Dustborn [PC] | REVIEW

There’s nothing better than a road trip with friends, but the one I went on in Dustborn was definitely more… unique. Between the dangerous stops you make on the way, the oppressive police force hunting you down, and the fact that you have special powers, it’s certainly a memorable one, but for all the right reasons.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Dustborn takes place in the Republic of America, an alternative take on the United States where historical events have played out a bit differently to what you might expect – most notably with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He survived, but his wife didn’t, leading JFK to marry Marilyn Monroe (really) and form a police force known as Justice that utilise oppressive and terrifying techniques to maintain the obedience and full control of the country. Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the Republic of America is that it is also home to people known as Anomals, who have strange yet powerful abilities that Justice want to subdue.

You play as an Anomal named Pax, who looks to escape from the oppression brought forth by Justice. With other Anomal friends in tow as well as a mysterious package that she has to deliver, she has been tasked with travelling across the Republic of America to Nova Scotia, but with Justice on their trail, it won’t be an easy trip. It means that a disguise is needed, and hey, what better way to cover up a secret mission than by pretending to be in a band, right?

It makes for an intriguing tale that’s packed with emotional moments, excitement, and a LOT of drama, whilst the colourful cast each have their own distinctive personalities and beliefs that ensure every interaction you share can be unpredictable in their own little ways. The prejudice against the Anomals is tackled in a thoughtful and engaging manner too, and whilst it could be guilty of being a little on the nose with its politics, it does so in a way that feels fitting of the message that the narrative is trying to deliver.

“I’ll always love cel-shaded visuals, and believe me, Dustborn’s are some of the best that I’ve seen for some time, with it adding an exceptional graphic novel vibe to its aesthetic that I constantly found myself mesmerised by.”

That being said, there were some aspects of the storytelling that could feel a little frivolous, with plenty of references to modern ideals, politics, and memes that just felt a bit misplaced. Dustborn’s storytelling is at its best when it tackles serious and real issues in its own unique way, whilst I even found myself invested in the induvial (and often more personal) plights that each character faces. Tying modernised references into these just felt a little forced at times, almost like it was looking for the player to think, ‘ah-ha, I get that’. Of course, some players may appreciate that more than I did, but I found that Dustborn told a better story when it focused on its more unique and clever story beats than simply trying to make everything a metaphor for modern society.

When it comes to the gameplay, Dustborn ties lots of mechanics together in a way that makes it feel like a Telltale Games-style adventure but with a bit of real-time action thrown in for good measure. You’ll take your time to explore an array of areas across the Republic of America on your trip, all whilst solving a variety of puzzles, interacting with NPCs, and even beating up a few baddies that get in your way. Admittedly, none of the things that it does across its gameplay feel especially unique, but the way that they all tie together makes for a creative and fun amalgamation of ideas.

That being said, the fact that the Anomals can influence others using their voice (it’s an ability known as Vox) can make interactions more intriguing and unique, especially since your words can have a genuine effect on events and your relationships in the game. Again, we’ve seen this sort of thing done in similar titles, but the fact that it ties into your abilities in a more impactful way was pretty cool.

Some of the more puzzling aspects of the game felt satisfying to complete too, especially since they often relied on the varied Anomal powers of your friends to get through. It makes each character’s presence feel more meaningful outside of the storytelling alone, with things like their enhanced strength, speed, or hacking capabilities tying into problem-solving in some neat little ways. The only problem? It was always a little too obvious where you’d need to put these special abilities into use, with Dustborn’s puzzles often bringing with them an easy solution which negates their creative approach.

Check out some screenshots down below:

On the other hand, combat was just… well… ok. Nothing is bad about it, but it just felt like a button-bashing affair with little room for creativity. The use of your Anomal abilities does come into play in combat, but they never felt like they made each encounter feel more exciting or methodical… they were just there. You do unlock new abilities as you progress and can also upgrade your skills, but with each combat encounter feeling by the numbers in design, it never stands out as one of the more impressive aspects of the game.

Fortunately, Dustborn isn’t a combat-heavy experience, with it clear that its storytelling and explorative aspects are the priority here. And hey, let’s not forget, you’re supposed to be in a band… you can’t have a game where you’re in a band without some music-focused action, right? You can expect some quick-time events during musical sequences in the game, with each adding another layer of quirky charm to Dustborn’s gameplay. You’ll find this creativity and charm in other set pieces across the game too, with Dustborn bringing plenty of little surprises as you play that ensure you’re always doing something a little different to keep the journey exciting. It’s good fun, with the variety easily standing out as one of its greatest strengths.

I’ve got to give a shout out to the visuals too, which I adored throughout. I’ll always love cel-shaded visuals, and believe me, Dustborn’s are some of the best that I’ve seen for some time, with it adding an exceptional graphic novel vibe to its aesthetic that I constantly found myself mesmerised by. The voice acting is fantastic too, with some excellent work done to ensure each character brings plenty of emotional believability into their role. Add to that a popping soundtrack and it’ll be clear that Red Thread Games have done a superb job when it comes to the game’s overall presentation.

Developer: Red Thread Games
Publisher: Spotlight by Quantic Dream
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/721180/Dustborn/