![]() Your task is simply to come to terms with this reality, and make the choice to move forward (or not). You are not fighting to save the world, you have already destroyed it. The End of the World has already happened, and in its wake lies one of the hardest truths you could face – that in this world, the great evil is you. Yes, there are enemies to fight, but there is no great evil to face down, very little external conflict outside of just fighting enemies. In its early acts, the game seems to be merely another story about post-apocalyptic survival in a pseudo-fantasy setting, yet as the nuances of the narrative reveal themselves, Bastion’s hidden statements begin to take wing.īastion is more than a simple game of survival and “fight the evil power.” It is a tale of hope and despair, the importance of friendship, longing, deep regret and, ultimately, acceptance and the ability to move on in the face of crippling truths. Bastion takes this to heart, as its narrative is not only expertly delivered, but also laden with great thematic significance. Them gods gonna hurt you, son when you play with a loaded gun.Ī large part of what makes a good story good is having something worthwhile to say. Gods aint gonna help you son, you’ll be sorry for what you’ve done. Then, like the final tumbler of a lock clicking into place, the world of Bastion truly opens itself up. While each of its constituent elements does a fair job at insinuating backstory, it is not until you experience them all together that the gravity of the game’s message is properly conveyed. It is said of the best graphic novels that they are neither “illustrated stories” nor “pictures with captions”, that they are more than the sum of their parts that only is truly expressed when the synergy that is “graphic novel” comes out the same is true in spades of Bastion. From the weapons you use to the challenges you complete to its soundtrack each aspect of the game is heavy with a rich lore buried just below the surface, revealed to us piecemeal as we pla. The game hides bits of its narrative in every facet of the game. The most rewarding part about Bastion’s story is that it is never explicitly spelled out for you. As a silent hero, The Kid is merely a vessel, a moving camera to take us on the journey of Caelondia’s sordid history, and through him we are witness to its tragic fall. The Kid may be the character you play as, but Rucks’ honest and, at times, genuinely heartfelt account of what really happened makes it clear that this is his story. Through Rucks we are witness to Caelondia’s collective guilt, and the regret brought on by the Calamity. As the only character in the game who actually talks, he speaks for all of Caelondia. Bastion is truly a story book in more than just appearance, and as the game progresses, it becomes clear that Rucks the Narrator is the central figure in this tale. The beauty of the Narrator extends far beyond simple storytelling conventions. Sure, there are still a few cutscenes, but the bulk of the world is established through the dulcet tones of a man you ultimately come to know and trust. From a “gameplay” perspective (I’m not really fond of that word, I’ve decided), the Narrator is an elegant solution to the “game vs story” discord, as he can feed you pieces of story and background as you play. The inclusion of the Narrator is Bastion’s most unique feature as well as one of its greatest triumphs. It seems almost natural, then, that there should be a narrator. Its world is bright and colorful, though broken, and it hints at a certain whimsical charm that instantly draws you in. The true marvel of Bastion is that underneath the gameplay mechanics rests a deep, enriching experience that truly pushes the envelope with what videogames are capable of.īastion appears at first glance as though a story book. ![]() ![]() I’m not just saying that Bastion is a fun game to play or that I recommend you buy it or anything like that – these are all, as far as I’m concerned, foregone conclusions and mere platitudes. Bastion has always been a game that benefits greatly from reflection, and as I’ve spent a large part of the past few months (no, really) doing just that, it has become more and more clear to me what exactly Bastion is. It’s been a while since Supergiant Games’ indie smash Bastion insinuated itself onto the Xboxes of unassuming Summer of Arcade gamers everywhere, instantly capturing hearts and minds with its charming look and deep, emotionally charged narrative.
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