Bastion

Bastion

Developer: Supergiant Games

Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Release: 8/16/2011

Genre: Action

DRM Free on Gamer's Gate

I got this game in the Humble Bundle 5 pack DRM free along with the soundtrack. While I had not originally prioritized to get it anytime soon, I have enjoyed the game and feel that I would have gladly pay $25 for the game and the soundtrack due to it's high quality.

Story:

The story of bastion is about a boy named the kid who wakes up in a world after the Calamity has happened. He finds him on the island called the Bastion and meets the Stranger who tells him of the cores that can revive the world. As you play through the game, the Strangers narration tells the about the world and hints of things that have happened. Also you will find items that give insight into the people and what life was like before the calamity has happened. The storytelling works very well for this game and keeps you hooked until the very end. To me, it is one of the best stories that I have seen in gaming

Game play:

Bastion is played in a 2d isometric view. Levels in the game sometimes have multiple paths but are primarily linear and easy to navigate but the right size in length. You never end up feeling like the levels have gone on to long and are the appropriate difficulty. Through out the game you will collect shards and items to upgrade your weapons, buy spirits to aid you, secret abilities and idols. Secret abilities are basically special attack you can use for one of the two weapons you can equip at a time Upgrading weapons gives you some limited customization on how your weapons work. Each option can help deal with enemies you face in the storyline the who knows where challenge modes, and the weapon challenges. You can always change these upgrades anytime. This is needed to make some weapons useful like the pike, army carbine, mortar, and calamity cannon that are tough to use at first. They are especially needed for trials as getting first place is impossible to get without, the challenge modes, and story mode when you have all the idols active.

If you want to make the game harder, you need to unlock the shrine to use Idols to increase the challenge like enemies becoming more aggressive, etc. Using the idols to soon without the right equipment and upgrades can make things very difficult to impossible. Luckily you can go back to the bastion to change equipment and adjust the difficulty. You also have spirits to help you. These liquids give you abilities like recovering health with every counter attack or full recovery with use of potions. These end up being essential throughout the game but you can only chose a limited amount at a time. As you fight enemies, you gain xp that increase your health by 2 points and unlocks another slot that can hold a spirit. The only thing I wish is the levels had more alternative paths and things to find

There is an annoying aspect where you are forced to use new weapons you pick up. The game has a world map where you generally have two levels to chose from along with some challenge area's to earn items. These challenges tend to require a fully upgraded weapon in order to get first place. The controls are simple and easy use with no difficulty in learning them. You can't spam the controls though as they have animations and can't rapidly switch between weapons or the shield. The game is a decent length that took me 15 hours on my first play-through plus with new game + and Score attack mode adds replay value along with buying everything. Overall I have enjoyed the game and never felt tired of it.

Graphics/Sound:

The graphics are a wonderful 2D art style that is gorgeous at any resolution. The amount of detail and atheistic wonder draws you into this wonderful world. Level design in it's own way tells you the story of the world and how it was built along with the decay that has become of it. Animations of the characters and the enemies give

them personality. The kid has an aggressive fighting style shows his mixed emotions of anger, sadness and determination to succeed.

Audio is wonderfully done with the narrator's acting draws you in to the story and the music keeps you in the mood. He tells the story as you play and gives you in-site of the world around. As you find items, you can show them to him and get a better understand of the world around you. I did enjoy It music is a mix of blues and guitar that gives it a bit of a western feel which is suitable considering you are venturing off to new frontiers. The graphics and audio wrap the game in a stunning package that is a treat for one's eyes and ears.

Conclusion:

Bastion is a wonderful game that is nearly flawless. The only really wish is their to be more to the game and more branching paths. The story is flows well with it being told along the way rather then in chunks that can disrupt the game play or ruin the flow. Atheistically and audio wise, it is great to listen to and look at. I would recommend this game to anyone and it can be gotten for $15 or $25 with the soundtrack.