Freedom Fighters is a third-person shooter released in 2003 across Windows, Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2. It was developed by IO Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. IO Interactive re-released the game for PC on Steam in September 2020, along with the Official Freedom Fighters soundtrack. The single-player mode is available across all the platforms, but the multiplayer mode is available only on Console. Multiplayer mode revolves around bunkers and securing flags. Bunkers are spread across the map, and the flag is usually in the center.
Plot
Soviet forces have taken over New York City after ending WWII using the Atomic bomb, have now invaded New York City. Christopher Stone, a plumber who was on his way to fix the leaky pipe of Isabella Angelina’s home, discovers that the Soviets captured her. She happens to be an activist, and the Russians are on a mission to prop up communist states like New York.
Stone first rescues Isabella from a Police Station with the help of resistance members, and he retreats to the sewers and sets up a base there to retrieve New York. There are several objectives in every mission, and you can choose which task you want to complete first.
Your mission is to reclaim areas in the city and destroy Soviet facilities with the help of a resistance group which you will create as the game progresses. You can add a max of 12 people in your group and can order them to either; defend, attack, or cover. People will join forces with you, depending upon your charisma. Higher charisma will lead to a higher number of people in the group.
Months later, Chris and his group start taking control over the city, and Chris is known as the “Freedom Phantom” within the Soviet. Troy, a member of the resistance group, was captured by the Soviet forces and being tortured to get information. The Soviets forces him to issue a public statement against Chris and other resistance members to stop their actions. But, Troy encourages Chris and others to fight no matter what happens. In response to his statement, Tatarin, a General leading the Soviets in the city, executes Troy personally.
Chris makes a plan to execute General Tatarin and succeeds. While he was assassinating Tatrin, the Soviets captured the resistance base, and Isabella was missing. Mr. Jones, who told Chris to assassinate Tatarin, was a Russian. His real name was Colonel Mikael Bulba, a KGB agent. Mikael Bulba was the new General and the man behind ending resistance in New York.
Chris somehow manages to escape along with Phil to a new underground area. Chris leads a resistance deeper during the winter and manages to occupy SAFN Studios. Chris used this Station to send a broadcast encouraging the whole city to rise against the Soviets. That broadcast boosted the morale of everyone, and Chris attacked with the massive resistance force and managed to eliminate Soviets control from New York City.
Pros
It’s the AI of your squadmates and Soviet Soldiers that gives Freedom Fighters its distinctive feel. The storyline and graphics are also top-notch. It’s extremely detailed environment and setting make it outstanding. The control and command system for your AI squadmates makes it even more irresistible. Game sounds and voice acting is very well done.
Cons
Overall the game has done a marvelous job. While the Squad AI was great, the enemy AI was lacking. Another thing that led to criticism was the game’s length. The game can easily be cleared in 8 hours, but it offers some reply value.
According to Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot,
“The only real problem with Freedom Fighters is that there simply isn’t enough of it”.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Pentium 4 1.5Ghz or Athlon XP Equivalent
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 100% DirectX 10 compatible video card
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 800 MB available space
- Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 Compatible Sound Card
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Pentium 4 2.4Ghz or Athlon XP/64-bit equivalent
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: 100% DirectX 10 compatible video card
- DirectX: Version 10
- Storage: 1 GB available space
- Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 Compatible Sound Card
