Months ago, reading about this game in PC Gamer, I thinks to myself, I says, “Self, it’s about time that the ubiquitous they finally came out with a superhero RPG for the computer. For comic-book fanboys like us, it’s a banner day.” To which my self didn’t bother replying because it was busy drooling over the upcoming releases of Jedi Knight II and Dungeon Siege… but that’s another thread.
Has anyone picked up Freedom Force yet, and what do you think of it? I’d like to hear some reviews from knowledgeable folks before I shell out the dough for the game.
I’m waiting for 2 or 3 sites to post reviews myself. Gamespy has a demo, which I liked, but >30 minutes is not enough to base wasting hard drive space on.
I am SO addicted to this game. Go out and buy it immediately, if you like the superhero genre. It’s also a pretty kick-ass RTS.
I just beat Shadow this morning, and I’ve already recruited a custom hero I made- The Shroud. I’m saving up my Prestige points to recruit another, more expensive custom hero.
The writing in the game is extremely good at being extremely bad- think “Kirbyesque” and you’ll have it exactly. Bombastic? Hell yeah- so much so that it’s both embarassing and hilarious.
I was actually going to start up a thread on this game this morning- but you beat me to the punch.
I’d say it’s RTS in a more Baldur’s Gate sorta way. You only control 4 characters and, more importantly, you can PAUSE THE GAME while issuing commands.
Pretty freaking awesome game–I’ve been playing the demo recently and having a blast. Me and my character Captain Sid (based off the Irish Thug With a Gun model) have been tearing things up. As soon as I have dough and it drops to around 40 bucks or so I’m probably going to pick it up.
I wouldn’t apply “RTS” to it at all–you don’t have to mess with build orders or gathering resources or masses of rock-paper-scissors units or any of that standard RTS trappings. What there is is just a very fun superpowered small-squad tactical beatdown involving lampposts as clubs, thrown park benches, chimneys, roof vents, park benches, boulders, cars, etc., and terrified innocent bystanders getting in the way of the occasional building collapsing.
It’s games like this that remind me of why I like gaming. Highly recommended.
Slortar hit it on the head. It is a tactical sort of game like Baldur’s gate is a tactical game. It is set up like an RTS in that there are missions to accomplish with set pieces between them…as opposed to Baldur’s gate where you can wander all over the durn place looking for stuff.
It is very, very, addictively fun and cool. I haven’t gotten into it too far, but every time I play it a big grin appears on my face and doesn’t disappear until I turn off my computer. Yeah. like that. I love the fact that you can smash and pick up everything in the game (presuming you are strong enough), I love the voice characterizations, I love the character creation (which reminds me somewhat of Champions). I recommend it muchly.
Actually, it’s a strategy game on par with Jagged Alliance or Fallout Tactics, not an R(eal) T(ime) S(trategy) game like Command & Conquer or StarCraft.
If you’re a comic book fan, (or just a PC strategy gamer) you owe it to yourself to get this game. We have to ensure that well thought out games like this don’t die. I got it today but haven’t played it yet. I was a aspiring comic book artist and writer years ago, and can’t wait to import some of my own creations into this game!
I bought the game too, picked it up from an Electronics Boutique on my way home yesterday. At least for me, the controls take a bit of getting used to. I had to restart a few missions in order to make sure everyone survives. I was doing fine until Minuteman and the others met up with Man Bot. That warhead keeps blowing up in their faces! Anybody know how to disarm it?
Just bought it tonight. Got the last one from the display at Best Buy, so I guess it’s selling well. Gonna load it up and try it out soon. I’ve been waiting for a super hero game on the PC for a long time. Hard to tear myself away from Bridge Commander and Medal of Honor, though.
The music in those levels had me grinning. Coaching this in non-spoilerific form: the bomb is going to go off if it takes damage, and the dastardly foe you’re going after starts right by it–and uses a few area-of-effect attacks. Draw the villain away from the bomb and use your allies to keep him busy while Minute Man does the disarming thing (it takes him about twenty-ish seconds or so, so get there with wiggle room when the narrator starts announcing the countdown). It is possible to KO the craven commie almost immediately with a combo of judicious use of over-powering and luck, too.
One of the things I really like about the game is that it is, overall, not that difficult–which gives the player a lot of leeway to try different things and ocmbinations in tackling the missions. Taking on a couple dozen thugs with heavy power hitters, or taking them on with Sea Urchin and Liberty Lad and the Ant, are two quite different things, and both are equally entertaining to do. That sort of fun balance is remarkable.
My biggest fear is that my computer will not run it.
My computer is about 2 1/2 years old. Compaq Presario 5240. I seem to not have a problem running games like this. First Person Shooters I sometimes have problems running. My biggest heartbreak was Medal Of Honor Allies Assualt not running.
So how intense is this game? What are the minium system requirements?
I’ll probably pick up the game eventually, but its not a priority, what with Morrowind coming out any day now. But Scott Kurtz is clearly obsessing on the thing, with wacky consequences.
300mHz
96Meg RAM
31Meg free drive space
16Meg video
Works fine on my P3-450 with 128Meg Ram and Voodoo 3 PCI. At first, I couldn’t really see anything except the ground because of my outdated Voodoo driver. Everything’s fine after downloading and installing a current driver. DirectX 8.1 comes with the game and you’ll need to be sure you have the correct drivers for this update.
Drastic: thanks for the info. Man Bot seems to be the best hero to use in this level so I’ll see about using him to distract Nuclear Winter.
Damage-wise, El Diablo is actually the most useful–fire and ice, you know. Problem is getting him to hit the broad side of a barn, of course.
Don’t overlook Mentor–it’s very easy to just sort of have him tag along due to his starting lack of oomph-hitting powers, but those enraging and mind-blanking abilities are very useful. I had El Diablo flame the rascally russian from the air then lead him back to the friendly green visitor, who blanked him. Blanked El Diablo, too, but that was fine since he needed to recharge anyway. MM had time to defuse the bomb and run back to clobber the rooskie into submission.
Favorite moment on that level: one of the Ice Queen minions picking up a huge shipping crate, likely intending to hurl it at the barrio balefire. ManBot zapped the crate which knocked it out of her hands…and it fell right on top of her, instant KO.
Yeah. like that. I love the fact that you can smash and pick up everything in the game (presuming you are strong enough), I love the voice characterizations, I love the character creation (which reminds me somewhat of Champions). I recommend it muchly.