Bastion is a first-person isometric action/role-playing game. It tells the narrative of Caelondia, a city decimated by the “Calamity” calamity. The game follows a mute protagonist known as “The Kid” as he attempts to build a haven (Bastion) with the assistance of Rucks, who also serves as the game’s narrator. The child must overcome the game’s numerous enemies with various combat, ranged weapons, and special abilities. As the player progresses, the Bastion, which serves as a type of headquarters in the game, can be improved with helpful buildings.
As the Kid explores the globe, he will acquire new weapons and upgrade materials, keepsakes, and fragments. Mementos can be discussed with other Bastion residents and may reveal more about the universe. The Kid can only have two weapons and one particular skill at a time, which may necessitate switching them out for others depending on the player’s choices and the foes’ weaknesses. The fragments are the game’s primary currency, and they can be obtained by destroying things, fighting adversaries, or simply finding them. The player can then use them to buy upgrades and valuable trinkets in the Bastion.
The Bastion encloses six buildings that the Kid can renovate and use. The player can allocate spirits (drinks) to ten slots in the Distillery, delivering various passive bonuses during gameplay. At first, just one place is accessible for usage, with the remainder unlocked individually as the Kid progresses. The Arsenal houses all the weaponry amassed by the protagonist during his adventures; the player can switch weapons and special abilities here. Weapons are strengthened and upgraded in the Forge, which is only achievable after gathering the necessary upgrade materials worldwide. The Memorial contains several challenges that, when completed, reward the player with extra fragments. Lost-and-Found players can spend chips to recover upgrade materials and uncover idols and spirits. Finally, the game difficulty can be enhanced by invoking the gods in the Shrine.
Dynamic narration is one of the game’s standout elements. The game’s narration is based on the player’s actions. For example, the narrator comments on the situation when the child falls from a great height.
