Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration Game
Moderators: LawBeefaroni, Arcanis, $iljanus
- Suitably Ironic Moniker
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:09 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration Game
So, I picked this puppy up as soon as I could. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that you play as a guy named Henry who takes a job to oversee part of the Shoshone National Park for potential fires and hazards. His primary contact is a person at another tower. You find out Henry's reasons for being there, and it's pretty easy to relate to him. Usually, I tend to like the idea of a quasi-open world adventure game more than the actual execution, but I'm having no issues keeping engaged in this one. Besides being downright beautiful, the tasks I've accomplished have been very organic to my job there, and I'm enjoying the interaction between Henry and his counterpart. The writing is good, funny and natural sounding. I look forward to the journey towards the endgame. All in all, this could be a contender for GOTY for me.
BTW, the less you know of the particulars of the plot, the more immersive it may be for you, so you may want to skip the reviews and homepage for now. The reviews have all been excellent so far, if you wanted to know .
BTW, the less you know of the particulars of the plot, the more immersive it may be for you, so you may want to skip the reviews and homepage for now. The reviews have all been excellent so far, if you wanted to know .
When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was. - Mitch Hedberg
- Rip
- Posts: 26891
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:34 pm
- Location: Cajun Country!
- Contact:
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Ohhh, I think I might get this. Goes nicely with just finishing up watching Longmire.
Would be interesting to see this approach to a game warden game.
Would be interesting to see this approach to a game warden game.
- wonderpug
- Posts: 10349
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 4:38 pm
- Location: Albuquerque, NM
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Thanks for the recommendation! Just bought and I'll be going in blind.
- tiny ogre
- Posts: 3198
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:26 am
- Location: Irvine, CA
- Contact:
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Have played the prelude and the first day. I've been mostly off games with stories for a while. This game is mostly story so far. But I'm enjoying it, and I don't know if it's going to get more open ended as it progresses or stay pretty linear. The story elements feel very natural, and the voice acting is great.
I'm playing on a nearly 4 year old MacBook Pro and the framerate even on low settings is pretty shitty a lot of the time. Which is a shame because it's very pretty and ought to be played on high settings. I haven't set the PC up at the new house yet (office is waiting on some light remodeling, and I haven't felt the need to set it up in a temporary home yet). I think this game's going to be relegated to lunch time at work or until my gaming PC is hooked up again.
I'm playing on a nearly 4 year old MacBook Pro and the framerate even on low settings is pretty shitty a lot of the time. Which is a shame because it's very pretty and ought to be played on high settings. I haven't set the PC up at the new house yet (office is waiting on some light remodeling, and I haven't felt the need to set it up in a temporary home yet). I think this game's going to be relegated to lunch time at work or until my gaming PC is hooked up again.
Twitter: joerumz
- wonderpug
- Posts: 10349
- Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 4:38 pm
- Location: Albuquerque, NM
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Played it start to finish last night, what a fun ride. Can't wait to get into more spoilery end-game discussion.
I'm not averse to short games, but if buyer beware if you are. Steam has me clocked at just 3 hours, and I wasn't rushing.
I'm not averse to short games, but if buyer beware if you are. Steam has me clocked at just 3 hours, and I wasn't rushing.
- wi111
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 4:52 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
it take me about 6 hours to finish by turn off show location on map, feel more like explore the real remote wilderness, it is really linear enough not easier get lost.
i think it is the best walking simulator i had play ( i only play few)
and it run well on my age old 5150 x2
i think it is the best walking simulator i had play ( i only play few)
and it run well on my age old 5150 x2
- IceBear
- Posts: 12519
- Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2004 5:58 pm
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Yeah, 3 hours here too. And yes, what a fun experience...if I knew about it before buying it I would have passed, but happy to have played itwonderpug wrote:Played it start to finish last night, what a fun ride. Can't wait to get into more spoilery end-game discussion.
I'm not averse to short games, but if buyer beware if you are. Steam has me clocked at just 3 hours, and I wasn't rushing.
- Turtle
- Posts: 6310
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:09 am
- Location: Southern California
- Contact:
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Finished! Start the full discussion!
Spoiler:
- Daehawk
- Posts: 64238
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Did you know that the little camera in game you use to take pics can then be virtually sent to a deveoper lab and they'll send you real photos of the pics you took in game?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmG3g3Ey_Es
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmG3g3Ey_Es
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Suitably Ironic Moniker
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:09 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I've been rationing out the game time with this one, no more than 20-30 minutes a day, just so I can relish the experience even more. I'm approaching what I believe is the final act. Will be sorry to say goodbye to this one.
When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was. - Mitch Hedberg
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I just finished my play through. I was mostly satisfied with the ending and greatly enjoyed the game overall. I think part of why the ending seemed more fulfilling to me than most is I chose very open conversation options with Delilah. I remember reading from others that you never find out much about her, but in my play though I got a pretty clear picture of her backstory.
My one disappointment with the ending was
My one disappointment with the ending was
Spoiler:
- Suitably Ironic Moniker
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:09 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
So, I finished the game yesterday, and I'm just going to echo Turtle's thoughts along with a couple of my own
All in all, the only reason that I'm not immediately replaying this one is that I picked up Oxenfree, which is awesome enough to warrant its own thread.
Spoiler:
When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was. - Mitch Hedberg
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
OK, so I played through the game. I enjoyed the game, but the ending and climax are weak and somewhat unfulfilling. There does seem to be a lot of details you can easily miss, although what choices you make seem somewhat cosmetic rather than affect the story. Although you can have multiple save games, there's only one for each playthrough, although since the choices are cosmetic, it's not a big deal.
Spoiler:
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Spoilers!Defiant wrote:OK, so I played through the game. I enjoyed the game, but the ending and climax are weak and somewhat unfulfilling. There does seem to be a lot of details you can easily miss
Spoiler:
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Well, crap. Guess I need to get back to this and wrap it up so I can read something in this thread again.
-mf
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Get to it sir! The game is only 3-6 hours long!MonkeyFinger wrote:Well, crap. Guess I need to get back to this and wrap it up so I can read something in this thread again.
- Defiant
- Posts: 21045
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:09 pm
- Location: Tongue in cheek
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
MonkeyFinger wrote:Well, crap. Guess I need to get back to this and wrap it up so I can read something in this thread again.
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I know, I know! That's the sad part. I don't get that much play time lately and I've gotten sucked away from this to FO4 when I do lately. Just need to knuckle down and do it! LOL I've enjoyed the interaction between the two characters so far.Lordnine wrote:Get to it sir! The game is only 3-6 hours long!MonkeyFinger wrote:Well, crap. Guess I need to get back to this and wrap it up so I can read something in this thread again.
-mf
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
So... got back to the game for a little bit last night and wrapped it up today. Just went back through all of the spoilers here, too. Did enjoy the game and spent a lot of time exploring and picking up pieces of the story that I could see some folks missing. Took the turtle and her tequila home. Thought it was cool how the credits showed all of the pictures on the camera after you had them developed.
-mf
- Daehawk
- Posts: 64238
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Thanks t oa fellow OOr I was gifted this for Christmas. I just now started...Im still in the elevator. Looking over the game online I get the feeling its not what I think it is. I mean I know its a graphical adventure game at its heart but the story of being a fire watcher and talking to another one over the radio is something I bet is totally in accurate. Wether its all a dream or theres some kinda evil spirit behind it all Ill find out. But Im betting its not what it appears to be.
And something is up with pine cones. They are all over and in places they seem they shouldn't be. So Im guessing they are some key to the game that will show itself later. I cant collect them though..just pick up and toss.
And something is up with pine cones. They are all over and in places they seem they shouldn't be. So Im guessing they are some key to the game that will show itself later. I cant collect them though..just pick up and toss.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Daehawk
- Posts: 64238
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
The lighting in this game washes my whole view out at times. the sun is really bad. ive tried the brightness slider and it didn't help.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Lordnine
- Posts: 6065
- Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 1:09 pm
- Location: Burlington, VT
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I’m not sure what you are seeing. I seem to remember there being sections of the game that looked like that. Check out the very first screenshot in this thread. A lot of the visuals in the game have a dreamlike quality to them, it doesn’t strive for realism.
- Z-Corn
- Posts: 4897
- Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 4:16 pm
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I bought this during The Sale and spent the day playing it straight through. Loved it!
But I'm also loving the conspiracy theories that have been linked in the spoilers in this thread...hmmm...
But I'm also loving the conspiracy theories that have been linked in the spoilers in this thread...hmmm...
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Noticed that a PS4 friend had unlocked two "hidden" trophies on this game last night. Hidden? I completed it and have all of the trophies, how can that be? Turns out after I quit they added the "Audio Tour" mode and a handful of new trophies. And a free roam mode that you can do after you finish the base game... which was locked for me. Turns out my cloud save for the game was from Day TWO and I'm only at the "Find the Teens" objective! Farg.
Started the Audio Tour version which turns out to be a very cool implementation of a developer's commentary. Think I'll replay it using that version. Oh and they fixed "the turtle glitch" I'd read about because the related trophy popped right when I loaded the save.
Started the Audio Tour version which turns out to be a very cool implementation of a developer's commentary. Think I'll replay it using that version. Oh and they fixed "the turtle glitch" I'd read about because the related trophy popped right when I loaded the save.
-mf
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Really enjoyed the implementation of the audio tour, well worth playing through the game again IMHO. Not only are there tour stations with cassettes scattered around but also they've dropped... other things... out there in the world to showcase some of the development. After that, did a quick Free Roam to get the last two trophies I'd missed.
Couple of cool things they mentioned which I'll spoiler if you haven't finished the game yet:
Couple of cool things they mentioned which I'll spoiler if you haven't finished the game yet:
Spoiler:
-mf
- Smoove_B
- Posts: 55014
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
- Location: Kaer Morhen
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Picked this up during the summer sale and managed to avoid learning anything about the game (other than the recommendations) prior to playing (and finishing it) over the last few days. I really enjoyed the hell out of it - the opening sequence in particular hooked me in deep. I liked the ending; I think if you're angry about it it's likely you missed the point of the game. To me it actually felt more like I was playing a short movie - probably the most I've been invested in characters for this type of game. Kudos to the voice actors - without question the game wouldn't have been nearly as good (IMHO) if it wasn't for them. It is really short but I enjoyed it a great deal. I'll pick up the mantle of recommending it. As someone that played both To the Moon and Home (and felt they were overrated), I thought this game lived up to the hype. I wish I could easily identify people that will hate the ending and steer them away, but I guess I'll just have to take that chance.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- GreenGoo
- Posts: 42579
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 10:46 pm
- Location: Ottawa, ON
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
It's been on my wishlist forever, feels like, and I too bought it just this past sale. Not sure when I'll get to it but it's kind of a mystery to me too, so I'm curious what I've bought.
- Daehawk
- Posts: 64238
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
I think I was 1/4th done and stopped. I started thinking all kinds of stuff about it...am I dead...is the lady on the radio a ghost ...a killer? And all the possibilities got to me and I just walked away instead of finding out.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Suitably Ironic Moniker
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 9:09 pm
- Location: Asheville, NC
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Daehawk wrote:I think I was 1/4th done and stopped. I started thinking all kinds of stuff about it...am I dead...is the lady on the radio a ghost ...a killer? And all the possibilities got to me and I just walked away instead of finding out.
Perhaps you should start making your own game, Daehawk. It would definitely be interesting.
When I was a boy, I laid in my twin-sized bed and wondered where my brother was. - Mitch Hedberg
- Daehawk
- Posts: 64238
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:11 am
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
Oh I have lots of games in many genres in my head. I just dont have a dev house backing me like the big dev guys.
--------------------------------------------
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
I am Dyslexic of Borg, prepare to have your ass laminated.
I guess Ray Butts has ate his last pancake.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/daehawk
"Has high IQ. Refuses to apply it"
- Smoove_B
- Posts: 55014
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:58 am
- Location: Kaer Morhen
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
It takes about 4 hours to finish, and I don't think I rushed. It's like watching a director's cut of one of the Lord of the Rings movies; it's not a major commitment.
Maybe next year, maybe no go
- MonkeyFinger
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:23 pm
- Location: South of Denver, CO
Re: Firewatch - First Person Adventure/Puzzler/Exploration G
And as noted above, it's the only game I recall as having played twice. IHMO, well worth going through a second (shorter) time to do the audio tour.
-mf