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What are they?
From Dust is a different, creative take on puzzle gaming from Ubisoft. You’re given control over the earth around you, and your goal is to protect and aid a small tribe that is constantly under threat from the elements. Large natural disasters head their way, and it’s up to you to help them migrate to higher ground and discover ways of battling against the forces of nature.
Bastion is an action role-playing game from independent developer Supergiant Games. You follow the story of a young boy who battles an array of colorful and dangerous monsters, as you fight for the last refuge of humanity. The game features a variety of hack-n-slash gameplay and ranged combat mechanics that fans of games like Diablo will enjoy, and a visual style that Chrono Trigger fans will love.
Why are they cool?
From Dust takes the tried-and-true formula of “reach the end of the maze” gameplay and twists it into an open world of elemental manipulation. If your tribe needs to reach a specific power-granting totem that is blocked by a large waterfall, then you can use the land to divert the waterfall elsewhere. Just collect a massive ball of dirt and spread it in front of the waterfall — however you choose to do it, it’s up to you to clear a path. If you’re a fan of games such as Populous and Black & White, then the visuals of From Dust will sit nicely with you; the setting is beautiful and elemental effects are mesmerizing.
Bastion is just plain fun…it’s as simple as that. You’re basically thrust into the action right away — no tutorial or hint screen — and are guided by a frequent, ominous narrative voice. The world rises around you as you smash and shoot your way through enemies and collect loot. The gameplay is fast and exciting, and the art style is colorful and imaginative. I didn’t want to put it down, but I had to snag an interview with Bastion’s Writer and Creative Director, Greg Kasavin. “We just wanted a fun experience and a constant, seamless story,” he stated. “It’s tough to achieve what you really want with a team of only 7 people, but we think we have something good.” Indeed you do, Mr. Kasavin.
The moment I realized I need more XBLA points
Both of these games contain the core fundamentals of what make their genres fun, while adding their own, unique twists to them. From Dust makes you think hard about where you’re taking land and where you’re placing it. While you may have blocked the lava flow in one area, you just opened it up in another. Sometimes, timing and persistence are even required; waterfalls aren’t always diverted to new areas, but rather delayed for a moment before they flood over and continue to poor. Timing is everything as you pour soil onto a makeshift bridge to keep your humble, vulnerable tribe from being swept away.
Bastion focuses on entertaining you and sticks with it. The constant narration keeps you interested enough to urge you onward, yet doesn’t interrupt the gameplay to fill you in on details. Even smashing random objects will beckon the comment, “He decided to rage for a short while.” If you want straight and simple fun, this game is your white pony.
Now go save some points for when these are released on Xbox Live Arcade later this year.
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