I don't care what you think, you haven't played a game like LIMBO.
Limbo is a 2D platformer that almost seems to want to fill the shoes of Braid, another cryptic 2D puzzle-platformer. Limbo is better than Braid in that it has a more unique and interesting art style. I was constantly saying to myself, "Man, that's cool." Braid is better in that it has more meat, more depth, and more puzzles. Braid is a superior game, and its price is currently 800 Microsoft points, compared to Limbo's 1200 MSP price. So I would say buy Braid before you buy Limbo, but that's beyond the point, this little review is about LIMBO.
In Limbo, you play as a young boy waking up in a forest. The goal is to travel to the right, in classic 2D fashion, because no other goal is established. What makes this journey to the right challenging is the hazards and puzzles that you'll encounter along the way.
LIMBO is a world that lacks any hint of hope or happiness. It is devoid of colour, and the first half of the game is populated by enemies which can only be dispatched by cunning, considering your lack of weapons. The other hazards you may face are electricity, water, and good ol' gravity. And spikes. And spinning sawblades. And boulders. And big, scary hydraulic smooshers. Honestly, the deaths you can suffer in this game and brutal and numerous. It is almost of necessity to die to solve many of the puzzles. You will die a lot. But death is not frustrating to any degree in Limbo. It allows you to say, "OH, thats what that does- it kills you." And nudges you in the correct direction for solving the puzzle. And the checkpoints are placed liberally enough so that you never have to do any repeating of large portions of the game.
There isn't much music in the game. It's there occasionally, but it effectively adds to the overall sense of despair and dread. Much of the sound comes from the noise of a distant creature rustling about, or the buzzing of an engine, or the patter of raindrops, or the rhythmic pounding of machinery in a factory. And any music that the game does have is dark, sad, and, well effective.
This is the most atmospheric game in the genre. It is highly immersive, and, although dark and dreary, highly enjoyable. The puzzles are clever and the gameplay is ridiculously satisfying. The art style is fantastic, and everything about this game is so unique, so great. My only peeve is that it's short. The first time I beat it in less than six hours, and once you know all the solutions to the puzzles it takes about 90 minutes.
So, you don't get THAT MUCH, but everything that you do get is magnificent.