Freedom Wars Remastered Review | Making up for past sins

When Freedom Wars debuted on the PlayStation Vita 20 years ago, it was hailed as a hidden gem of its time—a fast-paced, monster-hunting action RPG that dared to stand out with its dystopian narrative and great combat. Its quirky mechanics, like reducing your virtual prison sentence by completing missions, paired with tight gameplay, made it a cult favorite despite the limitations of its handheld platform. Here is our Freedom Wars Remastered review.

Now, with Freedom Wars Remastered on the PS5, fans old and new can experience this classic with modern improvements, proving the game’s formula is still as engaging and fun as it was decades ago.

Minor changes, major impact

At its core, Freedom Wars Remastered remains faithful to the original. Don’t expect dramatic overhauls in the gameplay, narrative structure, or art style. The story is still centered on your character’s journey to repay a prison sentence spanning millions of years, embarking on missions to reduce this astronomical debt while battling Abductors and harvesting resources.

What this remaster does, however, is polish the experience in ways that make it significantly more enjoyable and palatable for today’s gaming audience. The visuals have received an improved upscale, now supporting up to 4K resolution, which makes the dystopian Panopticons and towering enemies look sharper and more vivid. The buttery smooth 60fps performance adds so much fluidity to the combat that simply wasn’t possible on the Vita’s hardware.

For returning players, the leap from handheld to a big screen is immediately noticeable. The expanded control scheme offered by the PS5’s DualSense controller feels like a revelation. Combat is now more precise, with better aiming and shooting mechanics, while the Thorn ability—a feature that lets you grapple enemies and structures—feels more intuitive and versatile for both offense and defense.

One of the most welcome changes is the revamped weapon upgrade system. In the original, players had to contend with randomized RNG modifications, which often made the process feel like a frustrating grind. The remaster fixes this by giving players direct control over their weapon upgrades, a change that significantly reduces tedium and makes progression far more rewarding.

At its core, Freedom Wars Remastered doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, and that’s fine. The addictive gameplay loop of battling enemies, collecting resources, and chipping away at your sentence remains as compelling as ever.

However, the real takeaway from this remaster isn’t just nostalgia—it’s potential. Freedom Wars Remastered screams for a sequel. This remaster is proof that the gameplay, world, and mechanics still resonate with modern audiences, but it also highlights how much more could be done with a true modern installment. Imagine a Freedom Wars game designed from the ground up for the PS5, with larger maps, deeper storytelling, and expanded combat mechanics.

Freedom Wars Remastered Review Final Verdict – 8/10

Freedom Wars Remastered is a love letter to fans of the original and a chance for newcomers to experience one of the Vita’s most beloved titles in its best form yet. While it may not blow anyone away, it’s a solid, polished reminder of why the game deserves more attention.

And for those who’ve been waiting two decades? It’s time to shout louder for a sequel—because Freedom Wars isn’t just worth revisiting; it’s worth evolving.