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Freedom
Fighters has been sadly overlooked by most PC Gamers. It’s
been out for only three months and it’s already been reduced
in price to a $19.99 game. It’s ranked 734 on Amazon.com’s
sales list, compared to Call of Duty’s rank of 21. Not that
Call of Duty isn’t a great game, but Freedom Fighters is a
better and far more original game. It might even be the best
game of 2003. It is without a doubt the best squad based game
ever released for the PC and the sleeper of the year. How did
it become so overlooked?
One reason may be the games
premise. Freedom Fighters is invariably compared to the movie
“Red Dawn”. In the movie, as in the game, Russia has invaded
and occupied the United States, adding the good old US of A to
their ever expanding world empire.
Screenshots
The major
difference between the game and the movie is the setting.
Freedom Fighters takes place in the city, while “Red Dawn” was
set in a small, local yokel town. When the game was released,
many gamers had a “been there, done that” feeling. Russia has
also invaded the US in games like Command & Conquer: Red Alert
and Red Alert II, so they think, “why bother with the same old
cliché.” For some reason the WWII game setting doesn’t seem to
get old, but gamers just aren’t interested in Russia anymore.
It probably has a lot to do with Russia no longer seeming like
much of a threat.
Regardless, do yourself a favor and get over the premise.
Pretend aliens have invaded NYC; pretend a corrupt
mega-corporation has taken over the country; use whatever game
cliché you prefer, but don’t sell yourself short – play
Freedom Fighters!
The game begins with Chris and Clay Stone, two NYC plumbers,
out on a typical service call. They enter the apartment of
Isabella Angelina, who just happens to be the “spokes-babe”
for “Warning Against Reds”. The apartment has obviously been
abandoned in haste. While the brothers are trying to figure
out what’s going on, armed Russian soldiers bust in and
capture Chris’s brother, while Chris manages to escape by
hiding in another room.
At that point, you assume control of Chris Stone and all hell
breaks lose. You can hear people screaming outside and bombs
exploding. The Reds have invaded! You run out into the hallway
and rescue Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones, being a friend of Isabella’s,
hooks you up with the rebellion and you quickly begin blasting
battalions of Commie bastards and climbing your way up the
rebel ranks.
The game is broken down into a series of interconnected
missions. If you blow up the helicopter in one mission, then
you’ll be able to accomplish another mission without an
annoying helicopter threatening your every movement. You start
out solo and as you successfully complete missions you gain
charisma. The more charisma you gain the more troops you can
lead into battle (12 Maximum).
Here’s were your squad-based commands come into play. In
classic KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) design, you only have 3
squad commands: follow, attack and defend. It’s all you need
and they work perfectly to strategically take out huge forces
of Reds.
It’s not just the squad commands that are simple. Control in
general is spot-on and incredibly intuitive. The familiar FPS
mouse and keyboard control combo is used to great effect in
this third person shooter. Aiming is deadly accurate,
especially when you hold down your right mouse button for a
zoomed in, over the shoulder view of the enemy.
Freedom Fighters’s graphics are excellent and run with nary a
frame rate hiccup, even when the action is fast and furious.
You’ll be amazed at how realistically gritty the war-torn city
of New York looks. You’ll be equally impressed when, in the
heat of intense battle, you realize how much is going on at
once and how well you’re controlling all the action.
However, sound, voice acting and music are what really set
Freedom Fighters apart from the pack. The story is mostly told
through a series of humorous, propaganda ridden SAFN (Soviet
Armed Forces Network) newscasts. According to the hottie
Russian anchorwoman, the Soviet Army has arrived to liberate
the Americans from their oppressive rulers. The voice acting
is funny, believable and even inspirational at times.
The sound of weapons firing, the explosion of Molotov
cocktails and the whir of chopper blades overhead will have
you feeling as if you’re in a first rate action flick. Adding
to the cinematic feel is the exhilarating anthem like music.
As firefights increase in intensity, the music swells, giving
you the extra adrenaline needed to take out overwhelming
hordes of Soviet Scum.
From beginning to end there’s nothing wrong with Freedom
Fighters. Some might say the game is too short. It took me
about 15 hours to finish, but then again I like to take my
time and admire the sights. 15 hours of pure gaming bliss are
a lot better than 50 hours of repetitive gaming drudgery.
Plus, if you’re really itching for more, then just crank up
the difficulty and play it again.
I’m typically a major advocate for save anywhere gaming. I
don’t want a game telling me when I’m saving too often. At
first I couldn’t stand having to wait until I reached the next
sewer cover, in order to save my progress towards the
eradication of the Ruskies, but eventually I found it made
sense and went a long way towards balancing out the
difficulty.
In the end, Freedom Fighters is pure excellence. IO
Interactive (Hitman Series) have outdone themselves. Just like
a good book you can’t put down, you won’t be able to tear
yourself away from Freedom Fighters. And, if you thought a
somewhat overused premise would take away from the fun, then
think again. Freedom Fighters is so good you’ll be standing up
and waiving the Stars and Stripes outside your home, by the
time the final credits roll.
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