Freedom Finger | PC Review
Every now and again, a game falls into my lap that I simply can’t turn away. I am an avid fan of shoot’em ups (or “shmups” for short). Whether they are vertical style or horizontal, I love them all. When a developer like Wide Right Interactive decides to pair it with a ridiculous story like they have in Freedom Finger, it becomes a match made in heaven for me. There is a bit of a downside to the game, though, as there may be quite a few people that may find it offensive. With that being said, let’s blast off and find out if this is a game for you.
Sometimes Freedom Needs to Be Insane
Freedom Finger is an over-the-top horizontal space shooter in which you control a character named Gamma Ray. You are the pilot of one of the most absurdly designed ships I think I have ever seen, a giant middle finger. You have been tasked by a beer drinking, cigar smoking, and overly abrasive commander named Major Cigar, to race to the moon and save the day. However, a large amount of Russian, Chinese, and other obstacles stand in your way. As the story progresses, the destruction you leave behind would make even Rambo blush. You just need to make sure to use the weapons and pilot skills to get the job done.
The controls for the game are quite simple. You can fly in any direction on the screen, as with most shmups. It’s probably in your best interest to stay to the left side of the screen, however, as enemies will stream in from the right. You have your basic fire mode, which will handle most enemies. Your ship can also turn into a fist and punch objects. This will either deal damage directly or send pieces flying into oncoming enemies damaging them in the process. Your final attack is a grab this is incredibly helpful in grabbing ships and using their fire modes against them. These range from a spread pattern to a simple, but faster version of your basic attack.
Animation Is the Name of the Game
Freedom Finger is well-animated for a budget title and is fun to observe as you travel along. There are a wide variety of objects hidden around the levels that provide a chuckle or two. I appreciate that the game is entirely hand drawn.
The voice acting is surprisingly good as well and keeps the story from ever becoming boring. With top-tier voice talents such as Nolan North and John DiMaggio you already know you’re in for a treat.
The Driving Force
As if all of that weren’t enough, Freedom Finger has one more thing that pushes it over the top. Most shmups have a pretty decent soundtrack that keeps the game moving forward. This game takes it to the next tier with an amazing soundtrack that matches whatever is going on in the game. The very first level is an amazing selection from the band Red Fang. I fell in love with this game due to its amazing ability to find that perfect rhythm with the music. I can honestly say that at no point in the game did the music become annoying or repetitive as in some games. It was an experience like none other.
As a fan of the genre, I struggle to find issues with Freedom Finger. Some of the levels may be a little short, and the story may be quite bizarre. I honestly would have liked the game to be a little longer as well. But for a budget indie title, I was truly blown away by how much fun I had playing though it. The boss battles are very well done; they are not simple, either. The developers managed to craft them in such a way that you have to be aware to find a pattern in the attacks to survive them. I had so much fun that I played though it twice for both endings. All said and done, I have spent close to 40 hours playing Freedom Finger, and I still want to play more.
Freedom Finger Final Verdict
The developers tout the game as “bat$#!% crazy cartoon action”. I can wholeheartedly say they have succeeded in that aspect without a doubt! There are times where sections of the story verge on being downright bizarre. Both of the endings were definitely something I didn’t see coming. The gameplay is addictive and fun, and with the leaderboards and score keeping, it hearkens back old-school style arcade shooters. If Wide Right Interactive decides to make more shooters like this, I will gladly be there to play them. I will advise parents to turn on the safety modes due to language and themes. If you are an adult that isn’t easily offended though, go full bore for quite an interesting ride.
This review is based on a PC copy of Freedom Finger provided by Wide Right Interactive and is also available on Nintendo Switch.
Freedom Finger
19.99
Pros
- Fun and Challenging Gameplay
- GREAT Soundtrack
- Bizarre, Fun Story
Cons
- Levels Can Be Short
- Steer Clear If Easily Offended
Hopefully they’ll put you on the box art!