Dustborn Review – A Touching Road Trip With Some Speed Bumps

Dustborn Review

Games can be much more than just entertainment. While some experiences place gameplay at the forefront, others tell intimate tales personal to the creator. Dustborn is a politically motivated journey that delves into societal issues. Although the topics it covers are divisive, Red Thread Games’ commitment to telling an authentic story is evident. With a clear message, will it resonate with players seeking more than just a narrative, or will it alienate them instead?

You join a team of outlaws as they look to escape with precious cargo to Nova Scotia. As leader of the group, Pax, your job is to work with the band of misfits to stay below the radar and complete the mission. Set in an alternate America where the bullet hit Jackie instead of JFK, the world is different from what we currently live in. A fascist regime leads the country and they are on the hunt for Anomals, a group of people with voice-specific powers. As your group has been involved in criminal activity and includes Anomals, the team needs to remain inconspicuous and not attract attention, however, that’s easier said than done.

It’s Your Choice

Following in the footsteps of pioneers of the genre, Dustborn includes a choice-based system that shapes your story. Rather than just presenting options at key points, the game features a more dynamic system that changes responses based on timing. You can interrupt conversations to get your point across or wait and respond about a particular topic. This alters how your peers will react and fluctuates your relationships. Throughout the road trip, you’ll notice characters develop over time and create stronger bonds with one another. Due to the genuine representation of each character, it’s easy to empathize with them and want them to succeed.

With communication being central to the adventure, it’s understandable that the characters’ powers are in word form. In addition to dialogue options altering the path of the narrative, the cast can use their specific skill to get the desired outcome. These vary and highlight the differences of the group. It’s refreshing to see distinct personalities that challenge media stereotypes in a manner that feels authentic. Interestingly, characters can also use their powers on you which is an interesting twist on conventions and helps to make each character feel like a living entity.

To remain undetected on your trip to Canada, the group disguises itself as a touring rock band. With performances planned at key locations to your destination, you must develop your skills and write songs in order to maintain the ruse. This results in a fun rhythm mini-game akin to Guitar Hero. At each new location, the story develops, exploring backstories and events that led to the discrimination of them. While aspects of the character development are well thought out, at times, the game over explains which can lead to some underdeveloped narrative threads.

Let’s Just Talk About it

Adding further variety, some encounters result in combat-based sequences. These aspects are underwhelming and become quite monotonous. You can use your powers to perform special attacks which adds a little flair to fights. However, the overly simplistic system results in lackluster segments that feel like roadblocks on your trek to safety.

The tone shifts throughout which results in some inconsistencies with the tale. While on one hand, it focuses on poignant themes and societal issues that will resonate with many, this is then countered with silly moments and lighthearted segments. Although this does help to communicate the various aspects of each personality, the pacing and placement of these scenes can at times be a little jarring.

There’s a wonderful comic book presentation that permeates the entirety of the game. Boxes express thoughts, chapters appear as issues, and the vibrant color palette mimics the medium. You can even pick up a comic that details your adventure thus far which is a great way to recap on prior events. The characters are well-animated and communicate their concerns through slight shifts in their body language and facial expressions. However, with technology playing a large part in the premise, emojis appear to further accentuate the characters’ mood. This adds visual intrigue and makes you want to speak and learn about each person.

Sounds Good To Me

Music is a key part of the experience and Simon Poole does an excellent job at capturing the correct tone with the pop-punk rock tracks. The score also successfully elevates emotional moments and builds atmosphere. In terms of voice acting, it’s strong throughout. Most characters are believable and carry long conversations due to their ability. Some scenes do tend to overstay their welcome which slows the game down.

Dustborn tells a touching tale brimming with personality and political messages with each character offering a unique perspective that enriches the narrative. While these diverse viewpoints occasionally lead to inconsistencies in tone, the game succeeds in delivering a strong, but potentially divisive, story. The musical elements provide a refreshing twist to the gameplay, standing out against the uninspiring combat. Overall, Dustborn adds various elements to the interactive drama genre, and while not all are equally successful, the game offers a compelling experience that will resonate with those seeking an ambitious tale.

***A PS5 code was provided by the publisher***