Developer: Galaxy Trail
Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Rating: Ice Cool
Initially starting off life as a Sonic fan game, Freedom Planet never really shifts too far away from its idol’s core game play and mechanics (Which arguably is a good thing) but is so well designed in and of itself that it remains a worthy addition to any platform lover’s collection.
The simple equation boils down to this. If you like Sonic games, you’ll like Freedom Planet. Although the more sprawling and occasionally labyrinthine layout is more akin to Sonic 3 and Sonic Mania than the first two games which employed a more linear focus. The visuals are chunky, sprite-y goodness and the music has that catchy positive-edge that has served our spikey blue friend so well over the years and matches the vibrant colour palette wonderfully. There are some moments in the music as well as more noticeably in the animations and character move sets that hammer home that this was once a pure Sonic game but the characters feel strong and whilst the story itself isn’t ground-breaking, it’s solid and briskly told enough to carry along the game play, and it’s the game play that is the strongest asset here.
With two playable characters to choose from and a variety of different modes (Adventure, Classic and Time Trial), Freedom Planet has some variety running throughout. The short cut-scenes separate the lengthy levels nicely and the boss battles are fun to work through. The controls are intuitive and feel responsive, a key issue in these precision platforming games. I also had a few occasions where I got ‘stuck’ and had to complete puzzle sections in order to move forwards making me realise that this takes a slightly more cerebral direction than the early Sonic titles. That’s not to say that the game scrimps in the movement department as you blast, run and roll your way at high speeds throughout the stages.
Freedom Planet is the perfect fit for the Switch, looking fantastic in full-screen mode as well as being a great game to dip into for a quick blast on a level or two when on the move it feels fully-rounded and has enough original ideas of its own to stand out and the tightness of game play and charm in the design and characters make the whole thing a joy to play through. It’s a well-documented formula refined to a high quality, the only downside that I can see being of concern to some is that it doesn’t move the genre forwards in any meaningful way but I really don’t think that’s what it’s trying to do.
Summary
A great title for veterans of the genre whilst also being accessible enough to act as a starting point for younger players or perhaps those who fancy a crack at some platforming action for the first time.
Also of interest is the fact that the lead developer of Sonic Mania (Christian Whitehead) is currently working on the sequel to Freedom Planet, a strong as this original game is, the sequel looks to be shaping as something that could be really special indeed for the 2D platform fan crowd…of which there are many.
Right, I’m off to collect a load of blue gems to flog in Cash Generator.
❄️ RATING: ICE COOL ❄️
Ratings Explained
ICE COOL (Great Game Recommended)
MELTING (Recommended with reservations, one to consider if you are a fan of the genre)
MELTED (Not A Recommended Purchase)
Review By Britt
No comments:
Post a Comment
Like what you see in the Games Freezer?
Why not tell us what you think with a few well-chosen comments? :)
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.