The First Tree
Main game
2.82 average rating based on 157 ratings
- Developers
- David Wehle
- Publishers
- David Wehle
- Platforms
- Android, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS
- Genres
- Adventure, Indie, Platform, Simulator
- Themes
- Kids
- Steam
- View on Steam
Release Dates
User Stats
How Long Is The First Tree?
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This was... difficult.
Very difficult ot put in words the mental journey this type of game triggers.
For certain type of gamers its a waste of time and for others its a much needed mental experience inbetween more classic games.
Needed more time in the oven.
Watched my partner play through this. They complained about squishy controls and uninteresting gameplay (collect the shinies for reasons). The levels were also mostly empty and uninteresting. As for me as an observer, I found the writing to be a little forced and choppy. For a game about two people talking to each other they didn't quite talk like normal humans. And those are big problems for a game that is basically a walking simulator, where spot on writing is essential. With writing that was a little clunky and a world that was mostly empty this whole thing felt under baked.
Passes off more as an audiovisual novel than as a game
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version
This should not be considered as a game but an interactive short story, when a man tells about a dream he had about a fox' search for missing cubs. He retells it for his love partner and touches upon his past childhood and the objects in the dream that are connected. The main themes are concerning the growth, family, maturity, dreams but also loss that we all might relate to at some point.
The narrative might be passable as an audio short novel but there's only so much you could get out of The First Tree as a video game, because you'll be spending a majority of the game running through vast fields with relatively little to interact with (like jumping over obstacles or literally digging up the past). The graphics are okay, the level design is plain but made up somewhat by the beautiful scenery through and through. The music is the high point of the contents, with piano and soundtrack elements that could warm a heart of stone.
For all the content's worth, I'm glad I finished it after just over 1½ hours. The game could do with trimming down the immense fat of level design, in order …
This should not be considered as a game but an interactive short story, when a man tells about a dream he had about a fox' search for missing cubs. He retells it for his love partner and touches upon his past childhood and the objects in the dream that are connected. The main themes are concerning the growth, family, maturity, dreams but also loss that we all might relate to at some point.
The narrative might be passable as an audio short novel but there's only so much you could get out of The First Tree as a video game, because you'll be spending a majority of the game running through vast fields with relatively little to interact with (like jumping over obstacles or literally digging up the past). The graphics are okay, the level design is plain but made up somewhat by the beautiful scenery through and through. The music is the high point of the contents, with piano and soundtrack elements that could warm a heart of stone.
For all the content's worth, I'm glad I finished it after just over 1½ hours. The game could do with trimming down the immense fat of level design, in order to condense the narration. Barely recommended for fans of walking simulators and interactive stories, while gaming-focused audience better give it a pass.
Dull..
It has an emotional story to tell, but its gameplay will bore you to sleep with its endless walking sections with nothing happening. There are huge areas to explore, but everything is 90% empty and the fox runs so slowly that by the second half of the game exploring seems like such a chore that doesn't get rewarded at all. Also the jumping animation is ridiculous.
Short, tedious, pretty
I love atmospheric exploration games, but this one was low on the explore and heavy on the endless running around to get to unchallenging interaction points. The one interesting mechanic (the butterflies) was used twice, with no real difficulty added to it. I got bored running in a straight line to get to the next goal. The voice actor (also the game creator) made what could have been a really emotional game sound flat and disconnected.
I was surprised at the ending, but it was tempered by the complete boredom of, once again, running in a straight line to get to a fairly unsatisfying conclusion.
The games themes are about unprocessed grief and loss, dealt with in an theoretically interesting way (if poorly executed). I felt bad for the woman who listened to the man's ramblings for an hour+, giving thoughtful and kind responses, only for her to tell her story and him not respond/dismiss it. Ah well. The soundtrack was great! The single-axis fox, which caused much hilarity when running and surprising annoyance when jumping, was not.
jep.gambardella's review of The First Tree
This review is for the Nintendo Switch version
Gameplay: 5 Graphics: 7 Longevity: 5 Personal Impression: 7 Final vote: 6
Minimal levels, with few interactions, pug problems, fluctuating graphics. Yet the message it wants to communicate is universal and strong. It manages to hit the mark. I expected something more in terms of gameplay, but I am satisfied.
This is going to make you sad
I tried to enjoy this, but the story is too sad and boring.
Looking for lights was surprisingly challenging. I often had to climb somewhere high to look around, and even that didn't always help. I got lost multiple times.
I didn't find all the story elements.
I had some small problems:
I bought it for 1euro.
This is free in the Epic store this week:
https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/the-first-tree
Next week we get Alien: Isolation (again) and Hand Of Fate 2.
The first tree is a short videogame all focused on two parallel stories, one played by the gamer and one narrated by the man who was living the dream. There isn't much gameplay, is just a walking simulator with a fox, but it has a good art direction and an inspired music. Speaking about the cons, surely the camera is a bit bugged, and its movements aren't so good as the rest. Maybe don't worth the full price, but in sale I would recommend it.
Definitely issues with the jumping mechanic; you can tell the creator is more movie maker than game designer, but the game is beautiful, atmospheric, and poignant with a phenomenal soundtrack to match. If you're a fan of Dear Esther like I am (and if you can get over the jump mechanic issue), you'll thoroughly enjoy this.