Flashing Lights: Police Fire EMS
- May 15, 2023
- Nils Jakrins
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Flashing Lights - Police Fire EMS" is a immersive simulation game that allows players to join the police, fire department, or emergency medical services in an open world. Players can complete unique missions as part of a 10-player online co-op or solo, and have access to department-specific vehicles and equipment. The police are equipped for high-speed responses and various life-saving equipment, while the fire department focuses on putting out fires and rescue operations.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- graphics524 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing them as outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, often comparing them unfavorably to modern games like GTA V. While some users appreciate the visual style and detail in vehicle models, others find the overall quality lacking, with frequent mentions of poor optimization and performance issues even on high-end systems. Despite these criticisms, a segment of players still enjoy the game for its gameplay mechanics and potential, hoping for future graphical improvements.
“Nice game overall, the graphics are insane.”
“This is an enjoyable game; the graphics are amazing overall. 100% recommend.”
“The graphics are outstanding and it is lots of fun to play on all 3 teams.”
“Graphically, the game looks like a mobile GTA 5 knock-off.”
“For a game that has been released on June 7, 2018, the graphics are still bad. The developing team needs to put more work and effort into the game; it has a lot of potential but lacks realism.”
“The graphics are so realistic it cannot be explained.”
- story404 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and variety, with many players noting that missions are repetitive and uninspired, often leading to boredom. While the gameplay allows players to take on roles as police officers, paramedics, or firefighters, the missions tend to be simplistic and frequently bugged, detracting from any potential narrative engagement. Overall, players express a desire for more diverse and challenging missions, as well as a more cohesive storyline to enhance the gaming experience.
“Through its engaging gameplay, heartfelt storytelling, and emphasis on professionalism and compassion, the game serves as a powerful tribute to these unsung heroes, reminding us all of the courage and dedication required to serve and protect others.”
“Each mission is unique and the game semi-accurately presents what it would be like to be a police officer, medic, or fireman.”
“Overall, the idea behind this game is excellent, and the missions included so far are decent.”
“The missions are repetitive and uninspired, offering no sense of progression or challenge.”
“Once you've played a few missions, you've essentially seen everything the game has to offer.”
“The game is poorly designed, the same mission everywhere and nothing interesting.”
- gameplay366 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its repetitive nature, clunky mechanics, and poor AI, leading to a lack of engagement after a short period. While some appreciate the unique roles and cooperative multiplayer aspects, others feel that the game is still in a semi-finished state, requiring significant improvements in graphics, mechanics, and overall polish. Despite its potential, many users express disappointment over the developers' focus on DLC rather than addressing core gameplay issues.
“Whether you're patrolling the streets as a police officer, rushing to the scene of a medical emergency as a paramedic, or battling towering infernos as a firefighter, each role offers a unique and immersive gameplay experience that highlights the challenges and responsibilities faced by these real-life heroes.”
“The gameplay, despite its early access state, is crisp and enjoyable (I say this with 14 hours invested).”
“With its focus on realism and cooperative multiplayer gameplay, Flashing Lights provides a fresh and immersive experience for players.”
“The gameplay is so repetitive that after about 5-10 minutes you will be bored.”
“There is a lot to improve before starting to make DLC; the game has many bugs and is missing a lot of mechanics. It has potential, but at the moment I cannot recommend it, especially if you are only releasing DLC to earn easy money.”
“The mechanics in this game are fairly solid, but the gameplay is a horrendous mess in its current state and there are a million bugs.”
- stability298 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Many players express frustration over the lack of significant improvements despite the game's long development period, noting that the game often feels unfinished and unpolished. While some find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these issues, the consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess" that requires substantial fixes before it can be recommended.
“Good game that is a great representation and, for an alpha game, is relatively bug-free.”
“Runs great on lower-end PCs.”
“The game is extremely buggy and with how this game is slowly developing I would definitely not recommend this at all specifically at this time.”
“Honestly this game has forever been buggy, the game engine being used is just an absolute crap house, and I can't even play online because people leave the server and it cancels everything... do not buy unless you want to go clinically insane.”
“This game is so buggy that it borders on pointless to play.”
- optimization161 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, especially in multiplayer settings, leading to a frustrating experience even on high-end PCs. Players express a strong desire for the developers to prioritize optimization over new content to enhance stability and performance.
“Compared to the early test version, game optimization has improved and the content is more diverse.”
“The game, while in early access, is doing well, but would like to see some performance improvements; otherwise, it is shaping up to be a great game.”
“Great game, optimization works and made the game playable again.”
“The optimization is really terrible...they ended early access just so they can release paid add-ons.”
“This game is unoptimized.”
“The glaring performance issues very much hinder the experience, and any servers with 3 or more people are bound to run into lag and connection instability.”
- humor58 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as hilarious, particularly when played with friends, as the numerous glitches and janky mechanics lead to unexpected and funny situations. While the initial novelty may wear off after a few hours, many players find joy in the absurdity of the gameplay and the chaotic interactions with AI. However, some users note that the humor can become repetitive and that the game's overall quality is lacking, making it more of a "so bad it's funny" experience.
“With an open world full of opportunities for role-play and the lifeline of player-created mods, flashing lights turns mundane moments into hilarious escapades.”
“Amazing funny multiplayer game to mess around with your friends in, it's a little janky but that's what makes it funny 10/10.”
“Despite some hilarious bugs and glitches, it has great potential.”
“Not funny to play in the 'death' city.”
“The game loads fine and starts fine but runs like crap and has so much lag it's not funny; I don't recommend this game.”
- grinding41 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 32 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as requiring "a second life" to endure. While the game's difficulty is manageable and grinding does not hinder progression, many feel that the experience becomes monotonous after a short period. Improvements in gameplay mechanics and user interface could enhance the overall enjoyment and reduce the grind.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's fun for an hour max. After that, it gets tedious with the same calls and bugs.”
“The single player needs more work than the multiplayer as it gets tedious pretty quickly.”
“Being EA, that's to be expected, but I cannot recommend a game that I currently find tedious.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as promising but currently limited, with some players noting its potential for infinite replayability once more content and features, such as mod support, are implemented. While the early access status allows for creativity and fun, many users feel that the repetitive nature of missions detracts from long-term engagement. Continued development is expected to enhance the game's replay value significantly.
“But put aside that needless nitpicking, and you'll have an amazing game with fantastic replay value, endless playable creativity (with or without friends), and unimaginable roleplay possibilities.”
“✅ infinitely replayable”
“I would love to see full Steam Workshop mod support; it makes the game a lot more replayable.”
“Right now it's still in early access but there is so much work to be done before I would see this as a viable and replayable game.”
“The callouts are very repetitive and the current replay value is not great.”
“If you want a complete experience with a lot of content and replay value... wait a bit.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it as a "cash grab" due to the early release and reliance on DLCs instead of enhancing the base game. While some players appreciate the potential and community aspects, the overall sentiment suggests disappointment in the developers' focus on monetization over delivering a polished and immersive experience.
“The game is priced at €24.99, but instead of adding content to the base game, the developers focus on creating DLCs, which feels like microtransactions to enhance the gameplay experience. I expected more from this game, to be honest.”
“I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without forcing them on players, allowing everyone to enjoy the core experience without feeling pressured to spend more.”
“The monetization model is fair, providing players with the choice to buy additional content while still allowing for a complete experience without spending extra.”
“Feels like another lazy cash grab simulator.”
“It's clear that Flashing Lights was released as a cash grab, with no intention of providing a polished and enjoyable experience.”
“Dev's released the game early to get in on a cash grab scheme so save your money because this game will go absolutely nowhere.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional tribute to first responders, highlighting their bravery and dedication through engaging gameplay and storytelling. However, some players criticize its technical aspects, such as graphics and repetitive missions, suggesting that while the emotional core is strong, the execution needs improvement. Overall, it resonates well with those who appreciate its homage to real-life heroes, despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“From the brave men and women of law enforcement to the dedicated paramedics and firefighters who risk their lives to save others, this game serves as a heartfelt tribute to their selfless dedication and unwavering commitment.”
“Through its engaging gameplay, heartfelt storytelling, and emphasis on professionalism and compassion, the game serves as a powerful tribute to these unsung heroes, reminding us all of the courage and dedication required to serve and protect others.”
“So don your uniform, buckle up, and prepare to answer the call of duty in this heartfelt homage to our real-life heroes.”
“Very poorly made, horrible graphics, boring story, repetitive missions.”
“Criminals, it's just the same boring story.”
- music7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many users noting a lack of ambient sounds and music, leading to a feeling of emptiness in the world. Some describe the audio experience as primarily consisting of filler noises rather than engaging musical elements.
“But the world feels very empty and there is hardly any ambient noise or music.”
“Just filling noises, no music.”
“Just filling noises, no music.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is criticized for being buggy and lacking immersion, failing to meet expectations for a realistic simulator. However, the community engagement adds a fun element, and improvements in sound and graphics could significantly enhance the overall experience.
“The community of the game seems to take it seriously, which creates a fun atmosphere.”
“Diversifying and enhancing the sounds could enrich the game's atmosphere even further.”
“The graphics and sounds draw players into the game's atmosphere, while updates and improvements could enhance the game's quality and competitiveness.”
“Has to be the buggiest game with the emptiest atmosphere for a title that tries to present itself as an immersive realistic simulator. I tried to like the game, but it does not meet normal standards and expectations.”
“The graphics and sounds draw players into the game's atmosphere, but updates and improvements could enhance the game's quality and competitiveness.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is criticized for its lack of depth, with poor character design and weapon mechanics, as well as minimal interaction with the environment or random events, leading to a less engaging experience for players.
“The character design and weapon mechanics are still poor, and there is little to no interaction with the environment or random events to keep the player interested.”
