The First Tree: Console Edition

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
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  1. PlaySense
    Dec 17, 2018
    65
    The First Tree hits and misses; hits in terms of story and soundtrack, misses as far as the clumsy controls, useless puzzles and messy technical aspects are concerned.
  2. PlayStation Universe
    Dec 9, 2018
    95
    The First Tree is an exceptional story of loss and regret. The achievement by the game's one developer, David Whele, cannot be understated. The combination of all the elements of this experience creates one of the most memorable games this year. If you enjoy narrative adventure games then The First Tree is more than worth the two-to-three hours it takes to beat it.
  3. Push Square
    Dec 8, 2018
    80
    Everything aside from the story is simplistic, but it doesn’t matter if the puzzles are non-existent or that the graphics are basic, because The First Tree packs an emotional narrative and is a game that every indie fan should play as a result.
  5. GamingTrend
    Nov 30, 2018
    85
    The First Tree tells an incredibly personal and melancholy story about the loss of a loved through the eyes of a fox within a dream world. Wandering through beautiful, abstract worlds, you learn the narrator’s story as the fox searches for her missing kits. It has a surprising number of platformer elements, given the nature of the game, but doesn’t distract from the beautiful story within this short exploration game.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 4 out of 19
  1. Jrangula
    Jul 26, 2019
    10
    If you are looking for a story driven exploration game, this is the game. I was captivated almost immediately by the scenery. It was beautifulIf you are looking for a story driven exploration game, this is the game. I was captivated almost immediately by the scenery. It was beautiful and fun to look at. The way the coloration is used to express the mood, how the music would change or go silent depending on what was going on in the story that was being told. All the little Easter eggs of the mans story spread throughout the areas. This game was a fun ride, very mellow and had some small puzzles to solve, but otherwise it was all about the story. I would highly recommend this game if you are looking for something that is calm, story driven and will keep you going for a good while. I played the whole story from start to end in one sitting. Very good game, i will play again to see what i may have missed.… Full Review »
  2. korksz
    Feb 28, 2021
    5
    If you hated Death Stranding then this game would be your arch enemy. Death Stranding is action packed compared to this. As far as I went withIf you hated Death Stranding then this game would be your arch enemy. Death Stranding is action packed compared to this. As far as I went with it the whole game consisted of simply running around open landscapes without any content. I wouldn't call this a game. It's just a medium where the creator wanted to tell his story. Unfortunately he probably doesn't understand how a video game works.
    There's nothing to do here. You go from one star to another star and some blobs of dirt that you can dig up. These contain items relevant to the story to be told. When you dig one up, a small dialog occurs between the creator and his wife. This is all that's to be seen here.
    I believe that his story might be interesting for some but for me it was not enough to get over one of the most boring gameplays I have ever seen... and that's knowing it's only a 2 hours long product. I'd rather just read what he has to tell.    … Full Review »
  3. MetaBones
    Apr 3, 2023
    2
    A review for this game is tricky since it's a labor of love from the author. It's an indie game with a minimal budget and a heartfelt center.A review for this game is tricky since it's a labor of love from the author. It's an indie game with a minimal budget and a heartfelt center. I admire the passion, the exploration, and the artistry the creator put into this. It really is a beautiful experience by design.

    Unfortunately, the game was a drag and difficult to get through from start to finish. The concept sounded interesting and I enjoy myself a methodical slow-burn. However, the maps you explore are barren and uninteresting, the objectives are extremely tedious, and the mechanics are amongst the clunkiest and most awkward I've ever experienced. Getting yourself from point A to point B was an extreme chore and not very pleasant.

    For a "story-telling experience" in a game, I also didn't appreciate how unfocused it was. The "open-world" approach where you can go anywhere and do anything at your own order and pace I don't think contributed to the experience. Having a focused objective system with less places to visit that serve no function would've helped the game and the narrative.

    The narrative itself isn't voice-acted particularly well with every line being the same somber one note we hear again and again. The emotional thread felt over-the-top and too sentimental as I didn't feel like there was no development of its themes but rather and "introduce and payoff" structure. Unfortunately when there's no development, the payoff means very little.

    Again, I don't like to harp on passion projects with limited budgets and resources. You can tell there is real passion and I would be interested in this creator's future projects. I simply have to categorically assess the experience on its own and I just didn't really like it, nor would I recommend it to anyone.    … Full Review »
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