*Phew*
Okay, just finished
Bastion.
Before I get all worked up, I'll just say that this is definitely not a PC-specific game. I enjoyed it with my own control methods, of course, but it felt immediately quite 'Xbox-y', so I'm sure that
tiny group of people who own Xboxes will be able to enjoy it to its full potential.
Okay, the game. When I set out, the first thing I thought was 'Zelda'. Then 'Braid'. Then 'Diablo'. Eventually I realised that it was pulling so many different tricks that it was becoming hard to find comparisons that did it justice. Does that mean it is an amazingly original game? Not necessarily. It just makes it a rather good one.
It's a throwback in some ways, to a time when execution was king, and a sense of style was a pillar of good design. Frankly, it's got it all.
Characterful weapons? Check.
Upgrade system? Check.
Special moves? Check.
Experience perks? Check.
Big Moral Choices™? Check.
Intriugingly twisty story? Check.
Bits of background you have to find yourself? Check.
Emotional Moments™? Check.
Kickass soundtrack? Check.
Funky architechture? Check.
Oil paint graphics? Check.
Story-central hub area? Check.
Comedy? Check.
A play style to suit everybody? Check.
On-the-fly flexible difficulty? Check.
Skill challenges? Check.
Replay value? Check.
Post-apocalyptic fantasy world? Check.
Magic alcohol? Oh,
check.
Character roster: Gravelly-voiced Father Figure, That Shifty Guy Who Probably Betrays You, Ambiguous Love Interest?
Check, Check and possibly Check.
Player-grabbing gimmick? Check.
Your story is being told as you're living it (Cue big revelation at the end). Even stuff as simple as changing your weapon loadout gets a characterful comment.
Those funny little moments in a game that rattle around inside your skull for ages and you're not sure why? Big check.
You get the idea. It's a game that's pretty much exactly the sum of its parts, plus extra points for presentation. It's got a lot of parts. It's a good game. Also longer than I was expecting.
In a sentence that rings true in both game and story:
There's more to it than meets the eye.
Trailer. It's currently on Xbox for 1200 MSP, Steam for £11.49 (it won't show me any other currency, sorry), with fairly representative demos of the first chapter available for both.
Please have a go. I'm full of spoilers and I want to talk about it with someone. Seriously, the final choice is a real kicker.
Oh, and I completed
Blinding of Issac too. I
literally bombed that Mother.