Bastion Catch-all (now coming to iPad)

I got the bow challenge with just the +50% damage upgrade and without getting power shots. One shot for each of the diagonal rows (again, use LB and RB to pick a target at the end of whichever row you're facing) plus one shot for the target in the middle.

I think I played about 1-2hrs of it so far and I'm a little disappointed after being so hyped about it.
I remember playing the demo at Pax when it was first announced and being really into it at the time, but now without the excitement and the atmosphere of the guys who made the game hanging around watching... ehh...

So far the narration has started to turn me off, somewhat. The main gameplay mechanic - the combat - doesn't seem all that deep to me, and I couldn't see myself getting any better at it or where the 'skill' comes in apart from being super-ultra careful and rolling about like a madman to avoid getting hit.

I also had CptGlanton's experience with the controls and I dislike not being able to switch weapons at any time, especially during a level where the load-out you chose sucks balls for what you need to do. I didn't see any hints either on the level selection as to what weapons would work best for a level.

And lastly, those first three to four levels were really short. I kept saying, "that's it?" at the end of each.

I really want to like this, but, what am I missing?

I'm not sure, kilanash. I found the combat perfectly involved, and not just roll around with a prayer. I blocked as much as I dodged, as the counter system is really, really useful. I also loved the narration, with some nice and somewhat deeper emotional stuff occurring in the later parts of the game.

In other words, I finished it a few hours ago and it's one of my favorite games of the year. Standing head to head with The Witcher 2.

So - is this something acceptable for a 4 year old to watch while we play?

I would say yes, completely, but watch a trailer. I'm no father, so all's I'm using is my very open-minded Norwegian brain.

HedgeWizard wrote:

So - is this something acceptable for a 4 year old to watch while we play?

It's rated E10+. There's whacking things with weapons but no blood or bodies.

The kid might have a go at your furniture afterwards.

HedgeWizard's kid just raged for a while.
HedgeWizard wrote:

So - is this something acceptable for a 4 year old to watch while we play?

Unless your kid is mature enough to be vulnerable to existential dread, she'll be fine.

How are people doing the machete proving ground? I can't even come close to the second place time.

I've got to say that this game is a disappointment based on the hype it got. It's a decent game but it's not nearly as good as it was made out to be. Just like Limbo. I guess I need to stay away from xbla games that people think are awesome. Good thing I never bought Splosion Man.

iaintgotnopants wrote:

How are people doing the machete proving ground? I can't even come close to the second place time.

I hear that. <90s for the Silver? F' that, stupid slimes running out into the air.

Make sure to leave the turrets alive until the very end. They kill the squirts as well. Start on the spawners and then kill the squirts. I'm working on the gold.

LiquidMantis wrote:
iaintgotnopants wrote:

How are people doing the machete proving ground? I can't even come close to the second place time.

I hear that. <90s for the Silver? F' that, stupid slimes running out into the air.

It is challenging, but nowhere near hard. And honestly, I looked it up on Youtube because I was too boneheaded it figured it out.

Spoiler:

Stay where the squirts spawn and give them the business. Go for the launchers. Then, deal with any stragglers and the turrets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuykE...

Also, if you're still in the first few hours, keep with it. I felt the same way, that it was overrated, but it's a slow start that just keeps building.

lancejt wrote:

Make sure to leave the turrets alive until the very end. They kill the squirts as well. Start on the spawners and then kill the squirts. I'm working on the gold.

No way. Here's how 90 seconds is done. Run ASAP to the centre of the arena, where the squirts bubble out of the ground. Ignore the turrets / spawners. You can destroy pretty much every squirt as they appear with regular attacks, since they all show up in the same small area. Killing them here prevents them from running away so you don't have to waste time mopping them up later. As soon as no more squirts show up, take out the turrets and spawners real quick, and the one or two stragglers you might've missed.

Edit: whoops, already suggested.

The game does feel like its starting to lose steam... but for $15 its well worth it..

I haven't made it back to this after my first couple hours. I was expecting more of an art house game (Braid, Limbo) than a talky Diablo clone with a lot of questionable design decisions. I'll get back to it eventually, but it's not anything that's drawing me to it.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I haven't made it back to this after my first couple hours. I was expecting more of an art house game (Braid, Limbo) than a talky Diablo clone with a lot of questionable design decisions. I'll get back to it eventually, but it's not anything that's drawing me to it.

Wow. You're really not going to like this weeks Podcast then. I go a little hyperbolic over the game, and I'm guessing the design decisions your calling questionable are the same ones I'm thinking are genius. It's a polarizing game for sure. I know Demiurge really isn't digging it either.

Haven't beat the game yet, but got in a few more hours this weekend. Yeah, there is nothing "questionable" about any aspect of this game IMO, it really just fires on all cylinders for my tastes. My son is actually really digging the game too (he's 6) and is actually further along than I am.

rabbit wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

I haven't made it back to this after my first couple hours. I was expecting more of an art house game (Braid, Limbo) than a talky Diablo clone with a lot of questionable design decisions. I'll get back to it eventually, but it's not anything that's drawing me to it.

Wow. You're really not going to like this weeks Podcast then. I go a little hyperbolic over the game, and I'm guessing the design decisions your calling questionable are the same ones I'm thinking are genius. It's a polarizing game for sure. I know Demiurge really isn't digging it either.

That's funny, because as I was playing it, I thought to myself, "I bet rabbit's going to love this game." I look forward to hearing your impressions of it.

I S-Ranked this game in less than a week. I have never ever done anything like that before.

NM

rabbit wrote:
ClockworkHouse wrote:

I haven't made it back to this after my first couple hours. I was expecting more of an art house game (Braid, Limbo) than a talky Diablo clone with a lot of questionable design decisions. I'll get back to it eventually, but it's not anything that's drawing me to it.

Wow. You're really not going to like this weeks Podcast then. I go a little hyperbolic over the game, and I'm guessing the design decisions your calling questionable are the same ones I'm thinking are genius. It's a polarizing game for sure. I know Demiurge really isn't digging it either.

I will be interested to hear your thoughts.. at some level I'm worried that we are so "starved" for "old school" 2D hand drawn actiony RPG's that in some way remind us of SNES Zelda that we elevate the mediocre.

If the game mechanics stay the same then Bastion plays its entire hand in the first couple hours of the game.. then every level is basically rinse repeat. Sure the weapons can dictate some different approaches and perhaps make some combat more trivial than the other but I'm powering through with a fully upgraded Fang Repeater and Machete. I see little point in upgrading other weapons but I am just for the hell of it.

But I would have like to see different mechanics as the game progressed that deepened the gameplay.. but at the same time its $15 so its well worth the $$.

I can understand the subjective reactions to this game. To me, the voice acting and the score are really elevating the experience. To purists most interested in gameplay it might be a small detail; but for me, games are a holistic experience. Most of my favorite games have very good soundtracks.

I haven't finished, but the music is easily the high point.

TheGameguru, I don't understand your criticism. The evolution in game-play is one of the main successes for me in Bastion. You're constantly getting new items, upgrades, enemies, gods to invoke, and to a lesser extent, drinks. There are objective things I could mention, like the two different styles for each weapon, but it's really about how all these new things combine to make the next area play differently. It sounds like you're around the same point in the game as I, so you know what I'm talking when I say the escalator/transport level played differently than most. Right around the first plot twist is when I started noticing the game really challenging me. Of course, you might not feel the same because we might be playing differently. While we both main the machete and repeater (<3 max), I've been playing with all gods invoked, except for that damn sloth one (grr).

cyrax wrote:

I haven't finished, but the music is easily the high point.

TheGameguru, I don't understand your criticism. The evolution in game-play is one of the main successes for me in Bastion. You're constantly getting new items, upgrades, enemies, gods to invoke, and to a lesser extent, drinks. There are objective things I could mention, like the two different styles for each weapon, but it's really about how all these new things combine to make the next area play differently. It sounds like you're around the same point in the game as I, so you know what I'm talking when I say the escalator/transport level played differently than most. Right around the first plot twist is when I started noticing the game really challenging me. Of course, you might not feel the same because we might be playing differently. While we both main the machete and repeater (<3 max), I've been playing with all gods invoked, except for that damn sloth one (grr).

Also not done (probably today) but it does some really, really interesting things with storytelling in the later levels, and I'm still finding new stuff and mods.

TheGameguru, I don't understand your criticism. The evolution in game-play is one of the main successes for me in Bastion. You're constantly getting new items, upgrades, enemies, gods to invoke, and to a lesser extent, drinks.

But none of these do anything dramatic.. I mean I have unlocked all the weapons and basically still use the same ones.. Zelda expanded mechanics with Dashing, Lifting, Breaking, Grabbing etc..

I dont want to sound over-critical.. and I'm aware that for $15 its pretty awesome.. I'm certainly having fun but its not earth-shattering for me.

Story is good though and the world is well done.

100% donezo. Worth $15 bucks, in my opinion, but not much more. Would've liked more variation in the new game + beyond activating gods for more difficulty. I activated all but 3 gods for my entire second playthrough and it wasn't much tougher than the first.

It's hard for me to tell how done you are Guru. I'm still unlocking weapons and tactics and specials that have radically changed how I'm engaging, and I'm feeling very "third act."

Anyone have a favourite secret skill? I used grenades for 90% of the game, and was wondering if I missed out on anything spectacular. I found the decoy and squirt to be borderline worthless.

Clemenstation wrote:

Anyone have a favourite secret skill? I used grenades for 90% of the game, and was wondering if I missed out on anything spectacular. I found the decoy and squirt to be borderline worthless.

I always bring grenades with me, but if I find them to be less than useful I'll change my load-out later. The shotgun's close range assault has been my number two, but that has a pretty negative side-effect in that you are basically defenseless from ranged attacks. So yeah, grenades are the bombdiggity.