Firewatch: A Mystery Unfolds

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I wasn’t sure what to expect from Firewatch; all I knew about the game was that it took place in a National Park, and that there was probably more going on than just watching for fires. I began by setting out into the Colorado wilderness and as I journeyed through the woods getting closer and closer to my tower, I took in the beautiful landscape. I was taken aback by just how gorgeous the scenery in the game was. At times I felt lost in the vistas of the endless expanse of nature that lay before me. Little did I know at the time, there was something much deeper waiting out there for me, and I would have to come face to face with it very soon.

(Ascending my tower at the end of a day)

As I ran around the park, the thought of someone, or something, else being out there playing games with me set in. I frantically looked for more information in hopes of finding the truth. I found myself on the trail countless times, looking for what could get me further, what I needed to do to find out what was really happening here.

(A river I followed to my destination)

Firewatch isn’t like your typical game. It puts you into the shoes of a man named Henry, who has been to hell and back. Now on his own, he applies for a job to watch for fires in Colorado to get his mind off of things, and to write. Firewatch tells a story through experience and intriguing dialogue like no game that I’ve played before. As I spoke with my ranger helper, Delila, I went around completing all of the tasks that she’d asked of me. As my character grew closer to her, strange things began to happen in the the park. Before I knew it, people were missing and things were being tampered with.

(An elk on the trail to the park)

When I was playing I found myself lost in the environment. There really isn’t much to compare to in the quality of graphics - it’s marvelous and breathtaking. Even so, the style of graphics Firewatch uses isn’t very realistic. However, it looks very good, uses great colors, and feels like an amazing piece of art for you to play in. I can't emphasize enough how much the graphics add to the experience and how important it is to have a game feel and look so fantastic. I think the graphics aspect it is even more effective because of its style. Since this is a game where you are constantly exploring your map area, the environment around should be constantly stimulating and visually appealing.

(Spectacular view from the middle of a canyon)

Honestly, Firewatch really impressed me. It wasn’t a game that took countless hours to beat, or tested my skill in video games or anything of the like. However, my 4-5 hour playthrough was captivating. The plot was carried by your conversations with one other character who is quite a distance from you the entire time, with no actual visual person to person dialogue. It told a story that was coming from Henry, a man who is sad, depressed, and all alone in the woods, trying to come to terms with his own problems. I really enjoyed playing Firewatch, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a good atmosphere and a great story. And I certainly will remember the adventure it took me on.