Firewatch Impressions – Xbox One

Firewatch, which has been brought to Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program, has been an interesting game to play through my first few minutes. The game is focused solely on story telling, and so your adventure inevitably is over almost as soon as it begins; this, however, is by no means a bad thing.

Firewatch hooks you early, and hard. If the story does not hook you right away, shut it off and move on. There isn’t a whole lot to Firewatch that isn’t laid out in the first few moments. You won’t get numerous side quests, or sprawling landscapes. This game is about the main story, and that story only.

The writing is what drives this story along. It is fantastic, and some of the best I’ve ever encountered in a video game. And it needs to be, since this is all Firewatch will be offering players. The conversations between Henry,  the individual you will play, and his boss Delilah – whom yo converse with over a short wave radio – feels very real and authentic. You can speak with Delilah anytime you wish using your radio, and she often can provide insights or ideas on how to solve the mysteries in this forest.

Along with good writing comes outstanding graphics. While Firewatch is very much stylized, it is beautiful none the less. As you play through the summer months – days been broken down like chapters – you will encounter the beautiful colours that would normally blanket any forest; playing at different times of the day will also create unique landscapes to be in awe of. Artist Olly Moss did a wonderful job with this title, and deserves lots of credit for his work.

I’d love to explore this title more for you in this short review, but I can’t. It’s what drives everything, and to provide even a hint of revelation could greatly alter your perception of the title. Based on our time with it, it’s a must own for anyone who loves story driven titles; think here of a Telltale game, but frankly, way better.

This roughly 5 hour adventure is definitely worth your time, and gets an outstanding 9.5/10 from us!