I love a game with a good narrative. Not having much time these days to really get involved in games, I found myself, oddly, liking games like the Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide. Before that, I really got involved and drawn into ALIEN: Isolation and of course Portal and Half-Life. But there is something to be said about a simpler yet challenging and dramatic game. Firewatch almost succeeds on all levels. The first thing Firewatch does is take you back to the days of text adventures, mostly point and click adventures, where you choose an outcome. All of this is involved in your marriage with some flashes of walking through the woods before the same settles on the main story. I was drawn in by the majestic and mysterious nature of the game. It was very atmospheric and I truly couldn't stop playing. I wanted to see how the game was going to unfold. Without giving too much away, the game just gives you a hint of each mystery, just enough to keep you pressing on with clue after clue after clue. All the while, you can truly feel the situation that Henry is going through and the healing he is attempting to achieve through the game. The graphics are good but not on the level of other games but that may be the point. It is presented in a dreamy sort of way, so the way they designed them really worked for the game. I did encounter a few glitches but nothing that was a game stopper. I do have to comment on the "adult language." I am not approaching this from a legalistic or offended point of view, but the use of certain words (even sometimes as your ONLY selection to respond) was very excessive and forced. There are a few moments in the game where I would say, yes, that was appropriate considering the situation but mostly, it was forced and laughable. And while this game did have some very adult themes that teens could learn from and the rest of the game is pretty teen friendly, the forced, excessive language is a huge demerit to the game, which for me, means a loss of a star. The game ends on perhaps a dividing note. I won't give it away but if you keep the context of the game at the forefront, you should appreciate the ending. Firewatch is one of the most involving, real and emotional games I've played. If they had toned the language down some, this could be close to game of the year for me.
