Firefighter Command: Raging Inferno Review (no fat)

Game Description

Firefighting games are hardly a dime a dozen, but the few that are out pale in comparison to the realism and innovation that Firefighter Command: Raging Inferno portrays. Taking advantage of the latest in 3d graphics, you’ll be treated to physics that change according to real life conditions, and have under your helm the full arsenal to fight fires and save lives.

Even if firefighting is not of interest to you, FC is sure to catch your interest for hours of play.

Firefighters Command Gameplay

Plenty of research went into this pet project for Monte Cristo. The final product is an interest mix of action, and strategy. Set along the west coast, players are not spoon fed random mission, but instead are intelligently guided from one incident to the next in a free flowing and natural way.

Random outbreaks seem more realistic this way, and a lot of the fires are based on real life events. The various types of fires are plentiful, and range from electrical fires, toxic spills, and the extremely dangerous fires that cause explosions from lack of oxygen. If any gamer has ever seen the movie Backdraft, then they are all too familiar with the dangers of fire.

Firefighter command does a great job of recreating that same atmosphere for the gamer, and giving you a reason to play on to the next mission. The map gives you a good idea of where to be, but a couple of AI and control issues make it a bit of a chore to get there. Often you will find out that the biggest obstacle in stopping a fire from spreading is the common civilians on the road blocking your way to it.

The influence of the firefighters who helped put this game together shines brightly in the missions, and the decision making you are forced to do. Through a quick thinking process you have to not only put out fires, but decide which victims to save first.

This will become an increasingly difficult challenge in later levels, but it still rewards those with patience. Portable water cannons are easier to use than Max Payne aiming at a roomful of goons in bullet time, and sometimes just as effective. There are many specialists in the game though, so there really isn’t a shortage of personnel on any level.

Firefighter Command Vehicles

With a tricky control setup, it is a shame that Firefighter Command offers so many rides for your disposal and falls short with the controls.

You can take drive of an ambulance and provide medical treatment to hurt victims, which is a nice changeup from the firetruck. The controls for the ambulance are no better than the former though, so there is no surprise if you end up doing more harm than good.

Bulldozers to clear an area, and even Helicopters are available to fly in. The variety by which you can get around is a great - and once you get used to the controls you can even learn to use these vehicles for the good of the people instead of a tool to run them over.

Firefighter Command Graphics

The graphics can sometimes look average, but the standout is the fire. The programming for the fire physics is fantastic, and appropriately enough for a firefighting game.

However the visuals, as a whole, sometimes seem a little washed up, and it becomes apparent that the star of the game is the fire itself.

Firefighter Command Sound

Significant enough for mentioning, solely based on the mayhem going on around you. Firefighter Command does a wonderful job of recreating havoc, and doesn’t overdo the music score to where it detracts away from the gameplay.

Firefighter Command Summing up

Water is not the only way to beat a fire, and you will find yourself being educated and having fun at the same time. Firefighter Command: Raging Inferno is a decent game, with a couple of control issues that need to be addressed. Some AI improvements wouldn’t do it any harm either - and would really keep players from repeating the same levels over and over again because of some silly mistakes.

Multiplayer support is sparse, most likely because of the genre. But even so, as a single player title, Firefighter Command’s intelligent mission handling is a noteworthy pickup for any strategist.

Firefighter Command cost

At the time of writing, the game retails for $19.99.