Introduction

In my many years of gaming, I’ve owned nearly every handheld, including the WonderSwan and Neo Geo Pocket. But my favorite remains the PS Vita, despite its short-lived existence. The Vita was home to many great games, but one that stands out as highly underrated is FREEDOM WARS. Combining elements of Monster Hunter and God Eater, FREEDOM WARS was a unique take on the third-person action genre with a strange story and exciting (if sometimes cumbersome) gameplay. I always hoped it would escape its Vita confines, and now, that time has finally come. FREEDOM WARS Remastered is here, and I have a lot to say about this remaster. Let’s dive into my review of FREEDOM WARS Remastered for the PS5!

Watch the Official Trailer

Gameplay

I mentioned God Eater and Monster Hunter, and that’s because FREEDOM WARS Remastered takes inspiration from both. As a “sinner,” you complete missions by defeating massive enemies called Abductors. These enemies won’t go down easily, so you’ll need to use weapons like swords, guns, and a hook-like device that lets you scale enemies and environmental objects. It’s all about planning and cooperation (though you can play solo) to earn the highest score and survive with minimal damage.

When you’re not slashing and blasting your way through giant foes, you’ll spend time walking around your cell and other locations (no spoilers here). Here’s where things get a bit odd—both for better and worse. The good news is that FREEDOM WARS Remastered offers some of the most random, bizarre moments I’ve seen in a game, but they add to the experience. Unfortunately, the further you progress, the more you’ll wonder if the game’s menus are designed to challenge your intelligence. The menus remain confusing and cumbersome, and navigating them can feel like a trial. It’ll take some trial and error, but fortunately, I can look past these issues because the core gameplay—fast, fun, and fluid—holds up even in 2025.

Graphics

FREEDOM WARS Remastered is a mixed bag visually. Yes, it definitely looks better than the original PS Vita version, but it doesn’t look stunning for a PS5 release. To be fair, I may be a little critical here since I’ve seen some remasters look incredible. Still, FREEDOM WARS Remastered isn’t terrible, and it looks decent on the PS Portal (yes, I own one). My biggest complaints are the environments and some character models. There’s a great amount of customization for both you and your partner robot (I won’t spoil anything), and that adds to the visual appeal. However, I wished more time was spent on polishing the visuals. For the price, though, I can’t blame Bandai Namco Entertainment for not going all-out with graphics.

Sound

For any action game, I need an OST that keeps my feet tapping and my volume cranked up. FREEDOM WARS Remastered’s soundtrack is just as incredible as I remember, delivering solid tunes as I fly across the battlefield, dodging incoming fists from enemies that are nearly 10 feet tall. Besides the OST, the voice acting is impressive, with a talented cast that includes many familiar voices from popular anime. I played the game with the English dub, but I know some might prefer the original. But honestly, when you’re in the heat of battle, it’s tough to read story details while you’re shooting and dodging!

Story

In the distant future, Earth is nearly in shambles. Humanity survives in underground cities called Panopticons, constantly under surveillance, with low resources. People are dubbed “criminals” just for existing. You wake up as a sinner, sentenced to over a million years just for being born. To reduce your sentence and eventually be freed, you must complete dangerous tasks and help non-criminals survive.

FREEDOM WARS Remastered doesn’t change the original story much, but it’s still intriguing. There are several original themes and ideas that kept me invested in trying to reduce my absurd sentence. Even when ridiculous events happened, like losing my memory, I kept pushing forward. If you enjoy dystopian sci-fi thrillers, you’ll appreciate this tale. The story explores many relevant themes like social inequality, the consequences of overbearing surveillance, and the moral dilemmas of the characters, making it an engaging experience.

Overall Impression

I was pleasantly surprised to find that, even after 10+ years, FREEDOM WARS is still an amazing game. Sure, it has some issues, some worse than others, but nothing really detracts from what matters most: the combat. There’s just something so fun about hanging from the side of a building, blasting enemies, and then swooping in for that final blow. It’s this core gameplay that remains a joy, even in 2025. Plus, the fact that it’s been remastered gives me hope that more PS Vita games, lost to the handheld’s history, might one day make their way to modern consoles. Here’s looking at you, Soul Sacrifice.

Conclusion

FREEDOM WARS Remastered is far from perfect, and I could nitpick various areas all day. However, there was never a moment I didn’t enjoy blasting apart Abductors and unleashing various maneuvers and combos. The story, too, will likely be enjoyed by newcomers as a fresh take on the sci-fi, anime-inspired theme. With a bit more polish and some UI fixes, FREEDOM WARS Remastered could have been great, but even as it is, I’m happy to try to reduce my absurd sentence and prove that my sinner is no pushover. Fans of the original PS Vita version will love this remaster, and if you’ve been waiting to try it on a modern console, now’s the time!

—Aaron