As Firegirl, you are the city’s last line of defense. A series of mysterious fires have erupted, and it’s your mission to extinguish them, investigate their origins, and identify the perpetrator. Each level presents a timed challenge, requiring you to locate and rescue all endangered individuals before the structure collapses. Successfully completing missions allows you to collect funds to upgrade equipment, earn commendations, and recruit additional personnel.
The Hack ‘n Slash genre, arguably, has seen its share of iterations, often with limited deviation from established conventions. Therefore, the arrival of Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX prompted a degree of anticipation to see how it would innovate within the genre.
Firegirl features appealing, retro-inspired 2D graphics, reminiscent of arcade classics like Final Fight and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The music and sound design are well-executed, contributing to a satisfying gaming experience. While the core concept is straightforward, the implementation presents a notable challenge. With limited time and numerous hazards, strategic play is crucial. The game incorporates a subtle 3D perspective, allowing players to look vertically to identify paths and objectives. Your primary adversaries are living flames, which you combat with your fire hose. The fire hose can also be utilized for vertical propulsion to reach higher areas or as a means of cushioning falls from elevated positions.
One of the initial frustrations arises from the somewhat inconsistent functionality of using the hose for propulsion. The mechanics governing how and when this technique succeeds can feel illogical, occasionally resulting in the player becoming stuck mid-ascent. This issue is compounded by the fact that Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX appears to be less than optimally optimized for the Nintendo Switch. The game exhibits significant lag in scenarios with a high degree of on-screen action. This is particularly surprising, given that titles with potentially higher resource demands, such as Bioshock, have demonstrably overcome similar challenges more effectively. Initially, the performance issues were attributed to playing in portable mode, where resource allocation may be adjusted to conserve battery life. However, the same performance degradation was observed when the console was docked.
In conclusion, Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX offers an engaging experience, presenting a somewhat novel twist on the established genre. The game incorporates an interesting narrative, enhancing its overall appeal. However, due to the noticeable lag experienced on the Nintendo Switch, a full recommendation for this platform is difficult. The performance issues detract from the overall enjoyment. It is likely that this would be less of a concern on more powerful hardware, and further evaluation will be pursued when the opportunity arises.
Thunderful Games provided a review copy for this assessment. Provision of this material does not influence editorial independence.
