An entire world in the palm of your hands. All In! Games are getting 2023 started right with the news of a new sci-fi puzzler. Coming January 30th, 2023 is backfirewall, a sci-fi puzzler with plenty of personalities to show.
Bio-digital Jazz
The trailer was unveiled yesterday on the PlayStation channel. The 88-second trailer showcases much of what will be featured in the game. The trailer begins with 4th-wall-breaking humor as the operating system OS9 is self-aware that it is in a trailer. OS9 proceeds to show the comedic calamity that is to follow. The official synopsis puts players as the System assistant of smartphone. An update is inbound and threatens to wipe out the original system. Only the System Assistant, along with other utilities, can put a stop to this update and save the smartphone.
The trailer goes on to show a large variety of puzzles and levels. The game features a colorful, sleek futuristic style that is accompanied by a font style reminiscent of a 90s game show. The PlayStation Store listing for the game reveals players will go through various exotic locations within the smartphone. This includes Wi-Fi Bureaucracy, Terminal conflicts in RAM, and the exclusive Speaker nightclub. Additionally, OS9 encourages players to utilize cheat codes and exploit bugs. Copy assets or finding workarounds are permitted when solving the puzzles.
The Year Ahead
The year is off to a great start with games, between post-apocalyptic RPG Kandria and the imminent release of the Dead Space remake. It’s been a while since a charming puzzler with personality has come along. Additionally, the world of backfirewall_ is brimming with personality and possibility. I’ve always loved the lost in a computer” setting in games or stories, as the computer and machines we take for granted are small vibrant worlds in a sense. There is a lot of potential for backfirewall and I cannot wait to see more of it.
backfirewall_ launches for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Steam on January 30th, 2023.
