Ancestral Forge (Freedom Planet 2 [2022])
BEWARE OF SPOILERS IN THE YOUTUBE COMMENTS SECTION!... a warning you should get used to for any video uploaded there by now, given how the terrible new comment system forces the first one to show up for the mobile site. Now, onto the music and game in question…
The soundtrack of Freedom Planet 2 as a whole, compared to the sequel, is far more on the “optimistic” side; the melodies tend to be cheery and energetic more often than not, as if there’s always a clear path to discover even in the worst of times. It’s a distinction I noticed fairly quick as I played the game for myself, whereas Freedom Planet 1 was far more melancholy, always feeling like the odds were stacked against those on Avalice. But if you thought I was only about melancholy tunes, you’d be way off the mark! This track marks a more-than-just-stellar mix of futuristic, serene, and environmental!
Where do I even start when talking about the game? This stage is already my favorite mix of an in-depth 2D action platformer (Heavy emphasis on action here; many combat gameplay elements that separate it from Mario, Sonic, etc.) together with the traditional formula of adventure game labyrinths, intuitive to the max while providing just enough complexity for those thinking outside the box to pull off some neat shortcuts on their own! And it’s just as easy to understand why the music here is beyond phenomenal. The fact that the official upload linked below only has 24K+ views as of this writing, is strange, given how much it brings to the table.
And just like Freedom Planet 1, I urge you to get this game, it’s a series that has clearly evolved beyond its inspirations, with a lot more content in both entries than the indie game tag might’ve suggested early on, especially for those wanting to 100% everything and beat their own records! The amount of cool setpieces waiting to be conquered by the incredible multi-purpose movesets of the 4 playable characters that benefit both mobility and combat at the same time, is very high, to say the least. And those graphics are the kind of thing many 2D pixel artists aspire to, especially in representing the 32-bit era of gaming!
Lastly, the story this time around is a notable improvement, and while still doesn’t make it into my list of favorite VG stories, has managed to impact me in a positive way I might mention later, and is one I imagine will impress plenty of others for reasons worth keeping free from spoilers. Its level of ambition is only matched by the rest of the game, which delivers on many fronts you might not expect from a platformer.
If you’ve been hesitant on the platformer genre as a whole, this is a great entry point, with its free sample version for all 4 playable characters, developed world with plenty of hubs, fair design with plenty of room for riskier techniques to gain the upper hand, an item equipment system to increase or decrease the difficulty to your heart’s content, accessibility features to reduce motion sickness, and optional easy mode features. Has it become any more clear that this shining gem of 2022 deserves at least as much attention as the already stellar first game?
(Length before loop: 3.5+ minutes)