Bastion

”Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail.” -Leonado Da Vinci

By far my favorite title of the twin-stick variety, Bastion melds rich narrative with gorgeous environmental design, an animated soundtrack-the very same I was inspired to listen to as I type these phrases-that will surely be lodged in memory, and a resonant play-style. This title is masterfully unique in how it articulates and flows between set-pieces and moments, and elicits emotion in ways very few media outlets can claim. I would like to thank my brother for recommending Bastion to me before proceeding because I do not know if I would have otherwise stumbled upon this iconic Indie Gem by Supergiant Games.

Here are merely a few reasons to give this staple a try:

Story - Opening this title, you awaken as a young male of indiscernible age referred to as The Kid, with a currently disembodied narrator commenting your actions. The Kid is seen resting atop a fractured structure know as the realm of Caelondia’s Bastion. The narrator relays that The Kid is alone, the incredible Bastion had fallen, and it is The Kid’s duty to restore its form to prior glory by traversing surrounding environments for fragments to a device of immense power. Without wishing to spoil the epic, I can say this title presents a bounty of emotion provocation, and contained many intriguing lore topics not solely based around The Kid but on the encompassing world, artfully immersing the player into the experience. The persisting narration also aided tremendously in said immersion, remarking even minute inputs by the player; this goes so far as to highlight the introduction to the soundtrack, presenting the following music as those formerly played on gramophones in the now eviscerated world.

Characters - Without wishing to spoil much in the way of plot, I can say that Bastion has a selection of alluring antagonists and protagonists. Each opponent has a unique and identifiable design theme, permitting the player to efficiently recall individual combat weaknesses and tactics upon the foe’s arrival. In the way of protagonists, The Kid becomes personable by the game’s narrator. Throughout the journey, several additional individuals are saved by The Kid, and constitute an imaginative supporting cast.

Gameplay - Bastion is primarily a twin-stick shooter and brawler that includes special abilities, directional blocking, and dodging to deepen the experience. The combat is both satisfying and smooth in design and execution while using either a control or keyboard commands. As described previously, there are many enemy variances that test tact and wit, forcing the player to utilize a great deal of their tools and resources. Difficulty may be increased for additional rewards by locating and constructing totems in the Pantheon; one example is the ability of foes to explode after death-damaging the proximal player-for an increase in experience point gain. As one can image by the previous statement, there is also a leveling system implemented into the core of the gameplay, increasing The Kid’s health pool with each subsequent progression. As more fragments of the power source are collected, the Bastion gains facilities chosen by the player which provide services and game-altering bonuses such as the Pantheon providing difficulty customization. There is also a wide array of secrets and optional stages to be discovered, culminating in quite a large selection of content. During each level, the player must discover borders by maneuvering around the platform’s edge; when nearby, the plane will rise from beneath and ‘create itself’ as if The Kid is the one manually repairing the world through stride and determination.

Sound Design - I was personally remarkably impressed by the lasting impact the narrator and musical score has had on me. When I first started playing this title, I felt nothing but delight in the way which the omniscient voice elaborated on The Kid’s critical movements, thrusting immersion to the forefront of this gem. The score and timing of each piece only aided the experience. I truly wish I had the capacity to justifiably describe the rhythmic swayings of the hectic combat and somber melodies, but I must say it is vital to the experience because the soundtrack works so well to accomplish player captivation every time; the Bastion original soundtrack is one of the very few complete video game music collections I can listen to on loop by itself. Darren Korb’s masterful compositions even convinced me to purchase Supergiant’s Transistor original soundtrack upon purchasing the base title, something that is very rare for me.

TL:DR - Bastion is a timeless journey absolutely worthy of the term Indie Gem. The story and gameplay cohesively create an immersive, beautiful experience through unique characters, incredible sound design, and enjoyable play mechanics. I highly recommend this title to those who favor twin-stick combat and a challenge. Thanks for reading.

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Originally posted on July 6, 2018.