Firewall: Zero Hour
2018 video game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Firewall: Zero Hour is a virtual reality first-person shooter game developed by First Contact Entertainment and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation 4 via the PlayStation VR on August 28, 2018. A sequel, Firewall Ultra, was announced in September 2022 for the PlayStation VR2.
| Firewall: Zero Hour | |
|---|---|
Official box art | |
| Developer | First Contact Entertainment |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Engine | Unreal Engine[1] |
| Platform | PlayStation 4 |
| Release | August 28, 2018 |
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
Firewall: Zero Hour is an online, or offline via training, virtual reality tactical action shooter where players called contractors take on contracts issued from agents who are known as mother and father. Each contractor has a different passive skill for use on the field which can help support the player fend off the enemy team from completing their objective. There are 12 contractors players can choose from all with a set primary skill and a secondary skill you can edit. Weapon loadouts are also customizable where players can pick a primary weapon, secondary weapon, one lethal equipment and one nonlethal equipment. Taking on contracts players will receive experience for certain actions they complete, as well as earning in-game currency known as "Crypto" where both can be found scattered around the map or completing the contract.
Training
Players can practice their tactics against AI enemies that scale with rank either solo, or in a 4-player squad which either can be private or public matchmaking.
Contracts
In this mode players are against other players formed into two teams of four in which the attacking team will have two objectives to complete in order to fulfill their contract. Attacking team "Mother" would have to first break a firewall in a location hidden from their wristband until a team member comes in contact with one then secondly hack a laptop in order to fulfill their contract earning experience points and crypto. Defending team "Father" can either move to the firewalls and defend or defend their main objective laptop.
Development
The game was announced during PSX 2017 at the Anaheim Convention Center.[2]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 79/100[3] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Electronic Gaming Monthly |   [4] |
| Eurogamer | Recommended[5] |
| Push Square | [6] |
Initial reviews for Firewall: Zero Hour were positive and the game was praised as being a major step forward for virtual reality gaming.[7][8]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Golden Joystick Awards | Best Co-operative Game | Nominated | [9][10] |
| Best VR Game | Nominated | |||
| The Game Awards 2018 | Best VR/AR Game | Nominated | [11][12] | |
| 2019 | New York Game Awards | Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best Virtual Reality Game | Nominated | [13] |
| National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards | Control Design, VR | Nominated | [14][15] | |
| Direction in Virtual Reality | Nominated | |||
| Sound Mixing in Virtual Reality | Nominated | |||
| The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards | Best Social Game | Nominated | [16] |
