Although the PlayStation Vita could never achieve mainstream success like its predecessor, the PSP, it’s fondly remembered for its line-up of cult hits. Freedom Wars happens to be the latest cult classic to have been granted freedom in the form of Freedom Wars Remastered. Back in the day, it was one of the Vita’s most exciting exclusives, but has time been kind to it?
Free From a Vita Prison Sentence
For those who have never played Freedom Wars before, it takes the formula established by Monster Hunter and combines it with a gripping, dystopian, sci-fi premise. I remember having a great time with it approximately 10 years ago, so I was thrilled to see the game be released from the prison of the Vita.
Freedom Wars isn’t particularly subtle with its themes, nor is it trying to be. The game’s cast lives in an oppressive world where simply being born can be deemed a crime. These criminals are referred to as ‘Sinners’, and they must prove they are not a drain on society’s resources to earn basic rights and freedoms.
Orwellian imagery plasters the walls of the Panopticon, constantly reminding the player of their surveillance. Even simple actions such as sprinting can result in penalties unless the appropriate entitlement is claimed. It’s all very immersive and even politically charged for an over-the-top action game such as this.
Just as You Remember It
Freedom Wars Remastered doesn’t feel all too different from the original release. What you see is pretty much what you get. Still, no one can deny the benefits of higher resolutions and frame rates. The game looks crisper than ever, and it plays even better.
That being said, it still very much feels like a handheld game. Despite that, being able to play this with a proper gamepad is fantastic. The controls can be mapped however the player pleases. There is also the addition of the new ‘Deadly Sinner’ mode. I admittedly didn’t get much time to experiment with this, but it should provide more of a challenge for returning players.
I have heard complaints of technical issues with the PC port, although my experience has been mostly without problems. However, I did notice some stutters while playing on Steam Deck, so your mileage may vary depending on your hardware. Thankfully, it seems there are efforts to address some of these issues.
Wars and Freedom
Freedom Wars begins with the player character having lost their memory. As this is considered a crime, their prison sentence is reset to one million years with no entitlements. This leaves you with no other option but to take on operations in service of your Panopticon and rise through the ranks.
At first, the missions are quite short and don’t ask much of the player. There’s a surprising amount of downtime, with the focus largely being on the game’s narrative. Sadly, this does mean that it takes a while until the true depth of the game’s systems and mechanics reveal themselves. However, the story should be intriguing enough to keep someone’s attention until that point.
Eventually, missions noticeably increase in length and difficulty. Operations that would normally take five minutes to complete early on now take thirty. As such, it may be a good idea to experiment with different loadouts early on to get an idea of what might work best.
Despite the slow start, the game still managed to pull me in with its oppressive tone and fast, flashy action, even all these years later. It was gripping for a handheld game back then, and it’s still thrilling now.
A Thorn in the Abductor’s Side
Something that quickly stands out about Freedom Wars is just how much fun it is to play. The Thorn mechanic is an absolute blast with how versatile it is. It’s your best friend in many scenarios, as the Thorn can be used to pull opponents down, pick up items, instantly revive allies, and more.
Generally, the game feels considerably faster to play than something such as Monster Hunter, especially with movement speed upgrades, resulting in a more arcadey experience. While the big Abductors players fight might look a bit too cumbersome to move effectively at first, they are far more nimble than they seem.
The game throws a somewhat limited assortment of Abductors and rival Sinners at you to battle. No matter the enemy, however, they all have the potential to hit hard. While allies can revive you, this can become a greater issue if you don’t prepare accordingly.
Freedom Wars does attempt to make up for a lack of enemy variety with various objectives. Sometimes, the goal isn’t to simply destroy an Abductor. This helps keep the game somewhat fresh throughout, although the repetition will eventually sink in.
Preparation Is Key
In Freedom Wars Remastered, putting together an effective loadout is just as important as skillful execution in combat, if not more so. As this is a ‘hunting’ game, progression mainly comes in the form of equipment upgrades. There are multiple ways to improve your weapons, and taking advantage of all of them is vital.
Simply leveling up gear can require grinding for specific resources, especially if there’s a particular weapon you are fond of. However, you can also choose to increase the amount of module slots a weapon has. Additionally, elemental damage is also a factor to consider when upgrading weapons. The four elements result in different effects as they accumulate.
For a large portion of the game’s story missions, staying on top of all this won’t be too necessary. There is a healthy amount of optional content to challenge you, however, and being decisive with a general battle strategy can play an extremely valuable role in completing these operations.
It’s usually wise to focus on more than raw damage output. By targeting specific Abductor parts, it’s possible to harvest more resources from them. If specific parts are needed, being methodical with how an Abductor is destroyed may be required. In the end, this balance of action and preparation all adds up to a rather satisfying gameplay loop.
Freedom Wars Remastered Is a Mighty Good Time
Freedom Wars doesn’t do too much spectacularly, but it’s a title that’s better than the sum of its parts. Once the game picks up momentum, it can be incredibly difficult to put down. It becomes just as enjoyable to optimize your loadout as it is to fight the admittedly limited roster of enemies.
If you have never owned a Vita and are curious to check out Freedom Wars, this is an easy recommendation. On the other hand, returning players may find it more difficult to justify the purchase, especially if they can still access the Vita original. That being said, the return of online features, the new ‘Deadly Sinner’ mode, and an improved upgrade system may make a second purchase worthwhile.
I enjoyed my time revisiting Freedom Wars on PC. While this doesn’t make for a particularly fancy remaster, it’s perfectly serviceable and allows more people to experience a fun title that was locked on a niche platform for far too long.
Freedom Wars Remastered is currently available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. For more reviews, be sure to keep an eye on Final Weapon.
Disclaimer: Bandai Namco provided Final Weapon with a copy of Freedom Wars Remastered for review purposes.
