Liberated

Liberated, despite some minor visual downgrades, is a standout title for Nintendo Switch. I was fully immersed by both the action and story all the way through. Atomic Wolf has done a commendable job of adapting the power and potential of comic books as a video game. The developers have stuck the landing, and I’m excited to see what stories and experiences they end up creating next.

Liberated is a great comic book turned video game. Dark and dystopian, almost absurdly gorgeous visuals, and a compelling story make this a surprising, but welcome, entry in the Switch library. Although you can beat the game within a few hours, don’t let the short run-time turn you off. There’s a lot of game packed into that those few hours.

It may not look next-gen on your 4K TV running through your PS4 Pro, but it doesn’t need to. Conversely, I thought it was well suited to something like the Switch: much like a comic, you hold it in your hands and flick through at your own pace. In that regard, Atomic Wolf have nailed it.

Liberated is an ambitious and fascinating game from a small developer. Everything you see takes place inside a comic book - it's stylish and has a hauntingly probable story. However, uninspired platforming sections may be off-putting, but you should be otherwise very happy with this experiment.

More than the sum of its parts, Liberated tells a rollicking tale with plenty of style. It doesn't run as well as it should do, and it's far from lacking in clichés (some of the "people would rather take selfies than open their eyes" stuff is a little eye-rolling) but it's a fantastic take on a dystopian platformer that avoids the major pitfalls that such games often fall into. With responsive controls, enjoyable shooting and strong level design, Liberated is an atmospheric, absorbing treat and far more than the sum of its parts.

Liberated presents an affectingly grim dystopian narrative stylized in a viscerally dark comic style. Transitioning from panels of illustrations to action scenes never gets old and is extremely enjoyable. Some in-game graphics are sadly dated with lengthy load times, and the short runtime of the adventure might leave some wanting more, but if you’re looking for a cautionary tale as compelling as it is cynical, Liberated is the comic and game for you.

The gameplay itself is the least impressive of the game’s features and despite an interesting story and problems it tries to tackle we will remember Liberated mostly by its comic book presentation. [06/2020, p.68]