Freedom Wars Remastered Review

Over a decade ago, the Monster Hunter series was the premiere hunting title many tried to emulate. A few of them cropped up, like the God Eater and Toukiden series, each offering their unique take on Monster Hunter’s addictive gameplay loop, with varying degrees of success.

Among these titles was a hidden gem on the PlayStation Vita called Freedom Wars. Developed by Dimps and published by Sony, Freedom Wars was a monster hunter-like game in which players undertook missions, gathered materials to craft better gear, and repeated the process. Eventually, it became a fan favorite and a cult classic that remained dormant—until now.

Kicking off the new year is a new lease on life for this almost forgotten title as Freedom Wars Remastered comes to grace us, sinners, once again.

Born Sinner

In a future Earth where resources are scarce, humanity is divided into large collectives called Panopticons, which are constantly at war with each other for control of these resources. Within these Panopticons are the privileged Citizens and the unfortunate Sinners, who are deemed criminals from birth and forced to serve a 1,000,000-year sentence. Guess which one you are?

Hunting-type games aren’t typically known for deep storylines, and even Monster Hunter’s narrative was simple. Regardless of the lore behind your targets, it all boils down to taking down said monsters. However, Freedom Wars manages to craft an interesting story behind its gameplay, offering a unique proposition that aims to engage players who place value in story-based offerings.

In a world where you’re a Sinner conscripted to undertake dangerous missions to reduce your sentence, it fits the dystopian setting of Freedom Wars. Without giving too much away, let’s just say there’s more to the story than just serving your time, with a deeper plot that may decide the fate of the world you’re living in.

Freedom Wars brings the absurdity of a dystopian world front and center with its ridiculous restrictions for Sinners. Be careful, as simply walking more than five steps or lying down in your cell may add to your sentence if you haven’t ranked up enough! Depending on your perspective, you may find it an interesting mechanic or simply annoying, as anything you do might be considered a violation. So, you better do your part to buy your privileges by contributing to the Greater Good of your Panopticon.

At its core, you undertake missions much like accepting quests to hunt down monsters. By completing these missions, your sentence is reduced, bringing you closer to freedom. You’re also rewarded with Entitlement Points, which are your currency needed to buy gear, items, and privileges that grant you a bit more freedom both in and out of the battlefield.

In terms of gameplay, some missions can advance the story, while most will help you gather resources and Entitlement Points to better equip yourself and your Accessory, a robotic companion that serves as both a partner and, in-universe, a guard that watches all your actions and reports any violations you commit.

Of particular note are the Code Exams. After completing various conditions, including reducing your sentence or buying a particular entitlement, you become eligible to undertake an exam that will grant you more privileges to buy and more missions that will yield better rewards.

The higher your Code Rank, the higher your access to facilities that can further upgrade your gear and items. You have Weapon facilities where you can use the parts you’ve gathered to strengthen your preferred weapons and an Augment Facility where you can craft and equip various buffs like added speed or defense. It’s the tried-and-true Monster Hunter formula in a dystopian future, but how you do it is what actually breaks the mold in a way.

Thorn at your side

Engaging in battles against other Panopticons not only pits you against fellow human Sinners but also against formidable Abductors. These large mechanical creatures serve as the game’s primary adversaries, akin to monsters that must be defeated. Abductors come in various forms and may also imprison Citizens that players need to rescue. This is where your arsenal of tools comes into play.

Experimenting with the diverse array of weapons available is particularly enjoyable. For melee combat, you can choose between slow but powerful blades and blunt weapons, or opt for the faster but weaker varieties like short swords and cutters. The latter offers a unique mechanic that allows you to sever parts of Abductors. The ability to mount these colossal adversaries is a signature feature of Freedom Wars.

Thorns are versatile, multi-purpose tools wrapped around your arm. Their primary function is to enable you to swing around and latch onto Abductors to perform various actions. With a Thorn, you can drag an Abductor off balance or swing onto specific parts, making it possible to reach severable components or trapped Citizens.

Working in tandem with Thorns, there are numerous advantages to collaborating with AI companions or other Sinners online in multiplayer mode. For instance, multiple Sinners dragging an Abductor can expedite the process. Additionally, Thorns can be equipped with different functionalities, such as Healing Thorns that restore health or Shielding Thorns that offer increased defense. This makes teamwork a crucial element in Freedom Wars.

The Leaderboards feature a League of Panopticon ranking, where you contribute to your Panopticon’s rank by donating Gross Panopticon Products (GPP). Excess items can be donated to increase your rank. The gameplay of Freedom Wars is engaging enough that you will likely accumulate excess items to donate, making it worthwhile to grind for the Greater Good.

Guilty of some flaws

As a nearly 10-year-old PlayStation Vita game being re-released in 2025, Freedom Wars may evoke mixed feelings, whether you’ve played the original or not. As a remaster, the visuals appear sharper on modern consoles, but the character models have been retained, which may seem dated to some.

In addition to combat gameplay, there are also “stealth” missions where you try to reach the other end of a room without being seen. These missions hardly qualify as stealth, as the guards are so mechanical that you can easily walk past them. If you seek a little thrill, you might even try getting seen to see what happens.

Character movements during combat can feel clunky, particularly when rushing to deliver a Citizen to the goal. When you choose to sprint, your player avatar is nearly locked onto a straight line and will drop the Citizen if you run into any walls or debris.

Freedom Wars Remastered also has some bugs, with the game freezing more than once during missions. This issue is particularly frustrating as it doesn’t occur during the early hours of gameplay. It makes you want to save frequently to avoid losing precious hours of progress. Hopefully, a patch will be released soon to address this freezing issue.

The English voice acting is another area that falls short. Some voices sound mediocre, as if the actors are just reading their lines, while others seem to be trying too hard to be emotional. The Accessory and the creepy Percy Propa mascot are particularly jarring. While they are computer AI in-universe, their awkward vocals, such as pronouncing “captured” as “cap-too-red” or “inside” as “in-see-deh,” make you want to switch back to the more decent Japanese voiceovers. Additionally, the voices sometimes sound so low that you can hardly hear them. For a remaster, the voice acting could have been improved overall.

On the other hand, the music is catchy, with some Japanese pop songs added in. These songs can be heard in the hub and even during missions when you’ve bought the right to do so. It would have been a great combination if the voices were as well done as the music, which unfortunately isn’t entirely the case here.

Verdict: Wait For It…

Freedom Wars was a standout title on the PlayStation Vita for good reason. While it might be tempting to categorize it as another Monster Hunter clone, the unique Thorn mechanic, along with its compelling story and setting, distinguished it from other games in the genre. Given its return after nearly a decade, it certainly deserved better.

The game is enjoyable overall, but some areas need improvement. Addressing the freezing issues and enhancing the quality of the English voiceovers would significantly elevate the experience. The League of Panopticon feature holds promise, potentially motivating players to engage and contribute to their region’s standings. This feature proved successful in Helldivers II and could similarly benefit Freedom Wars.

It is gratifying to see a classic like Freedom Wars Remastered make its way to modern consoles, allowing a new generation to enjoy it. However, it might be wise to wait for the necessary patches before immersing yourself in this dystopian future and contributing to the Greater Good of your Panopticon.

*Freedom Wars Remastered was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.