$20 Game of the Week: Freedom Force vs the Third Reich (PC)

This game is the sequel to 2002’s Freedom Force, which is one of the best games inspired by comic books without actually being based on one. The game featured a wide array of characters, RTS-style controls, and a look right out of a 1960s Jack Kirby comic. You fought against an assortment of weird communism-worshiping villains inspired by the Silver Age of comics. The game was also modable, allowing players to add in new characters, missions, and campaigns to the experience. In 2005, Irrational Games released a sequel containing even more comic goodness, and this time, it took gamers to the golden age of comics, and Freedom Force fought against the evil of the Nazis.

Picking up after the events of the first, you start out in a tutorial level that introduces you to the basics of the game. You’ve got access to several unique heroes, each with their own upgradeable powers. You earn prestige points to earn more, and each character has their own origin. Minuteman, reminiscent of Captain America, is an ex-researcher whose newfound powers allowed him to survive an attempt on his life. The Ghost Rider-like Tombstone gained his powers after being framed for the murder of his wife. You’ll progress through several missions, and battle a diverse group of enemies. There are also some puzzles and object interaction. Like in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, you can use your super-strength characters to pick up objects and throw them at their opponents. When you get tired of the main game, then there is a new multiplayer skirmish mode.

If you’re a fan of comics, then this is an excellent purchase. Most stores have it for $15 or less. You can download the mod tools from http://freedomfans.com, and create your own adventures. It’s hard to find, and it’s predecessor is even more difficult to find. With Irrational Games being absorbed into Take 2, and Take 2 taking the heat from the Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt controversies, there is a slim chance that we could see another game in this series.

System Requirements
Operating system: Windows 98 or higher (including Vista)
Processor: 733 MHZ Intel Pentium III, AMD Athlon processor, equivalent, or higher
System Memory: 128 MB RAM
Storage: 700 MB Hard Drive space
Graphics: ATI Radeom 7000, NVDIA GeForce GTS, or equivalent 32 MB video card with DirectX 9.0c support
Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
Online (optional): 56k or broadband modem
4x CD-ROM drive