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Controls in the game are generally very good and intuitive with the familiar set-up of movement and camera control being mapped to the 2 analogue sticks. As well as the previously mentioned command buttons you also use X for use/action, L1 for jump, L2 for crouch, R1 for firing/throwing weapons, R2 for close combat melee attacks (woohoo!), select to view your map and start for the in-game menu. Both the D-Pad and R3 will access the inventory and changing items on-the-fly soon becomes second nature. The one little gripe we have with controls is the use of L3 for the first-person aim mode. It works fairly well most of the time but can feel awkward while keeping it pressed in at the same time and often you'll accidently push the stick when moving and implement aim mode just when you don't need it in some tight spot. It's not a major problem but one of those annoying little things that might've been better using the click of a shoulder button to toggle aim mode on and off.
There's a splitscreen multiplayer mode here for 2 players or 4 using a multitap. Essentially it's a capture and hold the flag game where players build up a squad and try to control 4 bunkers on each map. Once you hold a bunker for the required time you can recruit further fighters (American or Russian depending on your initial team choice). You can then manipulate your squad as in the single-player game to defend positions or attack enemy ones and the key here is to recruit and take control as quickly as possible as well as taking advantage of strategic team positioning. It's quite a bit of fun but almost seems like more of a tack-on to the single-player game which is definitely the focus in Freedom Fighters. Sadly there's no co-operative mode which would've worked really well in this game and there's no online play either. As a result the multiplayer options really end up being too limited and reply value is definitely lower than it could have been.
Visually Freedom Fighters is very impressive. Level design is wickedly detailed, colourful and very effective in portraying the scale of a large embattled cityscape. There are barriers, roadblocks and fences blocking certain roads and many areas but this just means you have to find alternative routes. Accurately recreated rooftops, balconies, fire escapes, alleyways and railway lines can all be used and in most cases you can cut through at least one or two buildings to get to the other side of a city block. Most places you can see can also be accessed and everything has a believable feel to it with trains travelling railway lines and armoured vehicles moving about on roads that you don't want to step in front of!
That's not to say it's at all perfect as there are a few slight visual hiccups here and there - mostly clipping and texture seaming as you move between indoor and outdoor environments and the camera catches a wall or something while adjusting. Like us you'll probably forgive these small glitches though considering the overall content achieved in Freedom Fighters.
Character animations are also very realistic with some of the most entertaining moments in the game being provided by good use of IO's "rag-doll" physics engine. This causes bodies and debris to be thrown through the air dramatically in varying directions as the result of an explosion and looks spectacular indeed. It also produces some nice death animations with downed soldiers falling back over over fences and barriers, crumpling to the floor and tumbling down stairs.
Explosions and fire effects look great and there's some nice subtle little visual touches like good use of particles in the oil drum fires and little dust clouds rising from footsteps as your character runs about. Framerate remains pretty constant throughout the game too. Lighting is another impressive feature with excellent dynamic lighting and shadows being provided by things like a constant occurrence of fires throughout the levels and regular muzzle flash from all the onscreen fighting. There are lighting changes too with the shift from day to night and seasonal changes effect things visually in nice ways. Look out for the changing leaf colours on trees as time moves towards the colder, winter months as well as all the characters dressing in heavier and warmer clothing.
Sound is another top-knotch feature. The orchestral score as the game opens creates great atmosphere with it's classic Russian theme and presence. Music in-game has a similar feel with choral vocals and it adds a good sense of drama. Sound effects such as shells exploding, different types of gunfire and planes & helicopters flying around are constantly heard in close and distant proximity and this makes you feel like you're right in the midst of an ongoing urban warfare situation.
Voice acting is very well done too and there's plenty of it throughout. During play there'll be constant banter as Chris barks out orders and squad members respond. But the other nice touch is all the Russian soldiers communicating with each other in their own tongue. Speech gets more urgent as soon as you're spotted and everyone swings into action building the tension as Soviet soldiers shout out to their comrades announcing your presence and position. Everything's also wrapped up in nice Dolby Pro-Logic II support.
We reckon that overall Freedom Fighters is currently one of the best (if not the best) third-person squad-based action shooters out there. It's a good mix of all-out action and tactical combat with a user-friendly control system that newcomers to the genre will have no problem picking up. It looks nice, sounds good and has a well-balanced degree of challenge that increases at the right pace as the game progresses. The only real downsides are that it's all over too quick and the multiplayer game is limited. Co-operative and online modes would've been the bees knees and increased longevity considerably. We think the scene is set now though for a cracking sequel that builds on an already good model so watch this space! Highly Recommended. |
