Freedom Wars Remastered Review

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The distinctive gameplay style that became famous through Capcom’s Monster Hunter series has influenced numerous other games, some more successfully than others. One such game is Freedom Wars, initially released for PlayStation Vita in 2014, which garnered mixed reviews from critics but stood out as one of the most remarkable titles for the handheld console that eventually faltered. As a PlayStation Vita exclusive, Freedom Wars had a limited audience, and since the servers for the original game were shut down long ago, there’s always been anticipation for a port or remaster. The recently released Freedom Wars Remastered now offers the game to a broader audience while preserving its initial appeal. Yet, some players might feel that it doesn’t go far enough in upgrading the 2014 Vita game to contemporary home console quality standards.

The remastered version of “Freedom Wars,” titled “Freedom Wars Remastered,” maintains its original essence, but boasts enhanced textures, additional difficulty options, and a revamped crafting system. However, it appears rather outdated visually. Although the game offers 4K resolution, the character designs and mission stages are unremarkable and lack detail. In many cases, even with updated textures, the game can be downright unsightly.

As a gamer, I must admit that I was hoping for a more visually stunning experience with Freedom Wars Remastered, given its release on newer hardware. However, despite its lackluster graphics, it runs smoothly and the gameplay is generally enjoyable. For those new to this genre, Freedom Wars Remastered’s core mechanics revolve around completing missions to gather resources and weapons for tackling tougher challenges. These often involve fighting large boss enemies, where you can strategically target specific body parts to collect unique crafting materials. The battles are lengthy and can be tense, but the addictive nature of this kind of gameplay remains intact in Freedom Wars Remastered.

As a devoted fan, I can’t seem to tear myself away from Freedom Wars Remastered! While the mission settings may feel repetitive, and human fights can be frustrating due to their frequent interruptions, the battles against colossal Abductor enemies are exhilarating. The combat might appear button-mashy, but the satisfaction of seeing an enemy’s body part fly off after a series of attacks is unparalleled. Admittedly, I yearn for more diverse enemies, but even battling the same group of Abductors never grew stale. A significant aspect that keeps things fresh is the Thorn weapon, which brings a unique twist to combat.

In Freedom Wars Remastered, the Thorns have multiple variations, each with unique features, but their main function is similar to the ODM Gear from Attack on Titan – they allow for swift movement across the environment. Additionally, these Thorns can subdue large enemies, pulling them down and making them vulnerable to continuous assaults. The missions featuring colossal boss battles might be lengthy, but they’re generally entertaining. If you’re a fan of Monster Hunter’s combat, you’re sure to have a blast with Freedom Wars Remastered!

As a gamer diving into the world of Freedom Wars Remastered, I found myself accomplishing numerous missions in a team setting, with the option for online co-op play. Due to the focus of this review, I mainly worked alongside AI-controlled companions. Fortunately, these AI allies proved incredibly helpful, although they do require specific guidance if one aims to complete certain tasks effectively (like when they struggle terribly with flag captures unless explicitly told). Mostly, though, they excel at chipping away at enemy health and reviving teammates should they fall. At times, the efficiency of these AI companions made battles in Freedom Wars Remastered almost effortless, which I appreciate more than some other games where NPC partners tend to hinder progress instead.

In the game “Freedom Wars Remastered,” players can enlist numerous Non-Player Characters (NPCs) for their missions, but they also get a default AI ally called an “Accessory” who tags along in most missions. Much like the Palicos in “Monster Hunter,” these Accessories have customizable looks and equipment. In addition to adding a unique aesthetic flair, the Accessory in “Freedom Wars Remastered” is also there to supervise the player, ensuring they adhere to the game’s rules.

In the game titled Freedom Wars Remastered, you’re thrust into a bleak, Orwellian-like universe where individuals labeled as “Sinners” are forced to carry out perilous missions in an effort to lessen their staggering 1 million year prison terms. The catch? Your privileges are severely limited until you contribute resources to your community, the Panopticon. Without these contributions, basic actions like resting, fast-traveling, or even sprinting beyond five seconds aren’t allowed. Performing such actions can lead to penalties that extend your sentence further. For example, talking to an NPC of the opposite gender without purchasing the privilege first could result in a 20-year sentence increase, while reclining without the right privilege adds another 10 years.

Initially, the slow walking at the beginning of “Freedom Wars Remastered” can be a bit bothersome, but the game’s prison setting and unique mechanics kept me captivated. The narrative, while generally intriguing, is occasionally weakened by stereotypical anime characters and dialogue. There are also lengthy explanations during missions that detract from the game, but I remained hooked on the larger mystery and eagerly awaited each new development in the story.

In essence, the majority of your journey in Freedom Wars Remastered involves battling Abductors and interacting with non-player characters (NPCs), interspersed with stealth operations for variety. However, it’s disappointing to note that the stealth missions in Freedom Wars Remastered seem more like an addition rather than a core part of the game. These stealth operations lack any real challenge and may come off as unengaging. When these tedious stealth sequences disrupt extended periods of dialogue, they can significantly slow down the game’s rhythm, leaving players eager to return to the engaging Abductor missions.

I completed the main story of Freedom Wars Remastered in approximately 20 hours, yet there were still 879,667 years remaining on my term of imprisonment.

In the expansive post-story phase of “Freedom Wars Remastered”, players are treated to an abundance of combat against numerous Abductors, offering a deep immersion in the game’s mechanics. Some might say that the true experience unfolds once the story of “Freedom Wars Remastered” concludes, particularly for those who appreciate games similar to “Monster Hunter”. If you fall into this category and enjoy these types of experiences, you’ll find that your investment is more than rewarded, especially if you delve into the online cooperative and player-versus-player modes. While it has its rough spots, “Freedom Wars Remastered” is generally an engaging action RPG with a compelling gameplay loop that keeps you hooked and makes it tough to quit playing.

The remastered version of Freedom Wars is set to release on January 10th, and it will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. For this review, we received a PlayStation 5 code from Game Rant.

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2025-01-08 15:06