by The end of the world is rarely a beautiful thing. Bastion bucks the trend with a story-rich, action role-playing adventure set in a colorful fantasy landscape that easily makes for one of the most visually striking post-apocalyptic tales I’ve ever encountered. But the unusual way this quest to salvage the remnants of humanity unfolds is even more memorable than its stunning design. Nearly every action you make — from simple combat maneuvers to the choices you make as you play — elicits a clever narrative response that ties the magical journey together in a very personal way.
When a great cataclysmic event wrecks civilization and leaves droves of monsters in its wake, a young hero simply named “The Kid” steps up to the plate to rebuild the Bastion hub. Diving into levels for straightforward hack-and-slash action with a blend of cool melee weapons and guns is a fluid, fun affair, thanks to auto-attacks and new simplified touch controls that let you battle easily as you move around by tapping the landscape. For those coming over from a previous controller-based version of the game, though, a more traditional virtual button scheme is also included. Picking up, upgrading, and swapping out new weapons gives you some great flexibility to customize your combat style too.
Bastion’s gameplay is strong on its own, but the dynamic, smooth-voiced narration really makes the experience something extra special. As you play, the omniscient narrator comments on your actions and offers context for what’s happening on-screen, changing his dialogue depending on your actions. Slam a foe but take damage in the process? You might get a quip like, “Kid pops him good. Fella got a piece of him though.” Other times, the narrator lays out important back story bits based on the situations you encounter. It’s a brilliant mechanic that adds so much to the adventure.
The bottom line. This slick indie action-RPG console port makes a smooth transition to iPad, delivering a very special, one-of-a-kind experience that’ll stick with you long after you finish it.
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