Firewatch: A Game Changer - Video Essay

It has become one of my favourite games of all time, an indie darling and I make sure to play it every year. Originally launching way back in '16 with an adoring fanbase. I just had to share my love for this title with others who feel the same.
Feel free to sub -
/ @bbga_
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The Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - For Starters
1:32 - The Dialouge
4:07 - Art Style
4:58 - Change of Tempo
6:57 - That Ending
8:02 - Audio Tour DLC
8:34 - Wrapping Things Up
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Socials;
Twitch: / bbga_
Twitter: / bbgaofficial
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Special Thanks;
Thumbnail by Loek
#firewatch #indiegame #videoessay #fire #watch #indiedev

[@dylanbass8451]

Almost 8 years later, and this masterpiece of a game is still being discussed. That is so cool!!!!

[@bbga_]

Yeah right?! I'll probably do the same thing in a few yrs time ☺️

[@dylanbass8451]

@@bbga_ Oh, awesome!!

[@Lamborghini868]

Played it for the first time a month ago and kinda mad I didn't know of the game sooner. It's such a good game and one that I will come back to again.

[@bbga_]

@@Lamborghini868 least you have played it now, I'm only just playing Mass Effect 🤣

[@brandonpartain10]

Every year, I boot up this game, play through the regular story to hear different dialog, then do the audio tour and finish it off with free roaming while playing Ole Shoshone over and over again until I pass out. I’ll forever be disappointed that Valve basically dissolved Campo Santo but at least the team is still together and working for one of the biggest dev studios in the industry

[@bbga_]

This sounds exactly like my yearly plan too 😂 * great minds * Yh there is a slight silver lining but it would have been interesting to see what else they came up with.

[@cmw184]

In late 2021, I listened to the soundtrack while at work nearly everyday. I work mostly outside so it was somewhat nice to be able to visualize everything, Eventhough it was winter. A few months later, i ended up playing the game, and man. It really did leave an impression. Not only that, but later on in 2022, i actually hiked up to a real 1920s decommissioned firewatch tower, in the late summer with a friend. It was surreal honestly. Living in an area in which 6-7000ft tall mountains with firewatches scattered around is truly a privilege.

[@bbga_]

Listening to the OST whilst outside seems like perfection. Oh you did? That's ace!

[@cmw184]

@@bbga_ yeah its a masterpiece, i wish there were more like it. Really adds to the atmosphere

[@bbga_]

@@cmw184 So do I , it's definitely one of a kind.

[@ryansinging]

this game aged super well with how many communicate with people you may have never even met yet through social media and just hiding things about their life or building things up just to disappear or move on unexpectedly.

[@drewbrown3116]

nailed it quite well. Esp during COVID 19 which I feel like games like these hit harder the most in, if not adds to it retroactively even if it was years ago.

[@gos_7079]

I love this game, couldn't stop playing it. It's sooo good to enjoy and miss around while drama that despair our fear of life and choosing different way that what could have been.

[@bbga_]

It is very good! More choices could have made it more interesting

[@vectoralebadrov5226]

man, you really deserve some attention from the world. Keep it goin'.

[@bbga_]

Aww, thank you! That really really means a lot to me.

[@urrugames4062]

I just finished it a couple of days ago and I think it's one of the most special games I've ever played, it's like you said a total emotional rollercoaster. I liked the end by the way.

[@bbga_]

Was it your First playthrough? I'm really glad you enjoyed it and found it special, also happy you liked the ending 😊 Did you have a favourite moment ?

[@wael-varlim]

I didn't thought that Firewatch is gonna be one of my favourite games. I mean really this game left me speechless, I was disappointed by the ending but at the same time it was perfect. Firewatch you're a masterpiece. Also pretty amazing video man, you have a new subscriber :)

[@bbga_]

I'm really glad you liked it and yh the ending is very decisive for many. Least we can agree its one of the best games made. Aww thank you kindly 🙏🏾

[@wael-varlim]

@@bbga_ Indeed it's, and keep it up

[@lunnp6385]

Joguei esse jogo recentemente e é incrível, os diálogos são perfeitos, o medo de estar sozinho com alguém te vigiando, as paisagens que vão fazer você parar para olhar a incrível vista. Você conseguiu passar com perfeição o sentimento do jogo, por isso amo tanto jogos indie, quase nenhum AAA conseguiu me fazer sentir tantas coisas, mas o Firewatch me fez sentir tudo isso em apenas 4 horas. sorry for the text in Portuguese

[@jasonbond5213]

It's kind of embarassing how much this game managed to scared me on my forst playthrough. I had never really played a horror game, and I was not anticipating this one to be anything but a few nice, calm hieß through lustig woods. So when the guy with the flashlight stood on the cliff and the tower got messed up and Henry gets attacked by the lake I was dreading going out of my tower, at night especially. It's kind of amazing how this game only really has a single jumpscare towards the beginning and you only encounter the "villain" like twice, and nothing Bad ever really happens, and still this game had me on edge assuming something there would be a big scare. Now that I know what's to come I don't get creepy out anymore, i play it to enjoy this beautiful Story and the wonderful little World it creates. About once a year I start the game and play through the whole Story in one evening. It's a Ritual at this point and I cherish it.

[@user-vz4sh7sx1q]

from Time to Time i still remember the " Shelly Duvall " Joke This game is Rent free in my Head

[@bbga_]

Thats one of the Turtle name choices, right? Same here friend, same here :)

[@NA-nz9lv]

Amazing game, sometimes the isolation felt on par with Outer Wilds and any comparison to that for me is automatically at least a reason to recommend a game to my friends. You described it very well, I agree with the people that say the ending feels like you've been cheated but I also love it because of that, it kinda leaves everything to your imagination and you're left with that feeling of "book hangover" that few games manage to leave me with nowadays. Thanks for reminding me of this game, I'll give it a re-play when I find the time.

[@bbga_]

It is indeed and yh I totally get that! Thats I love the ending too its very ambiguous and open to opinion, yh thats alo interesting to note thats not alot of games do that nowadays its just a basic ending.

[@Hellommoc]

this game was truly something

[@bbga_]

Truly is Indeed 🙏🏾

[@Em-fz5uh]

Wow your review was perfect ! You really perfectly worded how I feel about this game. I went on so many emotions while playing (chill to emotional to tense because I was certain I was going to be attacked lol). It's just so good ! Henry and Delilah felt so real.

[@bbga_]

Thank you ever so much for this ❤️ The game certainly was a ride that's for sure!

[@ArtyomVoinov]

I wish I could forget the plot and replay it for the first time. This game was pure gold. I played it right after Journey. What an evening

[@bbga_]

So do I tbh! Oh man journey, what a game!

[@retrowafflestv208]

this is my favorite game of all time. i love it so much

[@iangillon6981]

Loved this. Made me cry. And that's why. I loved it.

[@bbga_]

I did get teary during a few moments,ngl. Just goes to show how much impact Art can have on us.

[@drewbrown3116]

somehow, this game hits a lot harder when everyone has been facing quarantine at the time years ago. I think it def adds to it retroactively. And damn I wish they coulda finished and released In The Valley of Gods, but the studio was bought by Valve and somehow any sides of it being worked on was lost or just no signs of any update. I'm hoping maybe they can get it out, even if maybe it releases in a different engine, say Source 2 than Unity considering Valve ofc. And do warn some divisive topics I will talk about, there was the time they did not want to not associate with Pewdiepie which is understandable (if u know some of the sh!t that's associated with radicalization esp within the gaming community), but the rabid stans of him which is the majority of the internet flocked to review bomb Firewatch because of as said. It's unfortunate time is not always kind. But that doesn't mean the art that's made doesn't last long or else stays timely if it wants to. Say more than multiplayers that will prob die out unless it makes a lot of updates to it to get you addicted. I mean this is the kinda work that'll stick no matter how long ago it was or whatever controversy facing it at the time.

[@bbga_]

I have never thought of it from that perspective but yh that's quite an interesting POV. Can't say that game rings any bells. Thanks for the info because I didn't notice about any of these, I know about Pewds and the issues revolving him tho however. Yh I feel single player games especially narrative driven ones like this, The last of us etc.. Have more of an impact like you say than fps.

[@GamersView]

Nice content actually , expecting more content like this from you

[@bbga_]

Aww thank you and yes more will be on the cards for sure.

[@Todaymma]

This game will never get the attention it deserves

[@bbga_]

I think generally it is pretty well known and respected but as you say not on a wider scale.

[@matthplays-2312]

In a way, i wish i could play it blind again. While yes, its slightly disappointing in the end, maybe it was better that way. You dont get everyrhing you want. Not to mention just how beautiful it really is. Being able to walk around, and feel as if youre one in nature. And, as another side note, i have trouble rewatching replays of videos i already have, but for some reason, i can watch Markipliers videos of it every now and then, and get the same enjoyment out of it. I remember the story, i remember the jokes, and yet, i leave the videos happy. I remember when her first played it, and wating for the next part to come out.

[@Pepplay33]

idk why i never played this earlier, i tried to play it years ago and i though it was boring, but now i played it a few days ago and loved it

[@bbga_]

Can be a slow burner for some but once it gets going you do get sucked in! Glad you decided to give it another go ☺️

[@tombrook32]

Oh man! This game!

[@bbga_]

It's so good! Indie darling for sure.

[@naryanr]

It's not a “masterpiece”. It's a very tight, well executed, unambitious little afternoon filler. I enjoyed it a lot, especially the first half, but after that I quickly realised, *_“Oh these devs don't want to animate any NPC's_* *_so no matter what the story wants me to believe, I'm not going to meet anyone else for any reason.”_* And sure enough that was the case, and it kinda killed my enjoyment the second half. It also means you'll definitely know that, any subsequent time you play the game. Hurting replay value substantially. It's basically a walking sim masking very well with good scripting and good acting. If you could call a game with hardly any gameplay “perfect”, because you don't factor ambition at all, then yeah, sure, you could argue the case.

[@Theunderpriviledged2004]

2016...

[@bbga_]

Doesn't seem that long ago , does it ?

[@Theunderpriviledged2004]

@bbga_ no it all since I entered puberty it all feels unreal like a year and it's been 7..like a dream

[@bbga_]

I get my friend 😅

[@aborkmga1]

I don't like games because they makes me attached to the characters like seranna on Skyrim for an instant :(

[@mgiebus1869]

Not to me.

[@bbga_]

Every game isn't going to appeal to everyone but at least with Firewatch the majority think it's good. Shame you couldn't enjoy it tho.

[@JayDecayAE]

Ah yes, a three hour walking simulator with a predictable, unrewarding story that sets it up so that it seems like your choices matter, but they don’t, is the best game ever. The most frustrating thing ever was trying to look at the map and walk around in this fucking game. Sounds about right in today’s gaming community. I would rather do a side quest in Oblivion or read a book.

[@bbga_]

I mean you're obviously entitled to your opinion but as my mum says - if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it all. There are plenty of people who feel otherwise. You enjoy your games and we'll enjoy ours. Have a nice day.