Freedom Finger
- September 27, 2019
- Wide Right Interactive
Freedom Finger is an enjoyable little indie that gets away Scott-free with things that might crucify a AAA title, and provides a few hours of tongue-in-cheek, utterly knowing humour at the same time.
Get on SteamFreedom Finger is a music-driven, side-scrolling shooter game where you control a ship with a giant hand, punching and shooting enemies to the beat of a rocking soundtrack. With a unique art style and diverse levels, players battle against a variety of quirky enemies and bosses. The game also features guest artists and voice actors, providing a humorous and entertaining experience.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Tablet
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a fantastic and diverse soundtrack, including tracks from well-known artists like Aesop Rock, which enhances the overall experience.
- The unique gameplay mechanics, such as grabbing and using enemies as weapons, add a fun twist to the traditional shmup formula.
- The hand-drawn art style and humorous voice acting contribute to a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere, making the game enjoyable and memorable.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, and some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, especially in the later levels.
- There are reports of technical issues, such as audio stuttering, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The story and humor may not resonate with everyone, as it leans heavily into politically incorrect and sophomoric themes.
- music108 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in "Freedom Finger" is widely praised for its outstanding quality and diversity, featuring a curated soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate how the music syncs with the action, creating an engaging rhythm that complements the game's unique mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, making the game highly recommended for music lovers and fans of the genre.
“It mixes colorfully hand-drawn graphics with a wide variety of quality background music performed by a collection of featured bands.”
“The soundtrack, some forty songs, is notable in and of itself -- from acid-washed hippy rock to disaffected nicotine girl synth, there's something for virtually everyone.”
“Freedom Finger may be a solid shoot-em-up experience, but the soundtrack truly takes center stage.”
“The soundtrack sucks after about halfway through the game where it switches off from high-octane rock with insane speed, and nice electric music from Com Truise, to whiny obscure psych-rock with way too much stuff happening on the screen to suit what's going on.”
“But now I just find myself trial and erroring through annoying soundtracked levels that don't really suit the environment happening.”
“If you're not into metal then stay away because you will absolutely hate the soundtrack.”
- gameplay44 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Freedom Finger" is characterized by its unique mechanics, such as punching and grabbing enemies, which add a fresh twist to the traditional shmup formula. While some players find the gameplay loop enjoyable and engaging, others feel it can become repetitive and lacks depth, particularly in certain levels. Overall, the game is praised for its integration of a stellar soundtrack and vibrant art style, making it a fun, albeit sometimes generic, experience within the genre.
“The gameplay is highly polished and it's just a fun, ridiculous shmup with an insane amount of levels.”
“The soundtrack absolutely rips, the gameplay itself takes the general 2D space shooter and flips it on its head, and the entire feel of the game is absolutely bonkers.”
“This game is a labor of love, with amazing music, voice acting, and a wonderful gameplay loop.”
“I appreciate the effort made to try and polish the game, but the gameplay bored me extra quickly (stopped at level 3) probably because the game feel doesn't work for me at all and the level design feels dull and repetitive already.”
“It is also extremely guilty of the new 2D game formula of 'a lot of stuff on screen = cool' when in reality it just takes away from the gameplay a lot of the time, and in this case really distracts you from what you're trying to focus on.”
“The gameplay is fairly generic, as far as shmups go.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant, hand-drawn art style that stands out with its unique personality and attention to detail. Players appreciate the colorful visuals that complement the engaging soundtrack, which features a variety of artists, enhancing the overall experience. While the art style is generally praised, some stages may vary in quality, but the overall aesthetic remains a highlight for many reviewers.
“The real star of the show is the absolutely beautiful hand-drawn, cartoon style graphics popping with color and great attention to small details that really bring the environment to life.”
“The art style is wonderfully unique and helps set this game apart from others.”
“Amazing art style, play style, and above all soundtrack!”
“The rhythm-based visuals seem to dwindle away about halfway through the game as well.”
“Having seen some quick examples of Freedom Finger from Wide Right Interactive's initial press email, I remember being amused by the name and the crude art style.”
“For me, the game then goes into a bit of hit or miss, with the entertainment leaning more towards the art style and the soundtrack for any given stage, with my personal enjoyment wavering mainly between the 3-7 area, with some variance here and there.”
- humor25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of absurdity and sophomoric jokes, often drawing comparisons to shows like "Rick and Morty." While some players find the humor hit-or-miss, many appreciate the well-delivered lines and dark, adult themes that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the game's comedic elements, combined with good voice acting and a fun storyline, contribute to a highly entertaining experience.
“Really funny jokes and a great twist at the end!”
“Reading the conversation between characters would easily grab a laugh from me, and the loading screen quotes are really funny at times.”
“Amazing and totally bonkers side scrolling shoot/punch em up...very funny dialogue, lots of levels and lots of fun...highly recommended...buy this game, it's awesome :)”
- story21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story of "Freedom Finger" is described as wacky, absurd, and humorous, featuring a satirical take on American foreign policy as players pilot the "eagle claw" on a mission to rescue hostages. It boasts high production values, with excellent voice acting and a diverse soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some find the narrative predictable, it remains entertaining and engaging, complemented by unique art and character development.
“The story is really quite absurd, but funny.”
“Great music, great animation, recognizable voice over, awesome storyline, humorous, satirical, and well worth it.”
“Ridiculously over the top story, amazing art style, incredible soundtrack, and it's fully voice acted.”
“The story mode loads up with predictable characters but entertaining enough and serving their purpose.”
“A basic story about fingering, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable.”
“Story is quite racy (sometimes blatantly racist), yet funny.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, allowing players to easily engage in short sessions, making it convenient for those with limited time. Additionally, its star-studded cast and impressive soundtrack enhance the overall experience, encouraging repeated playthroughs.
“Has replayability and is easy to pick up and put down if you only have 15 minutes.”
“Great replayability, star-studded cast, and an amazing soundtrack, of course.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players report experiencing stuttering issues specifically with this game, indicating that it may not be well-optimized compared to other titles.
“I don't have stuttering with anything else, just this game.”
“The game runs poorly on my system, despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
“I've experienced frequent frame drops that make it unplayable at times.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is characterized by zany and over-the-top designs that contribute to a lighthearted and fun atmosphere, appealing to players who enjoy a punk aesthetic and a sense of silliness.
“I love punk-style games that go totally overboard with zany character designs, fun music, and it all just feels so silly that it's stupid fun.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is praised for being phenomenal, particularly in the first half, though some players experienced disruptions due to sudden changes in tempo that required trial and error to navigate effectively.
“The first half of the game was phenomenal, despite the little bit of trial and error I had to go through on each level if I didn't know the song, due to sudden shifts in the atmosphere when a song picks up speed.”
“The first half of the game was phenomenal, but I experienced a lot of trial and error on each level due to sudden shifts in the atmosphere when a song picks up speed.”
