Bastion

February 20, 2012 Category: Games 2011 1,251 Comments

Bastion is one of the best games of 2011, regardless of its indie status. So it comes as no surprise when you hear that it was showered with praise and awards in different categories.

The End of the World

The world of Bastion has been destroyed, and you start the game on the remaining floating debris. As you go through the game, the great narrator will tell you the tale of its destruction. It is left to the player’s imagination to visualize its downfall, the world before the cataclysm being completely unknown to him. This adds a different feel to the storyline of the game. Your image of the world before the cataclysm is formed from the stories of the old man combined with the impressions you experience as you explore its remains.

Gameplay

The game plays as an isometric hack-and-slash. But the combat is very dynamic. There are 14 weapons in the game and you can carry two at a time, with each weapon having multiple upgrades. Playing around with different combinations of weapons is really fun, and it adds replay value to the game. As you go through different zones, you collect crystals to power the Bastion, a device/island that was created for this exact scenario. The Bastion is your only hope to undo the cataclysm and return everything to the way it was. And collecting crystals also allows you to improve the Bastion by adding new buildings to it, like the forge or library, and upgrading them.

Bastion is truly great in the way it creates an experience through combining gameplay and storyline perfectly. The line is blurred between the two as you go through the game. The goal of rebuilding a lost idyllic world, in a post apocalyptic mayhem can be something the player can relate to. The nostalgia of the way it was combined with repulsion with the way it is can be a very powerful driving factor. Add the guilt that this could have all been avoided and you have a truly emotional experience.

The Conclusion

Without spoiling the game, all I can say is buy Bastion and play it. It is a cheap indie game, that will not take a lot of your time, and if nothing else you can play it for its gameplay. It has received a lot of praise from critics and gamers alike, and it has won several Indie Game of the Year awards, which it truly deserved.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the music:

Bastion Song

Originality:

It’s not something never seen before, but the excellent execution of the story and game mechanics make Bastion a very original game.

Addictiveness:

Bastion will hook you, if not with its story, than with its hack-and-slash gameplay.

Popularity:

A well received game, by both critics and gamers alike, and considering the fact that it is a title made by a small independent developer it is pretty popular in the mainstream too.

Features:

Great gameplay, amazing music and excellent story delivery.

GOTY awards won: 92

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences – Downloadable Title of the Year

Paste Magazine – Game of the Year

Boston Herald – Best Game of 2011

Spike VGAs – Best Downloadable Game, Best Original Score, Best Song

Inside Gaming Awards – Best Downloadable Game, Best Indie Game, Best Original Score

IGN.com – Best XBLA Game

VentureBeat – Best Indie Games of 2011

Giant Bomb – Best Music, Best Debut Game, Best Downloadable Game,

TotalBiscuit – #1 Game of 2011