IO Interactive are undoubtedly most known for the Hitman series, but in 2003 they ventured outside the world of covert assassination to deliver Freedom Fighters; a third-person squad based game which depicted an alternate reality in which the United States was invaded by Soviet forces. The opening moments of the game see our protagonist linking up with resistance fighters, and from that moment on you're embroiled in a bitter fight against Russian forces. Freedom Fighters was a bit rough around the edges at times - the shooting mechanics in particular could have used a bit more polish - but the squad dynamics were on-point. With New York serving as the backdrop for the bloody struggle between the two superpowers, you'd find yourself blasting through a number of famous landmarks and locations, while Jesper Kyd's majestic score lent a rousing sense of grandeur to the battles. A sequel was toyed with for years, but talks fell through, squashing what could have been a truly unique and compelling series.
