By Tracey Squaire
“Bastion” is an indie, action RPG that immerses the player into a world that has been broken apart by unknown hands. An event, called The Calamity, has destroyed the Bastion, leaving few survivors left in its wake. The main character, known only as “The Kid,” must go on a journey to discover and recover special cores that serve as the heart of each city, and take them to the heart of the Bastion to help restore it to its former glory.
To do this, he must battle feral creatures that are shades of what they once were, face the ghosts of his former life and traverse a broken landscape that rebuilds itself around him as he discovers each new area. The game offers some diverse weapon options such as a repeater, a bow and a machete, each of which adds a new element to the game. The Kid must find the right combination of weapons, elixirs, special powers and allies that will allow him to successfully complete his quest.
The beautifully narrated story of “Bastion” is really what makes it stand out as a classic. The narrator’s engaging voice guides The Kid on his journey while at the same time flowing seamlessly through the events, giving players a look into how the world was before the Calamity and also revealing relevant information about each area The Kid visits. The use of narration in this game really defines how narration should be used in modern gaming.
While the game is overall very linear, the ending presents a supremely thought provoking question to the player that will leave them pondering whether or not they chose the right answer.
“Bastion” is available to play on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux and Mac OS.