Freedom Planet 2 Review (techmuse)
(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.