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For Bonfire Night: What's your favourite video game fire?

Fire, I'll take you to burn

The Chosen Undead stands before a bonfire in Dark Souls Remastered artwork.
Image credit: Bandai Namco

Bonfire Night is here again, the day we in the UK celebrate the day in 1605 when... people tried to blow up the king? We're celebrating the fact that they tried, right? This time last year, I asked you about your favourite video game explosions. Well, fireworks are somewhat downplayed this year, with fewer big public fireworks displays to ooh and aah at, so let's talk about good ol' workless fire. What's your favourite fire in games, gang?

My mind instantly goes to Dark Souls, obvs. A bonfire in Dark Souls: 1) looks cool, with the sword and that; 2) makes my heart sing for I have found SAFETY; 3) makes me slightly nervous, knowing I'm abandoning the light I knew and staking a pitch in an unknown area. But actually the bonfire I think I most like is this pretty one in ΘRΑΩLE from the East Van EP:

Lovely little bonfire, that.

My other initial reaction is: wild uncontrolled fire threatening to burn everything down, systemic fire. The Far Cry 2 grass fire accidentally started by the backblast from my bazooka and trapping me somewhere bad. The spreading fire of a Teardown heist which got a little lively. Hell, setting alight furniture to wield as weapons in the 2008 Alone In The Dark (which I still say has the most delightful visual representation of an inventory, looking down at the pockets in your kewl trenchcoat).

Other fires exist. Video games are full of fires, environmental, circumstantial, weaponised, and more. Some are lifesavers, others are lifetakers, and many of them are pretty. They certainly are a great opportunity to show off fancy technologies and art. There's so much to like about fire.

Reader dear, go on, tell us: what sets your heart ablaze?

Disclosure: A pal worked on that Alone in the Dark! I only found this out when I saw multiple copies on her shelf and realised what that must mean.

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About the Author
Alice O'Connor avatar

Alice O'Connor

Associate Editor

Alice has been playing video games since SkiFree and writing about them since 2009, with nine years at RPS. She enjoys immersive sims, roguelikelikes, chunky revolvers, weird little spooky indies, mods, walking simulators, and finding joy in details. Alice lives, swims, and cycles in Scotland.

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