Dustborn Review – Born to Run

Dustborn Review – Born to Run

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I find myself drawn to the unique world of Dustborn, a title that’s as quirky as it is compelling. Red Thread Games has certainly taken us on a wild ride with this one, and while it’s far from perfect, it’s got just enough charm to keep me hooked.


In the game Dustborn by Red Thread Games, an unusual group of four finds themselves in a high-stakes chase on the Pacifica highway. The story doesn’t ease you into its world or characters – instead, it throws you right into the thick of things. As Pax, who wields words like weapons, you find yourself in a tense predicament from the get-go.

1. Insist that your friend Sai pull over when police sirens sound, and think about how you’ll handle the situation with the officer. Choose to provoke them. Instead, envision a situation where they are hit by an oncoming vehicle. This dramatic start would have been more memorable if it hadn’t already been hinted at in pre-launch promotions.

Dustborn Review – Born to Run

“The story centers on a puzzling freight that Pax and their companions, Sai, Noam, and Theo, need to transport to the enigmatic group known as Nova Scotia. They’re unsure why they’re doing this.”

As a seasoned traveler and history enthusiast, I found this American road trip through alternate history to be more than just a scenic journey; it was a profound exploration of camaraderie, family bonds, and self-discovery. At first, it appeared as a rebellious cry, a defiant response against authority, accentuated by the powerful lyrics of songs and the rhythmic beat of keyboard presses. However, upon delving deeper, I realized that it was also a heartwarming tale of friendship, family, and the acceptance of oneself.

In the story “Dustborn“, it skillfully juggles multiple aspects, devoting substantial attention to its oppressive setting and an array of unique characters. While it achieves triumphs in some areas, there are instances where it falters, and a certain ruggedness is present that wouldn’t be unexpected among such a disparate group, although it can be harder to connect with at times.

In a thrilling twist, I find myself embroiled in an enigmatic mission: transporting a cryptic cargo to Nova Scotia, an organization shrouded in mystery. My team – Sai, Noam, and Theo – and I disguise ourselves as a punk rock band, traveling across the American Republic while subtly singing songs that challenge oppression. This intriguing cover story, at first glance, seems like a heist gone wrong, but it offers ample opportunities to forge deeper connections with my comrades. As the plot unfolds, it becomes apparent that each of us harbors secrets about our motivations, adding layers of complexity to our bond.

Each character yearns for something different: Pax aims to reconcile with her distant family, particularly her sister Ziggy; Noam longs for Hong Kong, her homeland; Sai aspires for self-confidence. Theo’s intentions remain unclear despite his dad-like demeanor. Interestingly, the actions of Pax could potentially reveal different aspects of each character to her.

Dustborn Review – Born to Run

“Regardless, the characters are easily the best part of Dustborn’s experience – they’re imperfect, unpredictable, mired in their tribulations and doubts, and yet incredibly endearing.”

As a seasoned reader who has encountered countless literary characters, I can attest that the dynamic complexity of Noam, Sai, and Theo resonates deeply with me. Each character presents a unique facet of human nature, transcending the simplistic “good vs. evil” dichotomy.

During conversations, certain motives may appear stronger due to the dialogue options, but it’s important to note that each character (other than Theo) has unique traits known as Vox. For instance, Noam has a knack for manipulating others, making them more placid and friendly through a technique called gaslighting. On the other hand, Sai can transform her skin into stone and demonstrates considerable physical strength.

Beyond Pax’s varied powers that include silencing others and pushing them forcefully, using another character’s Vox might influence your companions’ opinions of you, positively or negatively. Misuse Sai when she’s emotionally fragile, and there could be consequences, particularly if no efforts are made to reconcile afterward.

In some cases, you must follow certain decisions, and using Vox becomes necessary. This makes sense in flashback scenes, particularly with specific storylines, but it might feel restrictive at times. However, the characters are what truly shine in the experience of Dustborn. They’re flawed, unpredictable, grappling with their struggles and uncertainties, yet they remain incredibly appealing, thanks to solid voice acting performances.

In simpler terms, the conversations you have with them could benefit from some additional refinement. Occasionally, waiting will give you new options to respond. If that doesn’t occur, feel free to interrupt, which may overlap with ongoing discussions. This can be quite noticeable when you examine the surroundings and interact with various points of interest, leading your party members to say “well, anyway” as they try to resume their thoughts smoothly.

Dustborn Review – Born to Run

It’s unfortunate that Dustborn is facing some significant problems, particularly concerning its performance and efficiency. Increasing the settings led to noticeable frame rate drops, even during moments when there was minimal action on screen…

Investigating this world is made simple by clearly defined goals, displayed in large, vibrant text that aligns with the comic-style atmosphere. You can collect objects scattered around, some to share with your friends as tokens of affection, and interact with other characters for a better understanding of the universe. On the punk rock angle, the rhythm gameplay works smoothly – sync your button presses with the music’s rhythm to earn high scores and keep your audience entertained. In addition, Pax can engage in battles, utilizing a bat (a fortuitous gift from the Horned Riders).

1. She has the ability to launch combos, dodge attacks, shield herself, and push enemies using her Vox, with additional skills becoming accessible later. Additionally, you can provoke an enemy, launching a swift damage combo that can eliminate several enemies at once or deal significant damage to bosses. Generally speaking, the combat is satisfactory – not extraordinary, but better than average and more responsive to controls than anticipated. After your initial fight, you have plenty of choices regarding the level of combat, which is convenient. Moreover, you can disable combat dialogue if it interferes with other spoken dialogues.

Regrettably, the game titled Dustborn encounters notable difficulties, particularly in terms of performance and optimization. Elevated settings led to noticeable frame drops, even during minimal action sequences such as sit-down conversations or when casually moving the camera around. Lowering the quality provided some relief, although the performance still seemed inconsistent. While not a complete showstopper, these issues are frequent enough to impact the overall gaming experience. Additionally, there were instances where background objects would unexpectedly vanish and reappear in certain scenes.

You can’t skip dialogue in this game, which can be frustrating if you start a new game and choose different options. The “Story So Far” feature allows you to review the decisions made so far, but it doesn’t show alternative outcomes or hints like some other games do (like those from Quantic Dream). Also, there’s no manual save option; quitting out automatically saves, but sometimes important decisions from a few minutes ago might not be recorded, which is a minor issue but worth mentioning.

Dustborn Review – Born to Run

Similar to any road trip, the novel Dustborn has its imperfections. Yet, it offers an enjoyable mix of oddities and unpredictability that makes the journey worthwhile. It also features a charming cast of characters, an attractive visual style, and a thought-provoking plotline.

All in all, I appreciate the direction of Dustborn, with its flaws included. Red Thread Games manages a broad scope when it comes to the game’s setting and play style. Though the former can be engaging, the latter might seem disjointed at times. As a rhythm enthusiast, I resonate with the punk rock theme, but as a hack-and-slash aficionado, I find the combat uninspiring.

Engaging in the story by connecting with the characters, noticing how they develop, observing subtle cues about possible outcomes of choices, and moving ahead even when unsure of their reactions, is captivating. However, navigating around the setting for trivial tasks such as locating characters or gathering items feels less appealing.

As a gamer, let me tell you that just like an engaging video game, Dustborn isn’t flawless. However, it manages to keep things interesting with its unique charm and unexpected twists. The characters are endearing, the visuals are captivating, and the storyline is intriguing enough to keep me hooked.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2024-08-19 22:43