Firewatch

 Xbox One
Firewatch Image
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 146 Ratings

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  • Summary: 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, its your job to look for smoke and keep the wilderness safe. An especially hot, dry summer has everyone on edge. YourThe 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, its 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 radioyour only contact with the world you've left behind. But when something strange draws you out of your lookout tower and into the forest, youll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.

    A Note: Firewatch is a video game about adults having adult conversations about adult things. If you plan on playing with a younger gamer, that might be good to know going in.

    Includes

    * A stunningly beautiful wilderness environment that expands as you explore.
    * A tailor-made story: the choices you make shape the narrative and build relationships.
    * An edge-of-your-seat mystery.
    * Secrets and discoveries to be made over every hill.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. IGN
    Sep 20, 2016
    93
    It is among the very best of the first-person narrative genre, and it reminds us what video game storytelling is capable of in the right hands. It’s a game I can see coming back to every year or two just to revisit its beautiful sights and memorable characters – just like a good book.
  2. ICXM
    Oct 17, 2016
    90
    Everything other than the technical aspects of the game are so good that I can’t help but heartily recommend it.
  3. XboxAddict
    Oct 25, 2016
    90
    An immersive, and at times eerie, experience. It is the video game equivalent of reading a mystery, suspense, or thriller novel - one that you won’t wish to put down until you reach its' conclusion.
  4. MondoXbox
    Sep 24, 2016
    85
    A heartfelt and intimate experience, putting us in the shoes of a fragile man who chose the isolation of nature to escape a great pain. It's more an interactive tale rather than a proper game, but its good story and awesome sceneries make it worth the experience. Too bad for the frequent and annoying stutters and frame-rate drops: it could have used some more optimization.
  5. ZTGD
    Oct 11, 2016
    85
    You may not like the story it tells, and you may not feel totally satisfied with the outcome; but when the story is told in such a well crafted manner it doesn’t really matter. Anyone who appreciates a good mystery will definitely get something out of Firewatch; just don’t let your mind race to much, as you may end up feeling a little let down.
  6. COGconnected
    Oct 4, 2016
    85
    This is a definite step up from what PlayStation 4 owners received not too long ago.
  7. XBLA Fans
    Oct 13, 2016
    60
    Firewatch is one of my favourite walking simulators because of its engaging script and lasting story, but it is by no means the revolutionary, life changing experience that I had built it up to be in my mind. It's actually more of an ordinary, pedestrian experience, and that is kind of what makes it successful.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 39
  3. Negative: 13 out of 39
  1. MrMT
    Apr 28, 2022
    10
    Absolutely wonderful interactive narrative experience. This really stretched the video game storytelling form, and I loved it.
  2. CiREdrol
    Jan 11, 2022
    9
    I don't understand why such a low userscore for this game. I absolutely loved it!! I enjoyed playing it. Atmospheric and also keeps youI don't understand why such a low userscore for this game. I absolutely loved it!! I enjoyed playing it. Atmospheric and also keeps you wanting to keep exploring more. I only took off one tick for the ending which I though should have been a little bit happier. Games are supposed to pick you up in addition to make you think.… Expand
  4. Dr_Zaroff
    Mar 30, 2017
    8
    Engaging, beautiful, well-written, and well-acted. Some of the scenes and moments that the game creates are stunning. I remember walkingEngaging, beautiful, well-written, and well-acted. Some of the scenes and moments that the game creates are stunning. I remember walking through what appeared to be a burnt down patch of forest, but small saplings were beginning to grow through the ash. Simply a stunning, thoughtful setting. Those moments were scattered throughout and those were the moments that kept me walking.

    Not a perfect score due to some slow moments where the story halts, you get a bit lost, and end up just walking a bit aimlessly. Narrative games often have this issue, but these moments were not abundant. Still, they tended to break up the beauty and the engagement a bit too often.    … Expand
  5. ThaFlu84
    Oct 9, 2021
    7
    This game starts off promising and mysterious, but ends up being unimpressive mainly due to an uneventful ending. While hiking, there isn’tThis game starts off promising and mysterious, but ends up being unimpressive mainly due to an uneventful ending. While hiking, there isn’t much to explore and a lot of what you find is uninteresting and unusable. Also, viewing the map is clunky as you have to frequently stop to get your bearings and see where to go next.

    The characters, their backstory, and the banter between Delilah and Henry are the clear highlights of the game. The revelation in the story is pretty shocking and unforgettable. I enjoyed this game and even played it twice, but sometimes it just felt dull and I was disappointed by the ending.    … Expand
  6. Broyax
    Jan 20, 2018
    6
    Il s'agit d'un jeu de niche mais sans clébard, d'un simulateur de promenade comme on en voit de temps à autre dans le petit monde des jeuxIl s'agit d'un jeu de niche mais sans clébard, d'un simulateur de promenade comme on en voit de temps à autre dans le petit monde des jeux indés roulés sous les aisselles. Pourtant, ce jeu de garde forestier à la première personne réussit assez vite à nous intriguer, puis à nous garder sous sa coupe grâce à une narration assez brillante il faut bien le dire.

    A part la forêt et nous, il n'y a qu'une seule interlocutrice pour nous parler à la radio dans cet environnement très solitaire, notre collègue de l'autre poste de surveillance de départs de feu. Et de ces conversations sur le chemin, va se développer un scénario ma foi très habile qui construit tel un nid une tension de paranoïa et de complot(s) au fil de quelques évènements d'allure très banale de prime abord.

    Ayant avancé jusqu'à un certain point, l'on se dit qu'on ferait mieux d'appeler Mulder et Scully en renforts, car il se passe des choses étranges et nous ne voulons pas finir enlevé par les proctologues de l'espace aux méthodes très invasives. D'autant qu'on a aucune arme pour se défendre : c'est un jeu pacifique dans lequel on ne peut rien dégommer.

    Evidemment, on s'imagine des choses et on veut des réponses, puis la vérité arrive éventuellement, assez décevante il faut bien le dire. Les dialogues à choix multiple n'ont aucune incidence sur ce qui n'est qu'un gros couloir. Ce que l'on fait consiste à faire l'épreuve d'orientation de Koh Lanta à intervalles plus ou moins réguliers : est-ce que tu sais lire une boussole au moins ? et la carte, tu sais la lire ? c'est tout de même rigolo, bien qu'un peu répétitif vers la fin.

    L'interface est simple et efficace, un peu comme les graphismes qui sont simples... mais pas efficaces, eux. Je ne suis pas sûr qu'il y ait beaucoup plus de 256 couleurs simultanées à l'écran ; l'impression désagréable est de pouvoir les compter sur les doigts d'une main : sol jaune, arbres verts, ciel bleu...

    Mais bon, c'est en tout 3D quand même (!) et on se fait plus ou moins volontiers à ce style graphique dépouillé ; on se fait moins aux à-coups récurrents, à ces saccades brèves mais brutales de l'affichage qui tient par ailleurs un 30 im/s à peu près correct. Pourtant, le monde est putain de vide, il est en 4 couleurs et demi, qu'est-ce qu'il y a donc à "streamer", à faire suer le GPU ? rien ! le CPU alors dans ce cas ? une IA à simuler peut-être ? non mon neveu, que dalle !

    Franchement, c'est difficilement pardonnable. Et encore, ça c'est sur la X, car j'ai lu des horreurs sur la version PS4. Oui, c'est programmé par des stagiaires, oui c'est un étron technique.

    Et pourtant ! on passe de très bons moments dans ces quelques heures de ballades et de conversations, à s'interroger, intrigué et aux aguets du pourquoi et du comment... Une "expérience" donc intéressante mais diablement perfectible.    … Expand
  7. B-Bog
    May 26, 2019
    4
    Wasn't really worth the 20 bucks for me. I was intrigued by the concept and thought it was kind of like one of those "choose your ownWasn't really worth the 20 bucks for me. I was intrigued by the concept and thought it was kind of like one of those "choose your own adventure" books, but the problem is this: Your dialogue choices don't actually make ANY difference story-wise. Which sucks, because those are the only choices you have in this game. The gameplay consists entirely of talking to your superior, Delilah (whom you never get to see), on the Walkie-Talkie, while walking through the national park and following her instructions.

    The visuals are pretty, but they're not so earth-shatteringly amazing that they could justify how incredibly laggy this game is on a regular Xbox One. Add to that a really short play-time with no real replay value and a VERY underwhelming climax and you've got yourself quite a mediocre experience. There were definitely moments in this game where I was enjoying myself and thought this could get really cool, but I was ultimately let down at the end.    … Expand
  8. LastHope17
    Dec 23, 2021
    0
    Meh. Tried it and it's clearly just going to be a depressing game. Also no options for motion blur on consoles, why!?

See all 39 User Reviews

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