![]() ![]() ![]() Narrative: Overall, Firewatch has something special. While I thoroughly understand Nintendo consoles generally aren’t as powerful as its Sony and Microsoft counterparts, I was shocked to see drastic frame rate drops. Of note, I found Firewatch chugged along on the Nintendo Switch. I will say it does benefit to find all the supply cache boxes so you can trace out trails to aid in your travels. For example, although minor, I could not run and hold the map at the same time. While helpful, it certainly came with some frustrations. There is also a map and compass you utilize to navigate your way across the forest. It’s clear that these actions only aid to progress the story, and is not the central draw to the game. You also discover items to use such as a camera (the photos you take display in the credits) and an axe (sadly only to be used toward the end in a limited fashion). ![]() Other aspects in gameplay include a run option and action button where you can attach a rope and rappel down a steel edge or climb up rocks. While these dialogue choices ultimately don’t create vast differences in the endings, it is empowering to the player and just flat out fun. Firewatch allows you to select various responses, and you can chose whether to be cold to your colleague…or flirty. You maneuver around a seemingly open world (it is cleverly closed off to point you in the right direction), and you occasionally speak with Delilah. Everything sounded genuine, and I believe it’s one of the strongest aspects of this game. It sent goosebumps under my skin and delivered the right “feel” at the right moment. The music, although subtle, also was well done. While it is personally not my favorite, I feel it works well in Firewatch and certainly does not detract from the game. Judging by photos in the game, Campo Santo seemed to intentionally go for this graphic novel look. While you do not see many characters, you do see Henry’s hands, and they come off…a little blocky. It is brilliant to pull in that familiarity while creating a visual of their own. The aesthetic also embodies the essence of Smokey the Bear and real-life national park signage. It really pulled me in to the point where I just stood there, directing the analog stick to get a 360 view of the sky, mountains, and trees (I also played on the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch). Utilizing a brilliant array of pastel color, the views of Shoshone National Forest were breathtaking. Visual/Audio: The aesthetic in Firewatch is pleasing to the eye. It begins with this facade of a walking simulator where you control conversations between a guilt-ridden Henry with Delilah. ANALYSISįirewatch manages to accomplish a lot in a short and seemingly “simple” game. All the while, you discover that this boy’s father was the one spying on you the entire time. Of course, there is a wildfire that spreads to the point where you need to evacuate. By the end, you not only discover someone is listening to every conversation you have with Delilah, but you also stumble upon a boy’s dead body in a cave. As the game progresses, the plot twists and pulls you into an unsettling mystery–one of the lasts things you would have expected in Firewatch at first glance. Not much later, you find your windows broken at the watch tower, leading you to believe it was the work of those same teenage girls however, they eventually are reported missing…and you were the last person known to have been in contact with them. The first task involves investigating fireworks in the distance, set off by some unruly teenage girls who call you a creep. Throughout the game, you interact with another lookout, Delilah (Cissy Jones), via walkie-talkie, and take on various tasks. Once you arrive at your watchtower, the game truly begins. Described as a mystery adventure game in the guise of a walking simulator, you play as Henry (Rich Sommer), who accepts a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming after his wife develops early-onset dementia. If you want to know if the game is worth playing without spoiling anything, skip to the final score! SYNOPSISįirewatch is a unique creature. Platforms: PC/Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
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