Forest in the (Dragon) Valley

“Added a ton of new trees and foliage to DV based on feedback from the trailer. Looks like a proper forest now.”SDiDuro on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SDiDuro/status/814705696138792960

 

// Commentary Corner: 

“[…] looks like a proper forest now.”

Okay, that’s actually pretty interesting. Freedom Planet 1’s Dragon Valley did have some greenery in the later parts of the level, but the heavy increase in greenery suggests that something’s been going on in-world to heavily encourage the plant growth during the two years since the first game. I wouldn’t blame anyone for mistaking it for Jade Creek, which also had a lot of greenery and water (and a lot more bamboo and falling rocks). Incidentally, it also reminds me of how Borderlands 1 prominently started with orange tones, and how it’s very common in games like Shovel Knight, Sonic the Hedgehog, Shantae, Banjo-Kazooie, and Kirby to start with a green grassy level.

Welcome to Avalice, Dragon Forest!

Happy Freedom Planet Day!

*WARNING*: THE MUSIC AND VIDEO PRESENTED DEPICTS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
THESE MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SAME IN THE FINAL GAME.

https://soundcloud.com/leila-wilson-woofle/freedom-planet-2-previews

 

 

 

“From @GalaxyTrail on Twitter:

Hope everyone has been enjoying their holidays! In the meantime, we have a few announcements!

Freedom Planet 2: Sample Version will be available at the end of January as a free download, and include all playable characters.

We’ll be sharing gameplay videos of each heroine over the next few weeks, starting now with Lilac!

Lastly, we’ll be showing off the demo in person at PAX South! Find us in San Antonio, TX on January 27-29.

We’ve got a busy and exciting few weeks ahead of us and we hope you’ll like what we have in store!”

 

// Commentary Corner:

Quick bullet list of sections of note:

  • The Guard Gauge(?) blinks on and off until just after the Energy Bar fills (@13), but doesn’t appear to empty when an attack is successfully guarded against (@17).
  • @31: Boost-rolling now applies even when falling in the air, but applies a deceleration just before takeoff.
  • @41: Lilac can now perform Rising Slash while in the air. (The “High Uppercut” exploit in FP1 becomes an Ascended Glitch.)
  • @42: Enemies can destroy some sections of the level, and this doesn’t appear to be mandatory.
  • @58: Getting items from chests now displays text indicating what was in the chest.
  • @1:00: CAMERA ZOOM-OUT OPTIONS!
  • @1:01: Shields/Barriers now seem to manifest as a flying follower and change based on element. In addition, shield/barrier health is displayed on the health bar with icons indicating the element. We see the Earth and Fire manifestations in particular.
  • @1:07: Rainbow rings appear similar to the Dragon Rings (or “Time Gates”). When activated, a bar near the bottom displays :crystal:BONUS:crystal:. It seems like the more distance traveled during that time will give more bonus crystals when it ends.
  • @1:16: Boss health bar. It might be placeholder, as FP1 had placeholder health bars at some time, but it might be here to stay.
  • @1:30: Revivals in action.
  • @1:38: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS IS BUT IT LOOKS COOL

 

@1:41 Speculation of a fourth possible playable character. Given the timing until the demo arrives at PAX and the promise to upload videos for all playable characters, this does line up and could be anything. (I’m kinda hoping it’s Neera, Cory, or Merga, personally.) When pointed out that Milla isn’t typically associated with read, another way to interpret it is: Milla Cube Green, Carol Bike Red, Lilac Boost Lilac, and ?Mystery?Flavor? (Note that speculation is just that. Don’t be disappointed if this does not occur. )

 

FREEDOM

PLANET

2

H Y P E

Dragon Valley Returns

Dragon Valley - Night

“Dragon Valley returns in Freedom Planet 2 as the first stage! (Pixel art by , sky by )” – @GalaxyTrail

// Commentary Corner:

First off, we’ve got confirmation that Dragon Valley will be the first stage, meaning that Shang Tu and Avian Museum screencaps featured previously are from levels later in the game. Good to know!

For comparison, the background used in the nighttime cutscenes of Freedom Planet 1 near Lilac’s Treehouse and Torque’s Tent:

DragonValley_Cutscene_Night

Notably, the cutscene background lacks the fog and mist effects visible in FP1’s Dragon Valley

DragonValley_Playable_Day

FP2’s version of this art features quite a few more distant cliffs, the cloud/fog effect is retained, and the skies are far more detailed than before. However, there are no clear counterparts in the new image to the long stretches of flat plateu / mountain / cliff / hill that are shown in FP1. This leads me to believe that the two years of time have cause significant change to the local geographical features, this is a different _area_ in Dragon Valley, or that the new interpretation is simplier closer to what FP1’s Dragon Valley was intended to represent.

In any case, the new artwork is gorgeous! Tim Jonsson and Dan Syron’s works are meshing together very well! FREEDOM PLANET 2 HYPE.

Freedom Planet 2 Alpha Soundcloud Soundtrack Playlist: https://soundcloud.com/leila-wilson-woofle/sets/8vzrqpehgpv7
GalaxyTrail Twitter: https://twitter.com/galaxytrail
Freedom Planet Discord Server: https://discord.gg/0qWdN0V3VPsmefmH
Freedom Planet Forums: http://www.galaxytrail.com/forum/index.php