"Firewatch" will be added to my very short list of games that triggered my emotions and left me thoughtful after I completed them. The other titles in this list include "Unreal: Return to Na Pali" and "Control". I believe that this experience depends on the player, so others may feel differently, but I would definitely recommend trying it yourself.
I gave Firewatch 4 stars because I enjoyed it. I would rather rate it 3 stars, but on GOG 3 star games are usually cr*p, so I couldn't do that to this good game.
Nervertheless I am dissapointed because it took me only about three hours to play it through. It has been like an interactive indie movie. Not a bad experience, but on the other hand not worth 18.- €. I think 10 - 12.- € would have been a better price.
Another drawback is how surprinsingly small this "endless" forest feels.
The game is short, but not fast. The most of the time, you will walk and talk. Wich is not a bad thing if you are prepared to listen to the dialouges and try to identify yourself with the protagonist.
What a wonderful experience. What a beautiful discovery. What a captivating story.
Life isn't always perfect. I suppose a part of what appeals to us so much, as gamers, is the opportunity for escapism that games provide. Not only do we get to be someone else, somewhere else, but usually we get to be someone powerful and awesome; classic wish-fulfillment fantasy. In Firewatch, we assume the role of Henry, a not particularly super individual; in fact, he seems full of the kind of self-doubt to which it is all too easy to relate. I don't think I've ever heard the phrase "Oh, the humanity!" used outside of a sarcastic context except for Herb Morrison's original utterance, but to me, it is precisely the humanity in this game that makes it so gripping. My favourite games of all time are probably "The Witcher" games, and I have an incredible affinity for Geralt of Rivia, perhaps precisely because he is so much more human (in all his inhumanity) compared to more archetypical hero characters. Henry, of Firewatch, is infinitely human, fragile and fallible, and getting to know him (in which process you'll also get to know Deliliah) was a touching experience.
This game is probably not for everyone. There should be enough negative reviews to suggest that you give it a miss and look somewhere else. Properly forewarned by those, you now also have read a review telling you that this game might be just the kind of experience you need. In a sentence, when they say "for mature audiences" and they aren't talking about showing you exposed breasts, they might have had something like this in mind.
This game is beautiful and fun and engaging and mysterious... everything my kids would have loved about it had there not been 100+ unnecessary f-bombs et al. included. Which makes me sad, they would have loved it.
The story was also short with some major loose ends but overall I thought it was killer and hoping for more... maybe with a language filter setting next time?
Firewatch is not as much a game as it is an experience. The gameplay mainly consists of walking from point A to point B without possibility of failure. That being said, the journey is nothing short of excellence.
So, there's this guy - Henry. Henry is out in the woods as part of a firewatch crew. There's this woman - Delilah, she's Henry's boss and she tells him what to do through a radio. You get the idea. A large part if the game is spent strolling around and talking to your boss, allowing you to take in breathtaking sites portrayed in colorful gradients and flat minimalist colors of various shades. Talking to your boss via radio also provides insight into both characters, making character development feel more direct and organic. The marvelous art and superb voice acting is aided by a vibrant assortment of piano and distant guitar sounds that fit the atmosphere of each scene.
I cannot find a bad thing to say about Firewarch. While I could demand a lengthier experience, six hours felt right for what there is to say. While the ending may not have been what everyone wanted, I felt it befitting for what the game was about. It is why the game is as wonderful as it is.
How life can hype you up, making your imagination run wild - only to let you realize it's actually much simpler than you hoped. Disappointment.
Firewatch is similar to Life is Strange, Gone Home and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, provides a decent metaphorical story and captivating characters drenched a colorful simplistic art style with a befitting soundtrack. It is meant to be experienced.