Rarely does artistic excellence and mechanical brilliance come together in as amazing an experience as Supergiant's Bastion. It's vision is remarkably strong and merciless in its attempts to astound your expectations, never content to settle for anything less than wholly inspired. It stands apart as a shiny example of independent ingenuity, a bar to which others should aspire to hit, but more than that it manages to feel as fresh and fully developed as anything coming out of much larger studios. It's the sort of experience that sticks with you after you finish it, hollowing out a place in your mind where the most excellent games of our time take up residence, sure to be talked about for years to come.

A proper story's supposed to start at the beginning, but Bastion's not that simple. It spins its narrative in a nonlinear spiral, urged on by the smooth voice of the narrator, who describes everything your character's every action with a cool and calculated tone that gives the impression he knows more than he's letting on and has seen this all before. More than just a original storytelling device, it gives Bastion a personality all its own from the second the game begins. It keeps you engrossed despite an almost complete lack of character dialog, falling back largely to third person descriptions that on their own may seem meaningless, but when weaved in perfect context to the action on screen create something of a living story; one which feels as much a product of your own actions as the author's. The plot is never neglected however, as slowly but surely it all winds back together, taking control over the fascinating amounts of lore you are told throughout your journey and turning them into a full featured narrative that never falters or shows any sign of hesitation. It's deliberate planning can be traced back to the very first line uttered in the game, and when you finally see it all fleshed out, it's rather incredible that it works anywhere near as well as it does.

Bastion operates under a clear design to offer the player as much freedom as possible to choose their own playstyle. Almost entirely focused on hack'n'slash combat, it presents new weapons and means to dispose of your enemies on a near constant basis. Mixing and matching these weapons and abilities is what allows you to tailor the game to your own playstyle, from melee and ranged weapons, to a near endless variety of passive upgrades and power ups. Whatever you choose you're never locked into any one upgrade path, which lets you freely experiment to find what works best for you. The combat itself is extremely simple, but meticulously balanced and refined to feel satisfying and as challenging as you want to make it. It excels at creating a constant feeling of progression, even past the point of finishing the game as you can then playthrough it again in new game plus mode to catch any upgrades you missed, or take on even bigger challenges.

This almost doesn't matter though, in the face of Bastion's astonishing presentation. The flow of tiles building the path in front of you venture through the world, the gorgeous art design that overflows with vibrancy and creativity, and the unbelievable soundtrack that blends an astonishing amount of styles into a sound that's unlike anything I've ever heard. It's truly an artistic feat that puts the bland and predicable visual and sound designs of other games to shame, and should serve as a reminder to developers that conforming to a common mold is detrimental not only to your games identity, but the industry as a whole. I can scarcely recall playing a game with as much aesthetic originality and finesse as Bastion, and its a triumph to its creators that they were able to create something that is as impressive to look and listen to as it is to play.

Even before I played it, Bastion always stood as something of a posterchild to me for indie games. It's relentless ambition and startling success at achieving it are a showcase of how much can be accomplished by a small team with a clear set of ideas for the game they want to make. It's stunning and memorable in the way few games could ever hope for, and is as mechanically solid as it is breathtakingly presented. It succeeds in every aspect, and is one of the most well rounded games I have likely ever played.

Bastion...

Now, ladies and gentlemen, THIS is a good game right there.
What is there not to love?

Good gameplay.
Engaging story.
Superb art.
Breathtaking soundtracks.
Terrific game.

Overall, just trust me and play it, you won't be disappointed.

When Supergiant Games released Bastion in August 2011, probably they themselves probably won't have dreamt of the enormous critical acclaim their debut title would get. Seldom has an independent developer hit the gaming scene with such an original and beautiful game as in this case.

When I started Bastion for the first time, I immediately got the feeling I was in for a special treat. Few games begins as arrestingly as this one, with the whiskey- and smoke-weathered voice of the "narrator" immediately setting the scene. This narrative aspect proved crucial in the way Bastion drawed me into its world. It seemed like every step I made or every action I tried, could be met with some commentary. This feeling that the story develops "on the spot" is further enhanced by the fact that the world literally materialised under my feet as I ventured further out. This world is painted in bright and gorgeous colours with a teint all of their own: Bastion would be immediately recognizable just by looking at the colour-pallette.

The story by itself proved interesting enough to keep me playing, wanting to discover step-by-step how things would develop with the Bastion and the protagonists. Gameplay-wise, Bastion is not as innovative as in its storytelling or visuals, but it takes a well-tried formula into perfection. At its core, it is an action-rpg (light), preferably to be played with an xbox 360 controller (as are so many games the past years!). Controls are perfectly laid out and very intuitive: after a couple of hours I played it as if I had done so for several years. As the game progresses, more weapons and special abilities are unlocked, all with their distinctive characteristics. Weapons can be upgraded in five stages each, and liquids add some punch to the main-characters possibilities. Several other elements complement this core gameplay so that there is always enough variety to keep things interested. I even signed up immediately for the "new game plus" mode after completing the game a first time, looking forward to more unlocks of different sorts.

Another department where Bastion truly shines, is its soudtrack. Seldom has ingame-music helped me so much in getting "into" the game, as it captures the mood of every level to perfection. Combined with the unique grain of the narrator's voice, this develops into a great listening experience. The developers also did a wonderful jobs in the myriad of smaller sounds present in the game: every weapon for example has a unique "ring" to it, from the zippy sound of the Breaker's Bow to the rusty clack of the Musket. There really is no weak link in this game. Everything is extremely well thought-off, and even better implemented. It's a must-play for everyone who loves pc gaming.

Gameplay: 27/30
Graphics: 18/20
Sound: 10/10 (maybe the best of all elements in this game)
Longelivety: 8/10 (I played it for over 25 hours, exploring it to the full)
Technical: 10/10 (no issues whatsoever)
Steam-integration: 8/10 (trading cards, leaderbords and achievements included, the latter good but not special)
Personal appreciation: 9/10

Overall: 90/100

I completely love Bastion and recommend it emphatically. Since I started writing reviews of the games I play on Steam almost a year ago, this is the first game that gets a score in the 90's - I don't want to ruin my scoring-system with giving too many high-scores. But this one deserves it to the full.

After playing this game through twice and achieving both endings I can safely say that this has one of the very best stories ever! The soundtrack and beautiful art style make it so addicting and I just want to play it through over and over again.
Probably one of the very best indie games out there.

Visually flawless, poetic, philosophical and striking on many points: the musics, the songs (both bitter and nostalgic, and that haunt you for a long time...), the storyline,... A lovely RPG that reminded me of the good old Terranigma. Only cons I could find out, which is also something I loved is the narration. Don't misunderstand; it's gorgeous, and the way it's describing your moves with a bit of irony is very enjoyable. The problem is for non-native english speaker, like me, who might have troubles to concentrate on the subtitles while playing. That's the only negative point I could find while playing. Otherwise, don't hesitate! This game is a gem.

It's rare for me to play games of this type but I am extraordinarily glad that I took a chance with this one. From the beginning the beautiful visuals immerse you in a world that is both unique and wholly familiar; many games of this type exist but Bastion truly stands above the rest due to the unique concept of the platforming system and the art style. The narration provided by the gravelly-voiced Logan Cunningham made me press on even when I grew bored or disinterested.He's a serious talent in this arena.
Gameplay was not overly challenging, although I admittedly did not complete all parts of the game, such as some of the Challenge Zones and the dream sequences. My goal was to see the main story through because it interested me, even if the twists and turns weren't all that surprising, it was compelling.
Much has been said of the soundtrack but I'm still going to talk about how gorgeous Ashley Barret's vocals are, and how perfect Darren Kolb's guitar work and compositions were. Get this game, play it, and if you don't like it, please tell me why.

A great calamity passed by while you were asleep. It just rolled in and destroyed most of the civilization. As a rare survivor of the catastrophe, you are a kid whose best chances of survival lie in restoration of the cores of the Bastion. As you wander through the handpainted world of Bastion, the narrator continues to fill in details about the calamity, telling you the minutiae of the locations, items or enemies you come across. Exactly after a minute of the game's beginning, things start getting interesting when you find a sledgehammer to crush one of the bad guys - a gasfella, a squidy blue like.

In many ways, Bastion reminds you of BioShock with a great deal of weapon customization. it allows you to carry two weapons and a very special skill of your own. You discover new weapons and items of importance along your journey in the afloat, torn out world of Bastion. While games offer you ways to mitigate the difficulty, Bastion offers you the contrary. It provides you with the shrines of Gods who after renouncement yield power. Not to you but your foes.

What's good in Bastion :

• A beautifully hand-drawn world with a lot of oppurtunities.
  
• Fluid, chaotic combat giving way to a plethora of action and fun.
  
• A great mix of soundtrack which is both tranquilizing and pacifying.
  
• An excellent narrative by Logan Cunningham which acts as a superb gimmick to connect you to the very small bits of the game.
  
• Pukka stages of varied context often delivers the unexpected.
  
• A handful of weapons with a great deal of customization.

What's not so good in Bastion :

• An average 6.5 hours of experience which leaves you wanting more.
  
• Dispensable leaderboards.
  
• A could've been better story.

Defeating a challenging foe in a hack and slash game is merely a quotidian thing, you kill it and forget about it but in Bastion each such fight is given soul and life by the excellent narration. And by the time it's dead, you know more about it than your own friends. That is Bastion.

But then? All he got was more thankless work, from a man who ain't even asked his name. Sure, I may be the one who dreamt up the walls and the Bastion, but the Kid made 'em real, not me. I'd like to say I'll never forget him, or what he's doin'. What he's done. I surely would.

Giving you a beautiful world to explore, Bastion disregards the possibility of delivering a longer and a more polished story. On the other hand, the narration is excellent, the music great, the hack'n'slash combat really fun. A ravishing world brought to life by exceptional handpainted designs. Bastion is authentic and phenomenal.

My Rating - "Gorgeous"
Traditional Rating - 8 on 10.

This is the first game I encountered that makes extensive use of a narrator and Logan Cunningham does a great job. The gameplay is simple, but hard to master and really complements the great story. Even though the Kid hasn't even got a name, I really was able to connect with the character. I can warmly recommend this indie game.

Just buy it.
A really good game, great soundtrack, great story.
Great end, some times it made me almost cry.

I absolutely love this game. It's so beautiful <3

Excellent game...play this if you want to go through a story told by an excellent narrator, wich is something only Fable had done correctly in my opinion.

Although recommended to me by a friend who appreciates such things, I did not expect the level of storytelling that I found in this game. Its arcade, hack-'n-slash appearance belies its capacity for depth - with a soundtrack to match.

Like, pretty much the best isometric, 2D game you are ever going to play in your life.

I like it so much I cannot recommend this enough. If there was, like, a rating system, maybe one to one hundred, this game would be a solid 100/100. I'd boot Bastion up and play it every day all day if I could.

This game is just incredibly good for an indie game. Most games you see with, like, a soundtrack, you might go "ohh some guy thinks his music is good, ha ha" no, this guy, Darren Korb, did something ridiculously cool with Bastion. The soundtrack is just so good. Every step of the way you'll be like oh my god I am so digging this music, even while platforms fall from the sky, or fall from under you.

As indie games go, I don't usually say they are ever worth anything over $10. Bastion is the exception that proves me wrong. The, what, seven or so people who worked on Bastion have more than earned their chips (or whatever).

It's better than Diablo III.

It's so good.

Get it, today.

So, for some reason, this game sat in my backlog for a long while, which was basically a terrible thing considering how much awesome this game had to offer. Anyway, I played through it today, and I can confirm what a lot of people have already said repeatedly....THIS GAME WAS AMAZING!
Seriously, the gameplay was flawless, the upgrade system worked beautifully, the artwork was incredible, the idea of the road crafting just ahead of you with on the spot narration from the equally amazing Logan Cunningham, the amazing soundtrack....pretty much everything about this game was superior to 99% of the other games out there. An absolute must own and must play.
The ending had a surprisingly difficult choice to make. Which brings to light just how effective the story and storytelling was leading up to that point. You actually care about the world and dont want to make the wrong choice. That said, I'll probably play NG+ and go with the other ending so I can play to both conclusions.

10 out of 10

Very fun action story game , to which the character can adapte to your play style, feel more like a ranged person? go ahead. feel like bashing them with your melee attacks. Go. Not only that, but the narrator voice is very good too.

9/10

Enjoy ^-^

The Kid thought that maybe the game was bad.

Nah, I'm just foolin'.

One of the first indies bundles I bought featured this game. I had no idea what I was getting into, nor how amazing this game was going to be. In reality it turned out to be nothing short of a masterpiece. If you ever manage to have the opportunity to play this game, do so! You will be treated to a rare experience, not easily found in the gaming industry. Few games accomplish what Bastion has done.

Bastion is an action-RPG, the first of two games developed by Supergiant Games, their second and most recent being Transistor. While they are both amazing games, and both equally worthy of praise, this review is all about Bastion. If Bastion and Transistor are anything to go off of, then we can expect great things in the future from this developer!

Bastion puts you in the role of the Kid, as he fights to uncover the secrets of "the Calamity", an earthshattering catastrophe that leaves the world in pieces. Bastion redefines storytelling, with reactive narration and superb voiceover work - simply playing the game and listening to the narrator is a joy in and of itself. The game also features a critically-acclaimed soundtrack, which is available for purchase along with the game.

The controls are extremely easy to use and get used to. Bastion features the typical but tried-and-true method of using the WASD keys for movement commonly found in many game, along with point and click input for combat. The direction you move the cursor is the direction the Kid will attack when you click. Left clicking uses your main weapon, which is more often than not a melee weapon, such as a hammer or machete; while right clicking is generally a ranged weapon, such as a bow or gun. Holding down either mouse button for a brief period unleashes a charge attack, dealing more damage than usual. Spacebar causes the Kid to roll in the direction of your cursor, allowing you to dodge most attacks. Some enemies have the ability to knock you into the air, at which point you have the opportunity to perform an air recovery by hitting the Spacebar.

There are many varied, handpainted environments, each crawling with savage creatures hell-bent on putting an end to your arduous journey. At your disposal is an array of different weapons and abilities, which are all upgradeable as the player progresses through the game. Also available is an assortment of Spirits, which grant various passive bonuses, such as an increase in Max HP, or increased critical hit chance. The game also has a New Game Plus mode, where you can replay the story carrying over all the items from your previous playthrough.

From an enthralling story told through superb narrative, to lush, detailed environments and deadly enemies, Bastion has everything you could want from an indie RPG. It's definitely worth adding to any game collection. It's the kind of game that will turn anyone into a gamer.


Be sure to check out Nerd House Gaming for more reviews!

BESTion.

This is another example of "Gaming as Art".
The most famous feature is the narration of Logan Cunningham, "the man with the buttery voice", and narrates your every move giving you comfort and fun while playing.
The art style is beautiful, with levels that literally build while playing. The colors are vibrant and every screenshot you take could easily be a painting.
The combat is as intuitive as it gets: to three buttons corresponds a different weapon. I strongly recommend a controller, though.

Overall, this is a great indie game that won't be forgotten. A must buy.

SCORE: 94/100

One of the best games I've ever played.