I realize that Freedom Finger is nominally a parody game, but bear with me for a second. There’s a special irony when a game all about fighting against tyranny in a ship shaped like a hand flipping everybody off releases right before a pivotal election. Especially when you consider the publisher for this edition of the game. The good folks at Super Rare Games are situated in the UK. And though nowadays the USA is on good terms with the United Kingdom, at one point they were the oppressor. Which kinda makes this perfect.
Now that I’ve gotten all that off my chest, let’s talk about why this version of Freedom Finger is so worth owning. I’ve actually been intrigued by this game for a while, just due to the hand drawn art and inherent immaturity. I don’t say that as a slight. Some games are great because they aren’t trying to be serious, and this is one of them. It’s all about making fun of the industrial military complex, American patriotism and even Communism. But you don’t have to care about any of that to enjoy this game.
Freedom Finger is an insane SHMUP with fantastic and detailed art, and pumping tunes. Sure there’s a plot, but it’s mostly window dressing to make fun of everything. And I do mean everything. When one lead character is a ham fisted idiot named Major Cigar, you start to get the idea. And though some might take offense at the humor, I found it to be pretty sharp and witty. Thankfully, the gameplay is equally tight.
Unlike in most SHMUPs, here you can actually punch to deflect space debris. You can also grab enemy ships to fire them yourself like oversized pistols. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s frantic as hell. Best of all, the game also distinguishes itself with the Stealth Meter. Supposedly you’re on a stealth mission, and letting too many ships get past you results in defeat. The funny thing about that is nothing about this game is really stealthy, though that does provide a great mechanic to keep you on your toes. Oh and if you like insane boss fights, Freedom Finger has those in spades.
Like I said earlier, this game has been on my radar for a while. But owning it physically is just fantastic. Firstly, the box art is tremendous. Super Rare always includes cards, sticker and manual, but here all of those are especially eye catching. Much like with Old School Musical, the manual isn’t about controls. Instead it displays more of the amazing artwork. All in all, it makes for a really worthwhile little package. Especially for fans of the Nintendo Switch.
Once again, Super Rare Games has picked a winner. If you’re a Switch fan who loves physical games, stay tuned via Twitter. They have not disappointed me yet with their choice of games to publish. And their style is always on point. I appreciate the opportunity to check out this particular game, and look forward to whatever comes next on the horizon!
