Flash Point: Fire Rescue
- March 29, 2018
- RetroEpic Software
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Flash Point: Fire Rescue" is a turned-based strategy game where you lead a team of firefighters to rescue survivors from a burning building. Use limited action points and specialized abilities to explore, fight fires, and save lives before the structure collapses. Based on the board game from Indie Boards and Cards, it offers easy-to-learn tactics and a Family Rules mode for quick play.
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Reviews
- Great adaptation of the original board game with added maps and scenarios, enhancing the overall experience.
- Fun and challenging gameplay that is easy to learn but difficult to master, providing a rewarding experience.
- Visually appealing graphics and animations that bring the firefighting theme to life, making it enjoyable to play.
- Clunky controls and a confusing interface that can lead to frustrating misclicks and unintended actions.
- Lack of an undo button, making it difficult to correct mistakes during gameplay.
- Multiplayer functionality is limited and often problematic, with issues in remote play and controller support.
- graphics18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their pleasing aesthetics, vibrant animations, and cute visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. While some users noted that the busy visuals can occasionally clutter the interface, the overall impression is that the graphics are beautiful and effectively convey the game's themes. However, a few players mentioned that the graphics may be overly demanding on system resources, impacting performance.
“The graphics are pleasing enough, and the look of the firefighters with their animations of putting out fires and rescuing people are nice.”
“Graphics are gorgeous otherwise, and gameplay is great.”
“Overall though, it's a game with wonderful visuals that remains faithful to the feel of the original and which anyone interested in board game renditions, coop games, or family games should definitely check out.”
“The graphics are okay, but it's more like a whack-a-mole game and has little to do with fire or rescue.”
“As busy as the visuals can become due to multiple events, the flyout menus can become visually lost or junky.”
“But they seem to overtax the processor a bit more than they should - I'd prefer less enthusiastic graphics and smoother interface action.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a realistic big band jazz soundtrack that fits the game's aesthetic, though some players find it repetitive and more suited for a mafia-themed setting than the game's actual time period. While many appreciate the upbeat swing music during gameplay, others express a desire for more variety. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received, with some wishing for a standalone recording to enjoy outside the game.
“Also, the soundtrack is so good I wish I had a recording I could play on loop, including all of the extra flairs when game events happen.”
“Great big band music.”
“I really enjoy rescuing people from a burning building while listening to the up-tempo jazz music.”
“The sounds are all realistic enough, but the biggest complaint is the loop of swing music that plays in the background.”
“While the music may have been alright for a game set in the late 1920s or early 1930s, it feels more suited for a mafia-themed game.”
“The music is repetitive (I know, I know, everyone else digs it).”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and incorporates mechanics from the original board game along with additional elements, enhancing the experience without the complexity of setup. While the core loop is solid, some players feel that the pressure to act quickly can detract from the social dynamics and overall enjoyment. The visuals are praised, but there are concerns about the interface and the balance of gameplay mechanics.
“So, the core gameplay loop is solid and it's engaging to play with the systems.”
“It has all the mechanics from the original board game, plus elements (such as specialist firefighters) from the board game expansions, without the hassle of setting up a complex board with a lot of dice rolling.”
“The developers are very visual people, I guess, and not really gameplay fanatics.”
“It feels like that forces me to play quickly (which thematically makes sense), but just doesn't really work with the mechanics of the game, when you're just struggling to stay alive.”
“There are additional mechanics on top: if an already burning square heats up again, it will explode, spreading fire everywhere and weakening any walls it hits.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is engaging but criticized for being too short, with players expressing a desire for additional missions or expansions. The narrative is complemented by character-specific abilities that enhance gameplay, though some players find the initial difficulty level challenging, particularly during the tutorial mission.
“The paramedic can do a much better job at escorting wounded civilians out than the others, the captain can give other players extra movement points, the driver can operate the fire truck's water cannon better than others, etc. Everyone has their use, and if some specialty is no longer needed during a mission, players can freely swap characters at the fire truck.”
“My only complaint is that I finished all the missions too quickly.”
“I'd buy a small expansion just for some new missions.”
“I struggled to successfully complete the 'tutorial' mission for a few tries as well and can understand why people feel frustrated and that the difficulty is too high.”
