P-Vock's Music Box: FREEDOM
Hello and welcome back to P-Vock's Music Box. Recently, we've seen an explosion in blockbusters of late. Big-budget films with star-filled casts, A-Lister TV Shows with insane production value, and obnoxiously expensive to make video games that push the envelope in storytelling.
Now that's fine enough. This fixation has really pushed just how much international hype there can be for a piece of media with immense payoff and many of these big productions are incredible experiences.
That being said, I think this push has left a vacuum, especially in the realm of video games, that mainly indie and smaller name creators have done an excellent job of filling.
While seeing the next high-quality Spider-Man game in action is jaw-dropping, I also love seeing the myriad of fast-paced retro titles that take me back to my childhood.
So, please allow me to take you on a journey with one such title.
What began as a Sonic the Hedgehog fangame, soon blossomed into its own wonderful platformer in Freedom Planet with high-speed thrills, amazing characters, gorgeous sprite art and animations, and a simply divine soundtrack that seems as though it were pulled straight out of a 90s Saturday morning cartoon and never fails to get me beyond hyped.
Seriously, why does this not have a cheesy rock voice delivering the cheesiest vocals this side of that delicious four-cheese pizza I got in my freezer? That hardcore bass line, that infectious melody, and that delightful guitar synth all combine into a beat that just GETS TO ME. I am so ready to turn into a green bipedal animal on a motorcycle and go wreck some giant robots LET'S GOOO!
It starts out so intense, but does the intensity keep up?
Like many games, Freedom Planet starts off with such a high tempo and intensity. Most of these games eventually dip the intensity and have a bit of a lull. I am so glad to report that Freedom Planet is not like most games. The Sky Battalion is an incredible stage as you leap across a giant airship and just try to not look down and fall to your doom.
A high-octane beat that just never slows down, with tons of high-pitched notes to really carry that mood and elevate what is a great stage into an unforgettable one.
But now, can we take it further?
I've talked about a lot of Final Boss themes, but I don't often think about straight-up final-level themes anywhere near as much. I can't think of a final-level theme that does a better job of being consistent with the OST's overall style, creating a unique melody that stands out, and elevating the tension of the moment.
Freedom Planet is a relatively lighthearted game with some dark and intense moments, but music like this really ensures that said darker and more intense moments really hit as much as they aim to.
It is truly a perfect track for a final level and I cannot stop jamming out to it.
There are TONS of retro-inspired platformers and I have really fallen back in love with them of late as I've been burned out by these massive experiences that take forever and then some to finish. Just a bite-sized experience that takes me right back to the feelings of intense joy and whimsical fun I felt when I was a kid playing Sonic 2 on my old Sega Genesis or watching old Transformers or X-Men cartoons.
Even if you've never played Freedom Planet, I hope these beats gave you that same nostalgic feeling that we all need from time to time. Or, that it just sounded good and helped you pump up for the weekend.
Thank you so much, as always, for checking out my content. I hope to catch you back here next time with another suggestion from my Music Box.
Stay Brutal!