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6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 693 Ratings

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  1. Feb 14, 2016
    5
    It had so much potential. Without going into spoiler territory, the ending just seems rushed. It just kind of ends. It leaves nothing to go back and do. I completed the game in a little over 3 hours. The controls can be frustrating at times. Walking down a hill can be the most annoying thing in video game history. Constantly getting stuck on a small rock or bush on the ground.
    The game is
    It had so much potential. Without going into spoiler territory, the ending just seems rushed. It just kind of ends. It leaves nothing to go back and do. I completed the game in a little over 3 hours. The controls can be frustrating at times. Walking down a hill can be the most annoying thing in video game history. Constantly getting stuck on a small rock or bush on the ground.
    The game is very pretty, but if you're looking for something with a great story and plenty of replay value, keep looking. You still haven't found what you're looking for.
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  2. Feb 12, 2016
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First of all, I have to say I found the hiking in this game pretty bothersome since I kept walking off the right path and going into dead ends. The game is a giant corridor and doesn't really pretend it's doing anything else but guiding you along the one winding path of its storyline. I also kept waiting for the "adult dialogue" (which some reviewers promised), but it didn't really get as adult as I would've imagined as Henry and Delilah only kept dancing around the truly difficult subjects. Otherwise, it's not a bad story to experience, although I think we all knew what was waiting in the cave. But predictable does not equal bad and I especially enjoyed the final touch of Delilah not waiting for Henry (as I desperately tried to navigate him toward her through the burning forest). Expand
  3. Apr 18, 2016
    6
    Honestly? I really do not understand all the high rating reviews the game got.
    It has a lot of bugs that really make it hard to enjoy the game. I fell out of the world and got stuck badly.
    The graphics are mediocre at best and stutter like no game before on a console. The dialogs are good. Voice acting is outstanding. But that is about it. After all this is very shallow
    Honestly? I really do not understand all the high rating reviews the game got.
    It has a lot of bugs that really make it hard to enjoy the game. I fell out of the world and got stuck badly.
    The graphics are mediocre at best and stutter like no game before on a console.

    The dialogs are good. Voice acting is outstanding. But that is about it.
    After all this is very shallow entertainment. I would only recommend this game if you have absolutely nothing else to play.
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  4. Mar 19, 2016
    7
    I was a little late in finally getting around to playing this game but I finally finished it last night and I gotta say I was pretty impressed. Firewatch is a first person adventure game that tells a compelling story about 2 watchtower lookouts deep in the wilderness of Wyoming. Henry (the character you play) is tasked with keeping an eye out for forest fires, obviously. I don't want toI was a little late in finally getting around to playing this game but I finally finished it last night and I gotta say I was pretty impressed. Firewatch is a first person adventure game that tells a compelling story about 2 watchtower lookouts deep in the wilderness of Wyoming. Henry (the character you play) is tasked with keeping an eye out for forest fires, obviously. I don't want to say too much about it because it wouldn't take mush to spoil it. If you are a fan of games like Everyone's Gone to the Rapture or Gone Home then this game definitely deserves your attention. The game is no more than 6 hours I would say, which reflects the price point. I have heard people had problems with frame rate issues during the games first week, but they must have patched it now because I had zero problems on the PS4. The gripe I have is the ending, which I wont talk about it but if you play it you will know what I mean. Fortunately though that did not make me regret my time with it. At the price of 20 dollars this game is surely worthy of your time. Expand
  5. Jul 10, 2016
    7
    I'm really divided on Firewatch because there are things that are really well done and things that really aren't.

    The positives: the voice acting of the characters of Henry and Delilah is superb, truly believable and genuinely snarky, joking dialogue that develops between two similar people (although if you're bothered by a lot of swearing you won't like it much). As the game
    I'm really divided on Firewatch because there are things that are really well done and things that really aren't.

    The positives: the voice acting of the characters of Henry and Delilah is superb, truly believable and genuinely snarky, joking dialogue that develops between two similar people (although if you're bothered by a lot of swearing you won't like it much). As the game progressed I really became attached to both of them as realistically portrayed people without needing to know what they looked like, even if I never approved of their decisions and reactions. I grew to like them despite the glaring flaws of their personalities.

    The same goes for the hints about another ranger to ranger relationship with the notes left in the supply caches by Dave and Ron. Exactly who were they and what happened in their lives that the notes only give a glimpse of? I thought that was as well done as the dialogue for Henry and Delilah.

    The art direction I liked as it captured both the wildness in atmosphere and the beauty of untamed areas, although as fabulous as the sunlight could be artistically it also played havoc with navigating around areas easily.

    The negatives: the limited character options for Henry right from the start gave a clue that you were going to be on the rails for the narrative, that whatever 'choices' might appear to be open were unlikely to really be so. It's a pity that even with limited options you could effect things in such a tiny way that sometimes it didn't seem even worth it.

    The story has some holes, ones that aren't just unanswered questions left open to interpretation but quite obviously conveniently dropped or ignored. It's a good story overall but given the investment in dialogue and atmosphere, how it is set up deliberately to get the player engaged by the midway point, the ending is bound to be deflating if not actively depressing.

    And finally, the technical issues. The lagging and stuttering frame rate when a save spot is walked into or getting caught on random bits of scenery. As others have said, it really breaks any immersive feeling whatsoever. I also found that the walkie-talkie dialogue could be very twitchy at times, cutting off in places or being interrupted by other actions and losing key bits of info. If it hadn't been for these problems I would've scored it at 8 or 9 but those really killed a lot of scenes for me.
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  6. Jul 17, 2016
    6
    Man i really got excited while i was playing it . I really didn't understand where the story has gone . It was going very well but it messed up. I would have give this game 8 if the story hasn't gone like that. And i didnt forget the framedrop that i get most of the time ...
  7. Feb 24, 2016
    7
    The 1.02 patch fixed all of the framerate problems firewatch launched with. Dialogue is absolutely seamless which is really gratifying. You feel like you are directing real conversations. It's actually really impressive how precise the dialogue is with the exception of one part (avoiding spoilers here) i decided to squash a particular suspician of one of the characters. When she rephrasedThe 1.02 patch fixed all of the framerate problems firewatch launched with. Dialogue is absolutely seamless which is really gratifying. You feel like you are directing real conversations. It's actually really impressive how precise the dialogue is with the exception of one part (avoiding spoilers here) i decided to squash a particular suspician of one of the characters. When she rephrased i reiterated that i thought she was wrong again. Then 5 minutes after i had made it to the end of the story and those dialogue decisions were not taken into account for the ending. There isnt much meat here, both in terms of depth and breadth. But what you get is a game with a story structure that is very unique, some pretty vistas and a little gated open world that you will know instinctively how to navigate by the end. Worth 10-15 usd imho Expand
  8. Apr 29, 2016
    7
    Ever since reading about Firewatch in a magazine months ago, I knew it would be a Day 1 purchase for me. After I hit "Buy" on the Playstation Store, I became very excited to jump into the Wyoming wilderness and explore not only it, but also the relationship between Henry and Delilah. Henry is the main character who decides to become a fire watch for a few months after learning his wife hasEver since reading about Firewatch in a magazine months ago, I knew it would be a Day 1 purchase for me. After I hit "Buy" on the Playstation Store, I became very excited to jump into the Wyoming wilderness and explore not only it, but also the relationship between Henry and Delilah. Henry is the main character who decides to become a fire watch for a few months after learning his wife has developed dementia at a fairly early age. Delilah is the seasoned veteran fire watch, who's tower is on the other side of the map, unreachable by the player. Henry has his cliches and he is a bit on the depressive side, but his circumstances may justify this for some. Personally, I would have liked to seen a little more life and flair. He is a great "Average Joe" with typical problems. The game revolves around exploring, performing various tasks and focuses a lot on narrative. The game is told through communication with Delilah via radio. While playing, you will find things such as notes, letters, books, keepsakes and more that relate to the story and help tell it. That is essentially the gameplay in a nutshell. It is a simplistic approach that works surprisingly well. From a graphics standpoint, the unique visual aesthetic and color palettes really pop and pull the player in, even if there are muddy textures abound. It is disappointing to see the frame rate suffer as you walk through the woods. It just happens to much and apparently it was never fixed.

    This is Campo Santo's first ever title. They did an incredible job given that fact, but it may not have been so great if it was their second or third. When I say that, I mean that the game does a lot right, but that simplicity can also hurt it. The wilderness really isn't that large and you will find yourself backtracking quite a bit as you progress through the story. But to be fair, the story is the glue that holds the package together. The way the game begins instantly makes you feel invested in what is going on and does a fantastic job of putting you in Henry's shoes from the outset. The emotional aspect of Firewatch is mainly what helps it stand out. The hook here are the mysteries that unfold along the way. They are the meat and potatoes of this plot-driven journey. The anticlimactic ending may anger some players, but I won't spoil it. One thing I noticed and liked on the first day of playing was the fact that I couldn't set waypoints and the game actually males the player think about which direction to take. I found that freedom liberating and fresh. I feel like we are so used to setting waypoints and fast-traveling. I completed the game in about 5 hours and that included some exploration time. It is a short game, but the $20 price tag justifies that. I think this is something many gamers can pick up, play and enjoy for a brief amount of time. (7/10)
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  9. Apr 14, 2020
    7
    Атмосферный симулятор ходьбы. Поиграть стоит ради атмосферы, музыки, видов, ну и может быть сюжета.
  10. Jan 16, 2022
    5
    The biggest disappointment of this game is that none of your choices matter at all.
  11. Jul 23, 2023
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. -Nice atmosphere
    -Good story, but the ending is trash
    -Not much to do after you finished the story
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  12. Feb 10, 2016
    5
    This highly anticipated game did not disappoint when it came to the price in the PlayStation Store. At $19.99 USD, $17.99 USD if you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, the price matched the length of Firewatch. Seeing and exploring the wilderness in glorious 1080p is something to marvel at, however, that is pretty much what you're getting out of this game. As you navigate throughout theThis highly anticipated game did not disappoint when it came to the price in the PlayStation Store. At $19.99 USD, $17.99 USD if you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber, the price matched the length of Firewatch. Seeing and exploring the wilderness in glorious 1080p is something to marvel at, however, that is pretty much what you're getting out of this game. As you navigate throughout the semi-open world, and I use that term loosely, I will get frequent drops in frame rate. 1080p, yes, 60fps, no. With the power of the PlayStation 4 being strong enough to handle graphically intensive games like GTA5 or The Witcher 3, I have a hard time believing that Firewatch is more intensive than those. The lack of achievement is another thing that turns me off with this game. There is an absence of motivation to replay this game when you're not being rewarded for making a different choice. To spend another three and a half hours playing it just to possibly get a different outcome is not appealing to me when I don't receive a trophy for my time well spent. I found the collection of documents I have gathered throughout the game meaningless because it served no point, and the amount of items spread out across the wilderness didn't serve any other purpose than to add dialogue. The only way I can recommend this game to anybody would be to fix the frame rate problem and, perhaps, give the players a sense of achievement by adding more rewards for doing specific actions in the game rather than just getting a trophy when we finish a day. Expand
  13. Feb 10, 2016
    7
    This is an empathy game/walking simulator, much in the same vein as Gone Home, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, or the Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

    The game mechanics of Firewatch are completely solid. The world is pretty and filled with cool artifacts that give it a personality. Instead of a UI, you get map and compass that are intuitive and fun to use. They make exploration feel fresh
    This is an empathy game/walking simulator, much in the same vein as Gone Home, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, or the Vanishing of Ethan Carter.

    The game mechanics of Firewatch are completely solid. The world is pretty and filled with cool artifacts that give it a personality. Instead of a UI, you get map and compass that are intuitive and fun to use. They make exploration feel fresh and it's exciting to see when your character makes additions onto the map.

    All that said, this type of game's quality is really judged by the the characters and the narrative. Most of the game is spent in dialogue between two main characters and I'm glad to say that they make a delightful pair. They feel rich and fleshed out and it's a treat to hear them chat. The game's best mechanic is the way you discover and learn about the world through these dialogues.

    The only downside for me is how the narrative was handled. The game is amazingly well paced and brings up new and interesting threads throughout the short experience, but by the end only a few of these threads have any payoff. You find that none of your choices had any effect on the story and none of your actions had any consequence, other than the impact on the main protagonist.

    In Gone Home, there is no illusion of choice, so it feels like a very personal story that impacts the protagonist on a deep level. In Firewatch, there are choices that you later find were meaningless and the way that the protagonist handles the adventure is determined by you at the end, so it feels like a shallow trip that could have meant anything that you wanted. Both rides were fun, but the ending of Gone Home was infinitely more satisfying. I would still recommend Firewatch for the experience, but with this warning.

    Vague spoilers ahead - Here are the threads I was invested in and whether they paid off in my estimation:
    Relationship between main characters - Yes, but not cheapened by lack of choice
    Notes in the supply boxes - Nope, read all of them
    High Tech Gear and Fences- Not even remotely
    Father and Son - Yes
    The fire - Eh, kind of
    Teens - Nope, unsatisfying
    Power lines- Nope (How? Why? Did it even make a difference?)

    Wow this is long, sorry.
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  14. Feb 15, 2016
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love the inspired visuals, which are compelling in a serene kind of way. And, I suppose, the banter back and forth is a decent way to pass the time while exploring the world. That's about all the nice things I have to say about this overpriced indie game.

    At $20, Firewatch is a rip. It's not the length that is the problem, it's that so many of the game is undercooked, which is highlighted by the fact that the game could have been brilliant. Where to start? Ah! Delilah is a pain in the ass, and a bore by the time the game is over. She is every girl you've ever been instantly attracted to over the first drink at a bar, and repulsed by as the night wore on. She's far too full of herself, she is nosy, and she obviously thinks she's the most clever girl in the outfit (which she may be, seeing as she's the only girl in the outfit).

    Further disappointing than the wordy, mouthy Delilah, are all the unresolved plot threads. The main baddie is a total Scooby-Doo villain, and the setpieces leading the story along are pretty uninspired (go roust some drunk dorks, go find a way into a fended off area you inexplicably can't simply climb over, etc.). A mountain range in the wilderness should be a place rife with secrets and hidden goodies to find. Sadly, there are no such things in Firewatch's world. The world is also immensely barren of life -- where are the bears, the coyotes, the birds, the snakes, the ANYTHING? The most I saw in my entire walkthrough of the game was a few birds flying off in the distance, and that may have even been at the title screen; I can't quite remember. The world to this game is barren, which sucked me right out of the lovely visuals.

    On top of that, the mechanics are supremely limited. There are only a few items you find along the way, and don't expect to be too wowed by those, either. They're all pretty basic in application, and not creative in the least. I see where the developers were going with the idea of limiting exploration until you find certain goodies a la Metroid, but it just doesn't work here. The game became a bore to play, especially once...

    You get to the end. For a game relying so heavily on its narrative, the game wraps things up by having a convenient villain, and a convenient discussion with the cheeky Delilah, and that's it. For all of its narrative trappings, I ended up feeling more conflicted about the reason Henry arrives to begin with. As torn as he feels about his future, so to do I about parting with so much money for a skimpy game with a pretty face.

    Enlist if you must, but do so knowing that you could get the same conversational value at an Applebee's on a Friday night, and as much adventure at a bingo tournament. Firewatch gave me heartburn.
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  15. Feb 12, 2016
    6
    I was really expecting this one to come out and was amazed at the low price of 19.99Eur. It turns out it was that low for a reason. And now that I'm done with it I feel like a just paid a very expensive ticket for mediocre movie.
    The game performs terribly, which is unacceptable for the PS4. The stuttering literally hurt my eyes. Asset pop-in is very frequent. I kept my self wondering
    I was really expecting this one to come out and was amazed at the low price of 19.99Eur. It turns out it was that low for a reason. And now that I'm done with it I feel like a just paid a very expensive ticket for mediocre movie.
    The game performs terribly, which is unacceptable for the PS4. The stuttering literally hurt my eyes. Asset pop-in is very frequent. I kept my self wondering "did anyone even play it on the PS4 before releasing it? Did they seriously think this is playable?". (They said a patch is coming at some point but still this is not a game you play twice) Yet I kept pushing on because the story was compelling but utterly felt flat in the end....
    Really wish this game was more. It has much potential gone to waste. Would suggest waiting for a discounted price and maybe a performance patch from the devs.
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  16. Feb 10, 2016
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a fan of these walking simulator style games I'd say Firewatch is an inconsistent experience.

    The good. This game is essentially about two characters interacting and growing. Both the writings and voice acting for these two is by far the highlight of the game. They're both people with obvious demons and regrets who struggle to be open with each other without being vulnerable. It would've been nice to know a bit more about both, where they do cut it off is still pretty solid.

    The environment is another strong suit, the colours are varied and attractive.

    The map design is solid, with lnot too much overlapping of areas minus a few central areas.

    The narrative up to a point is very interesting, with a bunch of interesting story points ie some campers go missing and seem to have been attacked, as well as a mysterious abandoned and burned up that your guide seems oddly silent about. You uncover a overarching mystery that almost leans towards a possible conspiracy or twist, not necessarily "the world is ending scale", while mysterious it feels like something personal is at work, it feels almost psychological.

    Now the downsides. There's only 2 but in my mind they're big.

    1. The game runs poorly. Pop ins and pretty frequent lag are big issues in this game. Hopefully they follow through on what they've been saying and fix it. But considering I'm one-and-done on this game it's honestly too late.

    2. The great start to the story falls apart in the last act. All the little pieces that I pieced together ie the missing campers, mysterious cabin, etc are either never mentioned or dismissed in a single "oh yea. They just went to town". The overarching story of you and your friend being spied on goes from "wow. This is interesting" to "wait. This can't be it" extremely quick. There's a minor sub-plot of a couple characters that are referenced a couple times that are suddenly shoehorned into being major factors, but due to their minimum build up, at what felt as the big reveal was underwhelming to the point that I felt like I had missed something major.

    There's 2 main things that bug me. 1. Early in the game you overhear your friend on the walkie speaking to someone else about "he doesn't know anything yet" stuff. This sets up a certain narrative that a lot of players will use the rest of the game to build up. Now, if the point was to use that as a set up for a twist then it was handled poorly because I ended up just giving up on the whole idea when it clearly went nowhere. Even the actual in game story just kinda loses momentum before just kinda saying "she'll here's the answer I guess". I won't fully spoil but the "who's spying on us" plot is literally answered with "some guy who just felt like it".

    My other issue is in games like this there's an overarching message. Sometimes it's something obvious and sonetimes its left up to interpretation. This time I genuinely couldn't see it. The core story has the players character going to the woods to (I'm assuming) either take a break from dealing with a sick wife/wanting to be away from the suffering. This is the part of the story I wish had been expanded upon more. It's referenced a lot early on but gets dropped entirely in the back half until the game literally goes "oh yea. Remember your wife?" Before vanishing again till the last scene. It's a part of the story that could've been used more, there's even a scene early on that implies that it will. Then nothing. It's disappointing. Essentially i "don't get it", you don't make any deep self revelations. No confessions. Nothing. You go to this place to take a break, essentially do. Then go home. I'm fine with the idea of there being no message, or rather, have the message be "sometimes there isn't a message. Things just happen" but in my opinion this isn't conveyed at all b

    They had something strong going early on. But it feels like they had no idea how to tie everything together

    TLDR: Pretty game, great interaction between interesting yet somewhat underutilizes characters that are strongly voiced. Interesting story falls apart in final act. Most early plot points are ignored/abandoned and the ones that are followed through on feel rushed. A strong 90% of the game is let down by the last 10%. Technical issues that aren't game breaking but too common to ignore.
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  17. Feb 10, 2016
    5
    Forget about the technical issues. Never mind the little time it takes to complete the game. What bothers me, and I mean really bothers me, is the outcome of the plot. It's mundane and low-key, which is not inherently a bad thing, to be sure. But when you couple this with an extremely tense build-up that precedes it, then you have a problem. It just doesn't work; in fact, it spoils theForget about the technical issues. Never mind the little time it takes to complete the game. What bothers me, and I mean really bothers me, is the outcome of the plot. It's mundane and low-key, which is not inherently a bad thing, to be sure. But when you couple this with an extremely tense build-up that precedes it, then you have a problem. It just doesn't work; in fact, it spoils the whole experience. You'll feel cheated by the time the final credits roll. Expand
  18. Feb 10, 2016
    5
    Was looking forward to this game. On PS4 it is a technical mess, with stuttering and framerate issues all around.
    Having played less than 30 min, I managed to get e refund through PSN email assistance.
    I suggest everyone disappointed with the game to do so.
  19. Feb 27, 2016
    6
    I was so excited for this game when i saw the annouce trailer, and now i barely got to play, and it is short it took me just one sitting to beat it, about 3 to 4 hours, but that's not the problem. I really wanted to enjoy this game soooo much, but it was just boring, at first i was pumped, but the story wasn't as great as it seemed it would be, nothing crazy really happens, and I hate thatI was so excited for this game when i saw the annouce trailer, and now i barely got to play, and it is short it took me just one sitting to beat it, about 3 to 4 hours, but that's not the problem. I really wanted to enjoy this game soooo much, but it was just boring, at first i was pumped, but the story wasn't as great as it seemed it would be, nothing crazy really happens, and I hate that the game has you walk from one side of the map all the way to the other, it gets so annoying. The art styles is beautiful, i really did love it, the voice acting is superb, and the music is pretty sweet as well. But it just wasn't that interesting, and the ending is just so anti climatic, this was my first walking simulator, and i know those games are story based, not gameplay, but this should have been a movie, or tv show, with the same art style, for adults, It just wasn't that great as a videogame. Sorry but i don't recommend. Expand
  20. Feb 9, 2016
    6
    I've just completed it in one session, it's not a long game and only took about 4-5 hours. The biggest issue I have is with the performance, the framerate is just all over the place and if this was a fast paced game it would be unplayable. It's just hitching constantly, all the way through the game and it drops to single digits all the time as well.

    I really loved the first part of the
    I've just completed it in one session, it's not a long game and only took about 4-5 hours. The biggest issue I have is with the performance, the framerate is just all over the place and if this was a fast paced game it would be unplayable. It's just hitching constantly, all the way through the game and it drops to single digits all the time as well.

    I really loved the first part of the story, I was looking forward to where it was going, just sadly it went nowhere. They build up this big suspense and it just end sup being this Brian thing that you couldn't care less about, it has no pay off and it just ends. The two characters in the game have a relationship that goes nowhere, the story with his wife goes nowhere, you're hoping for some amazing storyline and it just doesn't happen. It often makes no sense, I have myself questioning it a lot of the time.... just such a shame because I was really loving the first half.

    Despite all that I still had fun, I loved the style, I loved the premise... it's just rather mediocre.
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  21. Feb 15, 2016
    6
    I can't say a lot of good things about this game. It basically boils down to: go to a certain spot on the map and report via walkie talkie to your supervisor what you have found on said spot. Then get yourself to the next spot and report again. While you are doing this, some sort of intrige plays out aimed towards you and your supervisor, but the conclusion of this plot was a bitI can't say a lot of good things about this game. It basically boils down to: go to a certain spot on the map and report via walkie talkie to your supervisor what you have found on said spot. Then get yourself to the next spot and report again. While you are doing this, some sort of intrige plays out aimed towards you and your supervisor, but the conclusion of this plot was a bit disappointing, the same thing with the entire game.
    It's just quite an empty experience on all levels. The only thing that drives this game is the interaction between your character and Delilah. For the rest it's just an empty game with nothing to do but run around and report stuff.
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  22. Feb 13, 2016
    7
    The game has endless systems that are teased but not explored. For example, at one point, you will be given a fishing rod that serves no actual function. You can admire it, but are forced to put it away before you can actually use it. Also, nothing you do actually matters. It's a linear game hidden in an open world. Don't even get me started on the pretentious ending.
  23. Aug 24, 2016
    6
    The game has a nice art style to it. I enjoyed the conversations between the two characters, the setting (both scenery and era). The story isn't all that bad, although like others have said, the end feels a bit rushed.

    It is a pretty short game and since one of the factors I judge games on is how much I pay vs amount of enjoyment I get, I'd say this falls a bit short as $20CDN is a bit
    The game has a nice art style to it. I enjoyed the conversations between the two characters, the setting (both scenery and era). The story isn't all that bad, although like others have said, the end feels a bit rushed.

    It is a pretty short game and since one of the factors I judge games on is how much I pay vs amount of enjoyment I get, I'd say this falls a bit short as $20CDN is a bit steep for a 3-4 hour game that you're likely to only play once.
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  24. Feb 10, 2016
    6
    Firewatch is a game where nothing of consequence happens. There is really no point to this game. The writing is decent and the voice acting is excellent, but all that is attached to a meaningless story that tries to force out artificial feelings. The game tries to force feelings out of you in the intro, through the way of text describing events taking place for the main character, this isFirewatch is a game where nothing of consequence happens. There is really no point to this game. The writing is decent and the voice acting is excellent, but all that is attached to a meaningless story that tries to force out artificial feelings. The game tries to force feelings out of you in the intro, through the way of text describing events taking place for the main character, this is largely ineffective due to the fact that we have not met the main character yet or the other character the intro telling us about. We're suppose to feel some sort of attachment, given that there are options to steer clear of telling the intro events to the other main character in the game indicating that it would be a "touchy" subject for our main character.

    The other "big" reveal again tries to coax out feelings from the player when you learn the fate of another character we have never met and have only had several lines of dialogue to go off of.

    The best thing Firewatch has going for it in my opinion is the beautiful art style. Unfortunately on PS4 the art style is hindered by almost constant performance issues, mainly in the form of frame drops.
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  25. Feb 9, 2016
    6
    It was a really good story, but the options on the dialog doesn't change anything really. Playstation 4 version have A LOT of problems. I have never seen so bad FPS drops on a ps4 game before.
  26. Feb 10, 2016
    7
    Pretty decent game, I enjoyed most of it and the 5-6 hour play-through can be fun to do in 1 go. But the framerate and current bugs stop it from enjoying some moments. It has nice small touches, but it could've done more with its ending. Plus the mystery build up and reveal was not likeable for my taste.
  27. Feb 10, 2016
    7
    Great walking simulator. Story is interesting, strong point are dialogues, my wife was laughing all time watching when I was playing. Art style is interesting but could be made with better quality - ps4 has more power, well it is ok at the end. Performance in first 1.0 version is an issue. With current state game should be 60 fps but it is not even 30. Probably Unity engine is reason ofGreat walking simulator. Story is interesting, strong point are dialogues, my wife was laughing all time watching when I was playing. Art style is interesting but could be made with better quality - ps4 has more power, well it is ok at the end. Performance in first 1.0 version is an issue. With current state game should be 60 fps but it is not even 30. Probably Unity engine is reason of poor performance. Expand
  28. Feb 10, 2016
    7
    Great art direction, great writing, great voice acting. The music and audio were poorly implemented and often under-designed, and the game mechanics were sometimes glitchy and unreliable. I had one crash and had framerate issues throughout my entire playthrough. This game is entirely dialogue driven and has some really great moments. There is a great buildup through out the entire gameGreat art direction, great writing, great voice acting. The music and audio were poorly implemented and often under-designed, and the game mechanics were sometimes glitchy and unreliable. I had one crash and had framerate issues throughout my entire playthrough. This game is entirely dialogue driven and has some really great moments. There is a great buildup through out the entire game and for the last hour I was on the edge of my seat. Unfortunately there was no real payoff to release the tension and it felt more like a balloon being slowly released. A good game on the cusp of being great. Expand
  29. Jul 29, 2017
    6
    Not a bad game, if you like walking sims and story-based games, but with a few major flaws that dampened my enjoyment: 1) The PS4 version is unpardonably ugly, with major performance issues even on a PS4 Pro with the latest patches installed, thus rendering the enjoyment of hiking in the wilderness, which the game attempts to convey, and needs to convey, poorly achieved. 2) The story lineNot a bad game, if you like walking sims and story-based games, but with a few major flaws that dampened my enjoyment: 1) The PS4 version is unpardonably ugly, with major performance issues even on a PS4 Pro with the latest patches installed, thus rendering the enjoyment of hiking in the wilderness, which the game attempts to convey, and needs to convey, poorly achieved. 2) The story line has its highs and lows, with opinions all over the board, and with some genuinely interesting dialogue and narrative quirks, but I found the twists and the ending to be a big letdown. 3) The best walking sims and linear narrative experiences are short for a reason. 2-3 hours should be the max for a game like that. Firewatch, however, stretches itself thin. Extra length may sound like a good thing, but in this case it means unnecessary padding, with long treks back and forth already-visited landscapes. This repetition is made much worse by how boring and ugly the game world is.

    Overall, I cannot recommend the game at full price, nor can I recommend the PS4 version. That's too much to ask for a bad port of an average game. If you like walking sims and narrative experiences, this game is probably worth checking out in the long run, but only if it is on sale, and only on PC.
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  30. Feb 21, 2016
    5
    Usually I don't play much indie titles because there is not really a lot good ones. But, I got this because reviews was really good. I did it again. Shouldn't do that. Game price is way too expensive for what it offer. Gameplay is about 3 hours long and in that time you don't do anything than walking around and listening conversations. Script looks good from start, but in point when youUsually I don't play much indie titles because there is not really a lot good ones. But, I got this because reviews was really good. I did it again. Shouldn't do that. Game price is way too expensive for what it offer. Gameplay is about 3 hours long and in that time you don't do anything than walking around and listening conversations. Script looks good from start, but in point when you think it will culminate it finish in probably most stupid way. Graphics is bad what was expected from indie title, but framerate could be better. Generally, with better script this could be good title even if we exclude bad gfx. Some stupid gameplay things even make this game looks silly. Etc. you spend half of the game finding keys to underground cave while carrying an axe all the time!! Really ???? Expand
  31. Jan 12, 2017
    7
    Firewatch is a amazing game with such a deep interesting story. However, the ending was extremely anti-climatic. It left me feeling a little cheated. It felt like the developers worked on the entire game and then just stopped the game without even giving the ending a thought. Buy it and it will be worth the play.
  32. Jun 19, 2017
    7
    A fun and interesting game. Even though it was a walking simulator i love the humor it has and the atmosphere of it all. Even though the ending might be a little disappointing.
  33. Aug 13, 2016
    7
    It had so much potential. Without going into spoiler territory, the ending just seems rushed. It just kind of ends. It leaves nothing to go back and do. I completed the game in a little over 3 hours. The controls can be frustrating at times. Walking down a hill can be the most annoying thing in video game history. Constantly getting stuck on a small rock or bush on the ground.
    The game is
    It had so much potential. Without going into spoiler territory, the ending just seems rushed. It just kind of ends. It leaves nothing to go back and do. I completed the game in a little over 3 hours. The controls can be frustrating at times. Walking down a hill can be the most annoying thing in video game history. Constantly getting stuck on a small rock or bush on the ground.
    The game is very pretty, but if you're looking for something with a great story and plenty of replay value, keep looking. You still haven't found what you're looking for.
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  34. Aug 30, 2017
    7
    Firewatch is a first-person mystery adventure game developed by Campo Santo and published by Campo Santo and Panic. The game was released in February 2016 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, and PlayStation 4, and for Xbox One in September 2016.
  35. Jul 17, 2017
    7
    Firewatch is an interesting game and one that really made me open my eyes and pay attention to story based games.
    Interesting concept, setting and scenario but unfortunately when the credits roll I think most people will be quite disappointed.
    Gorgeous graphics, amazing voice acting and for the most part a cool little story - however completely let down by the ultimate reveal / story and
    Firewatch is an interesting game and one that really made me open my eyes and pay attention to story based games.
    Interesting concept, setting and scenario but unfortunately when the credits roll I think most people will be quite disappointed.
    Gorgeous graphics, amazing voice acting and for the most part a cool little story - however completely let down by the ultimate reveal / story and how rushed the ending felt. Also it is way too short to justify.
    Maybe their next game will build on this and they'll be able to produce something fantastic like SOMA. Who knows. Promising studio though!
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  36. Jul 10, 2016
    6
    Great visual, pretty interesting story, but very short, ok ending, and gameplay was just so-so. Definitely worth it on a five dollar sale, then it would be pretty good.
  37. Jan 10, 2017
    7
    I enjoyed this game, but it could have been better. It's strong points were definately the personality of the characters and the art style mixed with the graphics. The plot was interesting and had a really good concept, it even got me paranoid momentarily. However this game had a little too many let downs for it to be an essential. The fact that there is no platinum trophy for ps4 users isI enjoyed this game, but it could have been better. It's strong points were definately the personality of the characters and the art style mixed with the graphics. The plot was interesting and had a really good concept, it even got me paranoid momentarily. However this game had a little too many let downs for it to be an essential. The fact that there is no platinum trophy for ps4 users is my first complaint and I guess because it was a short game I could see why it didn't, which brings me to my next point. The game was too short, I just started to get a thrill and the game ends. Speaking of which the ending wasn't that great neither, It felt really rushed, but considering it was a short game it wasn't really a big deal. Overall not so bad, would I recommend it.. Yes. But I'd advise getting it digitally considering its one of those games you may never play again and will just end up in your attic collecting dust. Expand
  38. Sep 25, 2017
    7
    A nice story, that captures the feeling of loneliness brilliantly, but it's not really a game. Yes, you move a character through an environment and interact with stuff, but it's incredibly linear, and I think that I'm right in saying that it's impossible to fail at anything - you can't die, or run out of time, etc. You can, however, influence how the story ends through your dialogueA nice story, that captures the feeling of loneliness brilliantly, but it's not really a game. Yes, you move a character through an environment and interact with stuff, but it's incredibly linear, and I think that I'm right in saying that it's impossible to fail at anything - you can't die, or run out of time, etc. You can, however, influence how the story ends through your dialogue choices, but for me that isn't the definition of a game - more like a Choose Your Own Adventure on the TV. And considering that, the story is well crafted and laid out, so it's worth a punt. Expand
  39. Dec 30, 2016
    7
    It's a wonderful concept, but the execution is mediocre. For a game that takes place outdoors the movement is very poorly implemented. There's no free movement like in most modern open world games which I found very annoying, the game will block you with invisible walls and keep you moving along very limited invisible corridors. You can't even jump over a rock without a canned animation.It's a wonderful concept, but the execution is mediocre. For a game that takes place outdoors the movement is very poorly implemented. There's no free movement like in most modern open world games which I found very annoying, the game will block you with invisible walls and keep you moving along very limited invisible corridors. You can't even jump over a rock without a canned animation. Also I fell through and got stuck in the world geometry more than once.

    Other than that, it's quite short (like 3 hours?) and the mystery part of story is weak, but at the end of the day it's not about the actual story but rather about the interaction between the two people who got caught in it which I though was very well done and enjoyable.

    9/10 for the concept, 5/10 for the technical bits, 7/10 for the story.
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  40. Apr 30, 2020
    6
    When his wife develops early-onset dementia, Henry takes a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. On the first his boss Delilah sends him out to investigate illegal fireworks by the lake, but upon returning to his watchtower he finds it ransacked….

    Firewalk is essentially another addition to the ‘walking simulator’ genre, with the game largely involving walking
    When his wife develops early-onset dementia, Henry takes a job as a fire lookout in Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. On the first his boss Delilah sends him out to investigate illegal fireworks by the lake, but upon returning to his watchtower he finds it ransacked….

    Firewalk is essentially another addition to the ‘walking simulator’ genre, with the game largely involving walking around the forest pressing buttons when prompted to perform context sensitive actions. With such minimalist gameplay games of this ilk live or die by the quality of their story telling, and in large part thanks to the excellent voice acting, I did find myself drawn into the mystery. Unfortunately the ending doesn’t live up to the great premise, which was a big dampener on my overall experience, but if you like this genre of game this is a competent effort.
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  41. Mar 19, 2018
    5
    The game started out very well. There was an atmosphere of mystery, I wanted to know what would happen next! the last 10% of the game is where the game loses a lot of points. It seems rushed. The gameplay mechanics are no very good. the game is very linear to the point where you cant walk over fallen logs.
  42. Jan 2, 2017
    6
    *SPOILER* *SPOILER*

    I am about in the same boat as most people here. The game was great up until the end. I am not disappointed that the wild conspiracy plot that was being built up by the characters in the middle ended up not being what they thought. I thought that was a good twist and was cool. I, like many others, was let down by the end. I know some people are saying that its
    *SPOILER* *SPOILER*

    I am about in the same boat as most people here. The game was great up until the end.

    I am not disappointed that the wild conspiracy plot that was being built up by the characters in the middle ended up not being what they thought. I thought that was a good twist and was cool. I, like many others, was let down by the end. I know some people are saying that its supposed to be like that. That its supposed to be like real life and suck. But no one wants "real" real life in games. I was left with emotions floating in the ether. I don't want that.

    Delilah acted in a way that I don't believe she really would have if it were real. You don't build up this relationship (complete with sexy time talk over the radio one night) then when it's time to go your just like "welp, gotta go. Maybe I might talk to you again. Later." On top of that not even being interested in seeing Henry at least once. If there were going to somehow be a part 2 or DLC Episode that sealed the deal, then that would be cool, but I dont think they will.

    Overall it's a good game(story) and is well made. I never experienced an issue except for a plane in the sky at the end that was stuck in place. The graphics were minimal but pretty. The writing was good (till the abrupt, lacking end) and the voice actors did amazing. Cissy Jones as Delilah was wonderful. I looked her up after the game and she is as pretty as Id have imagined Delilah to be. Her eyes smile. :D She is a great voice actress and has been in more games than I thought. Henry's voice actor is amazing as well.

    At any rate, a 6 out of 10 is not bad. With a better ending it could have reached 8-9 territory. I'm just a dude writing a review that most people will never see. My opinion doesn't count much but I figured id throw it out into the abyss. :)
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  43. Feb 5, 2021
    7
    I enjoyed playing a simple game with a more mature storytelling and space for reflection. The camera made me feel a bit dizzy at times and the last few walks felt too long. Apart from that, interesting game that can be finished in around 5 hours.
  44. Aug 21, 2023
    6
    After years of keeping this on my to play list due to great reviews and hype, I eventually got down to play this apparent masterpiece.

    Turns out it is the most overhyped game every released. Beautiful open world scenery.......nope, small areas you can circle within 10-15 seconds with subpar graphically details, no wildlife, flat trees and grass, bland environments and utterly terrible
    After years of keeping this on my to play list due to great reviews and hype, I eventually got down to play this apparent masterpiece.

    Turns out it is the most overhyped game every released. Beautiful open world scenery.......nope, small areas you can circle within 10-15 seconds with subpar graphically details, no wildlife, flat trees and grass, bland environments and utterly terrible fps and pop in on ps5.

    Exciting mystery story......yes, the story had me hooked until the 70% mark...turned out to be one big nothing burger of a narrative....really....nothing but a waste of a few hours.

    Though not being an utterly bad game....it is not.....I however really suggest you just give this a complete miss.

    The one moment near the end of the game where the developers had a chance to bring some emotion or shock into the story....were a body is discovered...they drop the ball...no small cutscene or even change in music....you literally make a comment on the radio and step over the body and move on..

    Very weak.
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  45. Jan 16, 2018
    6
    Nice setting and nature, voice acting and mistery.
    Story is underwhelming after first half, too much running and run is slow. Need more ambiental sounds, map using is clumsy and difficult to reed often. And frame drops!
  46. May 15, 2018
    5
    It starts off promising and has a fantastic presentation, but it falls apart by the end. Which is a shame because I wanted to love it.
  47. Jul 25, 2019
    6
    + toller Grafikstil
    + gute Synchronsprecher
    + Musik geht in Ordnung
    + kurzes Spiel

    - nicht alle Möglichkeiten ausgeschöpft aus der Handlung
    - Ende ist ernüchternd
    - Gameplay kommt zu kurz
  48. Jul 6, 2016
    6
    This game is very divisive. I can only sum that thought up by the idea of expectation.

    Typically when I go into one of these games I watch the trailer and see what the length is. Already knowing this was a narrative driven game I had little expectation other than an intriguing story, which to a point I agree with. The trailer frames the game up to be a thrilling mystery with discovery
    This game is very divisive. I can only sum that thought up by the idea of expectation.

    Typically when I go into one of these games I watch the trailer and see what the length is. Already knowing this was a narrative driven game I had little expectation other than an intriguing story, which to a point I agree with. The trailer frames the game up to be a thrilling mystery with discovery and intrigue. I was having a rough week (low on money, family issues, etc.) and wanted to have a quick getaway so this game would be perfect.
    I beat the game on one sitting with my girlfriend watching and we were let down by how everything abruptly ended, leaving us with very little to mull over. At the end the game's purpose is to tell you that resistance is futile and you shouldn't run away from your problems.

    In that sense it felt like a waste of 3-4 hours when the marketing for the game framed it up to be a much different experience. I understand that this is "art" and for us to interpret, but being that divisive puts a bad taste in my mouth. It would be like buying the new halo game and all you do is throw pillows at people. While throwing pillows is fun, you need to be in a specific mood to do so.

    I was happy to support the Campo Santo studio in hopes that the continue making games. If it wasn’t for the obvious love and articulate care I see behind the product, I would’ve given this game a 4 or 5. There are a lot of aspects to this game that I liked. I just don't care for how they manipulated the marketing to be something other than what it is.
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  49. Jul 7, 2016
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great story to it really can pull you in and makes you wonder whats going to happen next, but the game is really short didn't even take 3 hours to finish. And the ending is really boring and terrible you don't even get to see Delilah which leaves you on a mystery and there was so much going for this game if they would have made it longer and shown more of Delilah Expand
  50. Dec 10, 2016
    6
    An enjoyable game with an intriguing story and art style. I liked navigating with an actual map and compass and communicating solely via the radio! These were nice aspects to game but in general the game was lacking in excitement. There were some nervous moments, which was good, though the suspense was never high enough that I felt I should recommend this to friends. It was an interestingAn enjoyable game with an intriguing story and art style. I liked navigating with an actual map and compass and communicating solely via the radio! These were nice aspects to game but in general the game was lacking in excitement. There were some nervous moments, which was good, though the suspense was never high enough that I felt I should recommend this to friends. It was an interesting game, though short and somewhat forgettable. Expand
  51. Jan 26, 2019
    6
    Игра-пустышка, в ней нет ничего кроме интересных диалогов. Начинается интересно, заканчивается ни на чем.
  52. May 13, 2018
    6
    Umm yeah... it's OK. The story is intriguing but not satisfying. The world is OK but not beautiful. The game works, without demanding much of the player. There wasn't much to see or do, so it can only be OK.
  53. Feb 12, 2019
    5
    Overhyped game with bit too high ratings. I was really looking forward to getting the game, though €15 after discount is an unsatisfactory price after game walkthrough.

    The graphics delivers some nice sceneries worth a wallpaper, however those parts are linked with absolutely mild paths offering nothing to look at. Low-poly, often simplified graphics becomes tedious. And since the game
    Overhyped game with bit too high ratings. I was really looking forward to getting the game, though €15 after discount is an unsatisfactory price after game walkthrough.

    The graphics delivers some nice sceneries worth a wallpaper, however those parts are linked with absolutely mild paths offering nothing to look at. Low-poly, often simplified graphics becomes tedious. And since the game comprises of walking back and forth through empty valleys with almost no amusing or visual content (e.g. various fauna), the game is worth a lullaby before sleep, supported by the mostly dull music.
    PS4 version: I cannot speak for PC version, but the framedrops were really surprising, as I didn't expect Unity so demanding for PS4.

    Gameplay: lacking. The game will not demand much from your brain. Map orientation, lock codes, logical tasks. To summarize it with comparison: "Take this tool here and do an evident task few meters further with it." There were just very few moments where you had to plan or deduce a purpose of a thing.

    The story starts very attractively. During the three hours of gameplay it gets mediocre to weak though. After seeing the main character do series of stupid decisions supported by useless paranoia, the game comes to very disappointing climax, which actually leaves player not believing this cost €15.

    I know it's based on real events, but at least marketing could stop selling this game as "thrilling". It's not a walking simulator, because there's almost nothing to see. It's not an action-adventure, because there's no action and almost no adventure. The game will not make you sit on edge. It puts you in situation where you would never act and react like the main character.
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  54. Dec 7, 2018
    7
    Overall Firewatch is half adventure half character studie. A lot of users rate it as boring and not satisfying, but as I didn´t have any expectations to begin with, I think I could embrace the essence of it a little easier. Yes, it is a walking simulator and there won´t be any jet packs, but the landscape and the questions and the way the time seems to stop around you, while you wander onOverall Firewatch is half adventure half character studie. A lot of users rate it as boring and not satisfying, but as I didn´t have any expectations to begin with, I think I could embrace the essence of it a little easier. Yes, it is a walking simulator and there won´t be any jet packs, but the landscape and the questions and the way the time seems to stop around you, while you wander on will keep you going. Then again there is a lot of small talk and first I felt like it was a complete nuisance, but it makes sense, if you think about who or what is the center of the game. I played it two times in a row and I have to admit, the first time would have been enough for the time being. It´s like a cool short story. Try to get into it. Oh, and the OST by Chris Remo is fantastic. Expand
  55. Jun 21, 2020
    7
    An incredibly atmospheric little story that stays with you and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. Nothing mind-blowing, but certainly deserving of a playthrough or two.
  56. Jul 7, 2019
    7
    This game has a very beautiful art style. This is perhaps the best part of the game. It's really nice to explore the park and see the environment beautifully animated.

    The plot starts out really well and you get a sense that it'll develop further. You also build up an interesting relationship with your boss over your walkie-talkie radio. However, by the end you will find yourself
    This game has a very beautiful art style. This is perhaps the best part of the game. It's really nice to explore the park and see the environment beautifully animated.

    The plot starts out really well and you get a sense that it'll develop further. You also build up an interesting relationship with your boss over your walkie-talkie radio. However, by the end you will find yourself disappointed. It seems as though the game was rushed towards the end of development. Also, the navigation system is really annoying. I must've looked at my map a million times throughout playing this. So don't be surprised if you're going in the wrong direction occasionally. Despite this, this does make it a bit more realistic - if you're staying in a national park over the summer and don't know your way around then constantly using a map would be a common thing right?

    While this game does have something to offer, I don't think I can recommend it. I found myself excited to finish it merely so I could get it off my backlog list and then delete it to increase my storage. Personally, I think it was overhyped by the industry.
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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 45
  2. Negative: 1 out of 45
  1. Apr 4, 2016
    70
    Firewatch is a brief but enjoyable experience set in a stunning and lovingly crafted environment, but there is no real ending – there’s simply the place where you stopped reading the story.
  2. Apr 2, 2016
    80
    Firewatch is a simple game that tells a simple, far from impactful, tale, which approaches greatness thanks to superb writing, acting and design work. Gameplay is kept light and straightforward, but is always engaging – befitting a game that revels in the unique storytelling potential of games. This is a new studio's debut title, but it bears the quality of a product made by a team of veterans who have a great deal more to offer.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 31, 2016
    70
    Dares to ask us how we deal with mistakes. It’s a shame the answer it provides is flat and unfulfilling. [April 2016, p76]