It's rare that a great video game isn't copied to death. The instant a really original design achieves critical and commercial success, a slew of imitators are sure to follow in its wake. For some strange reason, Irrational's fabulous four-color offering called Freedom Force seems to have been immunized against this, the sincerest form of flattery. Though it has much in common with squad-oriented, real time tactical games like Commandos, Freedom Force is undeniably one of a kind and has remained so ever since it was released nearly three years ago.

Seeing how no one else has yet picked up the ball and run with it, Irrational is graciously offering up a sequel, Freedom Force vs. The 3rd Reich. The game won't be out until next Tuesday but our good buddy TimeMaster brought us a final copy last week and asked us (with booming voice and shaking fist no less) to offer up an early review. For those of you who were fans of the first game, don't worry: the sequel is just as good. It's doesn't break any new ground for the franchise, but it offers up the same great action set in the same fantastic style.