Review: Freedom Planet 2 Is a Love Letter to Sonic the Hedgehog 

Making a superb Sonic the Hedgehog model platformer is difficult! It’s so troublesome, even Sega can typically endure a misstep. The primary Freedom Planet managed to get the nuances proper, and Freedom Planet 2 additional emphasizes how good GalaxyTrail is nailing the kind of degree design and character stability you have to get the type of Sonic the Hedgehog like expertise proper.

Whereas Freedom Planet 2 is a reasonably direct sequel and picks up with the identical characters, you may bounce proper into it with out taking part in the unique. Issues start with a touch that every one isn’t proper on the earth of Avalice. We see an ominous determine launched from captivity and start to assault the world, and there are additionally robotic and pirate-related assaults on the nation. Fortuitously, our heroes Lilac and Carol from the earlier recreation recreation are right here, they usually’re accompanied by Milla and Neera. 

Like the primary recreation, Freedom Planet 2 is a sprite-based, 2D platformer with ranges that really feel like there are tons of paths above and beneath you. So regardless of the place you’re, it looks as if you would go up or down and discover a new route to succeed in the boss on the finish of the stage. Like Sonic the Hedgehog, there are additionally numerous loops, bounce pads, and speed-enhancing units to encourage rapidly dashing by way of areas, although there are additionally some puzzles like doorways to unlock by hitting items into place, platforms which will require leaping from one to unlock one other, and different components that contain a bit extra thought.

Additionally like Sonic the Hedgehog, completely different characters in Freedom Planet 2 play in another way. The character closest to Sonic could be Lilac. Milla can really feel a bit like Tails, as a consequence of her hovering means. Carol is extra akin to Knuckles, because of the punching components. As for Neera along with her lance, she’s not far off from Amy Rose. Which means the method for going by way of ranges modifications primarily based on who you employ, and choosing your playable character on your save file in Journey Mode determines the model you’ll use when exploring for that entire recreation. It provides this degree of personalization and signifies that regardless of how you like to play, you’ll most likely be capable of undergo Freedom Planet 2 and have a superb time. I used Milla, as a result of it meant I used to be extra cautious, ready to return to hover to succeed in areas, and rely extra on projectiles for gameplay that felt extra run-and-gun like Mega Man. Nevertheless, after I went again and performed as somebody like Lilac in Basic Mode, it was way more fast-paced and about sustaining momentum. 

Talking of which, the modes decide how the sport performs. Once you begin, solely Journey Mode is out there. This lets you go to some city and hub areas on the map between levels, work together with NPCs, participate in some coaching components, and mainly really feel extra part of the world when not going by way of ranges. It’s dealt with fairly properly, although at some factors I did find yourself feeling like there was maybe a bit an excessive amount of padding there. Nonetheless, after getting by way of the sport as soon as, Basic Mode is unlocked and is a extra streamlined expertise that simply includes the levels, so there may be an choice to extra rapidly undergo issues when you’ve gone by way of issues as soon as. 

These sorts of high quality of life components aren’t restricted to a second or third playthrough, nonetheless. Throughout a primary run by way of Freedom Planet 2, there are many components like that. For instance, now you can guard towards enemy assaults. For these unfamiliar, an auto-guard choice is out there. What I appreciated most was the revival choice. When this occurs, you may choose to revive after dying throughout a stage. In my case, it got here up thrice throughout boss fights throughout my first run. In mainly every case, I used to be about to beat an opponent, however discovered myself knocked out first. This function let me revive with the opponent on the identical diploma of well being and the battle proper the place I left off. It wouldn’t be a full well being restore, but it surely ended up being sufficient to get that final one or two hits in I wanted to win. Folks also can get and equip gadgets to enhance their assault or protection, in case somebody is having bother getting by way of. 

Nevertheless, given Freedom Planet 2 has been out on PCs since September 2022 and is simply now simply coming to consoles in April 2024, individuals might surprise if it performs okay. Effectively, it feels fairly nice on the Change. The font is straightforward to learn. The controls are dealt with completely. It’s simple to play for hours, with my first session even lasting about three hours with no discomfort. All the pieces felt fairly exact and ideal, as if it was a reasonably admirable port. 

Like the unique recreation, Freedom Planet 2 feels prefer it respects the Sonic the Hedgehog platformer model and endeavors to supply a brand new, comparable type of tackle the expertise. The vary of characters is nice and means it feels actually numerous relying on the one you select. It runs nice on the Nintendo Change. It’s a well-executed platformer for people who find themselves searching for a extra fashionable tackle a retro sort of title.

Freedom Planet 2 will come to the Nintendo Change, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Sequence X on April 4, 2024. It’s instantly accessible on PCs.