Embracing change can be difficult. Especially so when the changes seem to overhaul established norms which weren't in dire need of "fixing". Already described as a tragicomic adventure, Backfirewall_ is indeed a bittersweet manifesto against the absurd concept of planned obsolescence. An economic strategy envisioned by certain corporations and manufacturers long before the dawn of tech companies.

It's developer Naraven Games' second project released on Steam after their F2P bite-sized forray called "Answer Knot". Give that one a try and you'll be able to understand some of the internal conflicts that are present in Backfirewall_ as well. The latter is published by All In! Games as yet another indie gem for their growing portofolio.

You might be tempted to draw some narrative comparisons with the Portal series. After all, we also have social comentary on tech industry corporate greed in Backfirewall_ alongside sarcasm and snarky remarks from a constant companion to an otherwise silent protagonist. There's even an evil Operating System trying to push for total control (she's also female, but definitely not GLaDOS).

Manipulative as she may be, you won't fall for that scheme and instead join a resistance movement fighting against sudden, deliberate changes. Without spoiling anything, imagine the real life counterpart of a software update on your mobile devices. They are meant to be seamless changes, but sometimes they can still cause faulty apps that aren't yet updated themselves to handle a new OS version.

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Some applications might even require uninstalling if the long-awaited updates won't be implemented at all. The smartphone is a clever metaphor in Backfirewall_. You role play as the Update Assistant, a software protocol which serves as the catalyst for the updating process. By seeing all steps followed to completion, you inadvertently cause your own deletion in the process.

A Unity project which still has some install size issues (currently occupying around 34 GBs), the performance was spotless at the very least. It won't turn any heads, but the graphics are serviceable as they convey the dystopic insides of a smartphone. Visual metaphores are the best kind. A minimal design in regards to the textures, yet still colourful enough to contain eye-catching set pieces.

The HUD is clean for the most part, minus the permanent presence of a yellow eye sprite etched on the upper right side of the screen. Haven't found a way to make OS9's gaze become less intrusive, though it does occasionally blink. I appreciate any title which lets me fiddle with the subtitles far beyond just font size. I want them purple too and Backfirewall_ catered to my "burning desires".

Here is where the story truly shines. Clever voice acting for the deuteragonist, the aforementioned OS9 struggling to keep both himself and the silent protogonist alive and relevant. Wheatley was a clear inspiration, yet the sardonic outlook has been tempered enough to leave plenty of room for interpretation. The majority of NPCs only communicate through repetitve buzzing and clicking sounds, so the few characters that are fully voiced, have to stand out.

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No Portal Gun, obviously. You will instead manipulate certain objects within the environment through actions mimicking software command lines. Some puzzles are complex, but solutions can be found thorough inspection of the level or by receiving hints from an omnipresent rubber duck. Plenty of collectibles tied to Steam Achievements can be found on every level section.

Half the fun of Blackfirewall_ is finding connections to tech jokes and elements which are sometimes tied to pop culture references as well. Imagine "The Big Bang Theory" at its finest, during the first couple of seasons. No time constraints per se, feel free to explore every nook and cranny, the map is filled with everything from funny messages to creative doodles acting as pure satire. It might not push the story forward, but it will provide context.

Multiple endings are a treat, since they provide some replayability to an otherwise brief experience of around five hours per standard playthrough. In fact, you can get one particular ending in less than 15 minutes and all you have to do is reach a certain point and do nothing but wait. Reminded me of some Far Cry endings following that same path of inaction.

The collectibles themselves range from messages you need to decipher, to certain action figures rewarded for helping out characters and finding "bugs within the system". A glitch or two in the Matrix never hurt anyone. Many achivements can only be gained by venturing well beyond the beaten path, but you've got time to burn unless you're into speedrunning.

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Reaching the more fleshed out conclusions will require certain choices made along the way, as you explore new sections of the smartphone layout and interact with NPC routines. A few fetch quests here and there, while you can safely assume Occam's Razor is the best course of action. "The simplest explanation is usually the best one." Hidden in plain sight and quite ironic given the constant scrutiny of that eye companion of yours. Eyes wide shut.

Overall, there are plenty of aspects you can appreciate about Backfirewall_. It strives to be original and its satire isn't too blunt. Given the early tech exposure for younger generations, I think this title can be enjoyed by almost any gamer, regardless of age bracket. It's definitely something worth considering if you want a more peaceful experience without mind-numbing brain teasers at the same time. It's fully worth it as far stability and current pricing are concerned. The change in the System starts with you.

+ Amusing collectibles.
+ Steam Achievements.
+ Pleasant graphics and sounds.
+ Replay value through multiples endings.

- No Steam Trading Cards.

This article was submitted for Imperial Reviews. Following my Curator Page, will help me keep publishing new reviews as soon as I can. Thank you for your support!