Nordcurrent’s Chains of Freedom offers a turn-based tactical adventure on the PS5, drawing inspiration from titles like XCOM and Mutant Year Zero. Set in a dystopian Eastern European state, the world has been irrevocably altered by the spread of EDEN, a phenomenon you must navigate with your elite military squad under Sovereign command. Decades ago, an asteroid crashed into Earth, and along with it came EDEN crystals that started transforming humans into berserk mutant creatures.
The Sovereignty emerged amidst chaos, attempting to restore order and create a serum to immunize people against EDEN’s effects. Yet, rebellion brews as there are those who reject this enforced immunity and seek their own path of resistance. Having reviewed games like Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden in 2018 and Miasma Chronicles in 2023, I was eager to dive into what Chains of Freedom brings to the table.
You have the option to play in three different modes: Story, Adventure, and Challenge. The Story mode lets you focus more on the narrative with easier battles, offering plentiful resources while easing the pressure of combat with no time-limits for reviving fallen allies. Adventure mode provides a well-balanced experience, tightening the challenge slightly with a three-turn rescue window. Challenge mode, intended for seasoned players, cranks up the intensity with sharper, more lethal enemies and stricter limits on revival and combat duration.
Navigating each level, you guide your characters with a dual-stick control scheme, using the left for movement and the right for adjusting your view. Sprint with R2, interact with X, and swiftly manage inventories with Circle. Equipping and strengthening your team is vital, as items like bandages and rations could mean life or death, healing wounds and buffing health.
Combat gets strategic fast, where each squad member can perform actions based on their Action Points (AP) each turn—whether that’s moving, attacking, or using special skills. AP replenish every turn, so tactically spend them for aimed shots or powerful character abilities like Fidel’s devastating Uppercut or Corgan’s vigilant Overwatch, which allows him to counter approaching threats within his line of sight.
The battlefield dynamics revolve heavily around using cover wisely to increase your evasion. Both you and your enemies will exploit cover advantages, so stay alert for potential flanking risks that can leave you exposed. Enemy reinforcements can change the tide, keeping you on your toes.
As you make tactical advances, collectibles will allow for crafting essential items, from crafting ammunition to medical supplies. These resources are game-changers, particularly once you’ve grabbed a rifle that pairs perfectly with crafted ammo. Moreover, the mysterious EDEN Biocrystals offer intriguing upgrades instead of just equipment; equipping your team with these can enhance abilities while considering any potential negative trade-offs.
Chains of Freedom also includes a full trophy list, featuring a Platinum for those intent on achieving all milestones. Trophies are earned through critical story events, combat achievements, and strategic accomplishments, providing ample incentive to explore everything this engaging game has to offer.
In summary, Chains of Freedom takes you on a compelling sci-fi tactical journey on the PS5, blending deep strategy with a rich story set within a game world teetering on the edge. As it launches today, it challenges players not only with tactical prowess but with choices that shape their team’s fate against a world under the ominous sway of EDEN.
(A quick disclaimer: this review of Chains of Freedom is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Nordcurrent.)
