FIREWATCH (2016) - Firefighting and much more ®

From the very announcement everything in this game is unique. The visual presentation has a special charm and style, and the story is mystical and full of hidden secrets.

A lot of walking through large maps full of surprises and unexpected adventures await for you in this game, guided by the two main characters - Henry and Delilah. Their dialogue is the reliance of your safe and successful journey through the wooded landscape of Wyoming, and also the most memorable part of the entire experience.

You play as Henry, who as volunteer, visits the national park Shoshone with the task of overseeing out off his tower and watching out for possible fires that can occur in the forest .

During the introduction background stories and reasons for the coming of our hero are revealed, we are introduced to the gameplay and mechanics , as well as communication with our other character named Delilah, located in the second tower across Henry's. A walkie-talkie device serves us as the only way of communication with her and in a way that we are offered several options as a choice of responses (sometimes even with a time limit).

Such form of communication allows you to create your unique relationship with her, accompanied by fantastic written dialogues and also excellently performed voices of our two heroes lent by Rich Sommer and Cissy Jones. The emotion and chemistry between them is one of the best ever made, the team from the Campo Santo studio has done a superb job. As the game goes on, and your tasks in the game progress, their relationship becomes more intimate and interesting, and we get to know them better as individuals.

The graphics are beautiful and eye-pleasing . Made in cartoon style , powered by the Unity engine and maximizing atmosphere while exploring and walking large forest maps with a compass and a map in your hand. For the shiny appearance of the landscape the illustrator Olly Moss is credited . The soundtrack of the game is excellent , with wonderful sounds of nature which are sometimes spiced by music,  perfectly accompanying the game.

Firewatch hides the mystery in which Henry and Delilah fell , everything is well staged by a slow start of the game all the way to the harder parts , it definitely has a good balance and pace right to the end. However the finale and the denouement are not as emotionally powerful, not balanced as everything that precedes. The ending somewhat ruins the overall impression and leaves only bitterness.

After the initial introduction to Delilah and the bassics of your job you head to the first intervention. Then, for the first time, you meet with the tools that are available to you to use them if necessary in the form of a rope, a map and a compass. During the game, in addition to plenty of walking and wandering, you can encounter  some significant objects, or side items that you simply examine and comment on with your boss. As the game progresses you will learn yourselves which of these items are crucial for your progress. 

Enough research is waiting for you, to the very wooded expanses, and a variety of data and documents on the area where you are, so that all this gives a special experience and adds depth to  stories. Over time everything connects into one whole, the game draws you more and more in as it comes to an end.

                                                                          Thanks for reading.
                                                                                    Vote.
                                                                       Follow me: @keyser