Freedom Planet

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

.

Review:

(Note: This game is included in Freedom Planet 1+2 Bundle, along with Freedom Planet 2)

Freedom Planet is a Platformer that’s similar to the Sonic games. Very similar. As in, if I didn’t know any better, you could have told me that this game was originally intended to be a spinoff of the Sonic games.

Now, to be clear, Freedom Planet does largely lack the one characteristic the Sonic series is best known for – its speed. However, I’d argue the game is better for it, because it means playing through the levels is more than just a task in mindless reflex. And as for the game’s similarities to Sonic, it draws on many of that series’ strengths – the colorful color palette, the way the characters move and their expressive designs, the open-ended way levels are crafted, and even the varied abilities of the three leads themselves are strikingly similar to what we see in the Sonic series.

That’s not to say there’s no originality present here. This game’s levels incorporate a bit more puzzle-solving to get past some obstacles, the characters are a little more distinct, and you won’t be jumping on enemies a la Mario. On top of that, some of these characters’ abilities diverge quite a bit from those in the Sonic games – Lilac, this game’s equivalent to Sonic, has an ability that flings her high into the air, giving her an acrobatic element Sonic never had. And Carol, who seems to have similarities to Knuckles, can in some areas hop onto a motorcycle that really allows for some crazy maneuvering.

Okay, so it’s not a carbon copy of the Sonic games, but even so, Freedom Planet draws on a lot of what makes those games great, and brings a few tricks of its own. The result is an excellent platformer that Sonic fans and platforming fans in general should really enjoy.

tl;dr – Freedom Planet is a Platformer that looks, feels, and plays like a Sonic game without the high speeds, while bringing some unique things to the table as well. Fans of platformers and especially fans of Sonic games should definitely give this one a look.

Grade: B

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