Freedom Fighters ROM Description
Freedom Fighters is an awesome game for PS2. I wish I had played it back in 2003 and not for the first time in 2018. Freedom Fighters is also a game in an alternate history where the Soviet Union became the world’s superpower after World War II. You play Christopher Stone, who runs a small plumbing business with his brother Tony. They kick the game off at the home of the well-known activist Isabella Angelina. Surprisingly, the Russians invade New York and look for anyone who will speak out against them.
Simple But Effective Story
There aren’t tons of story and dialogue to flesh all of this out, but there is just enough to give you context about the situation and push the story along. In addition to this, some delightful propaganda news videos from the Russian media show up anytime you take back or blow up one of the major sites.
Unique and Interconnected Mission Structure
In terms of gameplay, the structure is actually quite unique, not only for a game in 2003. The missions are broken up into different areas that the resistance needs to take control of, such as the post office, police station, or the harbor. You have a base of operations underground, and you use the sewer system to enter into each of the missions, which are all sort of like mini open worlds to fight in and explore.
The unique part of all of this is that because there are manholes leading to the sewer pretty much everywhere, they are useless checkpoints that allow you to pull back to your home base at any time. You can pull out of a mission halfway through, play another mission, and then return to the halfway point of the previous mission without any issues.
Missions are unlocked in chunks of twos and threes, and it’s really interesting to see how all of them connect with each other. More importantly, your progress in one area isn’t wasted if you hit a dead end somewhere else.
Recruit and Command AI Teammates
Another element is the charisma meter and the squad mechanics. Throughout the game, you’ll encounter wounded civilians and hostages. If you help them out, your reputation will grow. Build it up enough to recruit resistant members to follow you into battle. You can give out basic commands such as attack and regroup, and although it’s not that deep of a system, it’s cool to see your following grow to as many as 12 soldiers trailing behind you. They are also pretty effective, so it’s satisfying to enter some situations where allies are watching your back.
Impressive Visuals and Environments
One area in which Freedom Fighters impressed me was its visuals, as there is a surprising amount of depth to the world. The machine-controlled areas are obviously contained, but they feel larger than they are due to the sharpness of the environment. The New York streets look great, even if slightly empty. Indoor spaces are well presented and have good character design. Character models have a stylized look, but the game maintains a consistent art style.
Conclusion
In summary, Freedom Fighters is a solid third-person shooter with some fun mechanics that encourage players to think about their approach to combat situations. It provides a decent challenge with a unique mission structure and a world worth exploring.
