Bastion

Pros + Animations are good... + Big color palette... + Tight controls... + Very pick-up-and-play + Narration... Cons - ... but not enough is animated - ... but nothing stands out - ... but bland combat mechanics - Cut and paste area design - Weak story - ... but narration Summary Pretty/nice graphics and sound, tight but annoyingly un-special gameplay, Vegemite story and narration. It's a cheap game, so maybe this is being overly critical, but I found the combination of mid-intensity music, soft colors, slow-jog pace, and the cool-attitude narrator really adrenaline-killing. Doesn't matter how many enemies are on-screen--it always feels the same. For real, pick up the pace, Bastion. Alternatives: * Crusader: No Remorse and Crusader: No Regret -- They're really clunky in comparison, and mind-numbing in their own way, but the combat is more demanding. The theme is bolder, too. * NOX -- More frantic gameplay, different combat options, tedious menus/inventory, but better items, item visualization, and interactivity. * Time Commando -- Psychotic tank controls, but great level design and great variety in fights. * Blade of Darkness -- Okay, this is nothing like Bastion. It's an over-the-shoulder, third-person, Demon's Souls-before-Demon's Souls-existed slash-fest. It's the best. FOR PROFESSIONALS ONLY.

If you like dungeon crawlers, there is no reason not to dig this one up. This is one of the better ones we have seen in a long while, and you will have fun while running around to fix the Bastion… and the world. If you are into old-school action games, you will probably get a lot out of this too, since this is a very action oriented game, complete with the keys to success being to learn the patterns of your enemies. It is a pretty short game, but at $15, this shouldn’t hold you back. It’s worth the price.

Well, first of all, let me say that I just don't get ARPGs, they're not for me. They bore me and I find them repetitive and grindy beyond measure. That said I still managed to enjoy Bastion. It wasn't a blast, but it certainly wasn't a chore. From a technical standpoint, the game handles fllawlessly, visually it's beautiful to look at, and as far as sound design goes, both music and sound effect fit the mood and theme perfectly. The game itself is ok, like I said, not my cup of tea, but that's not the game's fault but mine. It's a good game, and my experience with it was a fine one, not great, not excellent, just fine. And that's fine.

just awesome, i sat down and played that game through in almost one day

The graphics are beautiful, the soundtrack is awesome and the narrator is one cool cat.