Genre: 2d platformer
Developer: GalaxyTrail
Publisher: GalaxyTrail

This is the Sonic game that the Saturn never got. The aspect ratio may be 16:9, but the overall resolution is about accurate, while the lush stage tiles, fluidly animated characters, and abundance of 32-bit style sprite rotations and scalings fit right in with Sega's aforementioned platform. The indelible character designs, fronted by purple dragon girl "Lilac", are on even terms with any characters produced during the golden age 90's.

Freedom Planet is bathed in the exact style of music that proved so endearing in the Mega Drive Sonic titles, with ample orchestra hits, driving bass lines, spunky attitude, and surreal melodies-- except in this case, in orchestral CD quality! The tunes aren't as catchy or classically memorable as the blue hedgehog's were, but stylistically they couldn't be any more well executed. The game's cut-scenes are fully voice-acted, and the performances delivered are natural and full of emotion.

Forget the silly ten minute timer, which contradicted the later Mega Drive Sonic titles' "begging for exploration" stage designs; and ditch the ring mechanic-- hit points work better. Oh, and enemy collisions causing damage is so 1993-- let the attacks carry the sting, which is more natural anyhow. Throw in some "Soccer Kid"-like, multi-leveled stages, fascinating enemy designs, challenging bosses, and if that's not enough, absolutely nail the physics for the several playable characters.

Everything about this game, right down to the menus, screams "Sonic Team whimsy"-- like a chimeric hallucination love-child of "Sonic 3 & Knuckles" and "Nights: Into Dreams." Except it isn't a delusion-- it's real! Stephen DiDuro and his team have done the unthinkable: created a game catering to the tens of millions of people who owned and loved Sega's 90's consoles, and who have since been abandoned and forgotten. But it isn't just fan service either; Freedom Planet stands tall without requiring the shoulders of its forebears, as the single best 2d platformer this review has played in nearly twenty years.