A bit of a forewarning, I didn’t play any post game or online content for this game as an update error corrupted my game file.
A good chunk of the Vita’s Japanese library is made up of cooperative monster hunting games. Freedom Wars is yet another take on the formula popularized by Capcom’s Monster Hunter series. However, the game stands out thanks to its player movement, variety in mission structure and focus on story and characters.
Fast-paced movement in a side-scroller is something I’ve never felt comfortable with. Sonic the Hedgehog comes to mind as the game expects a level of precision at high speeds, which can only be obtained through memorization. For someone with the time and dedication to learn each stage, that’s fine. However, I often just want to go through a game and experience it once. So as exhilarating as speed can be, it often leads to frustration. I find it difficult to read and react to what’s coming up ahead when limited to a side-perspective.
Oculin's Box 