There is a sense of self discovery and refreshment in the calmness of the wildlife. Firewatch shows the duality of hiding away from the world. Henry and Delilah both use the job as an excuse to be alone. Shoshone is nearly void of all wild life: Only a few animals can be seen or interacted with. Isolation is the theme that seems to have fueled development from a core level. The developers use the relationship and the environment to tell the story, rather than solely through the environment. This method of having the player choose Henry’s reaction allows the story to be told with the player experiencing it in tandem with the game’s protagonists. Controlling Henry’s reactions and demeanor keeps the story focused and the player emotionally invested in Henry’s time as a lookout. I am simply a guide for Henry’s behavior.Ĭampo Santo has grasped the ability to have me play and make choices as if I were their character. Henry isn’t an avatar I create or customize: I have no one-to-one relation with him. It was my call to decide how Henry will go about this job and this relationship with Delilah. The beginning of the game establishes exactly who Henry is and where he has been. What I found to be the most powerful and key element to this sole human interaction is not the freedom to choose how I would react, but how Henry would react.
FIREWATCH GAME REVIEWS PROFESSIONAL
Over the course of my six hours in Shoshone National Forest, I heard Henry and Delilah mature from professional acquaintances to complimentary friends. I could hear hesitation and the gentle prodding for personal information in the beginning of the relationship.
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Sommer and Jones have a natural ebb and flow in their dialogue. Campo Santo’s debut game has stuck with me like sap on a tree it’s careful cultivation of story, world design, and themes seep out of the digital cracks to create a deeply rooted first person experience.įirewatch shows its heart in the dialogue of Henry (Rich Sommer), the playable character, and Delilah (Cissy Jones). When pulling back the layers of the orange and yellow hued packaging, there is a grounded story of one man’s lot in life. It has a gorgeous art style, stellar acting, an allure of mystery and intrigue. At a distance, Firewatch is a good looking package.