This thread is going to have a ton of SPOILERS. It's a short game, beat it and join the conversation. 
 
SPOILERS 
 
SPOILERS 
 
Did anyone else get struck by this quote the way it hit me? The narrator says it right before you first meet Zulf. Now, whether the Narrator is speaking about the game in the past or present tense is left ambiguous on the first playthrough. Most of the time, it appears the Narrator is talking about the kid in basically a present tense, and if not that, in the very recent past tenset (i.e. saying something moments AFTER something happens, and thus referring to it in the past tense). 
 
Towards the end of the game, and within the conversations you have with the old man (obviously), he begins to speak directly towards your character in the obvious present tense, first pereson. 
 
However, there were moments where it appeared that the narrator was speaking in the past tense. Upon closer observation during NG+, most of these incidents revealed themselves to be the narrator simply hinting that he knows more. 
 
This quote is unique however, because if you take it in my assumed canonical context (1st Game you Restore, NG+ you Evacuate), it could be the narrator already having knowledge of what Zulf did, something we don't learn until later in the game (am I correct about that? I'm not 100% clear but I think I'm right). It indicates that the Narrator has experienced the Calamity before, and considering he says it on the first playthrough as well, it's possible there were more Calamities than the two we play. 
 
Basically, I'm wondering if anyone come to any sensible conclusions about what tense the narrator is speaking in? I think the quote in the title of this thread is in the present tense, as is much (the rest?) of the game.

Wait..I may have misunderstood something about your question, but isn't it made very clear that he's retelling your adventures to Zia up until the point where you go after Zulf? basically, he's speaking in past tense up until the point where you go after Zulf.

@iDarktread said:

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

Oops, I probably should have tagged this before I posted, since it will probably show up untagged on my profile... dammit.

Yeah, he's relaying the information to Zia.

GOTTA GO POST ON LOTS OF DIFFERENT TOPICS, FAST!

Shit, totally didn't think about that, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

@iDarktread: This is not good.. D:

By the way, I really liked Bastion. I thought it was great.

New Game+ definitely uses the fact it's a subsequent playthrough of the game to play with the idea that after restoration the Calamity has happened again, and that at the very least, those involved have fragments of memories/instincts from their prior experience.

what if you evacuate at the beginning? what would happen then? I'm actually at that very option right now. It's my first playthrough and I'm about to choose whether or not to evacuate or restore.

what will happen if I evacuate?

You get a different ending. Honestly, the ending I liked way better.

That quote pretty much means "without that man, Rucks and Zia wouldn't be waiting for The Kid to get the last shard right now" given how the last level plays out.

How bout dont put a quote from the game in the topic name? thanks.

@Cloudenvy said:

Wait..I may have misunderstood something about your question, but isn't it made very clear that he's retelling your adventures to Zia up until the point where you go after Zulf? basically, he's speaking in past tense up until the point where you go after Zulf.

This.