A Bastion of Downloads
I’ve been struggling with my thoughts of Bastion for a few days now and it has me perplexed. I kept weighing up all the good points but felt that in some way there was something fundamentally wrong with the game that I couldn’t see, that it lacked some kind of raw element that made it more than just good, but I couldn’t pin it down. Finally, I think, after a few days distance to get perspective, I’ve cracked it.
Bastion, created by Supergiant Games, is a top down third person action-adventure game that has you exploring levels, fighting through hordes of enemies, and gaining new weapons and abilities. The ultimate goal is to rebuild the ‘Bastion’ after some kind of apocalyptic event has swept through the world.
Combat in Bastion is fairly simple with two weapons on each the X and B buttons while the A is a combat roll and the Y activates your healing potions. It's pretty easy to run around hacking at people but there are a lot of subtleties to the combat. There is a blocking system in place that can deflect any attack with a push of the left trigger; however if timed correctly it can stun enemies and send projectiles back to the source. Some weapons also have alternate modes when held down; the machete, my personal favourite, is a quick hacking weapon but when the attack button is held down it can be charged up and thrown at range.
The variety of weapons on offer in Bastion is staggering with each behaving very uniquely. Broadly the weapons can be catagorised as up-close and distance; however with alt fires and upgrades this can change. Along with the Plethora of weapons come special attacks that consume a second type of potion on use and have many different effects. Some specials are general but each weapon also has a special attack specific to it with more available to unlock and purchase. All these weapon combinations, skills and techniques give the player complete control over how they play and tackle the many different enemy types.
Game play aside there's a pretty good story in bastion with some great characters, gripping events and an absolutely fascinating world. The world of Bastion is a rich place and the deep backstory, fed to the player in small drops, constantly keeps you hooked. Perhaps the most notable part of the story is the role of the narrator that does more than merely comment on plot points; instead the narrator is dynamic and comments on the precise things you do. This form of narration could have easily been annoying but, thanks to a gentle hand and some truly brilliant writing, it remains entertaining throughout and even gets a little touching at times. It's by no means war and peace but there were moments when it elicited some strong emotional responses at certain actions.
Devotion to the story is clear in Bastion as not only is the main quest line well told but they even went to the trouble of divining a way to include other modes within the context of the world. There are challenge maps specific to each weapon in the game that require you to become an expert with each to unlock unique abilities. Perhaps more impressive is the survivor mode that has the player fighting off against waves of enemies; this is mostly explained as a sort of dream state but throughout the combat there are sections of dialogue that provide back story for the characters. This makes these modes not only good for those that enjoy the combat but vital for anyone that wants the full story.
For as well as the story is told the game looks even better with gorgeous 2D art that I wish I could rip from the game and throw up on my wall. Each building and block of scenery looks almost painted on and, though the creature and weapon designs seem fairly standard, they are all expertly crafted. Bastion is truly a beautiful world and sometimes I would find myself stopping amidst the chaos to sit back and take a look.
What few problems I have, such as lackluster enemy animations and a lack of imagination for the boss fights, seem petty and insignificant next to what supergiant games has achieved. Bastion has many strong suits and so many features I didn't have time to discuss all of them in this review.
As for my confusion I feel I went into the game expecting more than perhaps I should have. In many respects bastion presents itself with many hallmarks of a triple A title and my indecision is derived from that. What few flaws exsist, suck as lacklustre enemy animations and a lack of imagination for the boss fights, seems pretty insignificant given the fact of what Supergiant Games has achieved for this downloadable title. It's a well crafted third person action-adventure that, while not quite inspiring Diablo levels of obsession, is a lot of fun and has a high level of polish. This is perhaps one of the best X-Box Live games there is and it’s a steal at 1200 points. While I imagine there maybe one or two people that dislike it you'd be a fool to not at least download the trial and give it a shot.
5/5
