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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.