Fighting fires is an occupation few are cut out for and fewer given the opportunity to experience first hand. The smoke, heat, claustrophobia, life and death stakes; it takes a strong will and nerves of steel to become engulfed in flames while trying to keep a structure from burning to the ground long enough to usher those trapped within to safety.
Developer Epicenter Studios has done an admirable job translating the ins and outs of firefighting to the Nintendo Wii in Real Heroes: Firefighter. Dousing flames is the primary gameplay mechanic and will eat up several hours spanning 9 missions and narrative with sometimes humorous voiceover work by itself. But a decent smattering of puzzles using alternative tools helps break up the monotony of spraying water for extended periods of time like real firefighters are tasked to do.
Using first-person mechanics for shooters inspired by a slim lineup of Wii games like Metroid Prime, players use a hose as the primary weapon as opposed to a gun and ride along with a fire company to battle blazes using numerous tricks of the trade. Is a door in the way? Then pull out an axe and cut it down. Is the smoke too heavy? Then crouch while you walk or smash a window to ventilate. Gas leak won’t let you by? Then find the valve and shut it off. Wooden crate blocks the path? Then push it out of the way. How about getting past a metal door the axe has no effect on? Pry it open, of course.
Epicenter Studios was able to put some thought behind how these tools and actions would be performed using the Nunchuk and Remote by developing Real Heroes: Firefighter exclusively for Wii. What they have delivered are controls that require precision as opposed to spastic shaking by aiming at a target on the screen and executing an action while the target is within your crosshairs. Firefighting is a skilled profession against an unforgiving foe not easily slowed so forcing quick on-the-fly thinking to complete tasks with specific actions only adds to the immersive experience.
The Wii’s first-person controls are welcome but do bring some baggage that cannot be dropped from adjusting the settings. Looking around and aiming via the Nunchuk and Remote are extremely sensitive to subtle movements. This is not such a big deal after playing for awhile and becoming accustomed to the sensitivity. But you can easily find yourself unexpectedly staring into the ceiling or floor when trying to work quickly as a fire spreads and the screen edges bleed red denoting damage being taken.
If you have ever seen a firefighter after battling a blaze then you may have noticed they are physically exhausted and ready to collapse. Real Heroes: Firefighter will not send you crashing to the couch. Maintaining a steady targeted stream of water on countless fires while wrestling the overly sensitive controls will test your wrist’s endurance and mind’s patience.
Visually Real Heroes: Firefighter is relatively bland yet decent, despite the presence of jaggies, and more than holds its own against other Wii titles in the same price range. Fire is the unwelcome star and has been designed to change appearance depending on where it is burning. Flashes of fire on the floor look like little bonfires while a larger area will look like one big cohesive blaze. Fires raging on a ceiling look like a bright creeping fog that might jump down and burn you at any second. The dynamic smoke these fires produce accurately make it a lot harder to navigate a burning room or building. Nothing offered is groundbreaking by any means and for the purpose of the game’s intentions does not need to be.
Real Heroes: Firefighter is an engaging and immersive firefighting experience that successfully counter-programs its small controls and monotonous hose spraying quirks with enough distractions and puzzle variation to keep the missions rolling smoothly. Beyond the game’s tacky and cheap cover is a relatively fun and fresh take on approaching Wii first-person shooters that you don’t need to don a big yellow hat, breathing gear or fireproofed suit to enjoy.
– Dan Bradley
Shop for Real Heroes: Firefighter for Wii at Amazon.com.
