When I first started playing Freedom Planet 2 for this review, the first thing I thought of was how much things have changed since then, as it’s been nearly ten years since!  Gaming-wise, I reviewed the first game on a totally different console generation.  Also, Freedom Planet was meant to play like a classic 2-D Sonic style game, at a time when there wasn’t a whole lot of good 2-D Sonic titles around.  But since then we’ve got Sonic Mania and Sonic Superstars, both of which are fairly decent (although I still like Freedom Planet 2 more).  My life has also changed a lot since then, as I have a different job and live in a different place than I did back then.  Even the world has changed, thanks to the COVID pandemic and whatnot.  And now we finally have a sequel to Freedom Planet, and it’s vastly improved over the original game.  Also I’d like to add that I’m so thankful for XSEED, the publishers of this game, as they’ve always been supportive of me and this site since they’ve been around.  Anyway, Freedom Planet 2 is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

Just like the first game, the sequel is most like a classic 2-D Sonic title, although there are elements of it that make me think of Treasure’s games as well.  The sequel is also like, three times as long as the original game, and with four playable characters and other secret modes and challenges, there is TONS of replay value here.  The four characters you can play as are Lilac, Carol, Millia, and Meera.  Lilac is the main character and is a water dragon.  She plays most like Sonic although she has slash and spin attacks and can charge up and bounce around the stage when a meter is full.  Green bobcat Carol reminds me more of Knuckles as she can do a pounce attack to glide a short bit as well as climb walls.  She can also ride her motorcycle like in the first game, too.  Rabbity dog Millia plays more like Tails as she can float for a bit.  She also has shields and projectile attacks.  Newcomer Meera was a minor character in the first game, a panda warrior.  But here she’s playable and has a spear and ice attacks.

You can only play “Adventure Mode” when starting out, but luckily the cutscenes aren’t as long as in the original game.  Here you have a world map and town areas where you can talk to folks and buy items with the goodies you’ve collected in the stages.  These items are super useful so you’ll want to collect as many things as you can while playing.  Once you beat the game with a character once, you’ll unlock Classic Mode where there are no cutscenes like in the original game.  There are also three selectable difficulty modes, which is great because it means I was actually able to beat this one, which is more than I can say for the original game.  My only problems with the game are very minor.  I wish you could keep the items you’ve collected when you switch characters, like the hidden soundtrack records and whatnot.  And some of the goals in the stages are a little unclear, but that’s it.  Really this is a great 2-D platformer with lots of fun action and level design, and it’s one of the best games I’ve played this year so far.

Kid Factor:

Freedom Planet 2 is rated T for Teen with ESRB descriptors of Fantasy Violence and Suggestive Themes.  I really didn’t notice any suggestive themes, and you mostly only destroy robots and cartoony enemies who just explode or run away.  Reading skill is helpful for some of the text, but not necessary just to play, and younger gamers may need help with some of the tougher levels and bosses.  But I still say it’s a fun game for all ages.

Tags: Game Reviews