<center> Hey now everybody, hope you're all doing well, and welcome to my review of Firewatch! For most of my life I've been a huge fan of videogames. Like most people, I tend to stick with a few different genres that are my personal favorites when I decide which games to play. There's only so much time, and I only have so much money, to spend on gaming, so unfortunately I end up missing out on certain titles that I'd like to try. Still, every once in a while, I will venture off the beaten path and play something that I wouldn't normally bother with just to switch things up. Sometimes these games can be a disappointment, or it can lead to me finding a hidden gem that I would have otherwise missed. Either way I think it's worth the risk, as long as it doesn't cost too much. So settle in, relax, and let me tell you all about this game. </center>
<center> Firewatch is an action-adventure, walking simulator game developed by Campo Santo. It was originally released in 2016 for PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with a recent port for the Nintendo Switch that came out last December. When most people, myself included, hear the term, walking simulator, they immediately lose interest. That's because these kinds of games are extremely narrative driven experiences, with very little gameplay. So unless the story is well done and captivating you don't really have anything to help immerse you into what you're doing. Luckily, not only does Firewatch have an engrossing story, but it also has elements of gameplay and choice to keep you on board. The art style is impressive as well, which immediately drew me in to begin with. </center>
<center> The game takes place in Shoshone National Forest, in Yellowstone Wyoming, and the year is 1988. You play as a man named, Henry, who decides to take a job there as a fire lookout, which will require him to live in a tower alone for a few months. As the game begins it establishes Henry's character, filling you in on why he takes this lonely job in the first place. It tells a sad story of Henry meeting a nice girl when he was young, how they eventually got married, and the life that they've lived together. But something horrible happens to her, something that Henry just couldn't deal with, so he kind of selfishly takes the fire lookout gig to get away from it all. As soon as you take control of him and enter the forest, it looks so stunning it's easy to put that behind you now. </center>
<center> Once you get to your lookout tower and get settled in the game introduces you to the other main character of Firewatch, Delilah. She's another lookout in a neighboring tower who talks to you through a walkie talkie you find on your desk. Whenever she says something to you a list of responses appear on the screen, allowing you to choose how you would like to reply. This is a clever mechanic for a walking simulator that keeps you paying attention during all the dialog sequences. Delilah sends you out to stop kids from drinking and lighting off fireworks, or sometimes to check out a power station to help you get used to your new surroundings. At the same time the two of you start to develop a nice relationship through all of your conversations. </center>
<center> Just that alone had me interested, and getting to choose what Henry says made me feel like I had some control over what kind of character I wanted to be. Everything seems normal for a while, but one night Henry has an encounter with someone in the woods. This leads to him discovering something out in the forest that shouldn't be there, something that spooks both him and Delilah. The mood quickly changes from calm, to paranoid, as the two of you try to figure out what the hell is going on in Yellowstone. No matter what's happening, the two of you are stuck out in that forest, alone, until the chopper comes to pick you up months from now, so you have no choice but to deal with it. You spend the majority of the game exploring the surrounding area, trying to figure out the mystery. </center>
<center> As far as gameplay goes there's no combat or platforming, which is typical for this genre, but you do have some interaction with things. As I said before, you always get to choose your reply when talking to Delilah, and you can radio her whenever you find something interesting during your travels to report it. In addition you can pick up certain items along the way, or take out your map and compass to get your bearings. You also have to climb up and down the mountainous terrain, even getting upgraded equipment at some points allowing you to reach new areas. </center>
<center> As the story leads you around the forest you actually get to explore a good handful of distinct areas, and some memorable locations. The art style the developers went with was a major highlight for me, almost making me feel like I was walking around in a beautiful painting. All the different parts of Shoshone National Forest look amazing, especially while the sun is setting or rising. As far as walking simulators go this might be the best one I've played. The ending didn't satisfy me as much as I would have liked it to, but I've played through the game a couple times now since it's not very long, and have enjoyed it both times regardless. If you like a good story, with well acted characters, and you don't mind the slower pace of this genre, than I'd definitely recommend giving this a try. I'm going to give Firewatch a grade of...................... </center>
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<center> **B** + </center>
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<center> Thank you for reading my review of Firewatch, I hope you enjoyed it! </center>