izigame.me

It is not often that I play a game to 100% completion, especially when that means perfecting it. Playing through it multiple times with every character, earning the best rank in every stage, beating every par time, grinding to complete collections, let alone in nearly one extensive sitting without breaking to play something else.
Freedom Planet 2 was one of those rare cases.
I came to it hot off the heels of the first after purchasing both on a sale with some steam cards I got for my birthday earlier this year, I knew nothing about it going in, but had previously played through the first several years ago on Wii U, proceeding to not touch it again due to what I will refer to as "Younger me skill issue." I got my ass beat, I'm not afraid to admit, but I managed to persevere to the end. Flash forward to this year, and I still had some struggles, but got through all the same. After enjoying the first, I was more than ready to hop into it's sequel, excited to see what it had in store.
That was back in September, and I now have almost 200 hours clocked into it, sitting pretty on a 100% save file as Lilac with all 63 achievements to my name, and yet still I don't quite feel like I'm through with it, I might very well return another time to take a swing at hard mode, just so I can play more of it, even with nothing else to accomplish, and everything done.
I speak with utmost sincerity when I say that Freedom Planet 2 is one of the crowning jewels of indie gaming: From it's stunning pixel art, to its fun characters, humorous yet compelling writing, wonderful voice-acting, high-octane action, and fantastic soundtrack, all wrapped up in a gripping narrative of war and deceit, with the very world itself once again on the line. This series truly has evolved beyond it's humble roots as a Sonic fangame and into something entirely it's own. The jump in quality between the original Freedom Planet (Still a good game in it's own right, mind you) and it's sequel is astronomical, and nothing short of magnificent.
If you enjoy tearing through gorgeous scenery at mach one as cute but tough monster girls, obliterating all that stands in your way for the good of the world while rocking out to a varied and always remarkable soundtrack that always fits the current mood, and you don't mind a bit of a darker tone in your stories, pick this game up as soon as you can. You'll be supporting an incredible team of developers and in return getting an outstanding example of what happens when a passion project comes to life, without any interference from pesky due-dates or corporate meddling, lord knows the people behind it deserve recognition.
I'll be eagerly awaiting the third entry from announcement to release, if it comes.

(As of writing this I have only beaten the game as Lilac.) Freedom Planet 2 is more than just a game for me, it was an EXPERIENCE. This game is a prime example for how to create a sequel that's even bigger and better than the original. From the core gameplay tweaks, the level design bursting with really fun and creative gimmicks, more balanced bosses, the more appealing and improved character designs, the improved combat thanks to the new abilities and the guard move, and the gorgeous spritework--some of the best I've ever seen in a videogame--there is a lot to love about this game. It really says something about the game’s quality when I’d even consider the weaker stages to still be good at the first least. Combined with the items and the ranking system on top of that, you have a game that’s endlessly replayable. But the aspect that has seen by far the largest jump in quality in my opinion is the story and the overall writing. I'd say that the story is really good--great even this time around, thanks to the improved presentation, very likable characters (with Lilac being one of my new favorite characters of all time), great voice acting, tighter writing, fairly high stakes, really funny humor, and better cutscene pacing to name a few things. Merga especially runs circles around Brevon from FP1 when it comes to being the main villain due to how compelling her backstory and motivations were, and how the story explored her relations with Lilac seeing as both of them are the last known water dragons. The overall tone is much more consistent as well, as while the game has its fair share of comedy, it knows when to slow things down when it has its more serious moments, compared to the first game which had some serious tonal whiplash issues. The game even did a fairly good job at tackling more serious themes, such as the effects of colonialism, mass genocide, and historical revisionism to name a few. As for some other aspects, I even really liked the addition of hub worlds as a nice break between the main action stages and the NPCs as well! They also do a great job when it comes to the worldbuilding of Avalice, and how it makes the world feel properly lived in. When it comes to the soundtrack: while FP1 might have arguably higher highs, I still think FP2 has a really awesome soundtrack in its own right, and I really appreciate the wide variety of musical styles. Overall, Freedom Planet 2 is not only one of the best 2D platformers out there, but it's also one of my new favorite games of all time while probably being one of if not my favorite indie game of all time. 10/10, this game is absolutely worth picking up if you're a fan of 2D platformers and women. You don't need to play the first game in order to enjoy the second, but I'd still recommended playing it as it's still a great game in its own right, and it makes it easier to appreciate the changes 2 made. Definitely looking forward to doing future playthroughs with the other 3 characters at some point.

Was it worth the seven-year wait?


Sequels are never easy, even more so when the original is so beloved. Balancing the things that made the original great with innovations that make a sequel stand out is a difficult act, and not one every studio can succeed at. When done poorly, players just get more of the same, or in the worst cases, a whole that is lesser than the sum of its parts. When done well, players get a fresh experience that iterates on the original's successes while avoiding its flaws.

Freedom Planet, a love-letter to the 16-bit era, was one such beloved title, and the developers had their work cut out for them. With such a fantastic first entry, the sequel would need to do so much more, while still keeping the spirit of the original intact. A seven-year development period followed, and at long last, the game was released. But how did it do? Was it a fantastic follow-up to the original, or does it fall short--

Of course it's good. It's really good. It's so good. It's one of the best 2D platformers, period. We can cut the theatrics now.

Almost everything the first game did, the second game does just as well, if not better. The artwork is more detailed and thematic, and the visual effects are fantastic. The gameplay is refined far beyond the first game, giving the characters a new array of well-balanced abilities that give them versatility without making them more powerful. Every character is fun to play. Nearly every stage flows immaculately, even on a first play. The mechanics are beautifully balanced, allowing for a surprising degree of player expression without any blatantly overpowered options. The sound effects are great, and the voice acting is as well. The music is thematic and fits the setting perfectly. The story, probably the most contentious part of both games, has a great degree of depth and thought put into it, and it avoids the tonal and pacing issues of the first game's.

The game has been out for two years or so now, but I bought it a little bit later. I just got around to writing a review because I couldn't find the right words to accurately express how good this game is. Even this barely scratches the surface of how I feel. There's so much to it, I couldn't possibly cover it all.

Are you on the fence if you should buy this game? Here's a quick guide:
* Did you enjoy the first Freedom Planet? This game is everything you could ever want in a sequel and more. You should buy FP2.
* Did you not enjoy the first Freedom Planet? FP2 improves the weak aspects of FP1 while improving the strong ones. You should buy FP2.
* Have you not played Freedom Planet? FP2 is a great game, even on its own. You should buy FP2.
* Do you enjoy the games of a certain blue-quilled mascot? FP2 isn't the same, but it's similar, and it's very good. You should buy FP2.
* Do you enjoy 2D platformers at all? FP2 is a good 2D platformer. You should buy FP2.
* Do you hate fun? FP2 might change your mind. You should buy FP2.
* Do you hate Steam and/or PC gaming? The console releases are coming up very soon! You should buy FP2.
* Are you not represented by this list? Now you are. Also, you should buy FP2.

Also, there's a free sample version of the first stage, so try that out! The full game is even better.

Okay, that's all. Buy the game.