Info about Backfirewall_:

Official game description:
~A tragicomedy in your smartphone.~
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Backfirewall\_ is a first-person tragicomic adventure that takes place inside a smartphone. As the update assistant, you hold the fate of the System in your hands. Will you counter the update and save the chatty operating system OS9 from deletion?  
Begin a humorous escapade through various areas of the phone and solve clever puzzles. Meet colorful apps that inhabit the smartphone and have their own opinions about their boss, the update, and the godlike user.
Clever puzzles
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👁️‍🗨️ Review terminal errors in RAM, party in the Speakers’ exclusive nightclub, navigate through the Wi-Fi bureaucracy, and explore other areas of a smartphone.
Cheat-codes to manipulate the environment
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👁️‍🗨️ Hunt down or create bugs, trim binary trees, master music-controlled platforms, collect errors, and delete data using special cheat-codes.
A variety of app-characters
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👁️‍🗨️ Gossip with quirky pieces of software—the sassy Photos, the insecure Social Media F, or the neglected Health, among others—and uncover their distinct side stories.
Numerous collectibles
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👁️‍🗨️ Collect emails scattered about to discover a parallel story of the mysterious phone User.
Unproductive and useless humor
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👁️‍🗨️ Enjoy meta satirical humor and breaking the fourth wall.

Release date: 31. led. 2023

Categories: First-Person Perspective, Puzzle Solving, Narrative Adventure, Environmental Puzzle, Choice-based Narrative, Exploration, Environmental Storytelling, Character Interaction


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Exceptional Humor & Writing (weight 0.97): The game's humor, witty writing, and clever jokes are frequently highlighted as major strengths. Players found the game genuinely funny, charming, and comparable to titles like Portal and The Stanley Parable.
- Highly Praised & Undervalued Game (weight 0.82): Players consistently praise the game for its overall quality, unique charm, and creative design, often stating it offers significant value for its price. Many found it surprisingly brilliant and a must-have experience.
- Outstanding Voice Acting & Characters (weight 0.64): The voice acting is top-notch, bringing unique personalities to the well-developed and lovable characters. OS9, in particular, is singled out for its excellent voice performance and distinct, snarky personality.
- Enjoyable Short Experience (weight 0.38): The game offers a fun, breezy, and short narrative experience that doesn't overstay its welcome. Players enjoyed the gameplay and wished it could have lasted longer.
- Clever & Accessible Puzzles (weight 0.26): The puzzles are innovative, smart, and engaging, striking a good balance between being challenging enough to be interesting without being overly difficult or frustrating. Players appreciate that they don't get stuck.
- Unique & Appealing Aesthetics (weight 0.19): Players enjoyed the game's unique visual style, appealing art, and beautifully designed environments. The minimalistic graphics were also appreciated by some.
- Satisfying Emotional Impact (weight 0.17): The game's story and ending left a strong emotional impact on players, with many reporting being surprised, moved, or even brought to tears by the conclusion.
- Rich in Easter Eggs & Secrets (weight 0.1): The game is filled with numerous Easter eggs, secrets, and side quests that add to the fun and replayability, often accompanied by witty commentary.
- Appeals to Tech-Savvy Players (weight 0.07): The game's humor and references are particularly appreciated by programmers and those with computer science knowledge, who enjoy the witty tech-related jokes and sarcasm.
- Solid Technical Performance (weight 0.07): The game is generally bug-free, and any technical issues are mitigated by a well-developed autosave/checkpoint system, ensuring a smooth recovery and overall enjoyable experience.
- Creative & Interesting Concept (weight 0.07): The game's core concept is praised for its creativity and originality, providing an interesting premise for the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Weak Story & Characters (weight 0.66): The narrative is criticized for being dull, predictable, and shallow, with a slow pace and confusing plot points. Characters are generally perceived as bland, unlikable, and lacking the depth needed for player empathy or immersion, further detracting from the story's impact.
- Poor Replayability & Completion (weight 0.51): The game severely hinders completionists and achievement hunters due to the lack of a chapter select, forcing full restarts to collect missed items or achievements. This design choice makes replaying the game frustrating and unrewarding, as progress and collectibles are lost upon restarting a level.
- Significant Technical Bugs (weight 0.31): Players frequently encountered major bugs, including progression blockers, game crashes, and save file corruption. These issues often required restarting levels or even the entire game, severely impacting the gameplay experience and overall enjoyment.
- Boring & Basic Gameplay (weight 0.25): Many players found the core gameplay loop to be boring, basic, and lacking any standout features or fun factor. Tasks felt repetitive, and the game was often described as a 'walking simulator' with limited player agency.
- Lack of Player Control (weight 0.17): The game frequently takes away player control for unskippable cutscenes and exposition, which can be frustrating. Additionally, the absence of manual saving and reliance on a tight autosave system limits player agency and flexibility.
- Excessive Storage Requirement (weight 0.15): The game demands an unusually large amount of hard drive space (around 35 GB) despite its stylized graphics, minimal textures, and short playtime. This suggests poor optimization of file size, which is a significant concern for many players.
- Unsatisfying Ending (weight 0.08): The game's ending left a negative impression on some players, described as painful, distressing, and generally bad. This suggests a lack of emotional resolution or a conclusion that did not resonate positively with the audience.
- Failed Meta-Narrative (weight 0.08): The game's central meta-concept and fourth-wall-breaking elements did not resonate with players, failing to create the intended immersive experience of being inside a smartphone. The satirical elements were also deemed insufficient.
- Unresponsive Controls (weight 0.08): Players experienced issues with clunky and stiff controls, making it difficult to interact with environmental elements. Specific instances, like being unable to click trees, highlight a lack of responsiveness and clear interactive feedback.
- Annoying Voice Lines (weight 0.03): Some players found the character voice lines to be repetitive and annoying, eventually leading to a negative perception of the audio experience.
- Cringe Moments (weight 0.03): Based on limited feedback, some players found certain moments in the game to be 'cringe' or rough, indicating a potential issue with tone or content that did not land well.

Gameplay feedback:
- Varied Puzzle Gameplay (weight 0.57): The game features a mix of puzzle difficulties, generally described as fun and clever without being overly challenging. Players utilize unique abilities like deletion, duplication, recoloring, and inversion of objects, along with 'cheat codes' to manipulate the system and solve puzzles.
- Interactive Story & Choices (weight 0.44): The game is an interactive story with multiple endings influenced by player actions, such as saving or abandoning characters and thorough exploration. Players' choices regarding the OS update determine the fate of the system, adding depth and replayability.
- Moderate Game Length (weight 0.36): Player feedback on game length varies, with estimates ranging from 3 to 10 hours, but generally settling around 5-6 hours for a full playthrough. The main campaign is considered short, but additional content and replayability extend the experience.
- Unique Smartphone Setting (weight 0.34): The game is set inside a smartphone, where players explore abstract representations of its internal processes. This creative premise involves playing as an update assistant trying to prevent an operating system update, forming a mutual aid relationship with the current OS.
- Linear Level Progression (weight 0.07): Levels are designed with a linear progression, often preventing players from returning to previous areas once they've advanced. Each level introduces different mechanics to solve puzzles.
- Minor Gameplay Elements (weight 0.05): The game includes some minor elements like stealth and jumping, though these are not central to the core gameplay experience. Characters also have additional dialogue when interacted with multiple times.
- Miscellaneous Details (weight 0.03): Based on limited and low-quality feedback, there are mentions of specific pop culture references (ASDFmovie) and a duck in the game, which are minor details.
- Educational Aspects (weight 0.02): Some players found that the game subtly teaches about how computer systems work, integrating educational elements into its narrative and setting.

Performance notes:
- Good Steam Deck Performance (weight 0.25): The game generally performs well on the Steam Deck, with many players experiencing smooth gameplay even on higher settings. Some minor adjustments, like capping FPS or increasing TDP, can further optimize the experience for battery life or consistent 60 FPS.
- Inconsistent Framerate Issues (weight 0.2): Players reported occasional framerate stuttering and slowdowns, particularly in later game areas or when interacting with specific environmental elements like a problematic light source. While performance was generally stable, these dips impacted the overall smoothness of the experience.

Recommendations:
- Generally Recommended Experience (weight 0.57): Players largely recommend the game, often highlighting its unique qualities, humor, and creative ideas. Many suggest it's a worthwhile experience, especially if purchased at a good price or if players enjoy 'experience' games.
- Consider Sales and Demos (weight 0.06): Some players advise buying the game on sale or trying the demo first. This suggests that while the game is generally good, its value proposition might be stronger at a reduced price or after a preliminary taste of its unique style.
- Niche Appeal (weight 0.05): The game particularly appeals to those in Computer Science or players looking for a unique 'experience' game. This indicates a specific target audience that will likely appreciate its themes and style.
- Pacing and Guides (weight 0.05): A few players recommend taking the game slowly or using a guide from the beginning. This could imply that the game's pacing or certain aspects might benefit from a more deliberate approach or external assistance.
- Manage Expectations (weight 0.03): Players are advised not to expect deep story or complex gameplay. This suggests the game's appeal lies more in its unique experience and humor rather than intricate mechanics or narrative depth.
- Walking Simulator Preference (weight 0.02): One player expressed a wish for the game to have been a straight walking simulator. This is a very specific and limited piece of feedback, suggesting a desire for a different genre focus.

Other player notes:
- Creative World-Building (weight 0.22): The game excels in its creative direction, consistently presenting a unique and aesthetic take on the inner workings of a phone. Players particularly enjoyed seeing computer science concepts reimagined as characters, locations, and a living ecosystem, such as the RAM 'office' and GPU 'gallery'.
- Positive First Impressions (weight 0.21): Many players were drawn to the game by its clean art style and cool premise, with some having followed its development or tried the demo, leading to immediate purchases. The game's main menu and opening sequence were also highlighted as particularly strong.
- Intriguing Core Conflict (weight 0.18): The central conflict revolves around an existing OS (OS9) trying to preserve itself from an update that would destroy it, manipulating the player (an update assistant) in the process. This setup, where completing the update also deletes the player, creates a compelling dilemma.
- Thematic Depth (weight 0.14): The game explores 'darker' aspects, depicting software struggling with existence and the collapse of their 'faith' in the user as 'god'. It also subtly reveals the phone owner's questionable character through collectible private emails, though this is not a main theme.
- Mixed Initial Expectations (weight 0.13): Some players had no prior knowledge of the game, while others expected a different experience, such as a Portal-like game. Despite this, the game managed to capture their attention.
- Potential for Player Reflection (weight 0.07): The game might encourage players to reflect on their own use of technology, potentially making them more knowledgeable about PCs and smartphones, or even reconsidering smartphone updates.
- Tron-like Atmosphere (weight 0.05): The game's premise and setting inside a digital world are reminiscent of the Tron franchise, particularly Tron 2.0, which some players enjoyed.
- Hope for Sequel (weight 0.02): One reviewer expressed a desire for a sequel, indicating a positive overall experience and interest in further content.
- Minor Details Noted (weight 0.02): Some very specific, minor details were mentioned, such as the quality of in-game lamps. This indicates a high level of observation from some players, though these points are not critical to the overall experience.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.33): Players felt satisfied by the game's well-crafted story, engaging puzzles, and strong character development, often highlighted by excellent voice acting and unique concepts. The overall pleasant experience, humor, and value for money also contributed to this positive emotion.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration stemmed primarily from game-breaking bugs, technical issues like poor optimization and crashes, and design choices such as one-way doors or the lack of a chapter select for collectibles. These issues hindered completion and replayability, leading to a negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): Disappointment arose from uninteresting or shallow stories, unchallenging or unintuitive puzzles, and a general lack of depth or features like level select. Players also expressed disappointment when the game failed to meet expectations set by trailers or when bugs prevented progression.
- Joy (weight 0.11): Joy was frequently caused by the game's humor, witty writing, and charming characters, often enhanced by good voice acting and innovative puzzles. Players found the game fun, creative, and a genuinely enjoyable experience, sometimes comparing it favorably to highly regarded titles.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Excitement was generated by strong positive feelings towards the game's characters, story, and puzzle design, often leading to anticipation for its release or further progression. Players viewed the game as valuable, perfect, and an incredible adventure.
- Surprise (weight 0.04): Players were surprised by the game exceeding their expectations, its emotional depth, and unexpected narrative elements like multiple endings or specific references. This often led to enjoyment even for those who don't typically play single-player games.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment was broadly attributed to the game's humor, engaging writing, effective world-building, and interesting characters. The game's smooth performance on platforms like the Steam Deck and its overall fun and comical presentation also contributed.
- Emotional (weight 0.03): Players felt emotional due to the game's impactful ending, its ability to evoke tears, and the effective use of tragicomic elements. The game's tone shifts for emotional moments were particularly noted.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom was caused by predictable plots, bland dialogue, unengaging gameplay that felt like simple walking, and unchallenging puzzles. The game's beginning was specifically mentioned as a source of boredom for some players.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.02): Mild frustration stemmed from minor bugs, framerate stutters, and the absence of a level select feature, particularly for players aiming for achievement completion.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Players expressed curiosity about the game's premise, character motivations, and how its world related to real-world computer concepts. The depiction of the phone's internal world also piqued interest.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Sadness was primarily linked to specific story choices, the death of a character in the ending, and the overall shift in the game's rhythm towards its conclusion.
- Mild disappointment (weight 0.01): Mild disappointment was felt when the game's quality or engagement diminished over time, or due to its perceived short length.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arose from the game's unexpectedly large file size given its stylized graphics, and uncertainty regarding the existence of multiple endings or the depth of the narrative.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm was generated by the game's overall creativity and charm, indicating a strong positive reception to its unique qualities.
- Mild satisfaction (weight 0.01): Mild satisfaction was derived from the game's interesting setting, suggesting a positive but not overwhelmingly strong appreciation for its environment.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was specifically noted during the game's beginning, indicating that the initial experience successfully captured players' attention.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger was expressed as a strong dislike for the character OS9, indicating a negative emotional response to this specific character.
- Usefulness (weight 0.01): Players found the game useful for learning about computer systems, suggesting an educational benefit alongside entertainment.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance was caused by OS's constant chatter, indicating a negative reaction to the frequency or content of this character's dialogue.}