$24.99Freedom Planet 2 Speed, sass and a water dragon
A fast, colorful action platformer about four animal heroines saving Avalice from a freed water dragon. Speed through 24 hand-crafted stages, pick the heroine whose moves fit you, and tune the challenge with potions and items. Big bosses, a funny story, and pixel art worth stopping to stare at.
Is Freedom Planet 2 worth it?
Freedom Planet 2 is worth it if…
- you want a fast 2D platformer with real combat, not just running and jumping
- you like retro pixel art with modern detail and a bright, cheerful look
- you enjoy a story with jokes, voice acting and characters worth replaying stages for
- you want difficulty you can tune yourself, from Auto Guard to brutal Brave Stones
- you loved the 16-bit classics and want something built in that spirit
Screenshots
Four heroines, four ways to move
Lilac, Carol, Milla and Neera are all playable from the start, and each plays differently: Lilac is the speed type, Carol the brawler, Milla the explorer, and Neera the frost knight with heavy hits. The same stage plays out differently depending on who you pick, which is what makes running it again with someone new worthwhile. A Guard button lets you parry enemy attacks with good timing, and if timing is not your thing, an Auto Guard option in the Assist settings does it for you. There is also a Revival system for close calls: a chance to clinch a win, at the cost of a stock, with two more hits knocking you out if you are not careful.
A world worth wandering
Adventure mode sends you across a sprawling world map on the trail of Merga, a water dragon freed from her crystal prison, with war coming to Avalice again. The map is packed with treasures, landmarks and over 100 animal NPCs to talk to and catalog, and the towns between stages make good breathing room between fights. Once you have finished Adventure mode once, Classic Mode unlocks a streamlined menu that skips the travelling and drops you straight into stages. The Battlesphere arena adds another layer: challenges built around enemies and bosses you have already met, plus a few surprises that were not.
How hard is it, and can you make it easier?
Can you adjust the difficulty?
Yes, and in more ways than a simple easy mode. Mix potions from collected ingredients to boost vitality, stock count, shield durability, attack power or speed. Equip Amulets and Charms for helpful effects, or turn on Auto Guard if parry timing is not your thing. On the other end, Brave Stones make combat harder in exchange for bonus crystals, so the same game can be a smooth ride or a serious challenge.
Is it a long game?
It is a big one: over 20 stages, close to 40 boss fights, a world map full of NPCs to catalog, and the Battlesphere arena on top. Stages run longer than in most platformers, some past ten minutes, and the four characters give you a reason to replay them. If you prefer short, snappy levels, that length is the main thing to know going in.
Do you need to play the first game first?
No. The story stands on its own: Merga rises from Avalice's oldest war, the heroes are split between sides, and the game fills in what you need as you go. Playing the original adds history, but this sequel was made to welcome new players, and Adventure mode eases you into the world before the difficulty ramps up.
