Bastion

Introduction

Dating back to the debut of the video game industry, our favourite interactive experiences have been scrutinized by those on the outside of the community. Although certain films are considered to be works of art, many believe that this medium should never be mentioned alongside that classy term. Though, as gamers, we all know that is bogus and elitist, as well as evidence of snobbery. Like you, I’ve played through many games, which I would consider to be art. One of those is Bastion, which is available on PC and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

Developed by the folks from Supergiant Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive, Bastion tells the story of a world in turmoil. A catastrophic event known as the Calamity, has destroyed most of the city of Caelondia, turning its citizens into hardened ash, while unleashing dangerous creatures. This occurrence has ties to a previous war between two races, exploring a devastating side of racism.

Gamers control a mute hero who is simply known as, The Kid. He awakens one day to find that everything he knew has been destroyed and/or altered, including his neighbours. His home was spared, alongside the local watering hole, but almost every inch of his beloved city is infested with dark and dangerous baddies. The only way to get through is to take up arms. Thankfully, his trusty hammer and bow aren’t far away.

Worried that a terrible event like this could occur at some point, the residents of Caelondia agreed on a meeting place. Their chosen stronghold was the Bastion – a floating island set safely away from the city’s walls. Unfortunately, when The Kid gets there, he quickly realizes that he’s the only one who made it. At least, apart from Rucks, who acts as a mentor and gruff narrator within the game’s campaign.

Once the shock wears off, our mute hero comes to the realization that the safe land he’s fled to has also seen some wear as a result of the Calamity. In an attempt to revitalize it, he sets out to the floating island outskirts of his land, hoping to bring back resurgence in the form of core crystals. Though, that isn’t the only reason for his trek: The Kid also hopes to figure out what triggered the seemingly unnecessary devastation. Thankfully, he gets his answers amidst danger-filled combat, although we won’t spoil anything here.

Necessary genre classification pegs Bastion as an action-RPG. It employs classic mechanics, allowing players to use a bevy of different close and long-range weapons to deal hit point damage against ugly foes. Two buttons are linked to combat, with one weapon able to be hot linked to each. This means that you can essentially create and customize your favourite combination of damage dealers, including a hammer, sword, musket, rifle, mortar gun, hunter’s pole and rocket launcher. Some of that stuff is certainly different from standard role-playing game fare; especially titles that fall under the fantasy setting like this one does. However, they all fit into this experience pretty well.

There aren’t any save points to be found, which doesn’t result in any sort of frustration. In fact, each stage is short enough that a save option is unnecessary. At the journey’s onset, the Kid has three health potions he can use, alongside special move tonics. They can be re-filled, with an inventory upgrade option. You use those to replenish your health fully, whenever it’s diminished, with continue options present when everything runs out. Both are helpful in survival challenges, which occur a total of three times.

Although Bastion isn’t an overly difficult game, there are sections that can become challenging. The key is to use evasive rolls and shield block counters, in order to gain the advantage over varied types of enemies. There are quite a few different species to be found in the game’s varied landscapes, with each one having its own unique defeat mechanics. Most of the time, it boils down to baiting then evading. However, you will occasionally fall off the map doing this. Luckily, your avatar only receives minimal health loss as a result of his seemingly deadly plunge.

Playing through this title reminded me of gaming yesteryears – specifically the sixteen-bit era. Bastion is very reminiscent to the style of action-RPGs we saw back then, although it’s certainly a heck of a lot more visually attractive. Not to mention the fact that it also employs a somewhat unique landscape design system, as player progression results in platform creation. As you walk forward, pathways form out of thin air. Exploration is key, in order to find paths that go off the beaten path, although you’ll also find some dead ends.

Both of the hero’s goals are intertwined, providing great reason to explore every area to its fullest. Those who do, will find hidden collectibles, which can then be used to upgrade weaponry. This can be done in the Bastion, where returned cores open up building areas. Build a forge to upgrade your arsenal, or choose one of the other varied huts. For example, the distillery provides stat-altering tonics per each level upgrade, and a built memorial presents unique challenges to complete. These places become vital in allowing players to customize their experience.

Those who download Bastion at its affordable fifteen-dollar price tag, will be in for a digital treat, which is noticeably different from most recent releases. The best thing is that, while it’s unique in mechanical terms, the designed game play included within is also of quality. It’s hard to fault the way that things work, although there could have been a bit of extra variety added in. Some sections can become slightly repetitive, but not to a point where it’s a major issue. A couple of the available weapons can also be a bit cumbersome at times.