Not what I expected, huh — Firewatch
With a 90% off sale and my Steam wishlist notifications popping up here and there, I just knew it was time to test out this game — that I actually forgot was on my wishlist for so many years.
After an enjoyable experience with South of the Circle, I immersed myself in the 1980s among lush green forest of the Shoshone National Park, in a stunning visual experience under the name of Firewatch.
Firewatch
Genre: Indie, Mystery, Adventure.
Gameplay Style: Drama, Mystery, Point-and-Click.
Duration: <4 hours.
Gameplay Requirements: Mouse, Shift, WASD and other keyboard keys for gameplay and interaction.
The Gameplay
The story begins with the protagonist, Henry, taking on a seasonal job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest. Haunted by personal struggles and seeking solace in the isolation of the forest, Henry’s only connection to the outside world is his supervisor, Delilah, with whom he communicates via a walkie-talkie. As the summer progresses, seemingly routine tasks take unexpected turns, leading Henry and Delilah on an emotional journey filled with mystery, intrigue, and a deep exploration of the complexities of human connection. The game’s rich storytelling, combined with its stunning visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that lingers in the hearts of players long after the mystery has been resolved at the end of the game.
Although you might encounter a raccoon or some insects along the way, there isn’t much wildlife that can threaten your progression in the game despite bears being mentioned a few times. You can expect some jumpscares but nothing consequential to the main character’s existence — instead it will add a bit of context to the gradually unfolding mystery. The game isn’t that stressful by the way, you can peacefully stroll through the forest most of the time. But the game’s mystery becomes more and more intense the further you go and of course as the name implies, you will witness a forest fire at some point of the game.
There are no countdowns or boss-levels in this game either but you can adopt a box turtle!
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The game also features in-game commentary if you’re interested in how they made the game and the choices they made throughout the development of the game mechanics, story-making, art style…
My experience
It is truly an “edge-of-seat” experience. Once again I had to control my personal timing in order to avoid finishing it in one night. The gameplay has made me think of a lot of stuff so here’s what I can say from my experience:
What I liked:
- The stunning art-style: The stunning art style envelops you in a unique experience. The carefully crafted environment features lush landscapes and detailed structures, guiding you through the story while allowing you to savor the scenery and panoramic views above the treetops.
- The story: At first I was skeptic with the pace of the story. Just a bunch of park chores here and there until a true, almost terrifying mystery starts to form. And to be honest, I did not expect the shocking discovery by the end of the story. I won’t spoil it for you, but those who did play the game might know who I’m talking about. I’d honestly might even think something like this could happen or could have happened.
- The voice acting: I was so immersed in the conversations between Henry (or Hank) and Delilah. Cissy Jones and Rich Sommer performed well in the roles of their characters. The dialogues felt natural and fluid. A lot of emotional and personal exchanges take place during the entire game which contributes to the human depth of the entire narrative.
What I didn’t like:
- Invisible walls and impenetrable areas on the map that clearly seem accessible in reality. So many times I thought I’d find a shortcut every time I saw an opening through the bushes or rocks until finding out that Henry can’t even jump.
- Some parts of the map are a bit annoying to walk through especially the delay you need to consider when “jumping” over or off obstacles on trails
- The game doesn’t let you meet Delilah.
Try it out
Overall it’s another great experience that I truly enjoyed living through. It doesn’t feel like South of Circle’s cinematic experience, you do have a video game in front of you with much more interaction but the story is rich and provides a delightful gaming experience along with the visual environment keeping you constantly immersed in the world of Firewatch.
- Firewatch on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/383870/Firewatch/
- Firewatch on GOG: https://www.gog.com/en/game/firewatch
- Firewatch website: http://www.firewatchgame.com/
All images on this blog-post come from the Official Firewatch Website.
