Freedom Wars Game Review
PRODUCTION INFO
Freedom wars is a Action role-playing video game developed by SCE Japan Studio. The title was created exclusively for the Playstation Vita.
The game is considered one of the most successful first-party Playstation Vita titles within Japan, as it has the second highest all-time opening sale for Vita.
Release Dates: JP June 26, 2014; NA October 28, 2014; EU October 29, 2014; KR August 7. 2014.
GAMEPLAY
Similar to the games God Eater and Monster Hunter, Freedom Wars is a third-person action game with co-op and online competitive play. Online you can have up to eight players in one room while using one of the three different thorn classes (Binding, Healing, and Shielding Thorn). The user is also always accompanied by an AI ally known as an "Accessory". These AI robots are fully customizable, much like your main character, right down to the loadout of items, main weapon, sub weapon, items you take on every mission, and each piece of clothing.
With all of that being said, the gameplay is something which one cannot ask for much more. There are many different types of both bladed and ranged weapons. The character can also use his "Thorn" to maneuver the battlefield freely, jumping on enemies or dragging them down. From the start of the game you must decide on a Panopticon region in which you fight for the greater good of your area. The missions mainly consist of fighting other Panopticon sinners and Abductors, gaining new civilians and natural resources to pay the years off your prison sentence so that you may someday earn your freedom and become a civilian.
The life in the Panopticon starts off rough as a new player. Having no rights causes you to unintentionally add more years onto your sentencing. The enviroment is under constant watch making sure your life there is almost a living well and forcing you to "Volunteer" on missions. Some basic rights examples you have to "earn" are as followed;
-The right to Recline (Lay down)
-The right to Roam (To leave your room)
-The right to Pace (Walk more than 5 steps)
-The right to Inter-Gender Contact
-The right to Run: 5 Seconds
These are only a few of the many entitlements you can earn in the game. That being said, there are quite a few in which a new player would not even consider a "right" and will quickly get charged with more years. The game also actively tries to give you more years in your daily life, for example your accessory recommending you rest in which if you choose to lay down you will break your Panopticon law.
STORY
As the world is in complete ruin, there is a complete lack of resources which cause Panopticon cities to fight for what is left. Humans born in this world are considered wasted resources which in itself is considered a crime. These newborn children start as sinners with 1 million years of sentencing, in which they must "volunteer" in missions to earn freedoms and rights in the new world.
Your character starts in the middle of battle, suffering from amnesia. As you have completely forgotten everything, the Panopticon which finds you considers it a crime and renews your sentencing in full of 1 Million years.
CHARACTERS
Freedom Wars surprisingly has a great amount of focus on character development. As you progress through the game, you meet with more Sinners to help in your missions. The first Sinners you meet up with are named Uwe and Mattias. These two are, in a way, complete opposites as Uwe is a large serious muscular man who is well known in his Panopticon and widely loved, while Mattias is a newer at undergoing missions and is a comedy relief.
The main focus however is on a young girl named Beatrice, who you save early on from your own Panopicon. Little is known about Beatrice and it seems her only desire is to find her father who was last seen in your Panopticon.
For villians, it seems everyone that does not live and fight for your own Panopticon falls in this catagory. As the world is now survival of the fittest, you are at constant war with other sinners trying to obtain useful civilians or materials.
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Pros:
-Fully customizable characters and AI
-Tons of weapons to gather on the battlefield and craft
-On release, retail price was 30$
-High replay value
Cons:
-Limited amount of Abductors to fight
-Difficulty spike later ingame which turns most players off from finishing.
Score: 8/10
Final Thoughts; Freedom Wars brings what the Playstation Vita needed overseas. With the lacking releases of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, God Eater 2, and Phantasy Star Online 2 outside Japan, there was a limited amount of Multiplayer Action RPGS for the Vita (Ragnarok Odyssey, Soul Sacrifice). With the starting price of $30 and the need to shead off all your years to become free, this game is a high recommendation from me for anyone who owns a Vita.
