Transistor

I first dipped into Transistor back in 2014 shortly after launch, got a taste of the opening districts and combat, then life got in the way and I shelved it. Came back in April 2024 and finally finished the story in one focused run. What a beautiful game. The world of Cloudbank is absolutely mesmerizing—gorgeous hand-painted art, an incredible synth soundtrack by Darren Korb that perfectly matches the melancholy sci-fi vibe, and a narrative that feels intimate and mysterious. Red’s journey (and the Transistor itself) pulls you in with its quiet storytelling through terminals, functions, and the haunting voice work. It’s short but packs a punch; the main story felt just right in length. Combat is the real star: a clever hybrid of real-time action and turn-based planning via the Turn() mechanic. It starts simple but quickly opens up as you unlock and combine Functions (abilities) in creative ways. I loved experimenting with different builds, stacking passives, and pushing my user level higher. I cleared the story, hit User Level 8+, Sandbox/Test progress, and a few other bits, but there’s clearly more depth for a full completionist run (NG+ recursion, all tests, max limiters, etc.). The risk/reward with Limiters is brilliant too—making fights harder for better rewards and faster progression. It’s not perfect (occasional pacing dips and the story can feel a bit opaque), but the atmosphere, music, art direction, and satisfying combat loop more than make up for it. Supergiant Games knocked it out of the park again after Bastion. If you like stylish action-RPGs with strong aesthetics and thoughtful mechanics, definitely pick this up. I’m glad I finally came back to finish it. Now excuse me while I go listen to the soundtrack on repeat.

Great little game as one might expect from Supergiant, but a weak follow up to Bastion. It's shorter, not as visually appealing (although still very pretty), gameplay is not as dynamic, story is similar yet not as engaging. Definitely worth playing, but if you liked this, you will love Bastion.

So I just finished the first game run. Simple but exquisite cinema. I love the short but great story and the small but deep lore and the gameplay is nothing like I have ever done before. It also allows replayability after the end which allows for constant reruns that get increasingly more challenging.