Bastion

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1641 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,311 out of 1641
  2. Mixed: 270 out of 1641
  3. Negative: 60 out of 1641

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. iamtheoneneo
    Jan 10, 2012
    9
    cool game, great fun to play the weapons and loads of upgrades keeps things fresh. the mortor is pure sex! love all the characters and the slow introduction of them. Music is very very nice and whislt the narrator an kinda get a bit too much at times it is nice that the game has that and does keep things interesting.
  2. nerdboy64
    May 8, 2012
    8
    Bastion is one of my favorite indie games of all time. The story is compelling, and after just a few minutes of gameplay I instantly began to care what happened to the world and its inhabitants. The narrator, as a mechanic and as a method of storytelling, probably has a part in this but I can't quite figure out why.
    There is plenty of variety in enemies as well, and while many complain    Bastion is one of my favorite indie games of all time. The story is compelling, and after just a few minutes of gameplay I instantly began to care what happened to the world and its inhabitants. The narrator, as a mechanic and as a method of storytelling, probably has a part in this but I can't quite figure out why.
    There is plenty of variety in enemies as well, and while many complain about the simplistic combat, I feel they are exaggerating quite a bit. That's not to say it doesn't have its problems (which I will get to later), just that it isn't quite as bad as they make it sound.
    The art is beautiful, and I especially like the half-steampunk, half-fantasy aesthetic. Though I'll admit it's probably because it reminds me of Miyazaki's works (Castle in the Sky, Nausicaa, etc.) .

    Of course, while I personally like the game, it does have a few problems. On mouse and keyboard, you only have 8 walking directions and it is very hard to aim ranged weapons at small enemies. The latter is caused by the dashed line extending from your character to the cursor not lining up with the hit-box when it is lined up with the model, and vice versa.When I switched to a gamepad, so that I could have a bit more control of the movement, I was slightly disappointed by the auto-aim system. I would have infinitely preferred a dual-stick (left stick to move, right stick to aim) configuration.

    Despite all this, however, I still feel that this is a game worth playing, especially at the cost of only $15. Even if you, like myself, find it slightly disappointing mechanically, the excellent story and artwork far outweigh such drawbacks.    … Expand
  3. GolovA
    Nov 11, 2012
    8
    Lovely art-work, innovative music, addictive voice over of the main narrator. The gameplay is your usual walkie-slashy type - with XP and money gain (level up and upgrade your weaponry). It is really the smoothness of the play, cool dynamic graphics, and constant commentary of your actions by the narrator of the story (real-time) that set this game apart from all others. HighlyLovely art-work, innovative music, addictive voice over of the main narrator. The gameplay is your usual walkie-slashy type - with XP and money gain (level up and upgrade your weaponry). It is really the smoothness of the play, cool dynamic graphics, and constant commentary of your actions by the narrator of the story (real-time) that set this game apart from all others. Highly recommend. (Hated the jump puzzle by the way :)… Expand
  4. Jman4
    Jun 2, 2012
    10
    Beautiful art and soundtrack, clever storytelling via the mysterious narrator, an interesting and legitimately moving storyline that unravels as you play and the some of the most innovative and entertaining gameplay I have ever experienced. The ending of the game made me feel so many different emotions, the most of which sorrow, for being finished with the game. A must-have.
  5. flyawaymyfriend
    Jun 7, 2012
    10
    The game is amazing and very original. It has a great story that I feel could make a great movie with. The game has yet to disappoint me. The price is very reasonable too, its $15 bucks for an amazing story, great music, wonderful narration, and around 10 - 15 hours of game play. You will not be disappointed if you're into a game that has narration with a touching story.
  6. murtle52
    Jul 5, 2012
    10
    When I installed Bastion, the first thing that blew me away was the amazing color and art design. I quickly discovered a very fluid easy set of combat and gameplay mechanics. The upgrading is fun and the weapons are creative . The way the levels "appear" beneath your feet was a nice touch and I thought this new "constant narration" was just a gimmick, but it actually works and complimentsWhen I installed Bastion, the first thing that blew me away was the amazing color and art design. I quickly discovered a very fluid easy set of combat and gameplay mechanics. The upgrading is fun and the weapons are creative . The way the levels "appear" beneath your feet was a nice touch and I thought this new "constant narration" was just a gimmick, but it actually works and compliments the overall gameplay well. This is an amazing game for the low price and I highly recommend.… Expand
  7. Mosstromo
    Mar 5, 2013
    10
    Bastion is an exquisite game in all aspects. Story, art and game play.
    A beautiful and impeccably told tale of loss and hope that will conduct you through pretty much all the emotional spectrum thanks to one of the best written narrations on any media, rendered in an equally formidable palette with one of the most attractive looking cartoon styles you may hope to find in a game at present    Bastion is an exquisite game in all aspects. Story, art and game play.
    A beautiful and impeccably told tale of loss and hope that will conduct you through pretty much all the emotional spectrum thanks to one of the best written narrations on any media, rendered in an equally formidable palette with one of the most attractive looking cartoon styles you may hope to find in a game at present times.
    Guiding you across the lavish visual landscape is another "character" of similar beauty and importance as are the graphics and your trusty weapons: The music. The music in Bastion is as necessary to the story and the game as is your character or the narrator.
    With the uncomplicated game mechanic and goals of, let's say, a platformer, Bastion (a weapon's RPG) manages to involve you emotionally in ways usually reserved for Adventure Games or large RPGs, thanks to its well crafted cast, presented to the player during the course of the game by well-timed brushstrokes of "sensations" instead of lengthy descriptions. A feat that is even more laudable since we get at best a few one-liners about each of them interspersed along the story.
    The game changes fast and frequently enough to always keep you interested on what is taking place at the moment and curious of what may be about to happen. Interesting weapons, potions and special skills make for a truly unforgettable experience that has "replayability" etched on every lost stone of Caelandia you recover.
    I think I've kissed Bastion's ass enough to make it redundant to say that I fully recommend it.
    d(^_^)b    … Expand
  8. Someoneudunno
    Oct 15, 2011
    10
    I bought this from Steam after hearing much of it. I cannot express this enough, this was possibly one of the best purchases I have made to date. The art style is beautiful, the concept is incredible and unique and the story is deep and engrossing with points where it was incredibly hard-hitting. As far as I'm concerned it's been my favourite release this year and I can only hope theI bought this from Steam after hearing much of it. I cannot express this enough, this was possibly one of the best purchases I have made to date. The art style is beautiful, the concept is incredible and unique and the story is deep and engrossing with points where it was incredibly hard-hitting. As far as I'm concerned it's been my favourite release this year and I can only hope the developers intend to continue this incredible storyline with either a sequel or DLC because I'd be more than happy to pay for it.… Expand
  9. Rusix1819
    Oct 21, 2011
    10
    The game doesn't start out with much plot, but builds much towards mid game and end game. Very fun 2d game, with beautiful textures and art style. Sound track is just amazing itself. Looks like Supergiant Games made a great game introducing them into the video game industry.
  10. Takeda
    May 12, 2013
    10
    Game is simply put the best indie game I have ever played. I thought the art style was amazing and the story was immersive and original. The narration was something new and different and added the perfect touch.
  11. Zartan
    Oct 28, 2011
    9
    Bastion is one of those few games that really tries to be different. You are the Kid, one of the few survivors of a disaster called "The Calamity". The Calamity shattered the land of Caelondia to pieces, and you must find other survivors, rebuild the Bastion, and try to find out what caused the Calamity to happen.

    + Good combat system: The fights and moves feel smooth and right +    Bastion is one of those few games that really tries to be different. You are the Kid, one of the few survivors of a disaster called "The Calamity". The Calamity shattered the land of Caelondia to pieces, and you must find other survivors, rebuild the Bastion, and try to find out what caused the Calamity to happen.

    + Good combat system: The fights and moves feel smooth and right
    + Great weapon system: You start out with a hammer, and as you advance through the game you'll find more and more weapons, all with their own abilities, pros, and cons.
    + Upgrades/Buffs/Achievements: Bastion comes with the ability to completely modify the difficulty you are playing. There are several buffs called "Spirits", which you can collect and aquire throughout the game. Also, you can invoke the spirits of the gods to create environmental effects, increasing an monster's lifebar for example.
    + Innovative Narrating: Bastion is all about the story. As you travel through the game, the narrator travels with you, monitoring your every move and decision. He tells you about monsters, history, landmarks, etc. A very nice add
    + A very mature cartoony look: The graphics look great, and totally belong to this sort of game.
    + Soundtracks: Nice!

    - Replayability: You'll probably need 3 or 4 hours max to finish the story. Then you can start "New Game Plus Mode", restarting the campaign but with all your weapons, upgrades and buffs from your previous game, allready unlocked and at your disposal.
    - No feature DLC: The developers wanna focus on their next game and see Bastion as a 1 time thing, there won't be any future DLC available and thats, in my opinion, a missed chance.

    Concluding: This is the best Indie game i have ever played! The story, the gameplay, the narrator, it all fits together perfectly. 15,- is truly a steal, this game is worth more then that.    … Expand
  12. Proxymate
    Dec 7, 2011
    10
    This game has a great story, amazing visuals, insanely good combat and you get this great feeling just by playing it. Supergiant games managed to give me this great experience that I haven't really had since some of the great, lush adventure games for the PS2. The game is kinda "old-school" in the way that the gameplay is so pure and straight-forward, but they have brought in a lot ofThis game has a great story, amazing visuals, insanely good combat and you get this great feeling just by playing it. Supergiant games managed to give me this great experience that I haven't really had since some of the great, lush adventure games for the PS2. The game is kinda "old-school" in the way that the gameplay is so pure and straight-forward, but they have brought in a lot of stuff in the aesthetic department. For the price, this game is most definitely worth buying.… Expand
  13. gent
    Oct 31, 2011
    10
    This game is so good, so inspired, so overwhelmingly original, it nearly goes beyond words. The art is cartoon-like, but still mature enough to carry the story well. The story is highly engaging. The action is amazingly good, with narration for everything you do (or even don't do). In fact, the narration is what makes the story carry so well. You are never alone in this game. The narratorThis game is so good, so inspired, so overwhelmingly original, it nearly goes beyond words. The art is cartoon-like, but still mature enough to carry the story well. The story is highly engaging. The action is amazingly good, with narration for everything you do (or even don't do). In fact, the narration is what makes the story carry so well. You are never alone in this game. The narrator is always letting you know what is new and what is going on, even if you're the one doing it, and it manages to never be repetitive. Fantastic game!… Expand
  14. ripplechip
    Nov 2, 2011
    10
    Extremely original and unique game. Absolutely love the narration, music, and visuals, and I personally find the combat to be satisfying. The world they create catches you from the get go, and it is seriously difficult to put this game down. Definitely a must play.
  15. regimechange
    Dec 27, 2014
    10
    This game is literally a moving watercolor painting. Great narrator, great on the side 'horde modes', fun combat with many different weapons, special attacks, and spirits at your disposal, and probably the best video game music i've heard since ODST. The story is pretty good to boot and all comes together well at the end.

    GOTY.
  16. Nicks
    Mar 14, 2012
    9
    Bastion is one of those games that takes you back to a time when you used to enjoy fairy tales in all their full colors and wonders without questioning anything about them in relative to the realism. Supergiant games has proved that in these time of entertainment when every fiction is trying to get it's story to be grounded in reality as much as possible without breaking the concept or theBastion is one of those games that takes you back to a time when you used to enjoy fairy tales in all their full colors and wonders without questioning anything about them in relative to the realism. Supergiant games has proved that in these time of entertainment when every fiction is trying to get it's story to be grounded in reality as much as possible without breaking the concept or the elements of fiction, a story can still be told that doesn't have to try to fulfill this requirement in order to get the attention and time of a logical mind. Bastion drives heavily on the narration of one character Rucks in the game who has been voiced incredibly by a Logan Cunningham (i'm keeing his voice with those of Morgan freeman and such from hollywood.. Seriously). Right from the beginning of the game to the end, including every action by the protagonist and details about the diverse places where the games ventures, everything is described by him in a manner that you can't help but listen and contemplate what was just said and yet none of what he says takes too much thinking to understand. I mean this one thing, rucks' talking, constitutes more than half of the games. and believe me his talking ain't just some blabbering. like i said he's telling you a story you want to enjoy without the anticipation of answers (which eventually are provided) of the questions that arise during the game ruining the experience. it's the way Rucks unfolds the events in the game by his narration that makes the experience beautiful. then the other things driving the game are visual design and music. I mean it's all hand painted design of everything here that has been given simple and effective animation to bring life into the game. and the music for each level and scenario has been composed so beautifully that after your playthrough you'd definitely be getting the album. lastly the gameplay is good if not great. things were kept interesting by players getting some different new weapon or upgrade regularly. but the gameplay delivers fun more in the proving grounds than in the main story missions as each weapon you acquire in the game is used in different proving grounds for completing challenges like shooting as many targets as possible in the given time and such. you rely on your reflexes in here more than you do in the story missions. in the end i just want to say that don't go by the size of the game (which is just under 800 MB) or seeing that this game is a downloadable one so won't be as good as the full blown games. it packs a punch stronger than the recent 15 or 20 gigs games that i've played recently. believe me in the coming times whereas you'll keep getting the iterations in the installments of the established series from big companies like EA or Activision, the innovation for a wholly different experience will come out from independent games only. I literally thank Supergiant games for making me a child for awhile again without letting me feel childish about it.… Expand
  17. JimCorbett
    Jun 10, 2012
    7
    I enjoyed this game while it lasts. It's not a particularly long game: 6-8 hours on your first play through. The way to story is told is really unique and interesting, though it took a while for me to get the hang of the story. The levels are clearly designed with a controller in mind, you will have a difficult time navigating some parts of the game as your Keyboard won't allow you to moveI enjoyed this game while it lasts. It's not a particularly long game: 6-8 hours on your first play through. The way to story is told is really unique and interesting, though it took a while for me to get the hang of the story. The levels are clearly designed with a controller in mind, you will have a difficult time navigating some parts of the game as your Keyboard won't allow you to move in the precise direction needed. The RPG elements aren't that deep and are easily understood which i liked. Overall it was a good game, one that is worth the look.… Expand
  18. Mivix
    Jan 10, 2012
    9
    Pretty solid game. Good story, good voice acting, nice graphics. Game-play is very addictive and fun (easy to play hard to master). I would give it a 10, but the combat is actually pretty simple and locations are almost the same all the time.
  19. varoksa
    Nov 20, 2011
    10
    one of the best games ive played , i have even bought the soundtrack , fantastic music that fits the areas and combat perfectly, fluid combat with a wide variety of weapons to use, the graphics and atmosphere are great the whole word tells a story , engrossing storyline with an ending better than most i have seen in a long time.
  20. AeroAtlas
    Dec 6, 2011
    10
    Beautiful. Easily one of the best story games I've ever played ;) The music, graphics, and narration immerse you into the world of Bastion. I like to make video game lets plays over everything I play, but I had a difficult time doing this one, cuz I felt that me talking over it ruined it a bit. 10/10
  21. mgmartin
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    One of the best games I've ever played.. Visually stunning, beautiful soundtrack, super game play and a great story. The only negative is that I wish it was longer. I sure hope this gets game of the year award.
  22. Jima
    Nov 26, 2011
    10
    Amazing. There is nothing else that I can say about this game. It is simply amazing. Everything about it is amazing. I do not have a single complaint about bastion.
  23. Aqueous
    Jan 11, 2012
    10
    Story? Beautifully simple. Visuals? Marvelous. Gameplay? Addicting. Bastion has left me wanting more, especially after the choice of two endings. If you haven't beaten the game already, take the first ending. Then beat the game in New Game Plus, which is basically the same thing except you have almost everything you found first time around, and experience the second ending. Take my wordStory? Beautifully simple. Visuals? Marvelous. Gameplay? Addicting. Bastion has left me wanting more, especially after the choice of two endings. If you haven't beaten the game already, take the first ending. Then beat the game in New Game Plus, which is basically the same thing except you have almost everything you found first time around, and experience the second ending. Take my word for it, it's much better that way because I did it the other way around. In an era where games are often rehashed, Bastion is a breath of fresh air. It has been a awhile since I've played a game like this, reminds me of my childhood that was spent playing Legend of Zelda. Bastion is worth every penny.… Expand
  24. Wordhammer
    Jan 11, 2012
    9
    Alright, I give it a 9 because the replay value sits at about nothing after you finish it the second time. The narration is entertaining, but the game is not expansive. You're in a short story, and I will be giving this game to any child that enjoys video games.
    From the perspective of 'it's too easy'; try saying that with all ten idols on. I had that reaction, but that's why they gave you    Alright, I give it a 9 because the replay value sits at about nothing after you finish it the second time. The narration is entertaining, but the game is not expansive. You're in a short story, and I will be giving this game to any child that enjoys video games.
    From the perspective of 'it's too easy'; try saying that with all ten idols on. I had that reaction, but that's why they gave you the ability to make the game as tough as you can handle. While it is insane to impose stress on yourself, you can't say that the game is too easy, because it can be made harder. It's a good game for a kid to play, but strong enough for an adult. This is a fun RPG, and deserves to be played by everyone who would like to play a fantastic RPG.    … Expand
  25. minsu2
    Dec 20, 2011
    9
    Fantastic game that I would recommend to ANYONE regardless of age. Fantastic action, story telling, art direction, music and sound. This game will make crack smiles. This is a video game. You won't be disappointed.
  26. D_Money
    Dec 20, 2011
    10
    Bastion gives you a lot of quality gaming for your money. The concept of having a narrator seems so simple, but adds a lot of depth and uniqueness. Just go easy on it; after about 8 hours of content button-mashing, I was well on my way to carpel-tunnel.
  27. Dusty_Hayes
    Jul 21, 2014
    10
    One of the best indie games out there. Bastion is a rich and beautiful game, with its story expertly narrated by the incredibly entertaining & funny Ruck which proves you don't need a AAA budget with full Voice-over characters to tell a good story and is a steal on the Steam sales for a couple of £/$
  28. Kenmei
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    Very good game, especially when it's 66% off it's original price, as it is on the day of this writing on Steam. Even at full price, this game is worth it. The biggest draw here is the narrator telling the story of the main character. His story telling really adds a wonderful element to what would otherwise be an above-average game. This is really one of the best indie games to come out inVery good game, especially when it's 66% off it's original price, as it is on the day of this writing on Steam. Even at full price, this game is worth it. The biggest draw here is the narrator telling the story of the main character. His story telling really adds a wonderful element to what would otherwise be an above-average game. This is really one of the best indie games to come out in a long time and it'll keep your attention with its excellent story telling and enjoyable gameplay. This is just a fun game and anyone who enjoys playing games should pick this up on whatever platform you use the most, whether it be the 360 or the PC, especially today when it's on sale on Steam. Buy it and you won't regret it and that's something you can't say for most games that are released in this day and age.… Expand
  29. golfandcars2
    Feb 12, 2013
    9
    Bastion is a great example of what a complete video game should be: great fun factor, gameplay, controls, music, scenery, and diversity in items as well as enemies. The story line is very simple, the game obviously wants you to focus on the gameplay. Now I am probably one of few that did not find much replay value in the game, though it is set up to be replayed many times, so IF you endBastion is a great example of what a complete video game should be: great fun factor, gameplay, controls, music, scenery, and diversity in items as well as enemies. The story line is very simple, the game obviously wants you to focus on the gameplay. Now I am probably one of few that did not find much replay value in the game, though it is set up to be replayed many times, so IF you end up liking this game, then it will deliver its value ten fold.… Expand
  30. TomT7
    Jun 2, 2012
    10
    A great game that everyone should experience. Fantastic music and art style. Fluid and fun combat. Well worth the $15 it normally costs. Buy it now.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PC Game of 2011
17
#17 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
23
#23 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. ActionTrip
    Jan 24, 2012
    83
    It's a highly polished, bug-free bundle of fun and at $15, it's a steal. Kudos to Supergiant Games.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 30, 2011
    70
    Visually stunning independent action RPG impresses you with a captivating world but will disappoint you with a dull and boring combat system. [Oct 2011]
  3. Everyeye.it
    Oct 9, 2011
    75
    Bastion hides a fun traditional gameplay under gorgeous and innovative visuals, that on the long run could come short in variety.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »