Pitting players in a post-war New York, Freedom Fighters tells an epic story of survival in a realistic and gritty adventure for Xbox. In a world where the Soviet Union won the Cold War, a fierce conflict is unfolding in the streets of America. Players assume the role of Christopher Stone, a fearless patriot who recruits and leads an army of freedom fighters in the streets of New York City. You have enemies and you must defend yourself no matter what the cost. The most notable and unusual aspect of Freedom Fighters is not that it’s a squad-based fighting game, but that it’s one played in the third person. It’s quite a unique approach that offers a fresh perspective on games of this type. In this case, players are able to command a respectable 12 freedom fighters into battle simultaneously. At face value, gameplay in Freedom Fighters largely focuses on guerilla warfare, as players fight battles in the streets, armed with weapons such as machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and Molotov Cocktails. But there are rescue and sabotage aspects to the game, making Freedom Fighters diverse, complex and interesting. Players are awarded points based on their performance within the missions. Rescued prisoners and captured installations are among the highest scoring aspects of this points system. Conversely, there are heavy penalties for poor performances. The best plan of action is to get the job done properly, to make informed gameplay decisions, then act on them. The developer also prides itself on Freedom Fighters’ reactive game world. Environments and seasons evolve over time, with weather changing periodically and cities gradually deteriorating. It’s a very subtle approach but it works very well. Freedom Fighters may be an all-out shoot-em-up on the outside, but there are lots of welcome subtle tweaks and additions that boost the atmosphere and playability of the game considerably. It’s all good.