Sadly, there are no such things in Firewatch's world. A mountain range in the wilderness should be a place rife with secrets and hidden goodies to find. The main baddie is a total Scooby-Doo villain, and the setpieces leading the story along are pretty uninspired (go roust some drunk dorks, go find a way into a fended off area you inexplicably can't simply climb over, etc.). Further disappointing than the wordy, mouthy Delilah, are all the unresolved plot threads. She's far too full of herself, she is nosy, and she obviously thinks she's the most clever girl in the outfit (which she may be, seeing as she's the only girl in the outfit). She is every girl you've ever been instantly attracted to over the first drink at a bar, and repulsed by as the night wore on. Where to start? Ah! Delilah is a pain in the ass, and a bore by the time the game is over. It's not the length that is the problem, it's that so many of the game is undercooked, which is highlighted by the fact that the game could have been brilliant. That's about all the nice things I have to say about this overpriced indie game. And, I suppose, the banter back and forth is a decent way to pass the time while exploring the world. I love the inspired visuals, which are compelling in a serene kind of way. This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I didn't enjoy that game for a variety of reasons which I won't delve into here, but I found Firewatch to be more palatable, probably because the writing is witty, at times humorous, and you don't feel quite so alone when you're playing. As far as this reviewer's past experiences with this genre, the only other "walking simulator" that I have played is Dear Esther. If you approach it with an open mind, you will probably walk away with an appreciation for this title. The game is, at the end of the day, more a meditation on isolation, as well as coming to terms with one's mistakes and the past. That being said, I didn't have a problem with it. Without going into spoilers, I will say that there is a discrepancy between the first two-thirds of the game, and the last third both in terms of pacing and story. I have noticed that there is a bit of disagreement on the ending and whether it accomplished its goals. The voice acting is top-notch, and you really do feel like the two main characters forge a relationship of sorts, even though you're mainly talking to each other over the walkie-talky. Firewatch has a slightly cartoonish aesthetic, but there are some beautifully rendered landscapes. The developers weren't aiming for photo-realism. The engine powering this is Unity, so don't expect bleeding edge graphics, but I felt that they did well with what they had. That wasn't a problem for me personally because Firewatch also has a relatively low price point ($17.99 on the PS4 with discount), and I think I got my money's worth. I would say that a reasonable playthrough can be accomplished in 3 hours at a quick clip, 5-6 hours if you take in the scenery. I would say that a reasonable playthrough can be accomplished in 3 hours at a quick clip, The game is short, so let's be up front about that. The game is short, so let's be up front about that.
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