- Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
- Release Date: Jan 10, 2025
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, Switch
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Mar 22, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered is a faithful but imperfect revival of a cult classic PlayStation Vita game. While it retains the compelling dystopian premise and addictive combat that made the original standout back in 2014, it also carries over some of its shortcomings. The narrative brims with potential, yet falls short in its execution. The visual design is imaginative, but can’t break free of its Vita-era origins. For returning fans, it’s a nostalgic trip worth taking, with the same-old addictive gameplay and just enough improvements to feel fresh. For newcomers, it’s a more challenging sell; its dated structure and design may not resonate with players as strongly today. But in spite of its flaws, Freedom Wars Remastered is a welcome effort to keep its unique world alive, and it leaves hope for a future that will fully realize the potential of its setting.
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Aug 9, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered doesn't bring many surprises to the table, but it's great to see a Vita cult classic find its way to current platforms. While it is beginning to show its age, this still holds up as an enjoyable title to play in 2025.
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Apr 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered does a good job at what it sets out to do: the visual overhaul is great, and it’s the definitive version of the game with various graphical and gameplay improvements. Unfortunately, a simple remaster can’t fix all of the game’s issues, such as awkward animations and highly repetitive combat.
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Mar 25, 2025Freedom Wars is still a good game in 2025, and there is much to discover in the secrets of the Panopticon for those who did not play it at the time. For those who did, maybe it's time to explore other worlds.
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Jan 21, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered is the 2014 classic through and through, with some bells and whistles. Just don't expect any massive overhauls or new content.
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Jan 21, 2025Even if a remake would certainly have been more profitable, Freedom Wars Remastered allows us to (re)discover an original game that certainly contributed to the development of hunting games in its day.
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Jan 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered brings back a PS Vita gem with much needed quality of life improvements but doesn't add much in terms of content to a game that for better or for worse feels and plays exactly like 10 years ago.
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Jan 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered offers a unique concept with engaging action and weapon progression. While the battles are challenging, they can become repetitive, and the story takes a backseat. It’s perfect for quick sessions, especially with friends.
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Jan 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered is an excellent way to relive the restrictive action game. In 2025, the game's forward-thinking multiplayer components have a greater chance of capturing a dedicated community, and graphical and technical enhancements make it the definitive way to play. But it's a PS Vita game at its core; constant loading, dull characters, comparatively simple combat, and endless busy work have somewhat dented our rosy memories of the original game.
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Jan 8, 2025While Freedom Wars Remastered doesn’t offer many updates to the original game, the updates it does make enhance the experience for the better. A full English voice cast combined with updated controls and an improved upgrading system make this game a gear hunter’s delight. While the resolution increase to 4K helps a bit, the 60 frames-per-second refresh rate completely changes the game. For what it’s worth, you still play the same mission types over and over in the same handful of maps, leaving the original repetitive formula untouched. As long as you know what to expect from Freedom Wars Remastered, you will find a compelling IP “monster hunting” RPG that begs for a sequel.
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Jan 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered's extensive endgame will give players plenty of time to fight countless Abductors and really immerse themselves in the gameplay loop. One could argue that the "real" game begins once Freedom Wars Remastered's story is over, and as long as one enjoys these kinds of Monster Hunter-style games, they will get their money's worth and then some, especially if they dive into the online co-op and PvP offerings. It's rough around the edges in some areas, but Freedom Wars Remastered is a mostly engaging action-RPG with an addictive gameplay loop that makes it hard to stop playing.
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Jan 9, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered should have arrived in 2025 with more content, not just a higher difficulty mode. It is not enough to debut on a home console with an improved resolution and 60fps, especially if the models remain the same that were proposed at a much lower definition and on a smaller screen. This operation seemed to us to be intended only for nostalgics or those who do not want to let the memory of Freedom Wars go into oblivion. A real shame, especially because if the intention was to test the waters for a possible sequel it will be difficult to convince Bandai Namco to invest in the operation.
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Jan 9, 2025Freedom Wars Remastered is an operation that fails to restore luster to its former glory. Already narratively it was not something never seen before that could be defined as seminal and, even today, unfortunately the absence of a charismatic character is felt throughout. Not helping are the technical problems, such as a slowdown in the pace due to excessively long loads and an unstimulating work from a gameplay point of view, really old.
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Jan 8, 2025Freedom Wars Remaster proves what this game could have been with a better management in terms of story and lore, and a more variety when it comes to enemies and environments.
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Mar 17, 2025I truly wish Freedom Wars could live up to my expectations. Stories about authoritarian forces with absurd standards of criminality are more necessary than ever. I think we could also use more action games emphasizing vertical environments and mobility. But as it stands, I don’t think I’ll be returning to the Panopticon or working off my sentence any time soon. The prospect sounds more like a prison sentence than a fun time.
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Apr 8, 2025Freedom Wars REMASTERED is a good example of how a good game on a handheld 11 years ago was a technological marvel with addictive gameplay, but nowadays, with the few improvements it has received, it becomes something passable. The game itself is not bad, but in this niche of group arena battles against giant enemies that demand strategy and patience, there are other better examples everywhere. In the meantime, Freedom Wars remains as an option if you are really enthusiastic about the genre.