This is a mixed recommendation from me.

This is very much a walking simulator. A very GOOD walking simulator, but a walking simulator none the less. I went into it knowing what it was, and so that isn't a knock against it at all.

The visuals are top notch, both in graphical power and in artistic design. I really enjoyed seeing so many vistas that looked like they were ripped straight off the covers of 1950s sci-fi novels. Truly, a rare treat. The voice acting if fantastic with excellent performances all around. The writing was excellent, up to a point - and that point is why this game is a mixed recommendation for me. I'll go into it a little more below, caution, mild spoilers.

There are several different endings to the game, the bad ones are, well, bad endings. But even may of the "good" endings are actually quite bad. The ending that I got on my playthrough was one of those bad "good" endings, where the game just abruptly stops. Turns out, something that I did near the very beginning of the game - a thing that the game TOLD me to do - prevented me from getting any other ending. I was gobsmacked when the game just suddenly went red and the credits rolled. It felt like a completely ridiculous way to end the game. Trying my best to avoid spoilers, a man you help points a gun at you and the game just *poof* ends. I reloaded, and seconds before, he was still laying on the floor unconscious, no gun anywhere to be found, nothing that I could do differently at that point. So, that left a very sour taste in my mouth.

To go back to the writing for a second, there is a conversation near the end where you are discussing necro evolution with that man. The idea here was to help the player understand what's going on. But the way it's written is full of completely baseless jumps in logic and assumptions that have no backing other than a wild theory that the character makes up right there on the spot. It is a long-winded explanation about what is going on on the planet, but it is based on pure conjecture.

So, TLDR: good game up until the last 30 mins or so.

4/5 - Good

This is a walking simulator with high production values and an awesome retro sci-fi vibe. Definitely worth playing, but I would get it on sale since it's mostly a "once and done" type of game.

Firewatch in space