Review of “Chains of Freedom” on PlayStation 5

Chains of Freedom, crafted by Nordcurrent and now on PS5, offers an engaging turn-based tactical experience reminiscent of classics like XCOM and Mutant Year Zero. Dive into our review to discover what this new adventure holds!

The game whisks you away to a fictional dystopian Eastern European state, forever altered by the spread of EDEN. As the player, you’ll lead a special military squad tasked by the Sovereignty to solve the lurking mystery before it’s too late. The story kicks off with an asteroid crash on Earth. But the real trouble begins when crystals from the asteroid, known as EDEN, start turning humans into mad, bloodthirsty mutants.

Hope comes in the form of the Sovereignty, emerging from chaos to restore some semblance of order. They create a serum to protect humans from the deadly crystals. However, not everyone is willing to follow their lead. Some rebel, refusing immunity and instead, establishing their own powerful faction. I’ve had my hands on tactical gems like Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden on PS4 and Miasma Chronicles on PS5, so I was excited to delve into what Chains of Freedom offers.

For those looking to tailor their gameplay experience, Chains of Freedom offers three distinct difficulty settings: Story, Adventure, and Challenge. Choosing Story allows you to sink into the narrative with a lighter combat load. Enemies won’t pose too much of a threat, and you’ll find resources aplenty. Plus, there’s no pressure with turn limits when reviving allies. Adventure balances the action, giving a standard challenge where downed teammates must be revived within three turns. And then there’s Challenge, designed for seasoned players. Here, enemies hit harder, and you’ll have only two turns to revive fallen comrades during intense battles with stringent turn limits.

Navigating through the game’s areas, you’ll use the left analog stick for movement, while the right tweezes the camera for optimal views. Want to sprint? The R2 button’s got your back. Use the X button to interact with the world and squeeze through the L1 and R1 buttons to swap between squad members. Your inventory is a Circle button away, where you can deck out your team with various weapons or essential items like bandages and field rations. Bandages offer a 30% HP boost while halting bleeding.

Food rations are a treasure, granting a solid 60% HP recovery and adding a regen effect. Tactically, you might find it wise to divide your team, giving each member a separate task or reconnaissance mission. Simply hit the Triangle button to split and regroup them later. When you’re ready to get the jump on enemies, the Square button lets you commence combat at your convenience.

Battles allow you to control each squad member, deciding whether to move or execute one of their special actions by tapping left or right on the D-Pad. Switching between weapons is easy with up or down on the D-Pad. Be mindful of your Action Points (AP) since they dictate your moves—including attacking and skills like focused aiming, which enhances your shot accuracy. Don’t worry, though; you get them back at the start of your turn, so feel free to flex those powerful moves!

Each character boasts unique skills essential for survival. Fidel, for example, can deliver a massive wallop with his Uppercut, potentially stunning his adversary. After unleashing this potent move, expect a cooldown period. Corgan’s Overwatch skill, on the other hand, keeps him vigilant over a designated spot on the battlefield, ready to retaliate against enemies at the drop of a hat.

As you meander through the game world, taking cover becomes crucial. Use it wisely to boost your evasive maneuvers. The type of cover you’re behind, be it half or full, influences this advantage. Be wary of positions marked with red cover symbols, as these mean an enemy has you flanked, making you a sitting duck. Combat can also mean enemy reinforcements arrive unexpectedly, so always have an escape plan!

During your exploration, gather materials for crafting useful items. Head to the crafting menu, choose your item, ensure you have the necessary resources, and hold down the X button to craft. As you progress, the array of craftable items expands. Initially, you can whip up ammunition for your handguns, handy bandages for healing, and rifle ammo, conveniently right when you acquire your first rifle.

The game later introduces EDEN Biocrystals—powerful trinkets that enhance your squad’s stats and skills. But there’s a catch: some of these crystals come with downsides. For example, equipping a Maiming Thorn grants the Graze skill, ensuring no shot ever misses and instead deals a fraction of its potential damage. Weighing benefits against possible negatives becomes a strategic cornerstone.

Want an extra challenge? Drive towards the Platinum trophy with Chains of Freedom’s comprehensive trophy list. Objectives range from rescuing a missing pilot to mastering your bare-knuckle brawling skills. Complete specific narratives, mysteries, and battles to steadily fill your trophy cabinet.

Chains of Freedom is out now on PS5. Inspired by the tactical depth of games like XCOM and Mutant Year Zero, it plunges you into a turbulent world changed by EDEN, where control and chaos are locked in a relentless battle. Lead your squad, embrace the challenge, and unveil the truths in this gripping story.

This review is based on a PS5 copy provided by Nordcurrent.