Indie Report! : Bastion

A Familiar Formula Turned Into a Story-Driven Joyride

Indie Game, Bastion is unlike anything you've played before

Wherever you are in Bastion, the game consistently remains beautiful.

BASTION REVIEW BY PETER FRANKO

I refer to this article as a review, but in reality, it isn't. What qualifies this game as so, is that there is not a single critical comment I can think of for this game. Bastion is an untouched gem of 2011. The game is little known to most but packs more emotional, philosophical, and artistic punch than many of the "blockbuster" developers seem capable of matching.

The game gives no back-story at the start. You awaken on a floating bed in the sky, surrounded by the remnants of a once great metropolitan city beneath you. With no knowledge of whats going on, you get up. "Ground forms up under [your] feet as if pointin' the way, [you] don't stop to wonder why." Immediately a narrator begins commentating in a thick, gravely voice on everything that is happening as you scour the ruins looking for survivors. The game introduces the world quick, yet instantly instills a feeling of mystery as you wander. The narrator informs you you're headed towards the Bastion, "where everyone agreed to go in case of trouble." Well, turns out it's broken, and within no time the action is in full swing.

In order to fix the Bastion, you set off all over the world visiting villages, ruins, swamps, cities, mountains and jungles hovering in the sky, all done in spectacular watercolor styling. Each step of the way you uncover knowledge about the world that once was, as well as fighting tougher baddies, recovering unique weapons and upgrading your abilities. You also gradually build buildings for the Bastion (which serves as your home base) where you can outfit your player to cope with the fast paced combat, as well as calling upon Gods for special benefits.... at the cost of harder opponents.

You play as The Kid, a silent protagonist with a rich past you discover 'Memento style' throughout Bastion. He never utters a word, but you learn what he's thinking every step of the way and the hardships he's been through thanks to the narrator. The game has few characters, but makes up for it with detailed stories behind every one. You can play a character's "reflection" level, in which you pass out and go to "Who Knows Where". Here you fight off increasingly difficult waves of enemies while the narrator explains emotionally charged stories about each character, exploring very human issues of friendship, racism, love, xenophobia, loss, and family.

But what makes this already wonderful game even more atmospheric, is the music. Bastion was nominated in almost every "Sound Design of the Year" category. The spectacular narration makes the story engrossing, while the fantastic music adds to the setting. Bastion's tunes seem to blend middle eastern instruments with hymns, guitars and entrancing percussion patterns that gives off a very earthy feel that connects you to the culture of the game. Also, I guarantee you'll be humming some of these tracks for weeks.

Bastion was an instant favorite of mine, and felt like a childhood storybook. It makes you want to listen to your Grandpa tell stories of when he was a youngin by the fireplace, whilst downing infinite home-cooked food... and then go tend to the chickens. Bastion feels homegrown, and goes straight to the heart which not many games are capable of doing these days unless they have the words Mass and Effect in their title. So what do you say? A one of a kind experience at a good price?

"The Kid thought for a moment before he made up his mind."

Bastion gets 5 pDRO seals of approval, out of 5.

Bastion is available on Xbox Live Arcade

Google Chrome (with a free demo)

and PC (pDRO's pick)