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Emergency Fire Response
by Jolex Del Pilar
Monday, September 1 2003
Dreamcatcher's new title proves that games with "real" heroes can be fun too.
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Title:
Emergency Fire Response
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Platform:
Pentium II 500, 128MB Ram, 32MB video card, 1.5 GB free disc space.,
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Publisher:
Dreamcatcher Interactive |
Developer:
Monte Cristo |
#
of Players: 1 |
Genre:
Simulation/Strategy
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Origin:
United States
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Expected
Release:
August 2003 |
Grapevine:
Another noteworthy "fire fighting" game was Burning Rangers for the Sega Saturn. The game was released right at the end of the Saturn's lifespan and few gamers actually played it. |
Sometimes we get a game in the mail, and we're genuinely surprised. That happened last month with Dark Fall, as we were shocked that Myst-type games were still made. This month's surprise is of the delightful type. When Emergency Fire Response arrived in the mail, I nearly did a double take. A game about fire fighting? I quietly wondered what type of gamer demographic this title would appeal to. So with doubtful thoughts swirling in my mind, yet still attempting to be open minded, I installed the game which required a hefty 1.5 gigabytes (nearly as much as Baldur's Gate 2).
Surprisingly, perhaps for the wrong reasons on my part, the game is quite fun. It's a mission based game that has a setup very similar to Rainbow Six, an action/shooter. The missions are presented with a short briefing, complete with dramatic computer animated sequences that setup the situation. From a bankrupt business man committing arson to claim the insurance from his buildings, to a pop star who manages to burn down his expensive Villa, the mission presentation is well done.
Once a mission starts, you're thrown into a Warcraft III style game engine and interface, and given a set of directives. These can include anything from saving fire victims, to preventing explosive devices from destroying a warehouse. The control scheme, also similar to Warcraft III, features the cleanness and simplicity of the previously mentioned title. You can use the right-click technique on "hot spots" inside the map and your fire fighters will more or less do what they have to do. Whether it's fighting orcs...err... fires, or picking up hostages to bring to the ambulance waiting outside the burning building, it's easy and intuitive. It can even be said that a monkey (or e-zine editor) could jump into this game without reading the manual.
You also have specialized units for certain task. You have the regular fire fighters who will do just about anything from dousing fires to hacking down doors with axes. You have your fire fighter in an "approach suit" who can walk through fire that might hurt or even kill a non-equipped fire fighter. You also have paramedics for on the spot medical attention, as well as an extraction specialist equipped with a circular saw for getting through those barriers an axe just can't hack. In addition to your personnel, you also have access to vehicles in many missions including ambulances, ladder equipped trucks, helicopters for roof extractions, and tankers for oxygen and water refill.
The game looks splendid visually. Featuring a completely 3D engine, the game allows for a free roaming camera which gives you just about any view you need in the game.
The whole game concept itself is very simple but still fun. Your missions, objective based, will usually progress naturally without a hitch (i.e. - no getting stuck on what to do next). However, if there is one flaw in this game, it has to do with the A.I. Many times while I was dousing fires in a large warehouse, or factory, I'd give orders to some of my fire fighters to battle flames in a certain area, then I'd move the camera to another area that needed my attention. I'd come back to find that although my fire fighters had completed their task, they would sometimes just sit around and wait for me to give them more orders as new fires blazed perhaps 10 feet from their position. More initiative from the A.I would've have been nice, but perfection is often an impossible pursuit (except if your name is Shigeru Miyamoto).
In the end though, Emergency Fire Response is just a greatly polished title that features involving, yet entertaining gameplay in an unexpected backdrop, namely fire fighting. The mission based gameplay, coupled with the strategy elements in coping with multiple fires and injured hostages, really gives off a feeling of chaos that must be brought to order by your fire fighters. At $20, this game is a fairly good purchase (you could do a lot worse for that price). So if you're looking for a change from orcs and humans, or scientist named Gordon who happen to be amazingly adept at using weapons, then Emergency Fire Response might be for you.
--- Jolex Del Pilar
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