Gamer Tag: Bastion (Guest Review)

Hey Guys, DJ Horus here to do another gaming review. Outside of reviewing and talking about music I also like to play video games during my downtime. Since I grew up a gamer it’ll only make sense if I review games as well. Not sure if you remember but sometime ago I did a review on Call of Duty Ghosts in which I gave it fair reviews (despite my personal dislike for the game) so this will be my 2nd review. I’m reviewing an Indie Game called “Bastion” produced by Supergiant Games and released in 2011 and is now currently available on Steam and Xbox 360. So let’s get to it.

The Story

Bastion is about a world scale catastrophe known as “The Calamity” which brings the world to ruin and kills off most of its human population. The game starts off with the main character, The Kid, who wakes up from his bed on a rock in the sky as he travels across town to an emergency shelter known as “The Bastion” to seek refuge. After fighting his way there, he meets a strange man known as Rucks (you’ll find out that’s his name later in the game). Rucks instructs you to save the world by using the power of the monument located in the Bastion. In order to do that, he must travel from one District to another to find “Cores” which will power the Monument and evidently the Bastion, at the cost of the District falling apart.

The Gameplay

Bastion plays in a sorta hack-n slash style in which you use various weapons to dispatch your enemies. The game varies from close range weapons (such as a Hammer, and two throw able ones, A Dagger and a Spear) and a plethora of long range weapons (such as a Bow, A shotgun musket, A Cannon, and more). Each weapon has a special ability you can use to take out multiple enemies and each one is unique to that specific weapon. You’re allowed to carry two weapons and one special attack so choose your load out wisely. There are special training locations that allow you to train with each weapon. If you accomplish the goals within the best of your ability you are rewarded with items you need to use to upgrade weapons and unlock more special attacks. After you collect a Core from a district and insert it into the monument you are allowed to build structures that help your adventure along with upgrades and rewards. As for the controls, they are easy to get used to but the game makes you use all of the commands if you intend to survive long enough.

Conclusion

This game is a masterpiece and definitely one of a kind. It has one of the best narrative storytelling in a video game I’ve ever experienced. With an Old Western Style of narration it makes the adventure more gritty and gripping and is coupled with it’s awesome soundtrack (which also has a Old Western Acoustics mixed in with a more modern rock feel). I took my time playing this work of art. The only drawbacks I would say are the gaps within some of the maps you play on. Accidentally falling during battle can be a bit frustrating, especially when you’re fighting a large enemy and you’ll need room to dodge attacks. Heck, they even added an upgrade to reduce “fall damage”- meaning they knew this might be an issue. Granted it goes well with how the game is made visually with the floating locations and what not. But to conclude, I will say this is a must play for people with a PC or an Xbox 360 and I rate it a 9/10.

Ain’t nothing better than a character that speaks fewer words and lets his actions dictate his thoughts. Which involves a lot of physical aggression.