DESCRIPTION

True believers team up to defeat freedom's all-time greatest enemies, in this real-time tactics sequel from Irrational Games. If the original Freedom Force was an homage to the "Silver Age" of superhero comic books, this follow-up pays tribute to the "Golden Age," when comics writers were inspired by Allied efforts in World War II and the most common villains were the Nazi soldiers of the Axis powers. Fans of the original Freedom Force will reunite with favorite heroes, such as Minuteman, El Diablo, and Mentor, who become embroiled in one of Nuclear Winter's nefarious schemes and are whisked back to Europe at the height of the war. Here, they must join with new Golden Age allies like the rocket-powered Sky King, the gadget master Black Jack, and the beautiful, swordstress Tricolour, to defeat a conspiracy of evil that transcends time itself.

Although its bright colors and comic-book backgrounds are instantly recognizable to fans of the original, Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich runs on a new version of the Gamebyro graphics engine, which can produce more vibrant lighting and special effects. The single-player game is still designed to be a thought-provoking adventure — demanding keen tactics and pause-able at any point — but the game's artificial intelligence has been enhanced by giving characters default attacks they'll automatically perform against nearby foes if the player doesn't issue direct orders to them. This addition also aids player-versus-player battles, and some of the most dramatic improvements are seen in the sequel's multiplayer modes. Unlike the bland, random-map skirmishes that were available in the original, the sequel's modding tools are designed to make it easy for players to create their own story-lined battle settings, complete with customized objectives and characters. These gamer-made scenarios can be played and traded online. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide