(Review) Firewatch

The Short Version:

Sometimes in order to figure something out, you have to stop thinking about it for a while. Firewatch takes this mantra to heart. A beautiful wilderness, two fire lookouts, and a walkie talkie. It might appear simple at first, but underneath its exterior lies a compelling journey that will have you hooked from start to finish.

While the trail may not end on a high note, the path leading up to it is filled with plenty of memorable moments that make it a must-buy for anybody looking for a great narrative experience.

Pros:

-Breathtaking visuals -Well-written, thought-provoking story -Brilliant characters -Relaxing atmosphere -Satisfying gameplay loop

Cons:

-Abrupt conclusion -Environments are sparse of life

My Rating: 9/10 - Brilliant

Firewatch excels in delivering a deeply personal, yet beautifully told story delivered with fantastic character writing in a world that's stunning to look at. I highly recommend it.

Escaping Isn’t Always Something Bad…

Firewatch is a first-person, narrative adventure game taking place on a stunning stretch of nature somewhere in the Wyoming wilderness. You play as Hank Henry, a newly designated fire lookout assigned to an outpost in the area, who’s also trying to flee a troubled past.

The introduction to the story is presented through a visual novel-esque format, allowing you to choose between two different paths which ultimately lead to the same destination. This section is interspersed with brief gameplay segments of Henry making his way to his new home away from home.

I wasn't sure about this introduction at first, but as I progressed through the game, I realised just how effective it was at setting the stage and tone of what was to come.

Through this beginning sequence, we learn that he has a wife, Julia, who he met at a bar a long time ago. You witness their life together, through the good, the bad, and eventually the ugly. Before long, Julia is diagnosed with dementia, and soon her condition spirals out of control, with her family taking her back to her home in Australia to look after her.

Instead of sorting himself out and going to Australia to see her, he joins the firewatch service, placing him at Two Forks Lookout. This introduction is great for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it immediately sets the tone of the story, and gives you a pretty good grasp of the topics it’s going to cover. Secondly, it quickly provides valuable insight into who Henry is as a character, as well as his motivations for being where he is.

Miles away from civilisation. Just surrounded by mountains, trees, rivers and valleys. Sounds like the perfect escape.

In all honesty, I could immediately relate to and sympathise with Henry. The game all but subtly plays into the escapist fantasy that I believe a lot of people share, - I know I certainly do - which is why I found myself fully invested in the narrative very early on. Sometimes a problem will feel so big, that all you’ll want to do is walk away; a choice that everyone has a right to. This is one of Firewatch’s most alluring facets, and it’s executed to such an exceptional degree.

Despite being in the wilderness, you’re not quite alone. Enter Delilah, a knowledgeable, experienced fire lookout stationed in a nearby outpost, who acts as Henry’s supervisor. Through walkie-talkie communication, you’ll be reporting to her about pretty much anything of interest. This more or less sums up the first couple hours. It’s a slow start, but it serves as a way for the two of them to form a connection, of which is one of my favourite aspects of the game as a whole.

The authenticity of these characters cannot be understated. They feel like real people, thanks to their stellar writing and voice acting performances. Their motives are genuine and consistent, and even their smallest interactions feel like they have merit. It’s something that stays continuously great from start to finish.

Some of the game's most iconic moments come through this walkie talkie. Henry and Delilah's conversations raise a lot of interesting topics.

Which is why it really annoys me that the narrative ends the way it does. I don’t have a problem with the content of the conclusion, but the pace of it is completely out of left field. It’s a contrast that painfully conflicts with everything that came before it, and that I cannot help but think was written in a rushed manner.

How you experience this sequence can vary based on what dialogue options you pick. While Firewatch is very much linear, and does not stray from its set path at all, these options can give a sense of how Henry develops over time, but with the ones I picked, it didn’t really feel like he learnt anything at all after this. If given just a few more scenes, I’m certain that the ending could’ve felt less ham-fisted than it currently does.

I will say this, it doesn’t ruin what comes before, at least not for me. The story as a whole has a lot to remember. It has charm, wit, intrigue, mystery, and suspense. I just wish there was more at the end.

When the Sun is Down You Can Just… Get Lost...

While the narrative may have a lot of depth, the gameplay has less to get sucked into, but I don’t mean that in a negative sense; quite the contrary actually. What appears superficial at first slowly begins to feel natural and fitting with the style of game it is.

Not only do you walk and run, but you also climb! Sometimes on rocks, other times on ropes. Oh, there's a lot of ropes to climb. Always feels like there's going to be a jumpscare when you're using one.

In blanket terms, Firewatch is a walking simulator that provides you with a map and compass, then tells you where to go, but leaves it up to you to figure out how to get to your destination. Since you’re a fire watcher, you’re expected to maintain the area, making sure everything’s in good shape and isn’t on the verge of catching fire.

You’ll sometimes be given a hint on how to get to a certain place, - go back to X, then head east - but it’s up to you to figure out the rest, and I loved that. Plotting and navigating your way around an area makes each trek feel engaging and challenging in their own way. It feels much less like a walking simulator in that respect.

The more you explore the map, the more unique locations you'll encounter. Henry marks these down on his map. A nice little detail.

It helps that the place you are looking after is a treat for the eyes. The map is large and full of vistas to marvel at; screenshot lovers are in for a luxury here. The game’s fantastic use of colour makes each location you travel to a sight to behold.

Despite the narrative occasionally taking a creepy turn or two, exploring the wilderness is a rather relaxing activity. There’s so much to find, with plenty of things to talk to Delilah about, whether it be items in supply caches from previous lookouts, or various points of interest that have history or other interesting facts. It’s not something that will appeal to everyone, but I really liked it.

If I had to make one slight complaint about the environment, it is that there isn’t really that much living in it. Where are all the animals? From memory, I found a deer, a raccoon, a tortoise, three ducks, and a few butterflies. Sometimes you can hear things rummaging through the bushes, but you can’t see anything. Just came across as strange.

So much land, but so little living in it. I guess the inhabitants weren't very big on it. Either that, or maybe they know something that we don't?

In Conclusion

Sitting at the heart of Firewatch is a deeply personal tale containing many relatable aspects. Despite having a bright, luscious appearance, it is not a happy experience, but it is filled with moments that will undoubtedly put a smile on your face.

While it didn’t conclude on the highest peak, the journey to it is something I wholeheartedly recommend. Its memorable characters, beautiful set pieces and charming gameplay make this a must-have for those looking for a great narrative experience. It’s a game that will stick with me for a while.

Want to see more of my reviews? Take a look at my archive in Narukoopa's Reviews.

Technical Details:

My PC Specs: Operating System: Windows 10 Processor (CPU): AMD Ryzen 7 3700X Graphics Card (GPU): Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Memory (RAM): 16GB Resolution: 1920x1080 Performance: Consistent 60FPS from start to finish with no stutters.