We never seem to get bored of superpowers, especially those that hit all manner of regular everyday folk. It’s everywhere from Marvel movies to the Netflix drama, Supacell. And in games, it’s rife.
But more recently there have been some story attempts that focus on mixed relationship issues, ordinary storytelling with people coming to grips with their powers. The Life is Strange series has been the most prominent example of this in the last few years. But now Dustborn is here; the newest contender on the block with a story about Gen Z superpowers and an alternative America road trip. Let’s drive.
Dustborn is set in alternative America; one where JFK didn’t get assassinated and Marlyn Monroe is still alive after being first lady. But it is here where JFK has created a dictatorship and an organisation called Justice controls America. There is also a religious section of the country run by robots and a Pope-like overseer called The Puritans. It’s a place fraught with danger.
There has also been a big event taking place in the centre of America called the ‘disinformation apocalypse’. Here the world was flooded with voices and noise and from this event ‘Anomal’ was formed. These are special abilities that people can use, making the most of the power of language.
Pax is the hero of this story and she has the power to control people with her words. She has a bunch of friends, including an arty mate who has the ability to turn into a strong person. There’s an ex-British rich girlfriend who can change people’s moods. Then there is the leader of the band… a normal middle-aged man. They embark on a road trip across America, looking to escape to Canada with some important data. Along the way they meet other special people as well as estranged family members.
The story is excellent with some great characters and mini storylines. It’s a diverse cast that is rounded, and this is welcome, especially as some of the special abilities are great; like a man who can heal people by reciting poetry. The main story is good as well with a successful and entertaining story arc. However, there are some pacing problems at certain moments and – personally – I feel the overall length could be a bit shorter, but that’s a minor gripe. The story is an emotional journey, as well as a literal one, and that means you may well miss some characters when the credits start to roll.
Gameplay consists of working through dialogue trees, picking choices with consequences, very much like in The Walking Dead games. You also get to improve relationships with the characters by talking to them and at times giving them gifts you find along the journey. There are moments where you are collecting sound echoes on a 90’s handheld console, opening up other areas in a sort of minigame. At points you’ll need to perform in a rhythm music mini-game and also write new songs for a gig list. All these mechanics are fun and should be seen as the highlights of Dustborn, as well as pushing some surprise gameplay elements.
There is also some combat in Dustborn, focusing on a bat that can be thrown and upgraded. It comes with the usual block and dodge moves, but you can also use your words of power on certain enemies. There is a taunt section which is like a special attack that has a cooldown period. Whilst the combat can be chosen to be easy or hard in the options, it’s not my favourite part of the game as it feels a bit floaty at times.
Dustborn has a hand-drawn visual quality that reminds of some Telltale Games from years gone by. It has some impressive locations and designs, especially a section set in an abandoned shopping mall. There are a few stutters here and there, but nothing major to worry about. It is also fully voiced, with some great performances from all involved. In fact, the soundtrack is brilliant, with some cracking sing-along tracks playing out through the punk rock band.
Dustborn has a lot going for it. There’s a great story that goes down many different pathways, all while meeting a ton of interesting and diverse characters along the way. I liked the unusual and unique take on superpowers and where that is able to take the narrative. But the gameplay mechanics are also fun, with lots of little minigames to get involved in. The combat is the least interesting part, even though it works okay. My main criticism though is that Dustborn feels slightly too long, something that isn’t helped by the occasional pacing issues.
Overall, you should have a great time on this road trip with Pax and friends and hopefully, this isn’t the last time we hear from the Dustborn.
