Real Heroes: Firefighter
Ages: Everyont +10

We here in California, living in this great tinderbox of a state, have a great respect and fondness for our firefighters. Letting kids climb up on the fire truck is about the closest most of us have gotten to the nitty-gritty of how these guys and gals actually work. Here's you chance.

You start out as a probie, a probationary firefighter, and are introduced to the tools of the trade by the fire captain and a senior firefighter: the ax, the rotary saw, the hydraulic spreader, the hose and the halligan to pry open doors. I would love to see what a halligan looks like - it's used very often. I never thought of it before, but firefighters have to go into buildings that they never have been in before - a problem in itself. You start with smaller fires and go up to the really big ones. During this time you learn how to rescue people - your remote calls out to you, become more skilled and understand your own vulnerability. It's an exciting game because you get to feel the danger, the heat, the panic when your hose runs out of water or you can't see for the smoke.

The Wii controls take a bit of getting used to before it feels even remotely natural. Home is the firehouse, the rec room and the garage. The voices are good and there is a comradery in the game that feels real. There's much to play in this game - eventually you can do some fire investigation. I hope that the lead-in title Real Heroes is an indication that there will be more of these games, which might well be called firefighter simulations instead. And yes, there is a woman firefighter.

Fun Factor: If you can call tense fun.
Female Factor: There is a female shown in the game. We know that there are a female firefighters.
Player Friendly: Good manual. Interesting tutorial.

Reviewed by: Editor - 09/09