I just finished playing through Bastion. I wasn’t exactly on the leading edge of people playing though this game, thanks to my pattern of buying most of my games when they go on sale… all the same it’s somewhat current.
Well, let me back up and give a little context to what I am thinking about.
This week I read and article (which I am unable to find now…) that was talking about how research found that spending money on an experience rather than an item tended to have a larger and more lasting impact on a persons life. The author was using that research to argue for taking classes or going on trips etc.
OK, Back to Bastion… It’s a great ride. The game play is fun, something that should not be taken for granted, but they nailed an atmosphere in ways I haven’t seen done in games for quite a while.
To start with, the game is narrated in a way that responds to events as you play. It may not sound that interesting, but the effect is satisfying. It doesn’t hurt that the narrator has a great voice for the job…
Here is a small example:
There isn’t much to the story, but I found myself always wanting to play one more level just to find out what happened next.
I shouldn’t wander too far into review territory, there are plenty of places online you can go for that kind of thing.
Having finished the game, I couldn’t help but think about the ideas from that article on how experiences stick with you and how that applied. It was an experience that grabbed me, and it felt amazing to close out the story. It would probably be wrong to reach too far ideologically while I am still so excited about the game, but it is interesting to think about what kind of returns I got from my time and money.
-Jordan
Nelsons 