One of the most anticipated games Firewatch is being launched on February 9th on the Playstation 4 and PC. Made by the newly formed indie game developer studio, Campo Santo. Firewatch is a first-person narrative game set in the gorgeous Wyoming wilderness. You’re all alone in the gorgeous outback and your only companion is a person on the end of a radio. The world looks and feels real and all-encompassing but within it lies a darker tale. One about loneliness and paranoia.
A definite change from the crushing action combat games out there. Firewatch instead focuses itself on the exploration and story of the game genre akin to Dear Esther and Gone Home.
Story
Firewatch is not really about watching for fires, instead is a story that focuses on our main protagonist Henry. The year is 1989. You are a man named Henry who has retreated from his messy life to work as a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Perched high atop a mountain, it’s your job to look for smoke and keep the wilderness safe. An especially hot, dry summer has everyone on edge. Your supervisor Delilah is available to you at all times over a small, handheld radio—your only contact with the world you’ve left behind. But when something strange draws you out of your lookout tower and into the forest, you’ll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.
I’m completely blown away by the gorgeous, immersive and appealing visual style. But what makes the game to the next level however is the story. Told from just the dialogue of Henry and Delilah. Firewatch combines humour, depth and a sense of connection with people and the environment around you.
Firewatch comes from a new studio, Campo Santo with a very notable team. The lead artist, Jane Ng, worked on The Cave at Double Fine. And the writer/director pair, Sean Vanaman and Jake Rodkin, led the team behind the hugely acclaimed first season of The Walking Dead at Telltale Games.
Firewatch is available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Linus.
