Gaming Target - Xbox: Freedom Fighters

Written by Nick Doukas on September 11, 2003

First Impressions: More fun than watching Ivan Danko bust Viktor RostaveliЕ

Squad based tactical shooters are cool. At least, I think they are. I really enjoyed the recent Brute Force, and I'm looking forward to Freedom Fighters. The game drops you into an alternate reality, one where Soviet forces have invaded the sovereign soil of the United States of America. You play as one Christopher Stone, a young man who falls in with a resistance organization tasked with kicking the red menace out of Manhattan. A very interesting premise -- Red Dawn meets Escape From New York.

You'll command a squad of up to 12 AI teammates, and pit them against the Russians in more than 19 missions that range from destroying a gas station used by the enemy, to strategically placing your troops along the rooftops to take out a Soviet General en route to a meeting. FF looks to create a play experience that features huge set pieces and epic battles. Fighting your way through Manhattan, blowing away Soviet occupied areas and decimating the invaders as you raise the stars and stripes looks incredibly fun, and as a New Yorker myself, I expect it will have some emotional relevance as well.

Rather than make your character some sort of super-commando, the developers have instead chosen to make Christopher an ordinary plumber (hey, I said plumber -- not kindergarten teacherЕrelax) who evolves into a grizzled, war savvy bad-ass as the adventure progresses. Since the levels can be played in any order Ц finish a few objectives in one area, then move on to another, before returning to the prior level to mop up Ц you'll find yourself performing tasks in a specific location that will affect another. For instance: the helicopter gunship harassing you near the Battery Tunnel can be nullified by destroying its refueling station over on 5th Avenue. Additionally, performing heroic acts (such as rescuing a group of POWs) boosts your charisma meter, which in turn allows you to recruit more squad members for upcoming missions. Once you have your allies at your side, controlling the squad is simple. There are 3 basic commands Ц follow, stay and attack. You can move one member at a time, sending someone forward to scout an enemy position, or move the entire group at once. You can also target specific enemies and order your soldiers to attack them, instead of the nearest target of opportunity. You'll also be able to issue orders on the fly, which should keep the action flowing nicely.

Graphically the game looks great. The character models look excellent, as do all of the animations. The city is astonishing, a living breathing model of New York that's frightening in its authenticity. As you battle your way through the streets (and with up to 12 AI squad mates at your side, the skirmishes will undoubtedly be epic) the Chrysler building can be seen in the distance, amidst a haze of smoke, fire and other incredible environmental effects. St. Patrick's Cathedral, the familiar green and white street signs, realistically textured BrownstonesЕ.everything looks just as it should.

You'll have access to numerous well-modeled weapons, including an AK-47, a sniper rifle, RPGs, and Molotov cocktails. You'll also be able to take control of stationary gun emplacements and rain down massive firepower on your enemies. In addition, you'll have the option of using C4 explosive charges, which can be planted near enemy artillery or vehicles, and then remote detonated. One of the coolest things I witnessed in the demo was Chris dropping a charge beneath a Soviet chopper as his allies covered him and fought back the Russian battalion tasked with stopping the sabotage. As soon as our hero was clearЕboom -- no more chopper.

The developers promise intense, in-your-face urban guerilla warfare scenarios that will range from small reconnaissance and stealth missions, to full-scale street battles in which you'll be ordered to capture key enemy installations. As the adventure unfolds, the seasons will change, and the city will be slowly degraded and transformed into a massive battlefield. Io Interactive is using their Glacier engine to produce staggering 3D effects such as rain, snow, smoke and explosions, as well as to display impressive real-time lighting and shadows. Rich environmental audio adds to the experience of urban combat, and the music is composed by Jesper Kyd and performed by the Hungarian Radio Choir, lending an authentic Eastern European feel to the proceedings.

The game will include a split-screen multiplayer mode for up to 4 players, and you'll each be able to command a squad as you go up against each other. Unfortunately, no Xbox Live support is featured, although lead designer Mads Prahm has hinted at the possibility of online play in the future. HmmЕ.perhaps a download? We can only hope, as this title is tailor made for Live play.