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Summer of Arcade Review – Bastion

Posted July 22 2011 by Keadin
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The Summer of Arcade is upon us, ready to fill those lazy summer days with awesome downloadable Arcade titles from the best developers in the scene. We've rounded up some impressions from fellow Xbox.ca Community members to help you find your favourites.

Don't forget, if you pick up all five titles before August 23rd you'll receive a copy of Crimson Alliance completely free! Check here for more details and be sure to stay tuned each week for updates on all the latest Summer of Arcade impressions.

Bastion
Bastion is an action role-playing experience that redefines storytelling in games, with a reactive narrator who marks your every move. Explore more than 40 lush hand-painted environments as you discover the secrets of the Calamity, a surreal catastrophe that shattered the world to pieces. Wield a huge arsenal of upgradeable weapons and battle savage beasts adapted to their new habitat.

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Bastion is an addictive hack and slash, steampunk inspired RPG that doesn't take itself too seriously. Lush graphics and unfolding levels keep the eyes engaged while your adventure is narrated by a mysterious wise man – who may have shared pointers from Morgan Freeman. It's not just the storybook-come-to-life environment, but a rich soundtrack of tablas, flutes, and other instruments, that make it a joy to play.

I thought I knew what Bastion was about before I hit start the first time. I underestimated it. What I'd thought was just a quirky platformer, was really a game that just drips with personality. Between the very simple but oh-so-customizable combat system, to the very Ron Perlman-esq narrator, this game is pretty sweet. I thought the fixed perspective camera would drive me nuts – it did cause some untimely falls – but the combat is just so fun and the world so well realized that I've lost more than a few hours to it the first night. Bastion is definitely one of the many XBLA games that are going to eat up my summer in 2011.
Bored with everything in my collection, I've been anxious for something new and unique to play; Bastion is exactly what I've been looking for. With vibrant colours, graphics that remind me of a story book, and a charming sound track, I was immediately struck by how beautiful this game is – right from the title screen. When I first started playing, I was quite surprised to find that the environment materializes as you play through the level. At times, I would get a bit too excited about seeing what lies ahead and found myself falling off the side to my death! Thankfully, you lose very little health after doing so.

I find the narrator's running commentary very entertaining as he mentions every action I make ("And then, he falls to his death"), telling the story as I go. It plays like any familiar action-RPG and so far I've acquired weapons such as a hammer, a bow, and a revolver to hack through gas enemies like Gasbags, Scumbags and Squirts. My "Kid" is still Level 1, and I look forward to what character customizations are available to me as I progress. I can definitely see myself playing this for the rest of the summer. It's rated E for Everyone, and I'm quite pleased that daughter can play this as well. While I'm still quite early in game, I dare say that this will likely be my vote for XBLA Game of the Year.

At its core, Bastion is an isometric dungeon crawler. You slay enemies, break boxes, and collect all the loot you can in order to level up, learn new skills, and upgrade your weapons. What sets Bastion apart from other dungeon crawlers is its presentation. Bastion takes place in a floating world reminiscent to a living painting. The world forms around you as you approach the edges of the world. Most notable is The Stranger who acts as a narrator for the protagonist, The Kid. The Stranger is always there guiding you on your story, commenting on enemies, your health, and where you are. The artwork and storytelling meld together to create a living book. With its simplistic solid gameplay and the unique artwork and presentation Bastion is this summer's Limbo or Braid.