Parents' Guide to

Bastion

By Chris Morris, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Masterful port of Xbox 360 hit; mild violence.

App iPad Role-Playing Games
Bastion Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Bastion App: Screenshot #1
  • Bastion App: Screenshot #2
  • Bastion App: Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

Players control a boy who wakes up to find his world destroyed by an unknown disaster. They explore and rebuild that world as they search for the reasons behind its destruction, with their story narrated by a wise (often funny) voice. Users tap where they want \"The Kid\" to go, double-tapping to get him to dodge when under attack. He targets enemies automatically if they're in range. To protect him from attack, users press a shield button, and they can swap weapons with a touch as well. Be careful of edges, as \"The Kid\" can easily fall off them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

While Bastion's gameplay is incredibly well-done, the game is truly memorable because of the witty, wise narrator, who keeps the story moving while also commenting on every little action the hero takes -- including when he accidentally plunges to his death. It's as if the developers tapped in to that inner monologue we sometimes imagine when playing (or even doing real world activities).

The game also offers a diverse group of enemies and enough paths to explore that it stays true to its role-playing roots, while blending in puzzles and plenty of action. Nothing was lost in the port from the Xbox 360 version of the game -- and it might just have gotten better.

App Details

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