Freedom Fighters

"The right ingredients for an enjoyable action game"

Introduction
From the makers of Hitman 2 comes Freedom Fighters, a squad-based 3D action game. The story is set in an alternate reality where Russia unanimously wins WWII and the so-called Cold War. In this alternate reality the United States is not a number one superpower like in modern times, no.

You play the role of Chris Stone, a plumber turned Freedom Fighter. The Soviets have taken over New York and are planning to do the same with the rest of the US. To put the icing on this explosive cake, they've kidnapped your brother. You and your freedom fighters are on a mission to stop the Reds and reclaim New York in order to get your brother back safely...

But is it any good?

Graphics - (10/10)
IO Interactive has one hell of a video game engine on their hands. It’s a very solid in all aspects visually. From the models to the textures, everything looks detailed; and most importantly it looks well balanced. Meaning the characters look like they should be in the game and don't look off the least.

Explosions and fire leave much to be desired, but the gunfire and light-sources are both cool looking. The ragdoll physics implemented into the engine add to a unique look that already exists. It's quite funny to see enemies fly 20 feet in the air moments after you've spiked a grenade their way.

And the buildings... Well, they're massive. In the downtown parts (most of the game) you really get a frame of reference. You feel tiny compared to the buildings. Rightfully so because the buildings aren't just some graphical trick like with many games. No, they're all 3D right there in front of your two buggy eyes.

Simply put Freedom Fighters is one of MY favorite looking games of all-time.

Sound - (8/10)
One of FF's strongest parts is its sound. Albeit LOW in decibels, all sounds are nice. The guns all have a distinct sound. The soldiers say many different things.

There are a few dramatic orchestra tracks that are best described as being beautiful. Plant some C4, the music kicks in, then a big grin will cross your face when you hear it. Even though it's played to death it never gets old unless they play it too frequently from level-to-level. But that's about the only complaint I have about the sounds.

Gameplay - (8/10)
The atmosphere, the story, and the overall gameplay all come together to provide one kick-ass experience. The levels are expansive and the enemies are badass. Chris is no pushover, either. He has character that needs to push a game as such. The guns are pretty sweet. The developers don't overwhelm you with 45 versions of the same weapon, or even stupid crap like XK32 Plasma Canon, etc. They stuck in the right weapons that would expect to use to get the job done (except nukes ;)).

On the downside there are some things missing that I feel are crucial to have a successful 3D-action game. For example, a roll move would have been nice for taking cover quickly. Many times you will find yourself being shot just because you had to slowly work your way across to a box and then duck down. A roll button would have eliminated this problem. It's not just that, either. The gameplay overall just feels primitive. But if that's what you're looking for it, then by all means do not take that as a bad thing. Look at it this way: the gameplay is more akin to the run-n-gun of Contra than it is to Rainbow Six. That's all I'll say.

An inclusion of a multiplayer mode is always welcomed in any game. But the developers need to make sure it's decent. Freedom Fighter's multiplayer mode, to be honest, is bad. You get three levels and can play only with another friend. Bots are there but a human player has to be present to control them. It's you and your CPU-controlled squad versus another friend and their squad. Up to four people can play but since there's only one game type and one game mode, it's a drag. The one mode they give you is a cross between capture the flag and king of the hill. It's basic, but just isn't that fun. The fun wears off after 3 or so games. If they were going to include a MP mode they should have thrown in some more play modes, options, and levels.

Control is tops for the most part. Fire fires are manageable thanks to the simplistic squad commands, which make for fun gameplay. Moving Chris about the level is cakework. Jumping onto small ledges is harder to do than expected, but it's all good there. The only time things get rough is when you want a precise aim. The fact that there's no crosshair in combat mode is ridiculous in itself considering that this a 3rd-person shooter. If the auto-aim was to make up for this then why did they stick a manual aim in the game? Reason: the auto-aim works when it wants to. In other words, the auto-aim kind of sucks so you're forced to go into the pitiful aim mode which feels awkward as heck. IO, what were you thinking?

Replay Value - (6/10)
While seen as short by many, Freedom Fighters was fun while it lasted, and it lasted long enough to fulfill my desire for an a great action game. I played it on the second-to-last difficulty so I had quite a taste. The levels are huge so there's literally numerous routes you can take on each level. Also, the inclusion of a multiplayer mode will allow you and a friend to go at it... that's if you enjoy it long enough to get something out of it.

Conclusion
While a great game in its own, there's something missing in Freedom Fighters that I cannot put my finger on. I loved just about everything about it. Maybe it's lack of variety in the visual style in the levels, no crosshair, or maybe I'm just spoiled by other games. The tedious aiming almost stops this game from receiving an 8 (opposed to 7), but luckily the solid gameplay and story experience save it.

And finally, something needs to be said about the politics surrounding this game: If the theme stops you from playing this game then something is seriously wrong with you. It's just a game with a riveting story line that tries out something slightly different.

Whether you're Russian, American, Canadian, or even British; Freedom Fighters is a damn fine game. I'm looking forward to a potential sequel.

PROS:
-Beautiful graphics and nice orchestra tracks
-Solid balance that keeps you playing

CONS:
-Primitive gameplay mechanics and control
-Lack of co-op is drag
-Multiplayer mode is lacking

OVERALL: 8/10 (good)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/31/03