Freedom Planet 2

After an extremely long hiatus, the much-awaited Freedom Planet 2 is coming out in Spring of 2022. The game has been in progress for many years, with the developers self-financing it rather than going the route of crowdfunding like they did for the first game. Freedom Planet 2 has been in the works since the first game became a cult hit in 2014 and has been slowly making its way towards completion ever since.

An original platformer

The original game was meant to be a fangame based off of Sonic the Hedgehog, and you can see much of the similarities in Freedom Planet 2. The game features a cast of friendly, furry characters set in a colorful world, who must face evil to save the planet in a cute, side-scrolling planet.

Although it has its roots in a fangame, the work put into the series has made it an original piece worthy of so much fan excitement.

Stunning voice acting

One of the first things players will notice when they watch the generous nearly 3-minute trailer showcasing the game is the incredible voice acting put into work for the game. The developers chose beautiful, expressive voice acting for the characters, and the game at least appears to be fully voiced. Many of the original voice actors from the first game are reprising their roles, so if you loved how they sounded in the first game, look forward to their work a second time around.

Beautiful pixel art

Pixel art is often a fairly simple affair, but once again Freedom Planet 2 takes this to a whole new level. While it maintains the look and feel of classic pixel art, the detailing in it is good and the crystal-clear characters are very well done.

Innovative new gameplay

As Freedom Planet 2 nears completion, it’s clear that it has grown into itself even more. The original game was a nod to classic Sonic gameplay style, but this new game also adds new characters and new abilities. Those new abilities are unique to the game and help make it stand out as an original game even more.

Each character has unique abilities, such as the ability to freeze things, move in unique ways, etc. These skills are genuinely useful in the game and are showcased how they can be used in the trailer.

Exciting environments

One of the most important parts of the game is the environments you find yourself fighting through, and these are also hold-nothing-back beautiful. The platformer has you working through everything from mining operations to carnivals. Each backdrop is strongly detailed, and parts of the environment can used to help you maneuver, or act as puzzles you have to solve to make your way through.

Woven together with the amazing characters and sound of the game, these environments bring the whole game together for some of the best platforming action out there.

Pros:

• Original gameplay
• Beautiful graphics and sound
• Rich platforming environments

Cons:

• Very slow development throws release date into question

Freedom Planet 2 is an action-packed platformer that offers a thrilling adventure for players. The game follows the heroes of Avalice as they face their greatest challenge yet – an ancient terror that has emerged from the depths of the ocean. Merga, a water dragon from Avalice's oldest and deadliest war, has been freed from her crystal prison as a consequence of the Kingdom Stone's destruction.

With revamped physics and the same old-school charm that made the original such a classic, Freedom Planet 2 continues the tradition of being the true Sonic the Hedgehog sequel fans always wanted – but Sega never delivered.

Bigger and Better

Even though it's possible to jump straight into the sequel, I highly recommend starting with the first game to fully appreciate the story. The sequel is a vibrant platformer that takes cues from Sonic the Hedgehog, featuring an endearing cast of animals that practice martial arts in a sci-fi world with a distinct Asian influence.

While there are some fast-paced levels with moments to dash across rails and scale walls, the game emphasizes nimble exploration and puzzle-solving. Players can scour each stage for hidden areas and collectibles that will reward them with exciting bonuses.

Adventuring with a Twist

In Freedom Planet 2, the game's combat system adds a unique twist to the platformer genre. Each playable character has a distinct playstyle and combat options that complement their abilities. With four unique characters to choose from, players will have no shortage of gameplay options in Freedom Planet 2 – that's for sure.

Like every true 16-bit classic, this game features some challenging and impressive boss battles. Thanks to the outstanding visual direction, each boss feels like a true work of art – that is if you can even take a look at them in the middle of the high-speed chaos that's every level in this game.

Still, the difficulty in Freedom Planet 2 feels much more forgiving than it was in its predecessor. This goes a long way in ensuring that new players enjoy the experience a bit more – but might also disappoint some fans of the insane difficulty of some old-school platformers.

Sega Revival

Since this is the same team behind the amazing Sonic Mania, expect to see some of the best and most vibrant pixel art in any modern retro-inspired game.

The level design in Freedom Planet 2 is nothing short of exceptional. From fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled stages to more puzzle-focused levels, each one is crafted with precision and care. And the unique character designs make each level feel fresh and exciting, adding to the overall sense of wonder and adventure that permeates the game.

All in all, Freedom Planet 2 feels like a relic of a bygone gaming era. A treasure for fans of the best titles in the 16-bit generation and a chance for younger players to experience the excitement of a flashy platformer like no other.

Pros

• Amazing sprite art
• Great soundtrack
• A good variety of playable characters

Cons

• The difficulty might be disappointingly easy for fans of the first game