Over a decade later, Freedom Wars returns in remastered form, yet the landscape is utterly different. Mobile has overtaken handheld gaming, and several action RPGs boast massive open worlds and stellar production values. The closest comparison would probably be Monster Hunter Rise on the Nintendo Switch, and that experience translates to current-gen consoles without much trouble. Even if it’s more streamlined comparatively, does Dimps’ classic still hold some modicum of appeal today?

"The other off-putting aspect is the new English voice-acting for Percy Propa (the mascot of the committee running your Panopticon) and your Accessory, an android monitoring your every move who can assist in combat."

The answer will doubtless vary. If you remember the original and feverishly waited for it to return, then Freedom Wars Remastered may speak to you (on console, but more on that later). Those curious about all the fuss will discover an action RPG of highs, lows, and antiquated – albeit intriguing – design.

Set in the far future, where humanity’s resources have dried up and every little thing is a crime, you control a Sinner who’s committed the ultimate offense: Being born. Countries have ceased to exist – there’s only the Panopticons competing against each other for what little remains.

The story begins in the middle of an operation, where your character has lost their memories, and a mysterious individual named Aries M. appears to tease a pivotal event. It’s back to square one afterwards, packed into a nondescript cell, adding to your nearly one million-year-long sentence for even walking more than five steps.

There’s honestly a lot to take in, and Freedom Wars’ writing sometimes does it no favors due to some long-winded dialogue. The other off-putting aspect is the new English voice-acting for Percy Propa (the mascot of the committee running your Panopticon) and your Accessory, an android monitoring your every move who can assist in combat. Their dialogue sounds like it’s been generated by a text-to-speech program, perhaps meant to match the Japanese voice-acting from the PS Vita version but sounding much worse. The performance by actual humans is decent, though some characters like Mattias sound a bit low at times.

"However, the loop devolves into entering a mission, slaying enemies, gathering resources, customizing and improving your loadout, and repeat."

Nevertheless, the world-building is fascinating, as you earn Entitlement Points from completing missions and donating materials. Some resources are outside your level at first – only by qualifying and passing the CODE Exams are you permitted to keep them. The same goes for earning other privileges, like the right to wander outside your cell, sprint and even get some distance from your Accessory.

Learning more about citizens, those with rights above the Sinners, and encountering rival Panopticon members is one thing, as you must tussle with the mysterious Abductors. Even with its idiosyncracies, the overall pacing of the story is pretty quick, and it’s not long before you encounter Beatrice, and things really get going.

Though there’s a lot of info from the outset, the overall gameplay will be familiar enough to fans of action RPG hunting games. You have different weapon types, with melee and ranged options available (which can be improved with Modules). You also have different Thorns – tools that serve as grapples but can also immobilize enemies, boost your team’s defense, and even heal when charged up. Their main purpose will be to attach to the Abductors, and either topple them or sever parts with enough button mashing. During combat, you can issue commands, instructing your Accessory to perform necessary tasks (which I found somewhat finicky at times).

However, the loop devolves into entering a mission, slaying enemies, gathering resources, customizing and improving your loadout, and repeat. Higher CODE Levels grant tougher missions but the variety is sorely lacking. Also, between flat desert plains and a few ruined cityscapes with structures to grapple to, the environments don’t serve to mix up the gameplay.

"Even as you work through the story and unravel the world’s happenings, it’s not long before the gameplay starts to feel overly repetitive."

The Abductors can be intriguing since you can break off different parts and collect them. Some objectives may also require rescuing citizens from their grasp, which means targeting their central pod. If an Abductor has a shield, grappling onto those components and severing them is key.

You may even blow up certain parts like missile launchers to deprive an Abductor of its more lethal weapons, but that’s more or less it. Most other times, you’ll alternate between heavy and light attacks to execute simple combos, fire from a distance, execute a grapple strike and maybe chuck a grenade or two. I would have liked to be able to set the camera back farther.

Transitioning between different attack functions isn’t the most fluid, though it’s not a lost cause. It’s somewhat surprising how responsive the combat can feel. Shredding through an Abductor’s armor can feel satisfying, and newer options, like animation cancelling by activating Thorns, certainly add more nuance.

If only there was a greater variety in enemies or more mission types (how do so many citizens end up needing to be rescued anyway?). Even as you work through the story and unravel the world’s happenings, it’s not long before the gameplay starts to feel overly repetitive. Nevertheless, for those who can get into it, there are enough upgrades and unlocks to keep you playing for dozens of hours.

"If this is really the first step towards reviving the series, I’m keen to see what the team can achieve with more contemporary mechanics and design."

Aside from quality-of-life features like Module Synthesis and a higher difficulty in Deadly Sinner mode, the other defining aspect of Freedom Wars Remastered is the visuals. While it sticks to the same anime-esque aesthetic with the listless color palette befitting a future of surveillance and despair, the 4K resolution and 60 frames per second performance make a significant difference. The details are crisp, and on PlayStation 5, I didn’t encounter any performance issues (which is reportedly not the same story on PC, so beware if you’re looking to get it on Steam).

Again, the visual fidelity isn’t going to compete with your Wuthering Waves or Zenless Zone Zeroes, but it’s a unique atmosphere, unlike so many other titles. Oppressive, yet oddly jubilant, perhaps in part thanks to the soundtrack. The mix of orchestration and edgy rock feels just right, lending some much-needed gravitas to the overall presentation.

On the surface, Freedom Wars Remastered doesn’t seem like it aspires to much more than simply bringing the classic to current-gen platforms. That itself is noteworthy, and the quality of life features are appreciated, though I can see action RPG connoisseurs rightfully demanding more, even at this budget price point. If this is really the first step towards reviving the series, I’m keen to see what the team can achieve with more contemporary mechanics and design. For now, this is a remaster that will be most appreciated by long-time fans, best experienced on PS5.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

Set in a dystopic version of Earth, nations are replaced by Panopticons as most of the populace suffers from prison sentences. The protagonist is sentenced to one million years for the “crime of living” and must undertake missions to battle Abductors and hostile Panopticons to reduce it.

While Freedom Wars Remastered offers the same gameplay and aesthetic, it supports resolutions up to 4K and 60 FPS, a new difficulty level, quality of life features for progression, and improvements to combat. For example, movement speed is faster, and you can cancel attacks with Thorns. You can also remap the controls.

Multiplayer also offers new options, while all previous cosmetic DLC are available for customization. The character voices have also been refreshed. Check out the systems trailer for more details.

More noteworthy upgrades include increased movement speed and animation canceling when activating Thorns. Players can also look forward to renewed controls, including full remapping. There are also some quality-of-life features, like modules functioning as separate items, letting you attach and detach them from weapons as necessary.

Module Synthesis has also been added to upgrade modules, with the success rate increasing if you take help from rescued citizens. Those seeking a challenge can engage in Deadly Sinner mode, which increases the years of sentence from penalties, while all previously released cosmetic DLC is included for customization.

Freedom Wars Remastered launches on January 10th for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It also features various graphical improvements, including 4K resolution and 60 frames per second support.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Just when it seemed like Nintendo wrapped up all its big releases ahead of its next console reveal, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD launches on January 16th for the Switch. Featuring the return of Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong, the classic campaign supports revamped visuals, JoyCon support, and new levels from the 3DS port. There’s even New Mode, which provides an easier on-boarding difficulty for newcomers.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins

“No more open world” is already a massive selling point for Dynasty Warriors: Origins. However, Omega Force is cooking up even more with the prequel ahead of its launch on January 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. A new protagonist, tactics, and combat improvements alongside multiple weapons and famous warriors as teammates (who you can control for limited periods) are just a few notable features. If the demo is any indication, Dynasty Warriors: Origins should restore the series ‘ glory.

Tales of Graces f Remastered

It’s still remaster season for Tales fans, with Tales of Graces f the latest title to get said treatment. Unlike Symphonia, the next remaster is handled by Tose instead of Bandai Namco, ensuring 60 FPS on all platforms (except Nintendo Switch, sadly). Tales of Graces f Remastered also features quality-of-life additions like auto-save, English and Japanese audio, a destination marker for quests on the world map, and more. It launches on January 17th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Switch.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PC)

The critically acclaimed sequel finally arrives on PC after remaining on PS5 for the better part of 2024. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth offers numerous improvements to Remake’s combat while heavily expanding on the mini-games, characters, exploration, and story. PC players can look forward to more extensive graphical settings, support for upscalers like DLSS, and improved lighting rendering. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth arrives for PC players on January 23rd.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (PC)

If another 100-hour RPG isn’t what you’re after on PC, then Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 may be the solution. Featuring not one but two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Mile Morales, it offers new locations, combat abilities, and activities to go with the darker narrative and addition of the infamous Symbiote, Venom. It’s out on January 30th for PC.

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles

Aspyr has been working overtime to bring various Star Wars classics to modern platforms, with Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles being the latest. It arrives on January 23rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. While the prospect of higher resolutions and better performance is tempting, fans can also look forward to playing unlocked characters from the beginning and using a new modern control scheme.

Hyper Light Breaker Early Access

Hyper Light Breaker is an open-world rogue-lite for PC that features intense boss battles, weapons and hoverboards. After facing several delays, Heart Machine is releasing Hyper Light Breaker in early access on January 14.  It will feature three player co-op along with a variety of skins and weapons.

Eternal Strands

Action adventure title Eternal Strands, which sees players relying on the elements and environments to battle massively imposing threats, launches on January 28th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Besides intriguing us with its visuals and overall combat, the premise and journey of Brynn, a Weaver on a mission of redemption, is intriguing. If that’s not enough, post-launch content developed alongside the Final Fantasy 16 development team is also in the works.

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap

Franchises come and go, and yet somehow, Orcs Must Die! still showcases the appeal of constructing elaborate defenses and slaying hordes of Orcs. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap is the latest iteration of the series, out on January 28th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It offers co-op for up to four players, but you can still go it alone, choosing from six new War Mages and partaking in new rogue-lite runs. Offering more extensive customization, random modifiers in each run, and more, Deathtrap retains the series’ signature chaos and charm.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

Odd Bug’s long-awaited sequel to its brutal 2D side-scrolling action RPG finally arrives on January 28th for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. On top of a new violent story, players will once again engage in settlement building, slaying enemies (this time with new elemental effects), and even embarking on hunts against massive beasts for greater rewards. And yes, Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt from The Witcher 3, returns to provide the same impeccable narration.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Long-range snipes into body parts with explosive results, carefully showcased with an X-Ray Killcam? You’ve come to the right place with Rebellion’s Sniper Elite: Resistance, a spin-off that runs parallel to Sniper Elite 5 and stars Harry Hawker of the SOE. Between sniping, sneaking, and assassinating Nazis across large maps, you’ll also take out Kill List targets and embody Resistance fighters in new Propaganda Missions. All this and more await on January 30th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

A new Sleeper, a new Belt in the Helios System, and many of the same problems (with a few new ones thrown in for good measure). Jump Over the Age’s mix of sci-fi narrative, tabletop dice mechanics, and role-playing gives you a ship and various jobs to complete amid an ongoing conflict between corporations. Making new friends, temporary and permanent, and bringing them along to complete jobs is key, as is managing stress and your slowly deteriorating body. If you even mildly enjoyed the original’s characters and stories, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector launches on January 31st for PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

Trying to unravel the origins of Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana can be a headache (especially since it’s a remaster of a remake). All you need to know is that it’s one of the better titles in the series, now presented with sharper visuals, a new voiceover for protagonist Adol, new character illustrations, and every iteration of the excellent soundtrack. It’s available on January 7th for PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Freedom Wars Remastered

The underrated dystopian action RPG first released in 2014 by Sony for the PlayStation Vita makes its long-awaited return on January 10th for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. As a prisoner in the Panopticons, players must effectively work off their sentence, battling Abductors and competing against other cities for valuable resources. Offering 4K/60 FPS on PlayStation and PC, improved controls, visual improvements, and more to go with eight-player co-op, Freedom Wars Remastered is a long time coming.

Blade Chimera

From the team behind Touhou Luna Nights comes another immensely sleek platformer. As the amnesiac Shin, players work alongside Lux and fight against various monsters to unravel the mysteries of his life. Alongside shapeshifting and time manipulation, players will unlock new abilities and weapons in their quest. Launching on January 16th for PC and Nintendo Switch, Blade Chimera is shaping up into an excellent side-scroller.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

The follow-up to Ender Lilies, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist travels to the Land of Fumes and stars a new hero – Lilac, an Attuner who can control the Homunculi, each with different abilities. While there are no signs of the Rain of Death from decades prior, the world has fallen into ruin after mysterious Fumes infect the Homunculi. Survival is paramount, but Lilac must also recover her memories. While offering more excellent 2D art and animation and a new soundtrack by Mili, Ender Magnolia also provides new skills, difficulty levels, and combat changes. It exits early access on January 22nd for PC while also launching for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

The premise involves a far-flung future where humanity is confined to Panopticons, fighting over resources. As a Sinner, you have a one million-year sentence to serve and must participate in combat operations against the Abductors to fight for freedom. While it retains the same combat and story, Freedom Wars Remastered features a 4K resolution, 60 FPS support, and improved textures on PlayStation and PC.

Alongside difficulty settings and a revamped crafting system, it also features “refined” controls. The eight-player co-op remains intact, though it remains to be seen if the League of Panopticons online feature carries over. Stay tuned for more details on Freedom Wars Remastered, and check out some extensive gameplay below courtesy of Famitsu.