So, having been reminded at the last minute that this was available to play today it ended being what I sat down to give a go of having previously planned to try pushing into Just Cause 3.
Previous to its release I'd heard several things about the type of game it would be but for the end result there is only one answer: Walking Simulator.
You begin the game with some incredibly small gameplay snippets in between text screens which chart the 15 or so years leading up to the games start. You get some limited control over the options but broadly you play Henry, a man who meets the love of his life but finds that life too hard to cope with when she develops Alzheimer's at the age of 41. Unable to cope circumstances lead him to take up a Firewatch post in Boulder, Colorado where he mans one of the watch towers whilst befriending Delilha, an occupier of a neighbouring tower. However, as the summer heat rolls in there appears to be more going on in the surrounding canyons than Henry first assumes there to be.
The game is pretty much a pure follow the story experience, always engaging in the way it's delivered but never more than moving from A-B through the area which is best described as a hub space. The story itself is a predictable one but its handled well with much of it relying on the two main voice actors who sell their characters well. The games visual style is pretty at times but less striking than the pics and trailers suggested it would be. The pastel shades look nice but are part of a somewhat cartoonish chunky art style that applies to character portraits and Henry as well which don't sync quite as well in tone with the story that's being told.
An awful lot of the game will depend on what type of gamer you are and what you get from games of this type. I definitely enjoyed the experience but a key aspect for consideration is that I completed it in one sitting to 100%. The clock on my Steam account lists the playtime as 3hrs so you're getting a short experience.
Previous to its release I'd heard several things about the type of game it would be but for the end result there is only one answer: Walking Simulator.
You begin the game with some incredibly small gameplay snippets in between text screens which chart the 15 or so years leading up to the games start. You get some limited control over the options but broadly you play Henry, a man who meets the love of his life but finds that life too hard to cope with when she develops Alzheimer's at the age of 41. Unable to cope circumstances lead him to take up a Firewatch post in Boulder, Colorado where he mans one of the watch towers whilst befriending Delilha, an occupier of a neighbouring tower. However, as the summer heat rolls in there appears to be more going on in the surrounding canyons than Henry first assumes there to be.
The game is pretty much a pure follow the story experience, always engaging in the way it's delivered but never more than moving from A-B through the area which is best described as a hub space. The story itself is a predictable one but its handled well with much of it relying on the two main voice actors who sell their characters well. The games visual style is pretty at times but less striking than the pics and trailers suggested it would be. The pastel shades look nice but are part of a somewhat cartoonish chunky art style that applies to character portraits and Henry as well which don't sync quite as well in tone with the story that's being told.
An awful lot of the game will depend on what type of gamer you are and what you get from games of this type. I definitely enjoyed the experience but a key aspect for consideration is that I completed it in one sitting to 100%. The clock on my Steam account lists the playtime as 3hrs so you're getting a short experience.
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