RUclips's been suggesting more small channels to me lately. This is the first time that the quality of sound, writing and editing did not give it away at all. I was surprised to see the subscriber count. Keep it up and I'm sure your audience will find you.
I think the ending served the game right. It was a game about grief and the ending leaves you how grief does. You’re waiting the whole game for it to have one redeeming quality and instead of meeting Delilah you get nothing. No satisfaction just a feeling of emptiness. That’s how grief feels.
Came here to say almost the same thing. You practically took the words out of my mouth. I think the game is designed perfectly and it’s one of my few 10/10 story games.
Grief is like a mental prison. You are stuck in a situation where the path(s) where you would normally move on have been blocked. You need to find a completely new path. But you won't even see the new path clearly until you complete the grieving process. At the end of this story, the protagonist is ready to move on.
Ugh. I think I was not alone with a feeling of slowly falling in love with Delilah, and that final reveal was quite a gut punch, even if I saw it coming. It's probably the best game I played in a decade. The writing was so good, the characters so believable, absolutely outstanding.
Delilah and Henry trauma bond over the course of the game. Their whole relationship is based on their shared isolation and the events that unfold in the game. In the end the reality is that if they met in person it doesn't fix anything they both still have to go and face their lives. To me Delilah not being there when he makes it to her tower is push he needs to go back and face his life and what hes been running from that led him to that job.
seems like Julia and Delilah are opposite relationships for him. With Julia, she's not as there mentally anymore as she used to be, but she's physically there. With Delilah, she's there exclusively mentally, as she can only express her thoughts to him, but he'll never see her physical self.
That is such a good comparison! I never thought of that. Maybe it explains a bit why Henry quickly grows attached to Delilah- she is what he has been missing for these years and what he appreciated most in Julia.
I’ve come to realize the ending of this game is why it sticks with me. A clean “happily ever after” wouldn’t fit the tone at all-it’d almost feel out of place. The frustration you feel at the end actually pulls you deeper into the experience, making you feel like you’ve been through the same ups and downs as Henry. It’s like you’re left with the same weight he’s been carrying, and that unresolved feeling keeps the story alive in a way a perfect ending never could.
Totally agree. It finishes like a real world story where not everything gets explained or neatly tidied up. This seems to catch out people who expect a video game stories to follow the usual conventions, which by accident or design Firewatch does not.
During the pandemic, I had my classes online. I met this girl, and we started to talk by messages. We began to talk about personal stuff, and, as you say, the fact of never being in person gave us a feeling of security, so we shared things that probably we wouldn't have done in perso. Eventually, I fell in love with her (I think she also, but I'm not sure), but the relationship reached its end. Once we talked daily, then we began to distance ourselves and one day we just never talked again. When I saw her in person some years later, it wasn't the same, we both had changed from those teenagers. When I se back now, I ask myself i it was really love or just an escape of my own problems. Sometimes I really miss our conversations, not in a romantic mood but as a friendship. Now she is only a good remember, one really good. PD: Sorry if my english isn't good
My wife died of early onset dementia. The guilt arises from being flawed in so many ways in how to deal with it, from feeling so selfish. I sought isolation as a refuge from the day to day humanity. Hiking in nature is not prospective nor retrospective… I went there for introspection and escape from culture. What I found was peace and clarity from within because in the end you are the one you have to answer to. I lost friends and left a career behind. It transformed my life into the most authentic state. Now, my sons are my engine and I get to live. I am not the same as I was once was. I am broken and scarred inside, the strongest I’ve ever been in many ways.
When I tell you that the second I made it Delilah’s tower and when she wasn’t there. I sobbed when I played it the first time. I’m typically not a crier for videogames, with a couple notable exceptions. This one was the most emotional gut punch I ever felt in a game. At the time I had a few things in my life I was running from. Nothing as dramatic and crazy as Henry’s life but I had obligations, a recent death in the family I put down and tried to forget before confronting it emotionally, I had been neglecting school and telling my parents I was going to drop out. And when I played it the first time blind, I felt a lot like Henry, that feeling of always running away from something but never fully free. And the angelic voice of Delilah just seeming to play to my emotions perfectly, and it all seemed like it was going so well. And then I never met her. I was heart broken. I saw Henry as finally maybe getting something he wanted, maybe finally getting what he wanted without facing his own issues. It was like a sign that you could avoid your own problems if you just ran fast enough if you just went far enough. Maybe reading too much into that, but regardless, I had grown attached to Delilah. It was almost an emotional need and I desperately wanted to see her banter and chat and just be with Henry, especially after all the small flirts and comments made along the way. But then to just be left so high and dry, literally and emotionally. I was so angry at the time, I hated the game for doing that to me but honestly it’s incredible that it made me feel such a way.
What are the notable exceptions you speak of if you don't mind me asking? This game definitely did something for me emotionally back in the day and I have been looking for something as impactful ever since.
Outer Wilds is probably the game apart from Firewatch that gave me the most emotional experience. It's quite different and a lot less introspective, but gradually discovering the personal stories, grand ambitions and cruel tragedies of a long-lost alien race is deeply moving. Also, the mechanism where your progress in the game is as much your own increasing knowledge as the saved game itself is magical - but you can't experience it twice.
Great video. You've got yourself another sub. I loved Firewatch. One of my all-time favourite indie games. In addition to your points, I also like how the game makes us reflect, as gamers, why we play games. I've often used games as a form of escapism, and playing Firewatch was no different. So at the end, when we find out that all the "conspiracies" have really rational and mundane explanations, we realise that we, as humans, crave to be at the centre of our own story, with stakes and meaning. And yet, in the cold light of day, most of the stories we tell ourselves are just that: stories. It's a sobering yet important ego check, and one that Campo Santo did masterfully.
I know! I got a lot more out of replaying the game and choosing new answers. If you really liked it the first time it might be worth considering a replay
As others have said, it's nice seeing smaller channels get recommended. These days I can't even get RUclips to recommend channels I'm already subbed to if I just habnr watched them in a few months. It must be brutal for making content. I thank You, for Your time.
This was on my recommended for a week. Looking at the thumbnail, interested but also didn’t care much. It’s 4:22am, I just got home from work, parked my car and watched the whole thing in here while I’m stuck in my own life feeling like I work so hard but never get anywhere. You have a wonderful and interesting way of breaking down the philosophy. Can’t wait for more.
Iv recently been going through a few things(who hasn't lol) and finding peace is something I've been struggling with. I kinda need this as a reminder to look inward for peace as opposed to saying "I need to get this done and then I'll have peace." Thank you, and great work.
Great audio quality and an immediate mythology and philosophy lesson? Phenomenal. I hope your content takes off and you continue to make bangers like this.
I saw this on my FYP, and I really needed this reflection time. This has been an awesome break from doom scrolling. Absolutely love this type of content. You've earned yourself another sub.
The fact that a review this good and deep came from a channel this small genuinely surprised me in the best ways possible. Well done man, I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
Just played and finished the game because of this video. I only watched 3 mins and then downloaded it, beat it, and came back to finish the video! The game was good. It's what I needed: to get back to story elements and not be distracted by shiny, flashy, instant gratification. Thank you
I'd never quite looked at it in this way. I love Firewatch. I watched a few people play it, fully, before I ever stepped in, and yet....when I finally did, even though I knew the story, I was hit with a completely different set of emotions. He did try and escape to the wilderness, and yes, by the time you are done, that route back up to the tower from the bottom of the canyon is so well known to you, and somehow still completely new. I remember filling up the camera, every single picture was considered, and had meaning, but ultimately said nothing at all about Henry, or about his life...they were just....pretty pictures. And that was what really hit me in the end I think, this entire game is 'pretty' but ultimately everything Henry takes away with him is not physical (poor Turt Reynolds) but spiritual, and emotional, and that is what the great outdoors can do for all of us I think. Awesome video dude, really did make me think, and the classicist in me loved the links between Tantalus and Henry.
Honestly, this is one of the best videogame breakdowns I've ever watched. Your interpretation of henry´s story is absolutely beautiful, and as a guy who just broke up with his long distance girlfriend, i relate to this story a lot, the way a relationship through a screen is just... empty. Thank you, Lukka, well done.
I loved this essay! Well done my friend, I am glad YT recommended it. I really enjoyed the story of Tantalus in the beginning. That parallel helped anchor your entire video and leaves me thinking afterward. Keep it up!
This essay is professional and personal at the same time. Firewatch is one of those games that you just have to experience to understand, and you explained it perfectly. Thank you for giving this game the love it deserves🙏
I first played this game when I around 8, but never really understood it. I just thought it was fun. Now that I am 13 (still young I know), and especially after losing my father to cancer about a month ago, my view on this game really changed. It has so much symbolism in it like you mentioned and I just never noticed. great video by the way
I remember playing Fire Watch in high school, a truly captivating story. Your interpretation is truly beautiful, and I am glad to have stumbled across this video. I think I might reply fire watch now.
I played it for the first time maybe 6 years ago now. When I played it again I was surprised how much I got out of it the second time. Try playing it again but choosing different responses than previously-you’ll get more out of it
I hadn’t fully grokked the full irony of Henry taking the job to avoid watching the tragedy of his wife’s mind being consumed by dementia, when the job is literally to watch for the tragedy of a forest being consumed by fire. It’s even right there in the title. 🤦🏼♂️ Great video.
This is an amazing video! I hate when videos talk about a specific games meaning for 3 hours straight and managing to do that in 15 minutes and amazingly made me subscribe!
Wow, great job, really. Firewatch is an amazing game and a great life lesson. To this day, Firewatch made me look at my own life and how I'm stuck in an endless loop of looking for something that isn't just going to happen. I truly love this game and I'm still searching for another one just like it, thing is, it's not out there. Again, amazing job, this video was AAA, thanks.
I love the story of Tantalos, or well all greek myths and their philosophical implications for that matter. This was such a great video. I really enjoyed the structure and how calmly you spoke, very nice to listen to🫶🏻
Firewatch is an incredible game and I love your take. The depth and incredible thought behind this amazed me and I so look forward to seeing more of your content . Thanks ❤
As everyone's said, it's great to see a small channel get recommended, and the video in itself is great and well-polished. Gained a subscriber for sure, keep up the great work! As a small one myself I know I'm nowhere near as polished as this, it's great to see, and pushes me to be better too.
I love that people are still covering my favourite game I’ve ever played. I played it blind only off seeing the trailer on the PlayStation store and now have around 60 hours in the game 100% completed it and have done multiple playthroughs. 10/10 game and it’s people like you that are still keeping the game relevant today
I found this channel totally by accident but I’m glad I did. I’ve never come across this game but I like the format, instead of mindless violence or just brain numbing addiction this instead is soul searching and meaningful. I like that. Great channel, keep it up. I’ll be back for more. 😉👍🏻
YOUR Henry's story ended that way. Mine waved off the chopper and marched back to Delilah's tower to sit and wait for the fire to come. Don't forget that everybody's experience will be unique.
Excellent video. Also set to Firewatch as a backdrop makes for a brilliant experience. Even after 8 years this game is beautiful. Your analogy is very similar to my view of the game however I adore how eloquent and poetic your presentation is. Your use of gameplay and the OST makes this video a real masterpiece. This video genuinely made my day mate. :D
This was a really good video, I always love essays and reviews about games like this and Firewatch I think is the most exquisite example of why these reviews are so entertaining. I hope your channel grows.
Your video is awesome! I love the thought you put on this amazing game. I wish you much success to your channel and I'll keep following you for the next video!!
This video felt premium to watch man,as someone who played the game i see how your analysis ties in with the themes of "freedom" when it's just escapism,you earned a sub.
Clicked on the video in my recommended and watched till the end without looking at the view or sub count. I would have guessed you had at least 100k subs on the lowest end. This was incredibly well put together production wise and I truly enjoyed your arguments and opinions. I hope you keep sharing your thoughts & ideas!
Your video was randomly suggested to me this evening, I'm pleased it was. I played Firewatch back in 2016 when it was released, and it's stuck with me ever since. In the kind of way that very few games ever have. Since that first playthrough, the image of the tower has been the lockscreen on my phone and background on my computer. There's something about the story and feeling of calmness to the art style that worked so perfectly, and watching your video made me feel strangely nostalgic. Anyway, I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this comment but felt compelled to leave it anyway. So thank you for making this video, loved your breakdown and agree with your analysis. In my opinion, the only other game that's come close for feels is Life is Strange 2. That story had me melted.
I really like the visuals of Firewatch and the relaxed pace as well. Was a really enjoyable first play through. I was disappointed on trying to play it a second time. I thought I’d try making different choices and would end up with a different experience. But, at best the changes the order of a few things but all the results seemed to be the same. I really think it would have been interesting if choices made really mattered.
I'll never forget the emotional roller coaster this game put me through. Top 5 games all time for me. Keep up the great content! I really enjoyed the video!
This is one of the only video essays that made me lean back in my chair and think a little. Damn, so well thought out and so nicely put together. Bravo, this is definitely something you need to do more of, absolutely enjoyable.
Good video. Unfortunately with youngsters, I don’t have time for video games anymore. But the topic was relatable and I appreciate the time, thought and effort that went into this. Even without having experienced the game, I feel I can relate to this. A few deployments into my time in the military, I started feeling like I was chasing something. To the point that I volunteered to go to Afghanistan my last trip over in 2010. I suppose it’s a moot point since that thing is over (note the date - 11/20/2024) US forces will be back there… Anyways, I never could catch whatever I was chasing. Never did now that I am home either. Good video. I look forward to looking at more of your content 🤙
bro this video is way too well made, the voice, editing, the analyses, everything is too good for such a small channel, you are surely gonna grow man love it, love the game and ur take on it too
I've watched the video fully, knowing that I spoiled the game for myself, but I know for a fact I will be fully immersed regardless. This is such a wonderfully put together video, I look forward to seeing more!
I played this when it was first released. The visuals enthralled me, but playing it has left an indelible mark upon me. So much so, that all these years later I still seek out content relating to the game. Also I refuse to replay it as I don’t want to sully the memories of playing. Thanks for an excellent analysis of the characters and their motivations.
Your video randomly appeared on my feed this evening. I played the game back in 2017 I believe, I’d admit it pulled on my heart strings and I don’t think there’s been a game which the ending has affected me as much as it did. Listening to your interpretation, it makes a lot of sense. It frustrated me in a way I couldn’t put words too. I remember when I finished the game, I googled to see whether there was any alternative endings to the storyline, where the two characters actually meet. I was left, wanting more, feeling disappointed that I couldn’t get the ending I wanted, which I guess is the entire point. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful game, I loved everything about it. Great content fella.
phenomenal game...i could not put it down when i played it several years ago. i'd recently lost my mom, and i wasn't expecting this game to strike so close. unforgettable game for me.
Great analysis! I feel like this game went over the heads of many who played it. When I walked away from it I was haunted by it for years and kept thinking about the characters and their motivations. It's always fun to watch an insightful look at Firewatch.
This really is an amazing video, hats off to you sir. I really loved the game, and already felt a lot of the emotions you are putting into words, but I had never looked at the entire picture like this.
I’m glad I found this video! From what I understand about dementia, the more one tries to grasp at a memory or thought the more out of reach it becomes. Another similarity to Tantalus.
I've come to notice that the majority of games that stick with me in my thoughts or sort-of reshape my conscience tend to be the ones that don't make everything crystal clear and don't explain every minute detail to the point where nothing is left up for interpretation. Not to say that the games that do that are necessarily bad, they just lose that sense of wonder. Similar to the way El Camino didn't need to happen for Breaking Bad, we never needed to know what happened to Jesse. It wasn't a bad film, just something that by it's mere existence makes BB lose some of allure. Firewatch is and has been my favorite game ever since it released. I've seen a ton of analyses on it, more than I can pint point. It brightens my day and makes me appreciative towards the product, art and the people behind it seeing how even now, 8 years later, there's even more to look between the lines at something that was there since the very beginning. Hindsight making it even more powerful. I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel and this thought provoking video that in 15 minutes brought me some new thoughts and perspectives on a piece of media that I hold dear to myself. Just wanted to leave that out there, stuff you make matters and if it reached me, touched me, it's sure to leave an impact on another with another. Being able to occupy someone else's thoughts with your own has to be one of the greatest feelings as a creator of or spokesman for any piece of media. As time becomes much more "managed" and actually finding the time to sit down and consume is less frequent, I want to leave a mark or leave some feedback in case I don't happen to stumble upon your content in the future. I hope our paths cross on this platform once more, as I seriously enjoyed the structure and presentation of what you have at display.
Thx for the spoiler alert, I haven't played Firewatch, and I'm not even really a big gamer, but you set the intro up so well that I think I'll give this one a go! Cheers!
I feel like you managed to look at the game in a different way than a lot of the other Firewatch essays out there and it hit me a lot harder. Great work!
Games like this and videos like yours give me hope that there are still people who care about making good art. I loved the ending, and I honestly would have been disappointed if Henry actually met Delilah in person.
Great vid! It was summed up perfectly above so I hate to rehash, but this quality definitely deserves more subs! Keep it up! I'm simply commenting to hopefully drive engagement
Hey thanks for this it made me look at the game full differently and i love this perspective and i think its teaching us to live in the present and always care about eachother even when someone is sick or something like that❤
i Would love to see a Outerwilds video like this. I really enjoyed it you captured exactly what i was thinking while playing the game. Thank you for the great content im a new sub
I absolutely loved the "You can't run away from your problems" theme in this game which has driven me to play it multiple times over the last eight years.
never played the game, but talking about it like that in the intro finally convinced me, i dont want spoilers so uh sorry for not counting as a view, ill give you a thumbs up tho
RUclips's been suggesting more small channels to me lately. This is the first time that the quality of sound, writing and editing did not give it away at all. I was surprised to see the subscriber count. Keep it up and I'm sure your audience will find you.
Thanks! I miiight have re-recorded the video a few times and replayed the whole game because the footage quality wasn’t worth posting at first :P
I didn't even realise how small this channel was until I read this comment!
What do you mean 600 subs??? 😭
@@HeyItsLukkait’s a perfect excuse to replay the game
Dido, just here to comment to bless the algorithm
I think the ending served the game right. It was a game about grief and the ending leaves you how grief does. You’re waiting the whole game for it to have one redeeming quality and instead of meeting Delilah you get nothing. No satisfaction just a feeling of emptiness. That’s how grief feels.
Couldnt agree more!!
Came here to say almost the same thing. You practically took the words out of my mouth. I think the game is designed perfectly and it’s one of my few 10/10 story games.
Grief is like a mental prison. You are stuck in a situation where the path(s) where you would normally move on have been blocked. You need to find a completely new path. But you won't even see the new path clearly until you complete the grieving process. At the end of this story, the protagonist is ready to move on.
Ugh. I think I was not alone with a feeling of slowly falling in love with Delilah, and that final reveal was quite a gut punch, even if I saw it coming. It's probably the best game I played in a decade. The writing was so good, the characters so believable, absolutely outstanding.
Delilah and Henry trauma bond over the course of the game. Their whole relationship is based on their shared isolation and the events that unfold in the game. In the end the reality is that if they met in person it doesn't fix anything they both still have to go and face their lives. To me Delilah not being there when he makes it to her tower is push he needs to go back and face his life and what hes been running from that led him to that job.
seems like Julia and Delilah are opposite relationships for him. With Julia, she's not as there mentally anymore as she used to be, but she's physically there. With Delilah, she's there exclusively mentally, as she can only express her thoughts to him, but he'll never see her physical self.
That is such a good comparison! I never thought of that. Maybe it explains a bit why Henry quickly grows attached to Delilah- she is what he has been missing for these years and what he appreciated most in Julia.
I’ve come to realize the ending of this game is why it sticks with me. A clean “happily ever after” wouldn’t fit the tone at all-it’d almost feel out of place. The frustration you feel at the end actually pulls you deeper into the experience, making you feel like you’ve been through the same ups and downs as Henry. It’s like you’re left with the same weight he’s been carrying, and that unresolved feeling keeps the story alive in a way a perfect ending never could.
100%
Totally agree. It finishes like a real world story where not everything gets explained or neatly tidied up. This seems to catch out people who expect a video game stories to follow the usual conventions, which by accident or design Firewatch does not.
During the pandemic, I had my classes online. I met this girl, and we started to talk by messages. We began to talk about personal stuff, and, as you say, the fact of never being in person gave us a feeling of security, so we shared things that probably we wouldn't have done in perso. Eventually, I fell in love with her (I think she also, but I'm not sure), but the relationship reached its end. Once we talked daily, then we began to distance ourselves and one day we just never talked again.
When I saw her in person some years later, it wasn't the same, we both had changed from those teenagers.
When I se back now, I ask myself i it was really love or just an escape of my own problems. Sometimes I really miss our conversations, not in a romantic mood but as a friendship. Now she is only a good remember, one really good.
PD: Sorry if my english isn't good
My wife died of early onset dementia. The guilt arises from being flawed in so many ways in how to deal with it, from feeling so selfish. I sought isolation as a refuge from the day to day humanity. Hiking in nature is not prospective nor retrospective… I went there for introspection and escape from culture. What I found was peace and clarity from within because in the end you are the one you have to answer to. I lost friends and left a career behind. It transformed my life into the most authentic state. Now, my sons are my engine and I get to live. I am not the same as I was once was. I am broken and scarred inside, the strongest I’ve ever been in many ways.
When I tell you that the second I made it Delilah’s tower and when she wasn’t there. I sobbed when I played it the first time. I’m typically not a crier for videogames, with a couple notable exceptions. This one was the most emotional gut punch I ever felt in a game. At the time I had a few things in my life I was running from. Nothing as dramatic and crazy as Henry’s life but I had obligations, a recent death in the family I put down and tried to forget before confronting it emotionally, I had been neglecting school and telling my parents I was going to drop out. And when I played it the first time blind, I felt a lot like Henry, that feeling of always running away from something but never fully free. And the angelic voice of Delilah just seeming to play to my emotions perfectly, and it all seemed like it was going so well. And then I never met her. I was heart broken. I saw Henry as finally maybe getting something he wanted, maybe finally getting what he wanted without facing his own issues. It was like a sign that you could avoid your own problems if you just ran fast enough if you just went far enough. Maybe reading too much into that, but regardless, I had grown attached to Delilah. It was almost an emotional need and I desperately wanted to see her banter and chat and just be with Henry, especially after all the small flirts and comments made along the way. But then to just be left so high and dry, literally and emotionally. I was so angry at the time, I hated the game for doing that to me but honestly it’s incredible that it made me feel such a way.
What are the notable exceptions you speak of if you don't mind me asking? This game definitely did something for me emotionally back in the day and I have been looking for something as impactful ever since.
Outer Wilds is probably the game apart from Firewatch that gave me the most emotional experience. It's quite different and a lot less introspective, but gradually discovering the personal stories, grand ambitions and cruel tragedies of a long-lost alien race is deeply moving. Also, the mechanism where your progress in the game is as much your own increasing knowledge as the saved game itself is magical - but you can't experience it twice.
Thank you, I'll give it a go :)@@galfisk
Dont know this ended up on my reccomended, but i enjoyed it
Same
Great video. You've got yourself another sub. I loved Firewatch. One of my all-time favourite indie games. In addition to your points, I also like how the game makes us reflect, as gamers, why we play games. I've often used games as a form of escapism, and playing Firewatch was no different. So at the end, when we find out that all the "conspiracies" have really rational and mundane explanations, we realise that we, as humans, crave to be at the centre of our own story, with stakes and meaning. And yet, in the cold light of day, most of the stories we tell ourselves are just that: stories. It's a sobering yet important ego check, and one that Campo Santo did masterfully.
So true-really nice perspective and well said :)
‘Peace is not in reaching for the unreachable but embracing the present and our place within it’
Perfectly said.
I’ve never heard the dialogue where Henry doesn’t know Delilah isn’t waiting for him at the tower, really adds another layer to hear that
I know! I got a lot more out of replaying the game and choosing new answers. If you really liked it the first time it might be worth considering a replay
As others have said, it's nice seeing smaller channels get recommended. These days I can't even get RUclips to recommend channels I'm already subbed to if I just habnr watched them in a few months. It must be brutal for making content. I thank You, for Your time.
This was on my recommended for a week. Looking at the thumbnail, interested but also didn’t care much.
It’s 4:22am, I just got home from work, parked my car and watched the whole thing in here while I’m stuck in my own life feeling like I work so hard but never get anywhere.
You have a wonderful and interesting way of breaking down the philosophy. Can’t wait for more.
Iv recently been going through a few things(who hasn't lol) and finding peace is something I've been struggling with. I kinda need this as a reminder to look inward for peace as opposed to saying "I need to get this done and then I'll have peace."
Thank you, and great work.
Right there with you my friend. Take care
Great audio quality and an immediate mythology and philosophy lesson? Phenomenal. I hope your content takes off and you continue to make bangers like this.
Thanks for the kind words!
I saw this on my FYP, and I really needed this reflection time. This has been an awesome break from doom scrolling. Absolutely love this type of content. You've earned yourself another sub.
Commenting so that the algorithm will find you, keep up the good work
I loved Firewatch, it touched my heart in the opening few moments of text dialogue and was a great emotional experience, thanks for the great video
The fact that a review this good and deep came from a channel this small genuinely surprised me in the best ways possible. Well done man, I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with next!
Just played and finished the game because of this video. I only watched 3 mins and then downloaded it, beat it, and came back to finish the video! The game was good. It's what I needed: to get back to story elements and not be distracted by shiny, flashy, instant gratification. Thank you
Same here, got to 1:30 and stopped. The intro of this made me have to go play it.
Amazing work! I can't wait to see where your channel goes!
Thank you so much!
I'd never quite looked at it in this way. I love Firewatch. I watched a few people play it, fully, before I ever stepped in, and yet....when I finally did, even though I knew the story, I was hit with a completely different set of emotions. He did try and escape to the wilderness, and yes, by the time you are done, that route back up to the tower from the bottom of the canyon is so well known to you, and somehow still completely new. I remember filling up the camera, every single picture was considered, and had meaning, but ultimately said nothing at all about Henry, or about his life...they were just....pretty pictures. And that was what really hit me in the end I think, this entire game is 'pretty' but ultimately everything Henry takes away with him is not physical (poor Turt Reynolds) but spiritual, and emotional, and that is what the great outdoors can do for all of us I think.
Awesome video dude, really did make me think, and the classicist in me loved the links between Tantalus and Henry.
great video, happy this whowed up on my feed.
Firewatch is a Masterpiece, thanks for making that clear once again. I really enjoyed your analysis, this deserves more recognition!
Honestly, this is one of the best videogame breakdowns I've ever watched. Your interpretation of henry´s story is absolutely beautiful, and as a guy who just broke up with his long distance girlfriend, i relate to this story a lot, the way a relationship through a screen is just... empty. Thank you, Lukka, well done.
Glad you found the some personal take away from it-that’s the goal
Loved this essay. Thanks for this!
I loved this essay! Well done my friend, I am glad YT recommended it. I really enjoyed the story of Tantalus in the beginning. That parallel helped anchor your entire video and leaves me thinking afterward. Keep it up!
This essay is professional and personal at the same time. Firewatch is one of those games that you just have to experience to understand, and you explained it perfectly. Thank you for giving this game the love it deserves🙏
I first played this game when I around 8, but never really understood it. I just thought it was fun. Now that I am 13 (still young I know), and especially after losing my father to cancer about a month ago, my view on this game really changed. It has so much symbolism in it like you mentioned and I just never noticed. great video by the way
Im sorry for your lost, you are still young. I hope you still have the drive and direction. I know nothing much but hoping for you to get it through.
I remember playing Fire Watch in high school, a truly captivating story. Your interpretation is truly beautiful, and I am glad to have stumbled across this video. I think I might reply fire watch now.
I played it for the first time maybe 6 years ago now. When I played it again I was surprised how much I got out of it the second time. Try playing it again but choosing different responses than previously-you’ll get more out of it
Thanks for stopping me @ 3:35. I’ll play the game and come back
Same! Just downloaded it after years of saying I should.
I hadn’t fully grokked the full irony of Henry taking the job to avoid watching the tragedy of his wife’s mind being consumed by dementia, when the job is literally to watch for the tragedy of a forest being consumed by fire.
It’s even right there in the title. 🤦🏼♂️ Great video.
This is an amazing video! I hate when videos talk about a specific games meaning for 3 hours straight and managing to do that in 15 minutes and amazingly made me subscribe!
This is a really well polished video essay that I really enjoyed. Thank you for creating this
Please keep doing these videos. Your voice is so soothing and the essays are excellent.
Glad you highlighted the gate shoving because you know we all did it lol
Wow, great job, really. Firewatch is an amazing game and a great life lesson. To this day, Firewatch made me look at my own life and how I'm stuck in an endless loop of looking for something that isn't just going to happen. I truly love this game and I'm still searching for another one just like it, thing is, it's not out there.
Again, amazing job, this video was AAA, thanks.
I love the story of Tantalos, or well all greek myths and their philosophical implications for that matter.
This was such a great video. I really enjoyed the structure and how calmly you spoke, very nice to listen to🫶🏻
Thank you :) that’s really nice to read
Firewatch is an incredible game and I love your take. The depth and incredible thought behind this amazed me and I so look forward to seeing more of your content . Thanks ❤
As everyone's said, it's great to see a small channel get recommended, and the video in itself is great and well-polished. Gained a subscriber for sure, keep up the great work! As a small one myself I know I'm nowhere near as polished as this, it's great to see, and pushes me to be better too.
I love that people are still covering my favourite game I’ve ever played. I played it blind only off seeing the trailer on the PlayStation store and now have around 60 hours in the game 100% completed it and have done multiple playthroughs. 10/10 game and it’s people like you that are still keeping the game relevant today
I found this channel totally by accident but I’m glad I did. I’ve never come across this game but I like the format, instead of mindless violence or just brain numbing addiction this instead is soul searching and meaningful. I like that. Great channel, keep it up. I’ll be back for more. 😉👍🏻
YOUR Henry's story ended that way. Mine waved off the chopper and marched back to Delilah's tower to sit and wait for the fire to come. Don't forget that everybody's experience will be unique.
True!
Listening to you explaining about the video game was absolutely incredible. You have a new follower now thank you. 🙏
This was right up my alley. Keep making videos. You have a good voice and you kick ass at writing.
Excellent video. Also set to Firewatch as a backdrop makes for a brilliant experience. Even after 8 years this game is beautiful. Your analogy is very similar to my view of the game however I adore how eloquent and poetic your presentation is. Your use of gameplay and the OST makes this video a real masterpiece. This video genuinely made my day mate. :D
Thank You RUclips for this recommendation. Quality video.
Glad to see someone appreciates the ending as much as i did!
Video just popped up out of nowhere, but I'm glad it did. Great work merging philosophy principals with modern gaming. You should do more like this.
This was a really good video, I always love essays and reviews about games like this and Firewatch I think is the most exquisite example of why these reviews are so entertaining. I hope your channel grows.
Your video is awesome! I love the thought you put on this amazing game. I wish you much success to your channel and I'll keep following you for the next video!!
Thank you for this Video! It was an amazing 15 Minute Journey i will never forget
This video felt premium to watch man,as someone who played the game i see how your analysis ties in with the themes of "freedom" when it's just escapism,you earned a sub.
Clicked on the video in my recommended and watched till the end without looking at the view or sub count. I would have guessed you had at least 100k subs on the lowest end. This was incredibly well put together production wise and I truly enjoyed your arguments and opinions. I hope you keep sharing your thoughts & ideas!
Thank you!!
The quality of production here from such a small channel is phenomenal. Instant sub. I look forward to seeing this channel grow.
Thank you!
Your video was randomly suggested to me this evening, I'm pleased it was. I played Firewatch back in 2016 when it was released, and it's stuck with me ever since. In the kind of way that very few games ever have. Since that first playthrough, the image of the tower has been the lockscreen on my phone and background on my computer. There's something about the story and feeling of calmness to the art style that worked so perfectly, and watching your video made me feel strangely nostalgic. Anyway, I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this comment but felt compelled to leave it anyway. So thank you for making this video, loved your breakdown and agree with your analysis. In my opinion, the only other game that's come close for feels is Life is Strange 2. That story had me melted.
I really like the visuals of Firewatch and the relaxed pace as well. Was a really enjoyable first play through.
I was disappointed on trying to play it a second time. I thought I’d try making different choices and would end up with a different experience. But, at best the changes the order of a few things but all the results seemed to be the same. I really think it would have been interesting if choices made really mattered.
I'll never forget the emotional roller coaster this game put me through. Top 5 games all time for me. Keep up the great content! I really enjoyed the video!
the feeling you get playing firewatch for the first time is truly a unique feeling, good to finally know why. thank you
This is one of the only video essays that made me lean back in my chair and think a little. Damn, so well thought out and so nicely put together. Bravo, this is definitely something you need to do more of, absolutely enjoyable.
Thank you so much :)
This one of the most refined video essays I’ve listened too, keep up the work man
@@biblit5590 thank you, I appreciate that!
@ man I really hope you keep this up. You got genuine talent and it seems like a good passion for whatever you’re talking about.
Looking forward to seeing more analysis videos like this, your growth will only be exponential on this page with the quality you're showing
Good video.
Unfortunately with youngsters, I don’t have time for video games anymore.
But the topic was relatable and I appreciate the time, thought and effort that went into this.
Even without having experienced the game, I feel I can relate to this.
A few deployments into my time in the military, I started feeling like I was chasing something. To the point that I volunteered to go to Afghanistan my last trip over in 2010.
I suppose it’s a moot point since that thing is over (note the date - 11/20/2024)
US forces will be back there…
Anyways, I never could catch whatever I was chasing.
Never did now that I am home either.
Good video. I look forward to looking at more of your content 🤙
Earned yourself a new subscriber!! Immaculate production quality
bro this video is way too well made, the voice, editing, the analyses, everything is too good for such a small channel, you are surely gonna grow man love it, love the game and ur take on it too
Thanks a lot for saying that!
great video, your voice is really great too, deep and heavy, and Firewatch is crazy, thank you for that :)
I've watched the video fully, knowing that I spoiled the game for myself, but I know for a fact I will be fully immersed regardless.
This is such a wonderfully put together video, I look forward to seeing more!
I played this when it was first released. The visuals enthralled me, but playing it has left an indelible mark upon me. So much so, that all these years later I still seek out content relating to the game. Also I refuse to replay it as I don’t want to sully the memories of playing. Thanks for an excellent analysis of the characters and their motivations.
This was a really good video essay. Thanks Lukka
Your video randomly appeared on my feed this evening. I played the game back in 2017 I believe, I’d admit it pulled on my heart strings and I don’t think there’s been a game which the ending has affected me as much as it did.
Listening to your interpretation, it makes a lot of sense. It frustrated me in a way I couldn’t put words too. I remember when I finished the game, I googled to see whether there was any alternative endings to the storyline, where the two characters actually meet.
I was left, wanting more, feeling disappointed that I couldn’t get the ending I wanted, which I guess is the entire point.
Nonetheless, it was a beautiful game, I loved everything about it.
Great content fella.
Beautiful job. Thank you.
phenomenal game...i could not put it down when i played it several years ago. i'd recently lost my mom, and i wasn't expecting this game to strike so close. unforgettable game for me.
Great analysis! I feel like this game went over the heads of many who played it. When I walked away from it I was haunted by it for years and kept thinking about the characters and their motivations. It's always fun to watch an insightful look at Firewatch.
Thank you!
This really is an amazing video, hats off to you sir.
I really loved the game, and already felt a lot of the emotions you are putting into words, but I had never looked at the entire picture like this.
I’m glad I found this video! From what I understand about dementia, the more one tries to grasp at a memory or thought the more out of reach it becomes. Another similarity to Tantalus.
I've come to notice that the majority of games that stick with me in my thoughts or sort-of reshape my conscience tend to be the ones that don't make everything crystal clear and don't explain every minute detail to the point where nothing is left up for interpretation. Not to say that the games that do that are necessarily bad, they just lose that sense of wonder. Similar to the way El Camino didn't need to happen for Breaking Bad, we never needed to know what happened to Jesse. It wasn't a bad film, just something that by it's mere existence makes BB lose some of allure.
Firewatch is and has been my favorite game ever since it released. I've seen a ton of analyses on it, more than I can pint point. It brightens my day and makes me appreciative towards the product, art and the people behind it seeing how even now, 8 years later, there's even more to look between the lines at something that was there since the very beginning. Hindsight making it even more powerful. I'm glad I stumbled upon your channel and this thought provoking video that in 15 minutes brought me some new thoughts and perspectives on a piece of media that I hold dear to myself.
Just wanted to leave that out there, stuff you make matters and if it reached me, touched me, it's sure to leave an impact on another with another. Being able to occupy someone else's thoughts with your own has to be one of the greatest feelings as a creator of or spokesman for any piece of media. As time becomes much more "managed" and actually finding the time to sit down and consume is less frequent, I want to leave a mark or leave some feedback in case I don't happen to stumble upon your content in the future. I hope our paths cross on this platform once more, as I seriously enjoyed the structure and presentation of what you have at display.
Thank you for the kind words. Couldn’t agree with you more and well said. Cheers!
Great video. Got chills. Keep up the work
Much appreciated!
A fantastic essay! Very enjoyable to hear this analysis, keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!
Great video man, really good production values and loved the script. Look forward to you developing the channel
You earned yourself a new subscriber with this video. I enjoyed it!
10/10 video! I can't believe this channel doesn't have more subs!
Thx for the spoiler alert, I haven't played Firewatch, and I'm not even really a big gamer, but you set the intro up so well that I think I'll give this one a go! Cheers!
I feel like you managed to look at the game in a different way than a lot of the other Firewatch essays out there and it hit me a lot harder. Great work!
I really enjoyed this deep dive into the themes. I can tell you put a lot of work into this.
I honestly never really tried to analyze Firewatch like this. But i´m glad I found your Video. Keep up the good Work👍
wonderful work I can't believe it only has 299 views
Games like this and videos like yours give me hope that there are still people who care about making good art. I loved the ending, and I honestly would have been disappointed if Henry actually met Delilah in person.
This game is the definition of melancholy, but in a good way. Thank you for this video.
Great vid! It was summed up perfectly above so I hate to rehash, but this quality definitely deserves more subs! Keep it up! I'm simply commenting to hopefully drive engagement
Great job on the video, I enjoyed it very much!
This was an awsome video. It really made me consider and think. You are a talented writer indeed!
Hey thanks for this it made me look at the game full differently and i love this perspective and i think its teaching us to live in the present and always care about eachother even when someone is sick or something like that❤
Firewatch and Journey saved me from giving up gaming after 35 years.
Amazing experiences.
i Would love to see a Outerwilds video like this. I really enjoyed it you captured exactly what i was thinking while playing the game. Thank you for the great content im a new sub
I'll have to replay this game, 8 years later. I need to see just how imprisoning that forest can be. Thank you
I absolutely loved the "You can't run away from your problems" theme in this game which has driven me to play it multiple times over the last eight years.
Firewatch is definitely one of my favorite examples of masterfully minimalist storytelling in modern games.
Your channel has potential for growth, I'd say at least up to 50K and why not more. Keep going.
never played the game, but talking about it like that in the intro finally convinced me, i dont want spoilers so uh sorry for not counting as a view, ill give you a thumbs up tho
terrific work, please keep it up!
I will, thank you!
Thx for the deeper meaning in life, i'm in pretty low spot rn and this clip helped me
Hang in there friend