Firegirl: Hack 'n Splash Rescue

The arcade aesthetic, fast-paced platforming action, and gradual drip-feed of unlocks in Firegirl make for an entertaining gameplay loop, especially when considering its subject matter. The game is still rough around the edges and its technical faults can act as annoying setbacks during play, but Firegirl still offers a fresh take on the roguelike genre, with its endless procession of towering infernos putting the skills of even the sharpest platformer fan to the test.

It may feel very repetitive, but overall it’s an enjoyable, beautiful adventure with a nice story to tell.

Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue is fun for about an hour. Then you’ll realize that you’ve seen much of what the game has to offer and must now focus on upgrading and surviving. The rollout of the narrative is appreciated, but this game does have a pacing problem. It doesn’t know if it wants to be a pick-up and play arcade firefighter game or a simulation time sink where most of the fun comes after multiple hours. There’s no doubt some potential here, but I’d wait for a few updates before rushing into this burning building.

The core gameplay is fun, but the constant and unrelenting fists of failure really put a damper on things. Some of the issues I found with Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash could be improved with more polishing. However, others might take a little more work.

Firegirl could be an inspiration for young players, but the overall weak presentation, glitches, cheap visuals and especially the price probably won't convince you to buy the game.

Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue has some issues, but it also has its fair share of moments where it really shines. I adore the protagonist and the world she inhabits, their charm and personality untouched by the devastating flames. I enjoy the game’s unique concept and gameplay, a completely new experience in both the 2D platforming and roguelike genres. So while the mechanics might not be the most finely-tuned at the moment and the learning curve perhaps a bit steep, Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue has the potential to become better refined in the coming months. Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue certainly brings the heat; after a few updates, it might be safe enough to go back into the kitchen.

Firegirl: Hack ’n Splash Rescue is still a work in progress. All of the right elements are here, but they’re not coalescing into what should be the optimal firefighting experience. I truly believe there is a great game buried somewhere within the lines of code that brings it all together. We just got to hold onto hope that Dejima Games will be able to find it.

Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue isn’t necessarily a hot mess or a dumpster fire, but it is a rather unstable experiment made of promising elements that went up in smoke. The basic platforming and firefighting action is enjoyable enough, but the rest of the possible enjoyment is buried under a mound of RNG, bad procedurally-generated levels and a lack of good progression. Unless you’re up for a big challenge, this is one title likely to leave you cold instead.

There’s a lot to like about Firegirl, but it’s not free of issues. You’ll undoubtedly grin with glee whenever you’re lucky enough to successfully complete a run, having rescued all survivors. But chances are you’ll come across insurmountable frustrations more often than not, bringing your time with the game to a grinding halt. Continually upgrading Firegirl‘s abilities certainly helps, but the mechanics need a bit of tweaking before this is as enjoyable as it deserves to be.

While Firegirl has more than a few singed edges, there’s definitely potential here. The visual style, an evocative combination of 3D world and 2D pixel art characters, is very easy on the eye and the core concept is solid. If Dejima Games are given the time to patch out the bugs, fiddle with the balancing and smooth out the plot pacing, Firegirl will be a good game eventually. Right now though, it’s distinctly average.