Ever since reading about Firewatch in a magazine months ago, I knew it would be a Day 1 purchase for me. After I hit "Buy" on the Playstation Store, I became very excited to jump into the Wyoming wilderness and explore not only it, but also the relationship between Henry and Delilah. Henry is the main character who decides to become a fire watch for a few months after learning his wife has developed dementia at a fairly early age. Delilah is the seasoned veteran fire watch, who's tower is on the other side of the map, unreachable by the player. Henry has his cliches and he is a bit on the depressive side, but his circumstances may justify this for some. Personally, I would have liked to seen a little more life and flair. He is a great "Average Joe" with typical problems. The game revolves around exploring, performing various tasks and focuses a lot on narrative. The game is told through communication with Delilah via radio. While playing, you will find things such as notes, letters, books, keepsakes and more that relate to the story and help tell it. That is essentially the gameplay in a nutshell. It is a simplistic approach that works surprisingly well. From a graphics standpoint, the unique visual aesthetic and color palettes really pop and pull the player in, even if there are muddy textures abound. It is disappointing to see the frame rate suffer as you walk through the woods. It just happens to much and apparently it was never fixed.
This is Campo Santo's first ever title. They did an incredible job given that fact, but it may not have been so great if it was their second or third. When I say that, I mean that the game does a lot right, but that simplicity can also hurt it. The wilderness really isn't that large and you will find yourself backtracking quite a bit as you progress through the story. But to be fair, the story is the glue that holds the package together. The way the game begins instantly makes you feel invested in what is going on and does a fantastic job of putting you in Henry's shoes from the outset. The emotional aspect of Firewatch is mainly what helps it stand out. The hook here are the mysteries that unfold along the way. They are the meat and potatoes of this plot-driven journey. The anticlimactic ending may anger some players, but I won't spoil it. One thing I noticed and liked on the first day of playing was the fact that I couldn't set waypoints and the game actually males the player think about which direction to take. I found that freedom liberating and fresh. I feel like we are so used to setting waypoints and fast-traveling. I completed the game in about 5 hours and that included some exploration time. It is a short game, but the $20 price tag justifies that. I think this is something many gamers can pick up, play and enjoy for a brief amount of time. (7/10)