Game Review: Freddy Farmer

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch

I'm a sucker for retro-style modern arcade games, and publisher Flynn's Arcade recently sent over their latest one for us to check out. Developed by Catcade Games, Freddy Farmer is a single-screen modern take on the formula laid out by games like Donkey Kong. It's far more complicated than that of course, but we'll get there in just a bit. It's set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch very soon, and we of course are reviewing it here today. There really isn't a need for further intro, so let's dive right in!

Freddy Farmer places you into the role of a farmer named Freddy. Sounds pretty normal so far. This isn't going to be a cozy sim, so hopefully that wasn't what you were hoping for. It's a peaceful day like any other, and out of nowhere Freddy's daughter is kidnapped by an evil dragon. Said dragon lives at the top of a nearby castle, and Freddy needs help if he's going to get her back. Thankfully the local wizard is able to concoct a series of potion that will aid in his daughter's recovery, but he has a gigantic list of ingredients that need to be collected first. Not only that, but these ingredients have to be gathered in a specific order if the potions are to work at all. Freddy then sets off on his journey of potion-making, across a land that is broken up into five distinct areas. The dragon awaits, but Freddy needs those potions first! That's pretty much all the plot you'll ever get in-game, but it's surprisingly deep all things considered. We didn't need a drawn out opening cutscene, nor any explanation as to why we're collecting the potion ingredients in the first place, but it's a nice touch nevertheless. This could've been a very straightforward arcade experience, but I appreciate the effort put into the worldbuilding. Freddy himself might not be the image of hero that pop into my mind when thinking of arcade-styled games, but I'd also be lying if I didn't admit that he grew on me after a while.

I technically have already explained what the core gameplay loop entails, but there's a lot more to it than that. Freddy Farmer is broken up into five worlds, and each of them have seven levels each. Each level is filled with monsters and stage hazards that are unique to the worlds that they're in, but your goal is always the same: Collect all the ingredients in the correct order, and mix them in the cauldron to create a potion. Reaching the cauldron with all the ingredients in hand ends the level, though you can revisit them if you mess up. How do you mess up a level? Simple, by picking up the ingredients in the incorrect order.

Each level shows the list of ingredients on one side, and the order in which you've picked them up on the other. You're going to want to make sure those two lists always match, though sometimes you'll make a mistake simply through surviving the stages themselves. The needed ingredients are scattered throughout the level seemingly at random, and they're never placed in a way that makes grabbing them in the correct order an easy task. You will technically clear any level simply by gathering all the ingredients, but you need a certain amount of "correct" potions in order to clear the game. Ingredients are picked up simply by touching them, and this will sometimes be done totally by accident. Even though the levels are large and detailed, they take up a single screen, and the ingredient icons can be quite small. Finding the best path through a level is important, but you're also being timed. There's also always the threat of enemies, and some will be out for blood. This all makes for a gameplay loop that is simple to understand, but can be a bit on the difficult side for those not expecting the game to be as precise as it is.

Considering the fact that Freddy is a farmer, it makes sense that he's not exactly up to the task at hand. Freddy can run, jump, climb, and bounce, but he has no form of attack at all. He's also quite fragile, and it only takes a single hit to kill him. Extra lives are given out in just about every stage, but death is probably even more common. Losing all your lives results in a game over, though the game is quite generous with its continues. Continuing allows you to keep playing the stage you're on, but you lose all progress with ingredient pickups. Since Freddy can't attack enemies, the only path open to you is avoidance. Enemies can be waited out, lured away from a ladder or platform you need, or jumped over. Jumping over an enemy grants you points, though the timing of said jump can be very tight. Thankfully you're not committing to a full movement animation when jumping, though you will find that you barely clear much ground when doing so. More often than not, you'll clear an enemy's threat range by a matter of pixels. Some enemies are best avoided altogether, since they might too big to jump over, or they might have long range attacks you have no way of dodging. Even though I love the variety of enemies the game offers, I find myself despising them all thanks to the amount of game overs they've sent my way.

I don't know if it's obvious by looking at the game in action, but Freddy Farmer has some really intense platforming mechanics. I've already mentioned how jumping over enemies can be a shockingly close affair, but there's a lot more to it than just that. The platforms themselves are often going to be just as big an adversary as the stage's enemies. There will be several times where the only "safe" spot on a platform will be the exact size of Freddy himself. I'm all for games that give you precision platforming, but the controls don't always feel up to the task here. Freddy's movements can sometimes be unpredictable due to the physics involved, and he has a very annoying habit of sitting down if you leave him alone for a few seconds. That last thing is extra annoying, since getting up has another animation attached to it. The amount of times I missed out on a tiny jump window because Freddy decided to take a break are too numerous to count. Also, and this strictly doesn't fall under platforming, there are some stages that loop back on themselves. While many levels are simply a locked single screen, some allow you to go to the other end by walking off the edge. Think of Kid Icarus to get an idea of what I mean. This means that you'll often have to ward off attacks from off screen, and that's just a bit much at times.

I can go on and on about the difficulty of the game, but I of course realize that this is the name of the game when it comes to the arcade. This isn't an arcade game in the purest sense, but it does a good job at tackling that look and feel. Part of that feel is a tougher-than-console difficulty level, and I do have to say that Freddy Farmer is far from unfair in that regard. It can be very annoying to grab an ingredient in the wrong order, but the game allows you to replay levels. Dying all the time can be quite trying, but you're quickly put back into the action, and given a bit of invincibility too. The platforming may sometimes require pixel perfect jumps, but it can be very rewarding when you clear a tough level. Even though it is possible to play the game on a higher difficulty once you clear it, I think Freddy Farmer is more than reasonable on its normal setting. If only the game offered some sort of save system, I'd be set.

Even though I've been somewhat critical regarding the gameplay quirks of Freddy Farmer, I don't want to make it sound like I didn't have a blast playing it. At its heart, the game feels like a more involved Donkey Kong, and that's one of my favorite arcade games. It also doesn't take an insane amount of skill to reach the end. Players can definitely go for things like a no continue run, but most will be able to beat the game through patience and slowly-improving skills. The presentation is also full of charm. Graphics are an interesting mix of arcade, 8-bit, and 16-bit aesthetics. The visuals are impressive and smooth, and as are the character and level designs. The same goes for the soundtrack, which is full of music you'll want to add to your chiptune playlists. We even get a hero worthy of their own franchise. Freddy might not be the punkiest mascot there ever was, but he can go toe-to-toe with DK's Mario any day. There are also plenty of moments where the game goes far beyond its retro inspirations. The cutscenes, and most especially the final showdown with the evil dragon, stand out as very impressive moments, retro-inspired or not. Simply put, this is a great game that fans of retro-themed experiences are going to love.

One of the craziest aspects of Freddy Farmer is how replayable it is. It usually is the case of arcade games that they can wear out their welcome before long. Though the core gameplay loop is simple, Freddy Farmer manages to through a lot into the mix to keep things fresh. Not only are there the self-imposed challenges mentioned earlier, but there is also a lot of content to see and unlock through repeat playthroughs. There are galleries, additional game modes, and even two endings to see. Even though I would've loved that in-game save mechanic I mentioned earlier, the game's length is perfect for repeat runs. Skilled players can get to the end in no time, and even perfect playthroughs don't require a big time commitment. Considering the game only costs $4.99, it goes without saying that you get a lot of bang for your buck.

In case it's not already obvious, I give Freddy Farmer the biggest of recommendations. It's a must-buy for fans of retro-themed games, modern arcade titles, or anyone who loves the OG Donkey Kong. It's fun, it's challenging, and it is one of the better arcade-style games I've ever played. There's a lot of content for players to sink their teeth into, and it's priced so low that one can easily pick it up without breaking the bank. Grab it on whatever platform you can, and thank me later. I guess all we have to do now is wait for a Freddy Farmer 2, where he naturally grows crops and manages his farm. I for one would play that game if it ever came out!

Check Out Freddy Farmer on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/freddy-farmer-switch/

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Story: A
Gameplay: A-
Graphics: A+
Music/Sound: A+
Value: A+

Overall: A+

Pros:
+ A great mix of modern and retro gameplay.
+ The open-ended nature of the levels mean that there are several ways in which to solve them.
+ Though challenging, the game is more than fair when it comes to difficulty.
+ Mixes together arcade, 8-bit, and 16-bit aesthetics into something that looks truly unique.
+ Has an amazing chiptune soundtrack that you're going to want to check out on its own.
+ Features five worlds with seven stages each, lots of bonus stages and minigames, and plenty of unlockables.
+ A steal at just $4.99.

Cons:
- The controls can leave a bit to be desired. Also, Freddy sitting down when left idle is the most annoying thing ever.
- Fair or not, some may find the difficulty to be a bit too high.
- A game this long really should've had some sort of save system built in.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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