Wikipedia

Freedom Fighters!

Freedom Fighters!, released in Europe as Videopac 39 - Freedom Fighters, is a 1982 horizontally scrolling shooter video game written by Ed Averett for the Magnavox Odyssey² also known as the Philips Videopac G7000. Two players must defeat waves of enemies while cooperatively controlling a single space ship. One player controls the ship's position on screen while the other controls the ship's scrolling and speed. It was also released for the Philips Videopac+ G7400. The game was praised at the time of its release for being fast paced and fun, but the game's unique control scheme has been a focal point for criticism. It is also frequently compared to Defender.

Freedom Fighters!
DeveloperEd Averett[a]
Publishers
PlatformsOdyssey²/Videopac
Philips Videopac+
ReleaseOdyssey²
Videopac+
GenreScrolling shooter
ModesSingle-player, Multi-player

Gameplay

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Freedom Fighters! is a horizontally scrolling shooter set in outer space. Players control a space ship and earn points by destroying alien space ships, including the pulsar warships, which resemble asterisks, and drone mines which spawn from the warships.[3] Destoying a ship using the space ships laser cannon also releases shrapnel which can also kill the player. Players also earn points by rescuing shipmates who have been trapped by the enemy aliens in purple prison crystals. These crystals float about the play area and can be collected to earn 20 points.[1]

A gameplay screenshot showing a variety of enemies and the player ship in green scrolling to the left

The game features a unique control scheme in which both the player one and player two joysticks are required to move the ship. The intention being that two players need to work together to pilot the space ship (although it is possible to use both joysticks as one player). While the ship is blue, the first player's controller can only be used to move within the bounds of the current screen. When the second player's joystick is used, the ship's hyperspace drive is activated and screen will start to scroll either to the left or the right. While the hyperspace drive is active, the ship will turn green and only the second player's controller will be able to control movement.[4] Both players can fire the ships laser cannon.[3]

Reception

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Alan R. Bechtold of The Logical Gamer wrote that the game was better looking and more complex and challenging compared to UFO!. On the two player control scheme, he thought it took a lot of getting used to but was really rewarding when mastered.[1] Bechtold's co-reviewer Mike Wilson thought the unique control scheme could have been done away with entirely but thought it was an "excellent choice" and would provide players with "a lot of fun".[1] Arcade Express thought it wasn't quite as thrilling as UFO! but that it was still a good addition to the Odyssey²'s library.[5] JoyStik magazine considered it an "exciting Defender variant" and thought its "blistering action more than makes up for its barely average graphic presentation." They also called the controller action "superb."[8]

German magazine TeleMatch said that while it was reminiscent of Defender, the game was still the "game of games" for Videopac G7000 owners.[9] French magazine Tilt called the two player control scheme an unprecedented feature and called the game a complete package with graphics that were simple but effective.[10] In 2011, Brett Weiss considered the two joystick control scheme to be "clumsily executed". He went on to say that it "contains elements of Defender and Asteroids, but the awkward control system makes it tough to recommend."[3]

Notes

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  1. ↑ As listed on the cartridge.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 Bechtold, Alan R.; Wilson, Mike (September 1982). "Freedom Fighter". The Logical Gamer. Vol. 1, no. 2. Logical Gamer Publications. p. 13.
  2. ↑ "Philips Videopac 39 - Freedom Fighters". Centre for Computing History. Cambridge, UK. Archived from the original on February 13, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Weiss, Brett (2011-12-20). Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984: A Complete Reference Guide. McFarland. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7864-8755-4.
  4. ↑ Blanchet, Michael (September 20, 1982). "Win at Video: Teamwork in Space". The Milwaukee Sentinel. The Tribune Company.
  5. 1 2 "Freedom Fighter". Arcade Express. Vol. 1, no. 1. Reese Publishing Company, Inc. August 15, 1982. p. 7.
  6. ↑ "Video Game Explosion!". Electronic Fun with Computers & Games. Vol. 1, no. 2. Fun & Games Publishing. December 1982. p. 15.
  7. ↑ "Freedom Fighters". Electronic Games 1983 Software Encyclopedia. Reese Publishing Company, Inc. January 25, 1983. p. 44.
  8. 1 2 "New Games '83: Games for Odyssey2". JoyStik: How to Win at Video Games. Vol. 1, no. 4. Publications International, Ltd. January 1983. p. 61.
  9. ↑ "TeleMatch Extra". TeleMatch (in German). No. 2. TeleMatch Verlag. February 1983. p. 28.
  10. ↑ "Combattant de la Liberté". Tilt (in French). No. 3. Editions Mondiales S.A. January–February 1983. p. 35.
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