Liberated

“Liberated: Enhanced Edition is to be commended for trying to do something a bit different. It’s just a shame that the gameplay here isn’t a little deeper and more polished. But ultimately, it’s not really the focus of the experience: that’s the story. If you’re a sucker for tales that draw you into dark, dystopian worlds, chances are you’ll still get a considerable amount of enjoyment out of it.”

“Liberated: Enhanced Edition fails to deliver on a promising premise. At its core, the game tells an interesting story in an innovative manner, however, the gameplay sequences let it down. The gunplay is formulaic and lacks variety. Predictable enemy placement means that the game quickly becomes repetitive. While Atomic Wolf attempts to vary the gameplay with puzzles and QTEs, these are few and far between. With some technical issues thrown into the mix, this comic-inspired title has a few too many issues.”

“Liberated wants to be so much, but it trips on its own feet within the first comic issue. The idea to read a comic book on your Nintendo Switch, and also play within those same panels, was a fantastic creative decision. However, the developers seem to have put more effort into that idea than filling out the rest of the gameplay, which is nothing short of lacklustre. If, at times, the cliche story didn't read like a low quality YA novel, then I'd have appreciated it more.”

“Liberated's interesting game world and monochrome visuals are undermined by a middling story of a future dystopia and relatively basic gameplay.”

“While it may not the most exciting action-adventure platformer out there, the artwork and stylish storytelling is impressive and makes the experience worthwhile.”

“Liberated on the Nintendo Switch assumes the form of an interactive comic book that uses a noir aesthetic and a very dystopian plot to put the player in the middle of a sombre, disquieting and genuinely frightening experience. Its technical issues and quick time events are the game's Achilles' Heel but the plot, visual outlook and accessibility, which even allows the player to treat it as if it was purely a comic book, make this a very interesting choice for Nintendo Switch owners.”

“Liberated tells a poignant story through a beautifully drawn series of comics that seamlessly integrates simple but captivating gameplay.”

“Liberated's comic gameplay style works very well and the game provides some good entertainment. However, the story and characters are not as well explored as they could have been. If you like political thrillers, then this could scratch that itch for a few hours.”

“When pen comes to paper, Liberated unfortunately doesn’t work in the way I so desperately wanted it to...”

“Liberated seemed like a good idea, but this comic book-inspired action platformer is a game without any idea, which do not even reach to anything at all. With its stiff control, poor collision, repetitive action and oh-so clich' story, the game do not even take advantage of its comic book format.”

“More than the sum of its parts, Liberated tells a rollicking tale with plenty of style. It doesn't run as well as it should do, and it's far from lacking in clichés (some of the "people would rather take selfies than open their eyes" stuff is a little eye-rolling) but it's a fantastic take on a dystopian platformer that avoids the major pitfalls that such games often fall into. With responsive controls, enjoyable shooting and strong level design, Liberated is an atmospheric, absorbing treat and far more than the sum of its parts.”

“Liberated tries so hard to rock the comic book aesthetic while telling a story about Big Brother. Sadly, it mostly just falls flat thanks to bad gameplay and crummy moments.”

“Liberated is an ambitious and fascinating game from a small developer. Everything you see takes place inside a comic book – it's stylish and has a hauntingly probable story. However, uninspired platforming sections may be off-putting, but you should be otherwise very happy with this experiment.”

“I respect what the developers were going for and think the comic look is still cool, even if it is a bit lacking in other areas. The game works decently, in terms of mechanics. I can just think of plenty of other games you'd probably rather play more than this one. If you're in the mood for a relatively quick cyberpunk-tinged romp, though, Liberated isn't the worst you could do.”

“Liberated wants to be a playable V for Vendetta, but despite a beautiful hand-drawn art style, it can't match the quality of its inspirations.”

“Liberated's distinct, comic book style adds atmosphere to its simple, fun action. It's just a shame that it's so plagued by technical issues”

“Liberated, despite some minor visual downgrades, is a standout title for Nintendo Switch. I was fully immersed by both the action and story all the way through. Atomic Wolf has done a commendable job of adapting the power and potential of comic books as a video game. The developers have stuck the landing, and I'm excited to see what stories and experiences they end up creating next.”

“While visually intriguing and distinct, Liberated feels more like an idea than a game, thanks to an uninspired story, boring gameplay and a stunning lack of polish.”