Overview: A platformer inspired by Sonic the Hedgehog (1991).
Default Controls:
Button A / Keyboard Z: Jump
Button B / Keyboard X: Basic Attack
Button C / Keyboard C: Special Attack
20160225:
While on the airplane I decided to play this game. Off the bat, I found the game had a nice introduction and playing the game immediately brought back found memories of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Gen.) (1992).
Unfortunately, I was running my laptop on power-saving mode to conserve battery power and it was probably the source of major lag.
Sash Lilac:*
(Air) A: "Dragon Cyclone" (Tornado Spin)
(Running) Down + A: "Dragon Cyclone"
B: "Hair Whip"
Down + B: "Kick" (Low Kick)
(Air) Down + B: "Dive Kick"
(Standing/Running) Up + B: "Rising Slash" (Uppercut)
[Direction] + C: "Dragon Boost" [Diag. Up/Left/Right/Diag. Down]
*Paraphrased from readme.txt
Estimated: 16 minutes (session game time)
[20160321]
20160327:
Today I played the game again with my laptop set to performance mode and confirmed there was no lag. I also chose to play as Carol instead of Lilac and choose Adventure (which includes the story) instead of Classic (which is just level after level).
Carol Tea:*
(Running) Down: "Rolling"
(Air) A: "Pouncing"
(Standing) Down + A: "Pouncing"
(While On Jump Pad) A: (Move to the next jump pad)
"Wall Jump"
B: "Punching"
Hold C: "Wild Kick" (Rapid Kick)
(Collect a Fuel Tank): "Driving" (Motorcycle)
: (Standing) Down + A: (Stop driving and pounce off)
: (Air) A: "Air Spin"
: (Ground) C: "Nitro Boost"
*Paraphrased from readme.txt
Steam: 28 minutes (session game time)
For the purpose of this blog post I played some more Lilac from my first save file and overall I found her moveset easier to play.
Steam: 26 minutes (session game time + idle time)
Comparison:
While I'm most familiar with Sonic 2,* I've also played a fair amount of the original Sonic (Sega Gen.) (1991) and bits of various other Sonic games.
Similarities:
The feeling of speed, loops, and buttons interactions are definitely the first similarities which Freedom Planet shares with games from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. In particular, the charged spin dash which I associate with the Sonic series finds its way into this game as well. The game also features some familiar items such as a shield power-up and a temporary invincibility power-up (Sonic's equivalent of Mario's star).
And last, but not least, the game also features an underwater air meter.**
*I've definitely reached Wing Fortress Zone a countless number of times and I recall once reaching the Death Egg Zone, but I don't remember ever beating the game. I've also never collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds.
**Though it seemed to be missing the awesome sound effect that plays when Sonic consumes an air bubble!
Differences:
The first difference I noticed is an array of melee attacks as opposed to the traditional sonic jump attack - I'm not sure whether or not modern renditions of Sonic have a similar array of attacks. Furthermore, it seems that the character (the player can choose one of two) progresses through a level with a life bar, as opposed to Sonic's one-hit death when neither shielded nor invinceable. Of course, the trade-off is longer levels.
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Successfully reproduces the action and speed of the Sonic the Hedgehog series
+ Strong level design
Neutral:
~ For older players, Freedom Planet provides something new by incorporating something old and personally there was enough new material to keep me interested even through the lag caused by my using power-saving mode.
Minor Con:
- Compared to modern games that use immediate in-game achievements as an enticing factor to play, Freedom Planet can feel relatively plain (there are, however, plenty of Steam Achievements)
20220918 Snapshot:
Today I saw the sequel for this game under the hot releases section and that prompted me to consider revisiting the game. As such, I added the game to my "Up Next" playlist.
Last Played: 20160327
Steam Game Time: 101 minutes (total game time)
20220927:
I loaded up the game and my previous save file was there.
Gameplay Log:
File 2 Adventure Carol
Watched the story prior to stage 3
Completed stage 3
Watched the story prior to stage 4
The story is great. I'm not a big fan of the game genre though. That is, I never really liked playing games from the Sonic the Hedgehog series aside from the first two games. I think I liked the Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 because the levels were still fairly straightforward. Even so, I recall even those games had so much going on. Is the purpose of such big levels simply to give the player multiple options for getting to the finish line?
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 2.5 hours (total game time) / 0.8 hours (session game time)
[20220927][20230812 Edit]
Freedom Planet (PC) (2014)
Relevant Links:
Freedom Planet Website
Freedom Planet (Steam Store Page)
Freedom Planet (Wikipedia.org)
Default Controls:
Button A / Keyboard Z: Jump
Button B / Keyboard X: Basic Attack
Button C / Keyboard C: Special Attack
 |
| Lilac gets propelled upwards. |
20160225:
While on the airplane I decided to play this game. Off the bat, I found the game had a nice introduction and playing the game immediately brought back found memories of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Sega Gen.) (1992).
Unfortunately, I was running my laptop on power-saving mode to conserve battery power and it was probably the source of major lag.
 |
| Choose between Lilac, Carol, or Milla (Locked) |
(Air) A: "Dragon Cyclone" (Tornado Spin)
(Running) Down + A: "Dragon Cyclone"
B: "Hair Whip"
Down + B: "Kick" (Low Kick)
(Air) Down + B: "Dive Kick"
(Standing/Running) Up + B: "Rising Slash" (Uppercut)
[Direction] + C: "Dragon Boost" [Diag. Up/Left/Right/Diag. Down]
*Paraphrased from readme.txt
 |
| Lilac runs from the boulder. |
[20160321]
20160327:
Today I played the game again with my laptop set to performance mode and confirmed there was no lag. I also chose to play as Carol instead of Lilac and choose Adventure (which includes the story) instead of Classic (which is just level after level).
 |
| Carol rides her motorcycle. |
(Running) Down: "Rolling"
(Air) A: "Pouncing"
(Standing) Down + A: "Pouncing"
(While On Jump Pad) A: (Move to the next jump pad)
"Wall Jump"
B: "Punching"
Hold C: "Wild Kick" (Rapid Kick)
(Collect a Fuel Tank): "Driving" (Motorcycle)
: (Standing) Down + A: (Stop driving and pounce off)
: (Air) A: "Air Spin"
: (Ground) C: "Nitro Boost"
*Paraphrased from readme.txt
 |
| Carol on a jump pad |
For the purpose of this blog post I played some more Lilac from my first save file and overall I found her moveset easier to play.
Steam: 26 minutes (session game time + idle time)
Comparison:
While I'm most familiar with Sonic 2,* I've also played a fair amount of the original Sonic (Sega Gen.) (1991) and bits of various other Sonic games.
 |
| Carol and Lilac speaking |
The feeling of speed, loops, and buttons interactions are definitely the first similarities which Freedom Planet shares with games from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. In particular, the charged spin dash which I associate with the Sonic series finds its way into this game as well. The game also features some familiar items such as a shield power-up and a temporary invincibility power-up (Sonic's equivalent of Mario's star).
 |
| Backstory |
*I've definitely reached Wing Fortress Zone a countless number of times and I recall once reaching the Death Egg Zone, but I don't remember ever beating the game. I've also never collected all 7 Chaos Emeralds.
**Though it seemed to be missing the awesome sound effect that plays when Sonic consumes an air bubble!
 |
| Lilac hangs on a bar |
The first difference I noticed is an array of melee attacks as opposed to the traditional sonic jump attack - I'm not sure whether or not modern renditions of Sonic have a similar array of attacks. Furthermore, it seems that the character (the player can choose one of two) progresses through a level with a life bar, as opposed to Sonic's one-hit death when neither shielded nor invinceable. Of course, the trade-off is longer levels.
 |
| Carol's "Stage Complete" pose |
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ Successfully reproduces the action and speed of the Sonic the Hedgehog series
+ Strong level design
Neutral:
~ For older players, Freedom Planet provides something new by incorporating something old and personally there was enough new material to keep me interested even through the lag caused by my using power-saving mode.
 |
| Lilac replenishes her air supply. |
- Compared to modern games that use immediate in-game achievements as an enticing factor to play, Freedom Planet can feel relatively plain (there are, however, plenty of Steam Achievements)
20220918 Snapshot:
Today I saw the sequel for this game under the hot releases section and that prompted me to consider revisiting the game. As such, I added the game to my "Up Next" playlist.
Last Played: 20160327
Steam Game Time: 101 minutes (total game time)
20220927:
I loaded up the game and my previous save file was there.
Gameplay Log:
File 2 Adventure Carol
Watched the story prior to stage 3
Completed stage 3
Watched the story prior to stage 4
The story is great. I'm not a big fan of the game genre though. That is, I never really liked playing games from the Sonic the Hedgehog series aside from the first two games. I think I liked the Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 because the levels were still fairly straightforward. Even so, I recall even those games had so much going on. Is the purpose of such big levels simply to give the player multiple options for getting to the finish line?
Setup: Steam Deck
Steam Game Time: 2.5 hours (total game time) / 0.8 hours (session game time)
[20220927][20230812 Edit]
Freedom Planet (PC) (2014)
 |
| Milla thinks Lilac's hair feels "like a rope!" |
Freedom Planet Website
Freedom Planet (Steam Store Page)
Freedom Planet (Wikipedia.org)
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