off. Those two mechanics allow for more intricate level designs than your standard space shooter, and once you get the hang of it you’ll be teleporting your ship into tight spaces at fast speeds and zooming right back out.