So, the Freedom Planet 2 demo has apparently been available for nearly 2 months now, and I didn't actually hear about it until now. I figured I would make a thread as a sort of PSA to let other people know that the demo is out. Here is a link to the demo if you want to give it a try for yourself:

http://freedomplanet2.com/demo_win.php

There are 4 playable characters and 1 stage available, at the moment. The new character seems to be the panda girl with the ice magic from the first game. I'd recommend trying all of the characters, but if you enjoyed the slow, cautious, ranged-attack style of Milla in the first game as much as I did, then the new character Neera seems to have a skill-set that feels closer to that than the new Milla move-set does.

If you are going to use a gamepad controller, then I would immediately go into the options menu and check what the buttons are set to, because the default control settings for me were a bit whacky.

Also, it's worth noting that there seems to be some sort of new "parry" system in place, where any character can gain invincibility frames with a button press. It can be used while running, but not while in the middle of attacking. If you're playing as Milla, it's the same button that brings out her phantom cube, because it can be confusing if you start out as her and don't realize what that button is actually doing.

I'm curious as to what everyone's thoughts are. Did you play the first game? What do you think of the changes in the second game, so far?

I miss Barry Woodward.

Did he quit the forum "in protest" over whatever, or has he just not been posting?

No idea, but his craziness/dauntless optimism was always a great pick me up.

The endless lists and spamming of community wishlist links multiple times per thread got a little old, though. :)
But at least I never saw him being an asshole to people.

EDIT: And just so this isn't completely off topic: No, I didn't play the first Freedom Planet. From what little I know of it, it seems to have been heavily inspired by the Sonic the Hedgehog games, which I always found flashy but shallow.

I've been wondering where he went. He was one of my favorite forum members. Always so positive, and so active in trying to bring more games to GOG.

I only got sidetracked because I saw the thread and remembered he was a huge push to get the game on GOG.

I'm sure he's hanging out amongst the stars plotting a DRM-free revolution.

I watched a few Let's Plays of Freedom Planet and thought it looked great so I bought it during a sale... sad to say I have not played it yet.