There is nothing wrong with the game other than it is too short. And I find it strange that the free game that started this trilogy is not included for offline play when you buy this game. As that would had given it an added value to it considering how short the game it is. I do still recommend buying it when you see it on a sale for below a dollar. Which is what I did. It is a relaxing game to play in one or maxium two bursts of time before going to sleep.
Hotline Miami 1 is a masterpiece. Hotline Miami 2 is a good game if judged on its own which is only possible if you didn't played HM1 first. But a horrible sequel. It would had been better if they had released the game editor as a DLC for HM1. Biggest problem of HM2 is that too many questionable and detrimental choices were made in both the way the game plays and with the narrative.
Very few times you see a game come up with a such a great concept wrapped up in a fresh and dazzling art direction and great core game design miss the mark so badly on what should had been an unquestionably excellent game. Firewatch is one of those games. It missed the mark so badly that i have hard time deciding if it is or not worse than Remember Me by DontNod. The problems are unfortunately intrinsic. The origin story, The setup and The core game design are top notch. Everything else is just shockingly frustrating. I will resume it spoiler free in 3 points: 1.- Game length is absurdly short for no reason at all. Even with the very limited game mechanics and very sparse things to interact with. There is no reason why the game could not have at least a 10 hours length and follow and execute the very same story they decided to tell. It is 5 hrs tops. Game should be $9.99 at most. 2.- There is almost nothing you can interact with. You would think that you would be able to see more animals in this game and maybe, just maybe be able to interact with a raccoon or something. Nope, you will not There is a lake and guess what? You can't swim or fish in it even if the game teases you about both activities during the game. Hell, there a few loose rocks you can grab. But you don't get to being able to throw them at the lake. You are at a lookout, I bet you think there would be binoculars there you could use even if tied to that location. Nope, not even once. 3.- Story has no payout, Your character, just like you ends up wasting his time with a few questions without answer. Campo Santo took some seriously questionable design and direction choices when it comes to the story of the game and how it develops. Once you finish the game you will for sure know what i mean by this and if you happen to be an avid gamer, you will probably be left as frustrated as me and others with it. Hopefully, just like it with DontNod, their second will be great.
Overall, it is a good puzzle game. And it is worth noting that it is a very pretty game too. There is only two thing i hated about it. One of the puzzles not working properly and being more or less a matter of patience and luck. And one of the main puzzles make no sense at all and just be about grinding it away until you make it work. But even then, It is recommendable.
