Firewatch Soundtrack Review: This is a review of the video game score Firewatch by Chris Remo.
Buy the score here (if available)
At a glance:
Geek Score: 85.6
Total Minutes Of Excellence: 13.5
Album Excellence: 42.4%
How are the scores calculated and what does it mean?
Firewatch is a first person adventure video game developed by Campo Santo and published by Panic for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux and Playstation 4. Firewatch takes place in the Wyoming wilderness in 1989. Players take on the role of Henry (voiced by Rich Sommer), a fire lookout who is assigned to his own tower in Shoshone National Forest. Through exploration of the surrounding area, Henry uncovers clues about mysterious occurrences in the vicinity that are related to the ransacking of his tower while out on a routine patrol and a shadowy figure that occasionally appears watching him from afar. Henry’s only form of communication is a walkie-talkie connecting him to his supervisor, Delilah (voiced by Cissy Jones). Players may choose from a number of dialog options to interact with her when players discover new interactive objects or environments, or refrain from responding. The player’s choices will influence the tone of Henry’s relationship with Delilah. As the story progresses, new areas will be opened up for players. The game also features a day-night cycle, but time will only shift if players successfully complete all the objectives set for that period of time. The score is composed by Chris Remo.
This game is on everyone’s radar these days. It looks quite lovely but has been ridden with bugs specially on the PS4 version (that should be fixed now). I expect that an atmospheric game like this might have some nice soothing atmospheric Music. The score opens with ‘Prologue’ which is a lovely piano theme. I like the sound of the piano, it feels old, used and retro. It’s not just the piano, but there’s a lovely underscore as well with a guitar and ambience. I wonder if it’s retro sounding because the game is set in 1989. Well it’s not quite 80s sounding, but it isn’t modern sounding either. I do enjoy this sound though. ‘Stay In Your Tower And Watch’ also has a retro sound to it, maybe a bit more 70s style to this. The guitar is used more prominently here and the music feels rich.
It is a solitary existence being in those woods alone and the music kindly reflect that. It is the music of loneliness, much more so than I expected. When I listen to it I feel sort of trapped and alone. It’s a strange feeling, but the music is still soothing in it’s own way. It’s minimalistic in it’s construction and simple themes play along. It’s like folk music, or rather indie rock music and it preys on the lonely. I don’t know what to call the emotions this music evokes. Is it a hint of claustrophobia? Maybe it’s agoraphobia. Whatever it is, it is haunting me. It’s a fine score, but I’m afraid of the emotions it creates. Any score that can awake such emotions though is a success in my mind.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Prologue
5. North Backcounty
6. Camp Approach
8. Calm After The Storm
14. Hidden Away
18. Catching Up
