Game: Freedom Planet 2
Genre: Action, Adventure, Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows), PS4 and Xbox)
Developer|Publisher: Galaxy Trail Games | Marvelous (XSEED)
Age Rating: EU 12+ | US Teen
Price: US $24.99 | UK £22.99 | EU €24,99
Release Date: April 4th, 2024
A review code was provided, with many thanks to Decibel PR.
Freedom Planet 2 Bigger and Better
The first Freedom Planet was released almost ten years ago; goodness, how time flies. I remember playing the original game on PC and remember being quite taken by the soundtrack and the graphic nods to the original Mega Drive. The game certainly took some inspiration from a famous blue hedgehog but managed to bring plenty of its own personality to the table to create quite the fanbase.
The sequel finally made its way to PC after some time in development. It was only a matter of time before the Nintendo Switch port would surface. Now, this is where I would say players looking to enjoy the game in handheld mode would finally get their fix, but then I soon learned this game is also Steam Deck verified. Still, if Nintendo Switch is your preference, I’m pleased to report Freedom Planet 2 does everything the first game did but bigger, better and possibly fluffier. So, if you love your 2D platformers, be sure to check this out.
Woke up on the Wrong Side of the Crystal Prison
The game is set a few years after the first entry. Peace is once again disrupted by the invasion of a robotic army that rudely destroys the hero’s tree house. It turns out the source of this menace is a baddie named Merge, a bio-engineered supersoldier who has woken up on the wrong side of the crystal prison. It’s up to the returning heroes Lilac, Carol, Milla and new playable character Neera to save the planet once again. They do this by zipping around levels and defeating gigantic robot bosses.
A huge amount of effort has been put into Freedom Planet 2 story and world-building. The characters are fully voiced and acted out, with passionate performances from each of the cast members. There are also a ridiculous amount of NPCs to talk to between levels to learn more about lore. All this is excellent, especially if you like plots to be expanded. For me, though, I found it interrupted by the fun, zippy pace of the platforming levels. One moment, you’re racing through levels only for the pace just to stop while you take in some pretty long cutscenes. When you finish the game, you unlock classic mode, which focuses on the levels that I feel should have been available from the start. But before that, if you’re really impatient, you can skip the cutscenes.
Exciting Roller Coasters
The gameplay of Freedom Planet 2 follows the formula of old-school 2D platformers. Simply find your way from point A to point B, engage in a boss bottle, and then take a break to talk to some NPCs if you fancy before moving on to the next level.
Each of the four playable has its own distinct feel and playstyle. Lilac, the water dragon, can charge a move and dash in midair while also performing melee attacks that look a lot like ballet moves. Carol, the wildcat can zip about on a motorcycle if you find the right power-ups and use a neat little disc throw and jump off. Milla, who looks like a rabbit but is apparently a basset hound, makes use of projectile lasers and the ability to reflect projectiles back at some enemies. Lastly, we have Neera the Panda, a former sub-boss in the previous game. She makes use of an ice spear to freeze enemies and jump off. She’s not as mobile as the others but certainly makes short work of boss fights.
Something new in the sequel is the ability to perform a guard move, which essentially gives you a temporary shield. This is very useful against sudden hazards and boss fights provided you’re quick on the trigger. I found it a lot of fun trying out each character, and if you are into the story, you will see a different perspective of the plot playing as each character.
I would describe levels as exciting video game rollercoasters. Much like the 2D adventures featuring a blue hedgehog, there is a satisfying speediness to zipping about. You head around loop de loops and have a fair few moments where you just enjoy the momentum of speeding past enemies. But it’s not all about speed, often the game will take moments of pause for you to engage in some light puzzle solving and, of course, taking down some enemies. What’s also appealing is that there are multiple routes through each level, giving plenty of incentive to replay and see alternative paths. This is further expanded by each of the four characters playing differently creating a platformer that will keep you busy for a jolly long time.
When you finish a level, you gain a score and some crystals. These can then be exchanged for amulets and charms found in various hub areas between levels. They provide some gameplay enhancements like longer invincibility periods, but the cost is reduced, such as crystal payout. Alternatively, you can buff the difficulty to increase crystal payout. Or just play it safe and not engage with it at all. Either way, it’s another neat incentive to tinker with should you want to replay the game and feel more confident in your skills.
Boss Battles
Boss fights are where I found the difficulty tended to spike. These are usually epic counters with giant robots where you need to whittle its health bar down at just the right point. They may be tough at times, but the difficulty felt well-balanced. It is not too meaty to become tedious, but it is also flexible, which allows you to make mistakes and recover. Should difficulty be an issue, accessibility features are available to calm the storm. They don’t hold your hand and still maintain the challenge but offer assistance in reducing the cost to continue and auto-guarding to help with some of the hazards.
16-Bit Bliss
The graphics in Freedom Planet 2 are utterly gorgeous. Incredibly detailed pixel sprites are heavily inspired by the 16-bit generation. Particularly the Mega Drive system. Levels pop with pop as you zip around a variety of environments, from forests, ice areas, and built-up cities to watery ruins. Each of the levels feels carefully crafted with unique features.
Things that stood out to me included being able to take a ride on a monorail train to reach higher platforms in the city and rolling into a giant snowball in the ice areas. No two levels feel alike, and it really plays to the game’s strengths. The only notable niggle was sometimes when things got busy on screen, the performance would stutter on Nintendo Switch, but this felt very mild. Much like the first game, the sequel provides a stellar soundtrack that resonates with upbeat and epic tempos. However, it doesn’t quite reach the memorable heights of the original.
Conclusion: Gotta Go Freedom
Freedom Planet 2 takes all its assets from the first game and builds on them in every way creating a sequel that is more polished. If you loved the first game or retro platformers, this is a must-buy. Even if you just want a solid good platformer, Freedom Planet 2 provides some solid entertainment to keep you busy for several gaming weekends, with plenty of incentive to return again. For me, the story was a bit too heavy in places, and the performance sometimes slowed. But despite these minor niggles it’s hard not to be sucked in by the charm of Freedom Planet 2.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot
