"A game that fills a long-vacant void, and the only one where you can trash all the buildings"

Since spacewar was dreamed up by a load of University students, video and computer gaming has taken off (well, it would be more accurate to say since pong, as the arcade spacewar was a flop). From the initially narrow possibilities, a vast number of genres and ideas have emerged, and all other than the most horribly flawed(such as Dragon's Lair) have produced at least one masterpiece.
All but one... until now.
Think for a second. You've seen sports games, space games, fantasy games, real-world games, historical games, strategy games, driving games, management games and strange cartoon action games. All have seen both good and bad.
The superhero game genre has seen only bad.
I have heard that one or two of the odd arcade compilation-type games on the Amiga were ok, and the recent attempts at spiderman games were reasonable action games. However, we still have yet to see a superhero game with the seeds of greatness.
Until now, that is, dear readers, until now...

Freedom force is a tactical, squad-based superhero RPG. If the prospect of such a game fills you with unutterable loathing, feel free to stop reading now. If not...
The first impression of the game is an impressive animated title sequence that perfectly (in the most literal sense of the word) captures the atmosphere of ''classic'' 60's superhero comics. As the main menu is reached and the game proper started, this impression is reinforced: voice acting, graphics, the narrator, all are straight out of the so-called ''silver age'' of comics. It's cheesy, cliched, full of inconsistency, and almost like a parody in its exact replication.
It's brilliant, funny and extremely atmospheric.
The plot... the plot is absolutely typical. Evil alien warlord, various gimmicked ''supervillains'', patriotic heroes, tormented heroes and so on.
Anyway, as for the game itself, think Baldur's Gate. In 3D. In a city where almost everything can be picked up, thrown or smashed. Where your characters are incredibly strong, can jump onto buildings, fly and hurl various scenery-destroying energy attacks. With cars and pedestrians all over the place.
The game has a mission-based structure, which is mildly disappointing to those (such as myself) who enjoy freeform games, but said missions are varied, well-thought-out, and allow far better plot scripting. While a large part of the action takes place in the city, you also have aircraft carriers, icescapes, and so on.
The physics are also rather good. As I mentioned, cars and various objects can be thrown or wielded, and upon doing so they rebound convincingly off walls and so on.
The music is, like the graphics and voices, good and suitable to the setting.
If the game has a downside, it is the lack of options in the multi-player, which is nothing but deathmatch. Co-operative would have been welcome.
Finally, just to reassure some of you, yes, you can create your own superheroes. However, you only have a limited number of resources in the single player campaign, and absurdly powerful characters will either only be affordable at the end or not at all.
Overall, this is the only good superhero game out there, as well as boasting a degree of interactivity and design few other games have. Buy it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/20/03, Updated 01/20/03