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Freedom Fighters (video game)
Encyclopedia
Freedom Fighters, originally titled Freedom: The Battle For Liberty Island, is a 2003 third-person shooter
video game available for the PlayStation 2
, Nintendo GameCube
, Xbox
and Microsoft Windows
that is set in an alternate history. The player takes the role of Christopher Stone, a plumber-turned American
Resistance movement
leader who fights against the Red Army
that invades and occupies New York City
. It was developed by IO Interactive, using a modified version of the Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
game engine, and published by Electronic Arts
.
, in which the player navigates through the streets of New York while fighting the Soviet forces. The game also contains squad-based elements, having a charisma
meter. The player gains charisma by performing heroic deeds in the resistance movement against the invading forces, like capturing a base or destroying vital supplies. The more charisma that is gained, the more squadmates the character can recruit, including leaderless guerrillas and wounded Russian soldiers, up to a maximum of twelve.
Freedom Fighters uses a simple method of controlling recruits in battle. In the game, the player can command recruits by giving them simple orders such as "follow", "attack", and "defend", but in most situations, they take care of themselves. Given the terrain of New York City after the initial invasion, the Resistance usually stations its soldiers in covered positions like craters and buildings.
brings an end to World War II
by dropping the first atomic bomb
on Berlin
, redefining history. As a result, the Soviet Union never collapsed; it instead became the world superpower. Europe
changed from capitalism to communism with Great Britain
as the last to join the communist bloc, albeit reluctantly. The Iron Curtain was extended to most of Asia
, the Middle East
and South America
. Now, they are sending in their army to liberate America.
Chris and Troy Stone, New York
plumbers, travel to meet with their next client an Anti-Communist
activist named Isabella Angelina. The Stones appear at her condominium only to find no one home, until Soviet soldiers led by General Tatarin raid the condo, seizing Troy. Soon after, Soviet air and ground forces begin their assault on New York City (and presumably the rest of the United States). Amidst the attack on the city, Chris escapes to the streets, allied with a man named Mr. Jones and resistance member Phil Bagzton. They plan and carry out a rescue for Isabella, who was being held at a New York police station, and shortly thereafter, Chris successfully rescues Troy, who was being held hostage at a post office. Then the group retreat to the underground sewers as New York City falls to the Soviet invasion, along with the rest of the United States.
A couple of months after the invasion, Chris becomes known as the Freedom Phantom within the Soviet controlled-media, SAFN. Chris, Phil, and Isabella sabotage key Soviet facilities and reclaim territories within New York City, while at the same time building a strong resistance group consisting of New York's inhabitants and disillusioned Soviet soldiers. Despite fierce resistance, they manage to do serious damage to the Soviet Army. During this time, Troy is captured by the Soviet forces while recruiting more freedom fighters and is tortured into revealing the true identity of the Freedom Phantom to the media. He is later forced to make a public statement to Chris and the resistance group, reluctantly pleading them to cease their actions. While being led away he suddenly returns to the podium, urging Chris to keep fighting. For his defiant actions, Troy is taken to Governor's Island and is executed by General Tatarin.
Mr. Jones reveals the grim news to Chris, suggesting retaliation in the form of an assassination against General Tatarin. Jones' reasons for this are twofold: firstly, it will allow Chris to avenge his brother; and secondly, Soviet forces will be greatly weakened by the loss of Tatarin's leadership. Chris succeeds in killing Tatarin and escapes Governor's Island, only to return to find Isabella missing and the resistance's main base occupied by the Soviets.
Mr. Jones boastfully reveals himself to be Colonel Bulba, head of the KGB
in New York, explaining that this was how he managed to supply the resistance with the information on the Soviet occupiers. Chris escapes with Phil Bagzton and The Kid to a new makeshift underground. SAFN later reports on the death of Tatarin, Colonel Bulba's promotion to General, and the destruction of the resistance in New York.
During the winter, Chris, Phil, and The Kid lead an increasingly-determined resistance in Soviet-controlled New York City, climaxing with a raid on the SAFN Studios. They use the station to send a broadcast encouraging the people of New York and beyond to bring an end to the Soviet occupation. Chris, Phil, and The Kid plan a final strategy against the Soviet occupation: an all-out assault on Governor's Island consisting of all available resistance fighters in New York City. After taking over the island and rescuing Isabella, the resistance group celebrate their victory over the Soviets.
Asian Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, General Tatarin is a field warrior, hailing from a long line of soldiers. Tatarin is a highly skilled and accomplished soldier, the subject of great loyalty and respect from the men under his command. He is as brutal as he is charismatic, personally executing Troy Stone when he refuses to cooperate with Soviet demands. When Tatarin is assassinated by Chris in retaliation, Tatarin is buried with full military honors, becoming a martyr to the Red Army forces he once led.
The Freedom Fighters original soundtrack was composed by Jesper Kyd
and released on September 29, 2003 by Sumthing Else and Nano Studios. It was GameSpot's "Best Game Soundtrack of the Year 2003" and Game Reactor Magazine's "Best Game Music of the Year". Tracks 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 14 and 16 are performed by The Hungarian Radio Choir. The music has grand, Soviet-style, choral arrangements and the synth parts bring Vangelis
to mind, indeed one reviewer referred to it as "Vangelis on steroids".
He describes his thinking behind the score thus:
: the first reviewer, Joe Fielder, called the game's core gameplay mechanic "damn fun to play", but criticized its cutscenes and said that "you come away from Freedom Fighters wanting more. Just when the game really hits its stride, it's over—and neither playing its under utilized multiplayer mode nor beginning the whole affair over again on a harder difficulty setting will quite satisfy your need". The second reviewer, Shawn Elliott, called it "easily one of the best all-out action games I've played all year".
, casting the future of a Freedom Fighters sequel in doubt. In late 2007 a representative of IO said in an interview about the upcoming Kane & Lynch: Dead Men that a sequel for Freedom Fighters was still on the company's 'to-do' list.
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
video game available for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
that is set in an alternate history. The player takes the role of Christopher Stone, a plumber-turned American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Resistance movement
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
leader who fights against the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
that invades and occupies New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was developed by IO Interactive, using a modified version of the Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. Released for the Xbox game console on September 30, 2002, it is the second entry in the Hitman series and the sequel to Hitman: Codename 47...
game engine, and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
.
Gameplay
Freedom Fighters is a third-person shooterThird-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
, in which the player navigates through the streets of New York while fighting the Soviet forces. The game also contains squad-based elements, having a charisma
Charisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
meter. The player gains charisma by performing heroic deeds in the resistance movement against the invading forces, like capturing a base or destroying vital supplies. The more charisma that is gained, the more squadmates the character can recruit, including leaderless guerrillas and wounded Russian soldiers, up to a maximum of twelve.
Freedom Fighters uses a simple method of controlling recruits in battle. In the game, the player can command recruits by giving them simple orders such as "follow", "attack", and "defend", but in most situations, they take care of themselves. Given the terrain of New York City after the initial invasion, the Resistance usually stations its soldiers in covered positions like craters and buildings.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer revolves around securing flags and bunkers. The flag that a player needs to capture and hold is usually in the center of the map. Bunkers are positioned around the map, and spawn either Soviet soldiers or American freedom fighters. Players can know who the bunkers belong to because of a star above each one; a Soviet bunker is marked by a red star, while an American bunker is marked by a blue star. In each game, there can be up to four players, who can choose between the Soviet and American sides. Each side has a different set of weapons. The players can switch weapons in battle. In each map, there are several areas where weapons and ammunition are stored. Each bunker also has one medical kit and one ammunition can, so every bunker is vitally important. Each player also has their charisma meter set to eight, so each player can have a maximum of eight soldiers under their command; however, if it is a four-player battle, each player can control a maximum of four soldiers. The players can select a map to fight in: Greenwich Village, where there are four bunkers surrounding the flag; Brooklyn Rooftops, with four adjacent bunkers with the flag between the middle two bunkers on a building; and Fort Jay, a nighttime scene with four bunkers at the edge of the map with the flag in the middle.Plot
In an alternate present time, the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
brings an end to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by dropping the first atomic bomb
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
on Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, redefining history. As a result, the Soviet Union never collapsed; it instead became the world superpower. Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
changed from capitalism to communism with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
as the last to join the communist bloc, albeit reluctantly. The Iron Curtain was extended to most of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Now, they are sending in their army to liberate America.
Chris and Troy Stone, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
plumbers, travel to meet with their next client an Anti-Communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
activist named Isabella Angelina. The Stones appear at her condominium only to find no one home, until Soviet soldiers led by General Tatarin raid the condo, seizing Troy. Soon after, Soviet air and ground forces begin their assault on New York City (and presumably the rest of the United States). Amidst the attack on the city, Chris escapes to the streets, allied with a man named Mr. Jones and resistance member Phil Bagzton. They plan and carry out a rescue for Isabella, who was being held at a New York police station, and shortly thereafter, Chris successfully rescues Troy, who was being held hostage at a post office. Then the group retreat to the underground sewers as New York City falls to the Soviet invasion, along with the rest of the United States.
A couple of months after the invasion, Chris becomes known as the Freedom Phantom within the Soviet controlled-media, SAFN. Chris, Phil, and Isabella sabotage key Soviet facilities and reclaim territories within New York City, while at the same time building a strong resistance group consisting of New York's inhabitants and disillusioned Soviet soldiers. Despite fierce resistance, they manage to do serious damage to the Soviet Army. During this time, Troy is captured by the Soviet forces while recruiting more freedom fighters and is tortured into revealing the true identity of the Freedom Phantom to the media. He is later forced to make a public statement to Chris and the resistance group, reluctantly pleading them to cease their actions. While being led away he suddenly returns to the podium, urging Chris to keep fighting. For his defiant actions, Troy is taken to Governor's Island and is executed by General Tatarin.
Mr. Jones reveals the grim news to Chris, suggesting retaliation in the form of an assassination against General Tatarin. Jones' reasons for this are twofold: firstly, it will allow Chris to avenge his brother; and secondly, Soviet forces will be greatly weakened by the loss of Tatarin's leadership. Chris succeeds in killing Tatarin and escapes Governor's Island, only to return to find Isabella missing and the resistance's main base occupied by the Soviets.
Mr. Jones boastfully reveals himself to be Colonel Bulba, head of the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
in New York, explaining that this was how he managed to supply the resistance with the information on the Soviet occupiers. Chris escapes with Phil Bagzton and The Kid to a new makeshift underground. SAFN later reports on the death of Tatarin, Colonel Bulba's promotion to General, and the destruction of the resistance in New York.
During the winter, Chris, Phil, and The Kid lead an increasingly-determined resistance in Soviet-controlled New York City, climaxing with a raid on the SAFN Studios. They use the station to send a broadcast encouraging the people of New York and beyond to bring an end to the Soviet occupation. Chris, Phil, and The Kid plan a final strategy against the Soviet occupation: an all-out assault on Governor's Island consisting of all available resistance fighters in New York City. After taking over the island and rescuing Isabella, the resistance group celebrate their victory over the Soviets.
Characters
- Christopher Stone AKA "The Freedom Phantom" - Co-leader of the Manhattan Resistance. Brooklyn born and raised, Chris was a plumber before the Soviet invasion of the USA. He did not believe his brother's anti-communist rantings, nor did he take any interest in the signs that a long-planned Soviet invasion was imminent. Chris escapes the forces of the Red Army and General Tatarin, going underground on the first day of the occupation. He goes on to become a famed- and infamous- leader of the New York resistance, called "The Freedom Phantom" first by the Soviets and later by both sides of the fighting.
- Isabella Angelina - Co-leader of the Manhattan Resistance. Prior to the invasion Isabella was a political activist, leader of the "Warning Against Reds" movement. She becomes a prominent leader in the New York resistance and plays a key role in its liberation from the Soviets.
- Troy Stone - Manhattan Resistance member, brother of Chris Stone. Troy, formerly a plumber alongside his brother, is captured by General Tatarin as the Soviets invade. Rescued days later in a resistance raid on an occupied post office, Troy joins the resistance but soon leaves New York City, planning to find and aid resistance movements elsewhere. Captured again during a Soviet raid, Troy is forced to read a prepared statement, asking Chris and the resistance to surrender. As he is being led away, however, Troy abruptly commandeers the podium to make a short but far more sincere speech, yelling defiantly for his brother to never give up the fight. Furious with his actions, the Soviets take Troy to Governor's Island, where he is personally executed by General Tatarin. Troy faces his end bravely, never once betraying his brother or the resistance.
- Mr. Jones - Manhattan Resistance military and intelligence advisor. Too old to be effective in combat, Mr. Jones aids the resistance as an intelligence expert, directing many of its operations early on. It is not known exactly what he did prior to the Soviet invasion, nor is it known where he gets all the information he has.
- Colonel Bulba - Head of KGB in New York City, Bulba infiltrates the New York resistance on the day of its formation, posing as "Mr. Jones". He decides against destroying the resistance immediately, instead deliberately aiding it and even directing Chris to kill Bulba's superior, General Tatarin. A triumphant Bulba reveals his true identity to Chris afterward, and upon his promotion to general vows to hunt down Chris and the remaining resistance members "like sewer rats". He does not appear during the assault on Fort Jay, however, and his status and location are unknown at the game's end.
- Phil Bagzton - Manhattan Resistance munitions expert. Phil joins the New York resistance on the day of the Soviet invasion, having been rescued by Chris and Mr. Jones after being shot by Red Army soldiers. He quickly proves to be little more than a cowardly braggart, constantly boasting but almost never seeing actual combat. Despite this, however, Phil is dedicated to the resistance and never betrays or abandons it, being one of those fortunate enough to escape with Chris when Colonel Bulba attacks resistance headquarters.
- The Kid - Manhattan Resistance supporter, deals with information, logistics, and putting messages of freedom on walls with graffiti, having little else to do since his boarding school was shut down by the Soviets.
- General Vasillj Tatarin - Commander of the Soviet Occupation Force in the US and the primary antagonist until his death. Born in 1958 in the
Asian Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, General Tatarin is a field warrior, hailing from a long line of soldiers. Tatarin is a highly skilled and accomplished soldier, the subject of great loyalty and respect from the men under his command. He is as brutal as he is charismatic, personally executing Troy Stone when he refuses to cooperate with Soviet demands. When Tatarin is assassinated by Chris in retaliation, Tatarin is buried with full military honors, becoming a martyr to the Red Army forces he once led.
- Tatiana Kempinski - Soviet propaganda newscaster. Educated partly in the United States, spending several years there prior to the invasion, but as staunch a follower of the Soviet cause as anyone. Kempinski is a news anchor at SAFN studios in New York City, regularly broadcasting what the Soviet government wants the people of New York to know. She is not seen during the resistance assault on SAFN studios and, like Colonel Bulba, her whereabouts are completely unknown at the end of the game.
Audio
Jesper Kyd
Jesper Jakobson Kyd is a Danish video game and film score composer.Kyd combines sounds of dark ambient, electronic and symphonic music and has won many awards. He is also notable for his early work in the Amiga demoscene, where he composed a large amount of music in his teenage years, in...
and released on September 29, 2003 by Sumthing Else and Nano Studios. It was GameSpot's "Best Game Soundtrack of the Year 2003" and Game Reactor Magazine's "Best Game Music of the Year". Tracks 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 14 and 16 are performed by The Hungarian Radio Choir. The music has grand, Soviet-style, choral arrangements and the synth parts bring Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
to mind, indeed one reviewer referred to it as "Vangelis on steroids".
He describes his thinking behind the score thus:
Reception
It received a score of 7.5/8.5/8 from Electronic Gaming MonthlyElectronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
: the first reviewer, Joe Fielder, called the game's core gameplay mechanic "damn fun to play", but criticized its cutscenes and said that "you come away from Freedom Fighters wanting more. Just when the game really hits its stride, it's over—and neither playing its under utilized multiplayer mode nor beginning the whole affair over again on a harder difficulty setting will quite satisfy your need". The second reviewer, Shawn Elliott, called it "easily one of the best all-out action games I've played all year".
Sequel
On April 6, 2004 Eidos UK revealed plans for the sequel. Eidos announced it would distribute the sequel in the first half of its financial year 2006, which would mean the latter part of 2005. However IO Interactive announced development of a new intellectual property, Kane & Lynch: Dead MenKane & Lynch: Dead Men
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is a cooperative third-person shooter developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The mobile phone version was developed by Kiloo and published by Eidos Mobile...
, casting the future of a Freedom Fighters sequel in doubt. In late 2007 a representative of IO said in an interview about the upcoming Kane & Lynch: Dead Men that a sequel for Freedom Fighters was still on the company's 'to-do' list.