But come to think about it, this certainly adds to the sense of isolation that the game is based around. They could've certainly added some wildlife other than the deer making once in a blue moon appearances. The environment is lush with different kinds of trees and bushes. The colour palette chosen looks and feels great and I often found myself glaring at the setting in awe. The complete game has a stylized look with the character's fingers reminding me of various Disney film's protagonists especially ‘Up’. The gameplay is simple, intuitive and does justice to the player. Radio is frequently used as the icon prompts up in most of the things around you giving you ample opportunity to make conversation. Almost all the destinations have multiple paths leading to it which blends well with the genre. These are insignificant compared to the pros of this game but worth mentioning. The movement seemed awkward to me on certain rocky terrains. Things like a different path which can easily be accessible just by simply climbing a rock are not possible which makes it feels a bit rigid. Although it gets a bit difficult to navigate in the national park due to the lack of clear pathways but nothing which frequent map references couldn't fix. You also find a flash light, camera and an axe later in the game, but their use aren't quite as extensive. You explore the forest with the help of a map and a compass. Simple mechanics involving hiking like climbing and rappelling are introduced aptly. The gameplay is quite simple and there are not a load of mechanics to choose from. Except the questionable ending, the writing of this game is at its best. The disparate choices made me replay the game just to see the difference that it will bring into the life of Henry. The brilliant voice performance makes it an empathetic and plausible experience. In fact, it made me feel sad and disheartened. But after you remove the expectation of something big, then the ending doesn't seem that bad at all. The amazing build-up that it creates ultimately fails to pay-off as the ending is anti-climactic (not in a good way) and certain things just don’t add up. You ultimately discover the reason for the weird happenings encircling you and Delilah. I slowly started craving more of such prompts as each one of them expand on the character, their back-story and the game. Simple events like forest fire or even a great vista prompts up the radio icon on screen to interact with your only companion. The game gave me ample events to shape out the protagonist’s character and his relationship with Delilah. Delilah is friendly and approachable from the beginning which provides a great fit for the initially grumpy and serious Henry. The dialogue choices let me choose the way I wanted Henry and Delilah’s relationship to be. The conversations between you and Delilah is powerful and engaging leaving me wanting for more. Your only means of communication is through a walkie talkie radio which suffices for the time being but gradually made me want to go beyond it. That idea is short-lived as you find out the mysteries of this forest surrounding you and your boss Delilah. You take a job as a forest fire lookout in Shoshone National Park, Wyoming for some alone time in your watch tower which is the starting point of the game. She starts recognizing you less and less and you continue to go in a downward spiral of sadness. Circumstances make her move in with her parents or to a care facility depending on the choices you make. You are Henry living a happy life with your wife Julia who develops dementia. This sets the premise of the game and the characters, making me feel connected to the protagonist, with the music and visuals only accentuating this feature These set of questions are inter-cut with scenes of you walking up the forest and introduces the basic mechanics fairly well. You embark this power journey with a splendid array of dialogues with occasional decision making choices which though takes a different route, end up on the same note. Firewatch developed by Campo Santo is an exciting expedition which plucks the right chords with its great appeal in every aspect of a game. Looking for games other than ones focusing mainly on cool fights and action sequences led me to one of the most beautiful looking game with an experience that lingers long after it is over.
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