Freedom Fighters for Xbox review (Freedom Fighters (Xbox))

Member Name: smart_storm

Product:	Freedom Fighters (Xbox)
Date:	25/10/08 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: gameplay packs awesome fun, improved computer AI, excellent graphics and sound

Disadvantages: The game doesnt have much of a replay value

Freedom Fighters is a 3rd person tactical squad-based shooter game developed by IO Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. The PC, XBox and ps2 versions of the game were all released in 2003. The game was a big success, receiving immense appreciation from gamers and critics alike. According to many gamers, Freedom Fighters is one of the most thrilling and enjoyable games in the tactical squad-based shooting genre. The reason why this game has attained this level of popularity is because this game has taken squad-based tactical combat and computer AI to a whole new level and surpasses many other 3rd person tactical shooters in gameplay, story and premise. Lets throw some light on this excellent squad-based shooter from IO Interactive and find out what makes this game so enjoyable.

Story in brief - In-game, you play as Christopher Stone, an American plumber who works along with his brother Troy Stone. The game speaks about an alternate reality where the Soviet Union has invaded the United States. One day Chris and Troy recieve a call from Isabella Angelica for doing some plumbing work in her house. Isabella Angelica also happens to be an anti-communist leader who is aimed at spreading awareness among the people of United States regarding the Soviet threat. When you and Troy arrive at Isabella's house, you find her missing. After a few seconds, Soviet Union troops zero in. They were looking for her.You manage to escape but your brother Troy gets caught. And the Soviet invasion of United States becomes very prominent. Until this, it was an ordinary day for you but its now, that your life is going to change. You join the rebel organization 'Manhattan Resistance' led by Isabella Angelica, aimed at freeing United states from Soviet oppression. Initially you will start as a simple member of Isabella's rebel organization. But as you go on completing missions, you will start becoming more and more influential and finally become a popular leader of Manhattan Resistance. You will be operating from the rebel base that your group maintains in a secret location underneath into the sewers. Its from here that you will receive new missions and their corresponding briefings.

The wonderful aspects of this game that you should note :

1. Squad-based tactical shooter games (where you play missions with your own squad/team of personnels) have always suffered from a common set of glitches. And the most frustrating of them has been the AI of computer controlled players. You must have seen this a number of times while in squad-based combat, that when you rush towards your enemy for a kill, one of your squad members suddenly pops a grenade right infront of you. Although he intended to hurt the enemy but computer AI isn't smart enough to realise that that action will eventually hurt or kill you too. So like a fool, that npc tosses a grenade and you fall between the grenade and the enemy. If you have played a lot of squad-based tactical shooter games, you already know that there are lots of glitches like this where the stupid AI of your squad members spoils some part of the fun that squad-based co-operative combat offers. Freedom Fighters not only eliminates most of these glitches to a satisfactory extent but also takes the squad-based tactical combat to a whole new level. Your computer-controlled squad members act real smart in combat and you will be glad to have them. They wont do anything foolish that will cause inconvenience rather than ease and yet they will take an active part in the combat and you will definitely need them and enjoy their presence.You will also find it easy to control your squad members and more importantly you can do it in an efficient way. The gunfights themselves are awesome and packs a lot of fun. The AI of your enemies are not as sharp as your squad members but its still reasonable, realistic and good enough to make things challenging for you.

2. The in-game gun fights are very very realistic and truly impressive. In only a very few other games, I have seen such realistic and thrilling gunfights. You can play with a variety of weapons from pistols to shotgun, assault rifle, sniper rifle, machine gun, sub-machine gun and rocket launcher. However you can carry only two weapons at a time - a primary weapon and a pistol. In addition to that you can also carry grenades, molotov cocktails, grenades, explosives, binoculars and health packs.

3. The gameplay packs massive fun. Lets catch a few glimpses of it :

a. In game, you will truly look like a freedom fighter. You will be operating from your group's rebel base located underneath into the sewers.
b. The more missions you complete, the more influential you become and the more freedom fighters you can have under your command.
c. This is not a mindless hack n slash game. While you are in combat with your 'intelligent' squad members supporting you, your strategy and sound planning will be the decisive factor in the battle.
d. You can use the move, attack and defend commands on your squad mates in the heat of the battle.
e. Earn charisma points by rescuing civilians, completing objectives and healing other freedom fighters. You can use your charisma points to become a more influential leader.

4. The game has a wonderful learning curve.

5. The in-game graphics is good. The characters have been modelled and textured well.

6. The in-game music and sound contributes perfectly to the set up of the freedom movement.

7. The story and in-game events will not only look interesting but will also inspire you to play the next level on and so on. The in-game cutscenes are another thing to watch. The cutscenes contribute perfectly to the atmosphere set up in the game and they are in one word excellent.

However the replay value of the game isn't that much. When you will play the game for the first time, you will have a very enjoyable gaming experience. However after you have finished it, you would pretty much want to try other games like this. According to me, the multiplayer mode the game offers, is also nothing much to talk about. You will have most of the fun while playing in single player mode.

Summary: Freedom Fighters is a very enjoyable squad-based tactical shooter game