xReady to feel old? This year marks the 20th anniversary of the release of the Super Nintendo. Think about it. That's twenty years of Super Mario World. Twenty years (roughly) of Chrono Trigger and Earthbound. Perhaps it's a coincidence then that Bastion, a game that embodies the spirit of the much beloved console perhaps more than any before it is being released this year, but it's fitting. The game drips of 16-bit style, but doesn't rest solely on the past, as it's inventive and addictive gameplay creates a style and identity all its own. Simply put -- Bastion is simply a game that needs to be experienced.

Known only as The Kid, Bastion begins in a very Zelda-esque way as you awake in a world filled with destruction and tragedy. An event known only as “the calamity” has whipped out life and you soon find yourself on a quest to reach the Bastion, a landmark where everyone said they would go if things go bad. Along the way you'll encounter puzzles, a slew of enemies and some of the coolest art direction and visual style of this generation. It's not the most original plot and Bastion isn't a very complex game, but its intricacies lie in how such simple game design can go such a long way.

"...you'll have to deal with an incredibly difficult curve..."

You've already seen the basic principles of Bastion in many other games, explore a fantasy world, kill monsters, level up and save the day, but what's key here is just how all of Bastion's elements work in harmony to create a truly gripping experience. The core hack and slash gameplay is simple and easy to pick up, and accessible enough for even novice players to jump right in to. Before long, you'll be acquiring new weapons and leveling up - and then it's too late, Bastion has its claws in you, and you're unlikely to be able to stop. Don't confuse the game's accessibility though with ease, as to truly experience the game and some of its later levels, you'll have to deal with an incredibly difficult curve, but it never gets inherently frustrating.

Of course, you won't be alone in your quest to get to The Bastion...sort of. Your entire journey is chronicled by an unforeseen narrator. Now, you may be thinking just what I was when I heard about this feature; that's got to be annoying. Surprisingly, it's not - it's one of the coolest features of the game. I originally thought the voice would be your typical RPG fodder, but it's surprisingly cool. The narrator's voice has a bit of grizzled southern draw to it and you may even find yourself playing for a while just to see what the narrator says next. Personally I was amazed at the non story moments I had, like the first time I fell off the game's map, and the narrator talked about my death, and how I had to watch my step.

"...the game handles all of the visual treats well..."

Also aiding in Bastion's flow and natural progression is the fact that it's pretty much drop dead gorgeous. Picture Earthbound, but with dazzling HD graphics and lush colors. Bastion is a great looking game, but the visuals aren't just for show, they help both bring you in to the game and give you the sense that you can explore this vast world. Remarkably, the game handles all of the visual treats well, with little to no slowdown, even when the screen is filled with enemies.

Bastion isn't the longest game on the market, as the gripping quest is over in mere hours if you play straight through, but luckily the developers included a bunch of extra content after the credits roll. There's extra weapon quests and the ability to play new game plus, where you can keep your current stats going in to a new game. These new modes are great and all, but for me, I just really wanted to jump in and experience Bastion all over again; and that's saying something.

Lately game developers have been very interested in our need for nostalgia, but where Bastion differs is that it uses that nostalgia factor as simply a starting point, and takes its ideas in a million directions after. From its addicting hack and slash gameplay to the gorgeous visuals and cool narrator, Bastion is as unique as they come, and you're going to want to check it out - your gaming library deserves it.