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What will you do now that you've survived The Calamity? Well, I wouldn't blame you if you answer by saying you'll be playing Bastion on Ubuntu. Bastion is a one-player, action role-playing video game developed by Supergiant Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Originally released for “Xbox Live Arcade” in July 2011, Bastion was later released for Windows in August 2011. Bastion was even released as a web app for Google Chrome in December 2011. Then, in May of 2012, Bastion was released for Linux and Mac OS X. Ever since its original release, Bastion has been very well received by critics, and it has had very strong sales on every platform for which it's been released.
To play Bastion, you just need to download and install it either from the Ubuntu Software Center, or through Steam. If you get it through the Ubuntu Software Center, then it will cost you $18.99, but through Steam the current selling price is $14.99. Having saved a little money by buying it through Steam, you can add the Bastion Soundtrack for $9.99 which is also highly recommended. Having installed the game, you're ready to play.
One aspect I really like about Bastion is that you can play with either a mouse-keyboard setup or with a game controller. Originally I was playing the game with a mouse and keyboard. If you use a mouse and keyboard, then you will be using the standard W-A-S-D movement bindings, the mouse for attacking, and a few other keys for other miscellaneous things such as drinking a health bottle or a magic potion for special moves. When Steam became available for Ubuntu in February 2013, I re-installed the game and started from scratch. I also started using the Razer Onza RZ06 game controller, which by the way, works very well through Ubuntu. If you use a game controller, then you will be using the left analog stick for movement, and the A-B-X-Y buttons for attacking and such. No matter which option you go with, the actions will be the same; you can carry two weapons at a time in addition to one special move. You can change your choice of weapons and/or special moves any time as long as it's not during a battle level. To perform the special moves, you must consume an entire magic potion. You can carry up to three magic potions and three health bottles. The health bottles can be refilled in several fountains, but it's always wise to be conservative and know when to use a magic potion or a health bottle.
In Bastion you play the role of The Kid, who wakes up from The Calamity – only to find Caeldonia, his homeland, gone to waste. In order to re-store Caeldonia to its former glory, The Kid must go to various colorful floating lands and collect Cores that give power to the Bastion so that it can re-create the great Caeldonia that once existed. Along the way, you must collect different kinds of weapons, powerful & exotic elixirs, and learn different special moves that improve your fighting skills so you can defeat a wide range of enemies who try to prevent you from collecting Cores. You also meet a few interesting people along the way who return to the Bastion and interact with The Kid along his quest to save Caeldonia. Perhaps the most important of these characters is an old man named Rucks who also happens to be the narrator of the story as well as The Kid's mentor who helps him along the way.
As you move through the game, the floating landmasses build walkways for you through which you can walk. Throughout the game you will encounter some of the most colorful and beautiful scenic graphics you have ever seen. The graphics are hand painted and truly unique. In the meantime, you are listening to the narrator tell your story with a play by play commentary of your every move with a most wicked sense of humor, while in the background plays one of the best soundtracks I've heard from a game in the last few years.
The game auto-saves effortlessly, and, if you're playing it through Steam, then you've got that extra sense of security knowing that your progress is saved with their “Steam Cloud” feature, which means that no matter what computer you use, you can freely download and play the game while also maintaining your previous progress.
The minimum requirements are: OS: Ubuntu 12.04 CPU: 1.7GHz or better Memory: 2 GB or more Video Card: 512 MB VRAM or better Hard Drive: 1.3 GB
Conclusion
I definitely recommend this game to anyone. Since I first played this game, I was very impressed by the artwork. It can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore gamers alike, no matter if they're young or old.
Pro's: • Exquisitely colorful hand-painted artwork • Easy to play • Made by a small independent developer • You can use a mouse-keyboard or a game controller • Relatively low minimum requirements • If you like short games, this one can be completed in one day • Very pleasant music • Narrator is funny and will even make fun of your actual playing style
Con's: • If you're a FLOSS purist, this game is not proprietary, but at least you can play it with free graphics drivers • If you take into consideration that the game can be completed in less than five hours, paying more than $10 might be too much. The lowest price, through Steam, is $14.99
Overall, I give the game 4 out of 5 stars. The high price and short completion time, unfortunately, make me take out one full star. Other than that, it's a great game. If it were a little longer, or if it cost around $10, I would give it a perfect five out of five.