Freedom Force vs The Third Reich - Interview
Ken Levine from Irrational Games Answers Our Questions

Brian "Dhruin" Turner, 2003-12-03

Freedom Force caught many by surprise in 2002 when it not only became the first superhero game to make it to the PC but also presented a stylish and fun homage to the Silver Age of comics.  It came as no surprise when Irrational Games announced a sequel, although rumours had suggested a different theme.

Ken Levine has worked at the visionary Looking Glass Studios where he created the original concept for Thief: The Dark Project and later after co-founding Irrational Games worked on System Shock 2.  As the General Manager and Creative Director of Irrational Games, Ken answered our questions about Freedom Force vs The Third Reich.

RPGDot: There were reports from E3 2002 that "Freedom Force 2" would move into the ‘70s with a darker style. Why did that change?

Ken Levine: Where did you hear that? Tell me your source? Tell me now!!! Seriously, while I can't speak to any "change", I will say that it will all make sense once you've played the game. It just feels right from story and aesthetic standpoints. The game is going to have a look and feel all it's own. Plus I'm a really big dork and couldn't pass up the chance to visit the Golden Age of comics.

Ken Levine: While there are many new characters from the Golden Age, there are also several new Silver Age characters as well. All in all, it's a mix of the two. The story will lead the characters through both ages.

Ken Levine: We're certainly looking to take the level of interactive environments to a new level. If I told you though, they wouldn't be a surprise.

Ken Levine: The feedback we got about the character tools was overwhelmingly positive. Still, there's always room for improvements. Fans of the original can expect several tweaks and enhancements that should make it a little easier to use as well as add new depth.

Ken Levine: The fact that your AI teammates sat around while they got attacked was a core problem in FF. This will be addressed. More to come later…

Ken Levine: The game will indeed be mission-based. While the story won't have branching storylines of the Deus Ex variety, it should feel significantly different as you play as different characters.

Ken Levine: Arguably? We're making one of the core goals of this Freedom Force title to have top-notch multiplayer support. We've since take drastic steps to make sure we don't make the same mistake with FF vs The Third Reich. More to come later.

Ken Levine: As I mentioned before, you're going to see considerably more detail in everything. The environments now teem with the life that the original only hinted at. We've also made vast improvements to all our game systems to allow us to include many of the hottest graphical features.

Ken Levine: One of the things that has made working on Freedom Force great has always been the community. They've created a network that thrives nearly two years after the original release. We plan to shower our community with treats as thanks for their dedication. We have a lot in store for our fans.

Ken Levine: More on this soon. Hang in there.

Ken Levine: Hmm, where have I heard that question before?