911: First Responders
- April 13, 2006
- Empire Interactive
- 16h median play time
"911: First Responders" is a real-time strategy game for 1-2 players that can be played in single-player, multi-player, or co-op mode. As the head of a rescue and disaster management organization, command vehicles and staff from the fire department, medical rescue, police, and technical services. Navigate constant day/night cycles and changing weather conditions to save lives and be a real-world hero.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging experience with a variety of emergency scenarios to manage.
- The modding community is active, providing numerous mods that enhance gameplay, such as the LA Mod.
- The game is highly replayable, with both a challenging campaign and freeplay mode that keeps players coming back.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, particularly when using mods.
- AI pathfinding can be frustrating, leading to units getting stuck or not responding effectively to emergencies.
- The graphics and interface feel outdated, which can detract from the overall experience.
- story82 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a campaign consisting of 20 missions that challenge players to manage emergency response teams during various crises, from minor incidents to major disasters. While the missions are engaging and offer multiple ways to complete tasks, players often encounter unclear objectives and frustrating bugs that can hinder progress. Overall, the narrative experience is enriched by the variety of missions and the strategic gameplay, though it may require patience and the use of cheats to navigate some of the more difficult scenarios.
“This game offers a wide range of callouts, and the campaign has some really fun missions (currently just finished mission 4).”
“The open-ended nature of each assignment is also something to be noted and applauded - though some missions may have clear solutions, others require creative use of the tools at your disposal in order to save as many lives as possible.”
“The campaign in Emergency 4 consists of 20 missions that follow this vague pattern: there will be a little animation followed by an information text about what has happened and what you will need to do.”
“The biggest shortcoming are some bugs because of which I could not finish three missions.”
“This game's story sucks, let's get that out of the way.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered decent for its age, with many reviewers noting that while they may be dated and low-resolution, they are still functional and clear. Some players appreciate the nostalgic pixelated style, while others criticize the graphics as subpar, especially when compared to newer titles. Overall, the graphics are seen as a minor issue in light of the game's enjoyable gameplay.
“Good gameplay with a sandbox mode included, decent soundtrack and sound effects, good graphics for its age.”
“The graphics are absolutely okay, especially when you take into account that it is about 10 years old.”
“Graphics are still okay even if the game is old.”
“First, if you are kind of classic game phobia that throw up immediately because of DX9 graphics, don't waste your life on this game.”
“Going to be blunt here but the graphics suck, period.”
“The graphics are trash, it's pretty obvious.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring a sandbox mode, a variety of objectives, and a strong modding community that enhances replayability. Players appreciate the fun and fast-paced nature of managing multiple emergency response units, though some criticize control issues and AI pathfinding problems. Overall, while the gameplay can be challenging and sometimes repetitive, it offers a unique and engaging experience for those who enjoy trial-and-error mechanics and strategic planning.
“Good gameplay with a sandbox mode included, decent soundtrack and sound effects, good graphics for its age.”
“Numerous mods allow for countless hours of gameplay, from London to Los Angeles.”
“The gameplay is the best part of it, where you have to simultaneously deploy and manage multiple response units including firemen/firetrucks, ambulances/paramedics, police, negotiators, salvage vehicles, etc.”
“I met the first emergency game years ago, and I liked it, but it has a lot of control and gameplay problems.”
“Not a terrible game if you have a sufficiently high tolerance for trial-and-error gameplay (e.g. mouse over random junk to find pieces the bulldozer can move, mouse over random junk to find the one object the engineer can interact with, scan every pixel of the map to find casualties because a working minimap is for casuals, etc).”
“The AI pathfinding is poor, and even still there are a fair amount of glitches with hoses and other core game mechanics.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly related to AI behavior and mission replay issues. While many appreciate the modding capabilities and overall enjoyment of the game, others find it frustratingly unstable, especially in multiplayer mode. Overall, the game has a few rare bugs, but they are often overshadowed by its engaging gameplay.
“This Steam game is just a no-no; it's buggy, forces you to replay missions because something bugged out, and the AI is sometimes just stupid. The firefighters/medics won't get out of the car themselves, so you need to click on them every single time.”
“This game is very fun, but I can't run it anymore because of glitches.”
“The AI pathfinding is poor, and even still there are a fair amount of glitches with hoses and other core game mechanics.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers exceptional replayability, largely enhanced by a variety of available mods that significantly extend its lifespan and enjoyment. Players find it both challenging and fun, with many hours of engaging gameplay, making it a standout choice even compared to newer titles.
“Endless hours of fun and replayability with mods that are available.”
“Overall, with mods this game is extremely fun and endlessly replayable.”
“Especially with mod support that, like with many games, stretches its lifespan and replayability to new heights.”
“That said, there are plenty of mods that make this game a lot more playable.”
“Especially with mod support, which, like with many games, stretches its lifespan and replayability to new heights.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its great soundtrack and sound design, enhancing the overall experience without becoming repetitive. Players appreciate the appropriate sound responses from units and the well-researched audio elements that complement the lengthy campaign. However, some users noted technical issues, such as music not playing properly at times.
“Great soundtrack.”
“Good gameplay with a sandbox mode included, decent soundtrack and sound effects, good graphics for its age.”
“Well-researched subject material, a lengthy and challenging campaign, and exquisite sound and music design go hand-in-hand to create this gem of a game that deserves far more recognition than first appearances might suggest.”
“Won't play; only music and a black screen shows up.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel tedious after a short while.”
“The soundtrack feels disconnected from the gameplay, failing to enhance the overall experience.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some users experiencing significant framerate drops, while others report outstanding performance. Overall, it seems that the game's playability may depend on the user's system condition.
“Performance is outstanding.”
“Unfortunately, I had some performance issues: occasionally, the framerate dropped considerably.”
“Poorly optimized (as long as your computer is not loaded with viruses, it should be 'playable').”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, providing a welcome contrast to its more serious elements. Players find it particularly enjoyable when playing with friends, enhancing the comedic experience.
“Out of the depressing parts, onto a list of the things that made me laugh.”
“Very funny to play with your friend.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users describe the emotional aspect of the game as intensely impactful, likening the experience to "touching fire," suggesting a mix of vulnerability and profound connection that evokes strong feelings.
