Firewatch

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 693 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 404 out of 693
  2. Mixed: 167 out of 693
  3. Negative: 122 out of 693
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  1. darrenandrew16
    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.    … Expand
  2. seventh_seal
    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. aidano
    Jan 8, 2017
    4
    After reading a few reviews I had high expectations for this game, however I was severely disappointed. There's no real control over the story and having completed the game I was thinking 'What!? That's it!?'. Felt like I'd wasted 6 hours of my life. It reminded me of the types of games that came out when full motion video became possible on computers - substituting style and script forAfter reading a few reviews I had high expectations for this game, however I was severely disappointed. There's no real control over the story and having completed the game I was thinking 'What!? That's it!?'. Felt like I'd wasted 6 hours of my life. It reminded me of the types of games that came out when full motion video became possible on computers - substituting style and script for gameplay, which it almost got away with, but ultimately the story wasn't compelling enough.… Expand
  4. MrKarotte
    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.    … Expand
  5. GamerJosh0137
    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
  6. Caribou
    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.    … Expand
  7. Revenquel
    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 ...
  8. thenthomwaslike
    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
  9. wade22fan
    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)    … Expand
  10. Kryss_Everson
    Dec 26, 2021
    2
    Big disappointment. No gameplay, no life in a forest?! The story pushed me to continue until I finished it and got more disappointed. Avoid thi joke.
  11. RussianKeki4
    Apr 14, 2020
    7
    Атмосферный симулятор ходьбы. Поиграть стоит ради атмосферы, музыки, видов, ну и может быть сюжета.
  12. elgarmius
    Jan 16, 2022
    5
    The biggest disappointment of this game is that none of your choices matter at all.
  13. Stokly00
    Dec 22, 2022
    1
    This game is absolutely terrible. The characters are dull and uninteresting, the script is cliched and unoriginal, and the walking speed is painfully slow. Even if you are a fan of slow-paced games, this one is just too slow. The graphics and sound are passable, but that's about it. The game just doesn't have anything to keep you invested. All in all, I would highly recommend avoiding this game.
  14. Potet69
    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    … Expand
  15. lgndsgn
    Mar 7, 2016
    4
    Ok, this game.... Not super bad, but I didn't like it at all. Here are a few short points as to why: 1) Frame-rate problems — Game stutters/lags every few seconds, especially when turning, or near anything scenic. 2) The lighting and environment — so, you're in this forrest, and it is literally almost devoid of life in it. I saw only a duck and few butterflies over the course of the WHOLEOk, this game.... Not super bad, but I didn't like it at all. Here are a few short points as to why: 1) Frame-rate problems — Game stutters/lags every few seconds, especially when turning, or near anything scenic. 2) The lighting and environment — so, you're in this forrest, and it is literally almost devoid of life in it. I saw only a duck and few butterflies over the course of the WHOLE game (not including a couple other animals in cut-scenes). No bears, even though you find tress with bear marks. The lighting is strange and just seems like you're wearing colored lense glasses. It's very linear; the character can't jump over small logs or bushes, or walk up a short incline of rocks, or climb a damn fence. You are only allowed to go where the story dictates. You are forced to repel down rock walls, that look so sloped you could easily walk up them... You can also get stuck on logs/rocks. 3)The story — Oh boy... Not to spoil anything, it's about 2 white middle-aged people being sarcastic and over dramatic with each other over a walkie talkie, while making really stupid choices throughout the game. And you don't really control the narrative, even though they give you the illusion of choice. You the player are a man, and the other character is a woman (which you never see throughout the whole game..) There's almost nothing exciting that happens (aside from maybe one part, and even that was meh). The logic in the story is really bad, and there are even mistakes (non spoiler example: character says one thing, then game acts as if character never said that. This happens a few times) IT'S VERY SHORT. My girlfriend and I beat the game in 2 days, very casual playing. The ending is meh too. You're just left feeling like "is this really it?". I honestly thought the story was just about to get started. Overall, just not good. Seemed very rushed.… Expand
  16. Mattcha
    Feb 21, 2016
    4
    Was curious about this game, so I watched a 2 1/2 hour entire play through on YouTube, and now I'm glad I didn't waste money on a linear walking simulator with an incredibly unsatisfying ending.
  17. Cubical_Gamer
    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
  18. kraster
    Mar 19, 2016
    4
    Graphically this game looks beautiful but the constant stuttering almost renders the aesthetics moot. I have a fairly high tolerance for frame dips and stuttering but this is simply unacceptable. It's constant.
    The story is badly paced, I kept expecting some twist to the story that never came leaving me completely underwhelmed. The voice acting and script is excellent but the underpinning    Graphically this game looks beautiful but the constant stuttering almost renders the aesthetics moot. I have a fairly high tolerance for frame dips and stuttering but this is simply unacceptable. It's constant.
    The story is badly paced, I kept expecting some twist to the story that never came leaving me completely underwhelmed. The voice acting and script is excellent but the underpinning story is ultimately pointless.    … Expand
  19. mathteachermike
    Mar 15, 2016
    3
    At this point, when I see the score of an indie (or Indie-like) game, I should subtract at least 2 points for the bias. I understand that those in the gaming industry want the small games to survive (versus the mega-franchises), but it's starting to get ridiculous.

    I'm sorry - Firewatch is just not that good. Maybe I was expecting too much; a legitimate mystery, unique story line or    At this point, when I see the score of an indie (or Indie-like) game, I should subtract at least 2 points for the bias. I understand that those in the gaming industry want the small games to survive (versus the mega-franchises), but it's starting to get ridiculous.

    I'm sorry - Firewatch is just not that good. Maybe I was expecting too much; a legitimate mystery, unique story line or mind-bending puzzles. Instead got a convoluted, nonsensical story and inexplicably poor graphics performance. How can such a graphically simple game have such immersion-braking frame-drop?

    I was sucked into buying this game by all the hoopla regarding it's story and how beautiful it was. Ugh.

    The graphics were interesting and colorful, but the art style was not all that unique, and definitely not worth buying the game for. I never got immersed in the main character (which I should have given we have many things in common) or the story, and the game play was little more that walking around - or rather walking down a very limiting path that takes you to the next point in the story (i.e. not open world or even really open world-ish).

    Wait for a savage summer price-cut (I'm thinking PSN will probably have it on sale by then for $4.99) before buying it. If not, don't say I didn't warn you.    … Expand
  20. MNecromancer
    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.    … Expand
  21. Koog72
    Apr 25, 2016
    3
    You leave your 9 to 5 life in the city and decide to become a Firewatch person in Wyoming.
    So you sit up in a fire watch tower with a walkie-talkie speaking to a person called Delilah, she gives you instructions and you walk around the woods looking for things.
    The graphics are pretty, unfortunately that's the only good thing about the game - it's bad, really bad. You walk around the    You leave your 9 to 5 life in the city and decide to become a Firewatch person in Wyoming.
    So you sit up in a fire watch tower with a walkie-talkie speaking to a person called Delilah, she gives you instructions and you walk around the woods looking for things.
    The graphics are pretty, unfortunately that's the only good thing about the game - it's bad, really bad.
    You walk around the woods for hours looking for clues to some mystery. The conclusion is a MAJOR disappointment. Collision detection is crap and this is one of the most frustrating games ever. Did the makers get fed up halfway through and just finished it quick...?
    Save you cash and your time and buy something else.    … Expand
  22. FlapJack72
    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.    … Expand
  23. tdebug
    Mar 27, 2016
    1
    This game almost completely lack a story. It pretends that story is so rich through all the talking (btw answers do not change the gameplay anyhow) and even tease player with some story elements, but in the end tells nothing. A walking simulator as is. Do not waste your money.
    If you want to spend your money on PNS game, buy SOMA - graphics may not be very beautiful, but the story is so    This game almost completely lack a story. It pretends that story is so rich through all the talking (btw answers do not change the gameplay anyhow) and even tease player with some story elements, but in the end tells nothing. A walking simulator as is. Do not waste your money.
    If you want to spend your money on PNS game, buy SOMA - graphics may not be very beautiful, but the story is so rich that most of the 60€ games do not have.    … Expand
  24. billcypher
    Sep 10, 2017
    0
    This game is utterly boring and is basically a walking simulator. I'll admit, the game looks great, but that doesn't make up for the fact that the developers are social justice warriors who try to silence anything they deem as "hate speech." They should be ashamed of themselves. You'd think that someone in the realm of video games would understand the importance of free speech, but I guess not.
  25. PeaceWalker
    Sep 15, 2017
    0
    Its not a game but a boring walking simulator with an ugly orange visual tone and zero player choice. Also, its made by an SJW developer that supports censorship so thats something you should consider. Flushing your money down the toilet would be interesting than getting this.
  26. GetToThaChoppa
    Sep 14, 2016
    0
    I'm not against story-driven games but this was terrible. You have to listen to some incredibly sarcastic (not good sarcastic, irritating sarcastic) woman shamelessly flirt with a guy who is trying to piece his head together after his wife takes ill, all whilst meandering around a charmless terrain with framerate glitches galore.

    Also, the guy who wrote this must be some kind of sick    I'm not against story-driven games but this was terrible. You have to listen to some incredibly sarcastic (not good sarcastic, irritating sarcastic) woman shamelessly flirt with a guy who is trying to piece his head together after his wife takes ill, all whilst meandering around a charmless terrain with framerate glitches galore.

    Also, the guy who wrote this must be some kind of sick freak. From the two games I've played of his, it appears he takes enjoyment from writing dead children into his games. WTF is that all about?    … Expand
  27. StRipper
    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.    … Expand
  28. Whiston532
    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.    … Expand
  29. Jeenius
    Apr 18, 2016
    0
    This is my first metacritic review. I hate this game. I love story and character driven games, but this game is in no way driven by anything. You wait for it to get good and mindblowing like the raving reviews say, then it starts to get intriguing -- slow, because you're walking everywhere, but at least you want to know whats going on -- and then it completely fizzles out in a rageThis is my first metacritic review. I hate this game. I love story and character driven games, but this game is in no way driven by anything. You wait for it to get good and mindblowing like the raving reviews say, then it starts to get intriguing -- slow, because you're walking everywhere, but at least you want to know whats going on -- and then it completely fizzles out in a rage inducing anticlimax. Just watch a walkthrough of the game instead since it's completely linear and short. If you still want to play the game after that, you probably like playing with rocks.… Expand
  30. Rjunosuke
    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
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Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
70
#70 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 45
  3. Negative: 1 out of 45
  1. games(TM)
    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.
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  2. IBTimes UK
    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.
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  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]
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