You battle loads of issues in video video games: zombies, terrorists, and people oddly enthusiastic blue slime issues from the Dragon Quest franchise. Fires, nevertheless, are usually not a very frequent foe. Certain, there was Konami’s Firefighter F.D.18 on the PS2 and even Burning Rangers on the SEGA Saturn, but it surely’s not as frequent theme as you’d anticipate it to be. Firefighting Simulator: The Squad follows within the footsteps of Farming Simulator, however given the subject material, it’s much more intense than cultivating crops.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll be liable for executing more and more troublesome rescue missions. The whole sport’s set in a fictional US-inspired metropolis sandbox, the place you’ll choose from an increasing listing of mission targets and disembark from a central fireplace station. You get to drive the fireplace engine, of which there are a number of formally licensed fashions to unlock, and a fast and clear response time will enhance your XP on the finish. You’ll be able to select to play alongside a workforce of AI firefighters, however the sport’s at its finest in on-line co-op, which is accessible throughout your entire marketing campaign.
The gameplay feels a bit free – you possibly can inform it’s been tuned for PC earlier than consoles – however every mission requires a level of technique. Usually you’ll discover victims unconscious of their houses, and also you’ll want to securely extract them and get them to a paramedic earlier than tackling the flames. The hearth spreads organically, and whereas blasting it with streams of water can really feel a bit tedious, you’ll have to suppose tactically about your workforce’s method to be able to wrestle again management of the state of affairs. It’s surprisingly difficult: one early mission noticed us take an eternity to douse a tree – it’s no surprise wildfires are so harmful!
The sport adopts a vibrant, SEGA arcade-style presentation, with brilliant blue skies and luxurious inexperienced gardens. As such, it truly finds a cheerful medium between realism and leisure – there are loads of genuine duties right here, sufficient to make you’re feeling such as you’re a reputable firefighter, but it surely’s not slowed down by meticulous particulars like some simulators are typically. This makes it a surprisingly stress-free expertise, regardless of the high-stakes rescues on show, and it’s the sort of marketing campaign you possibly can sit back with – particularly in case you’re planning to play in co-op with a bunch of buddies.
Our solely main criticism is that missions, whereas considerably different, do are likely to fall into a well-known sample, the place you’re switching off the electrical energy, plotting escape routes for any victims, after which dousing the flames. The totally different constructing layouts do inject some originality from goal to goal, and there are even some smaller scale duties like burning scorching canine stalls, however you’re going to really feel the pangs of repetition after a dozen or so hours. And in case you’re planning to play alone, regardless of the inclusion of a command wheel, you’ll find yourself cursing your braindead AI teammates.
Conclusion
Firefighting Simulator: The Squad takes an underrepresented idea and delivers a rousing co-op expertise. Regardless of its identify, the sport doesn’t get too slowed down in particulars, making for an entertaining gameplay loop that’s oddly stress-free – regardless of the extraordinary situations on show. Some shoddy AI and repetition imply we wouldn’t advocate it solo, however there’s simple enjoyable available with buddies.