Firewatch Review

Watching a beautiful forest and in hopes that there is fires being started has never looked this beautiful and relaxing.

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Ever wonder how does it feel like as a forest firewatcher? or how does it feel like having to walk through a lush and beautiful forest packed with wild life whilst having just a tranceiver with sexy voice talking to you throughout your day as your one and only entertainment? Firewatch puts you in the shoes of Henry, a middle-aged man who took up the job just to escape the his harsh life and the game does say that most that took up the job for the same reasons. Henry's whole job scope is just to lookout for fires around Yellowstone National Park around his area. Apparently all firewatch volunteers work in remote areas, so that means you spend majority of your time wandering alone through the game's compact but detailed forests.

When you start of the game, you will be at awe at the beauty of the forest that developer Campo Santo has created. I actually took every minute just stop and stare at every detailed that is put into the forest. The visuals in the game does look like it's painted art which adds the captivation of the wilderness as you walked down. Each corner you look at in the forest is ever so inviting from the stream of sunlight shone through to the rocky vistas. It is definitely a visual treat.

As mentioned earlier, the areas you are explored are rather densed but the game does a very good job in concealing its limited space, making it feel as though every distance you in the forest extends for miles. The game also has an excellent sound effects from sounds of rustling leaves to birds chirping above and around you, to the wind blowing, makes you feel like you wish you want to plan a camping trip to experience you yourself.every moment spent in Firewatch feel like all the best parts of a real life camping trip. As relaxing it sounds, the game convincingly also potrays the mysterious vibe and the feeling of nervousness when you're out alone in the woods.

The game involves you playing as Henry, walking down a subtlely hidden and linear path while talking and asking for advice from another fellow firewatcher named Delilah. She is pretty much the only other person in the game you converse through your walkie-talkie. Delilah gives you instructions on what you need to do as a firewatcher as well as more backstory about the forest to inner details to the job as well as her own personal life. The game basically progresses through days with each of them having Delilah asking you to do a couple of the task and as you progress through the story, there is more things going on than just watching for forest fires.

The pacing of the game may come as somewhat slow as the story pretty much focuses on the interaction between Harry and Delilah. The game does not offer any multiple path choices nor any huge decision making that may impact anything you're required to do each day. Unless you are truly absorbed in listening up to the story between the two, the game can put you at bore if you're just playing it for for the sake of playing it. This is truly a story driven which is an examination of how two people working in remote areas of the forest, grew to trust and care for one another. The game does need a shift in perspective in order to see and enjoy the beauty it offers. In addition to that, the voice acting of Harry and Delilah are simply excellent and a joy to listen.

Even with that said, the game's plot is actually rather light and weak and it can really feel non-existent even with the good character building between Henry and Delilah. There many times that i feel each thing that i was tasked to do by Deliah doest really add much to the story but instead feels just like extension fillers before the mystery part in the story plot starts to show. There are quite a number of plot holes and as the story progresses to its end, alot of things dont really click and then the story gets muddled up to the point i said to myself 'Thats it?'

Nothing i've done so far in the game made any sense even towards to the end of the story. However, the ending does provide an emotional strenght should one try to really understand what Henry is going through in his life.

Last but dissapointingly the least, the game does suffer abit of frame rate stutters everytime it autosaves or when it loads a new area that you are exploring. Not a big gripe but can be annoying to some.

Personally i feel it's a shame that a game that has such a stunning art visual, good character as well as clever design is being put down by it's lackluster story and even the mystery part build up can really put some people off immediately. Nonetheless, i have truly enjoyed my time playing Firewatch and it does effectively show that being in a forest alone can be scary but exciting.

Score: 6/10

Pros

- Excellent visuals and sound

- Good character building

- Shows simplicity can be a good thing

Cons

- Weak and forgettable story

- Too short

- Total let down on mystery build up

#Review #Crevlis #2016