Fan-made games usually do not amount to much in the long run. Sure, they may present cool new ideas and  could be fun to play, but usually, with one or two exceptions, these sorts of games amount to nothing more than a flash in the pan. Fortunately, “Freedom Planet” is not one of those games. Once one of many fan-games based off the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series, the game was retooled by creator Stephen DiDuro to become its own entity. The end result is developer GalaxyTrail’s love letter to the action titles of yesteryear, blending elements of “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Mega Man X” and “Gunstar Heroes” to create something amazing. “Freedom Planet” might look like another dime-a-dozen “Sonic” clone, but there is much more to it than a passing resemblance.

The story of “Freedom Planet” takes place on the planet Avalice, where war is on the rise. The kingdoms of Shang Mu, Shang Tu and Shuigang are warring over the Kingdom Stone, a life-giving relic that powers the entire planet. However, nobody realizes the war is being orchestrated by an intergalactic warlord named Arktivus Brevon, who seeks to steal the Kingdom Stone to power his army. He goes so far as to behead Shuigang’s king and brainwash its prince, Dail, in the opening cutscene to set things in motion. Now, the fate of Avalice is in the hands of a dragon named Sash Lilac and her best friend, a wildcat named Carol Tea. Along with an alien named Torque and a young pup named Milla Basset, they must race against the odds to stop Brevon’s plans.

While the story is by no means terrible, it is easily the weakest link in “Freedom Planet.” Part of the reason is because the cutscene strings in between levels tend to last far longer than they ought to. They last twice as long as a gameplay sequence and sometimes raise more questions than provide answers. Additionally, the tone swings between playful and serious so often it makes the story feel tonally choppy. That being said, the story is still sound for what it is and the main heroes are both adorable and endearing. “Freedom Planet” will not be winning any awards for its narrative, but it is worth checking out at least once or twice. If not, GalaxyTrail included a Classic Mode that trims the fat and allows for more traditional level progression.

Thankfully, everything else in “Freedom Planet” shines and gameplay leads the charge in that regard. “Sonic” DNA runs deep within this game, as the player will still be racing through shuttle loops and corkscrews galore. Fortunately, GalaxyTrail made tweaks in all the right places to make the game a whole new experience. There are small additions, like a traditional health system and dedicated attack button, but the real differences come when you look at the larger picture. The levels themselves are more expansive than a typical “Sonic” level, which makes them rife for exploration. The core of the game also blends gameplay elements like precision platforming, melee combat and even light puzzle-solving sequences. On top of that, every level has different elements that ensure you never do the same thing twice. One minute you are hunting down keys to open the path ahead, and the next you are launching yourself through the air from a trapeze. And to top each level off, you are faced with a larger-than-life boss battle that tests your mettle. With the exception of a few difficulty spikes, particularly when it comes to the bosses, the overall challenge of the game is well-balanced: no level feels overly-brutal, but they do not hold your hand at the same time.

The cherry on top of the gameplay comes with the playable characters. When you start up the game, you can pick between playing as either Lilac or Carol. Lilac is the more combat-focused of the bunch, with a hair-whipping double jump and ability to rocket through the air with a multidirectional dash attack. Meanwhile, Carol is all about mobility, with the ability to hop up walls and speed along on a motorcycle. Early into the adventure, players will unlock Milla, who utilizes a “Yoshi’s Island”-style flutter jump as well as shields and throwing blocks. All three characters feel vastly different and each one has their own unique levels to go through, giving “Freedom Planet” great replay value. Also worth mentioning, GalaxyTrail has confirmed that two more playable characters will be added through a free downloadable update later this year.

I would be remiss if I did not mention this game’s presentation because the look and sound is top-class. “Freedom Planet” channels the spirit of the Sega Genesis and looks fantastic as a result. This game exudes personality, from its breathtaking backdrops to wonderfully-detailed character sprites. And it moves along at a smooth 60 frames per second at all times. Not to be outdone, the soundtrack also shines with tunes that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head for hours; there are honestly very few duds in the game’s soundtrack. Finally, the voice work is solid and one of Adventure Mode’s high points. As campy and heavy-handed as the narrative can get, you never feel like the voice cast is phoning it in. Of particular note, Dawn Michelle Bennett, Patrick Seymour and Alejandro Saab provide memorable performances as Lilac, Torque and Mayor Zao, respectively.

Overall, “Freedom Planet” is a game that deserves to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with “Shovel Knight” as one of the best retro indie experiences available. Between its deep gameplay, amazing pixel art and excellent soundtrack, it transcends its former fan-game status to present something unique yet familiar, but overall great. Aside from its spotty story and sudden difficulty spikes, there is very little to say about “Freedom Planet” that is negative. This game is absolutely worth its $14.99 price tag, whether it is on Steam or the Nintendo Wii U’s eShop. If recent “Sonic the Hedgehog” titles have not been doing the trick for you, give “Freedom Planet” a try; your inner child will thank you later.