"A sublime journey through the pits of your own limbo."
It's simple yet affective. Limbo is the reason why I like playing indie games. This is what I call creative, and stimulating. I know Limbo isn't a game for everyone, but it's a game that inspiers me as a student studying game development.
Limbo is a 2D puzzle platfoming side-scrolling Xbox Live Arcade game created by Danish game developers Playdead Studios.
*****INFO*****
- Genre(s): Arcade – 2D Side-Scroller – Puzzle – Platforming
- Age Rating: 15 +
- Contents: Graphic images
- Difficulty: Fair
*****INTRODUCTION*****
THE POSITIVES
- Outstanding black and white atmosphere
- Excellent tone
- Superb sound design
- Great gameplay
- great puzzles
THE NEGATIVES
- The sudden ending
*****REVIEW*****
You play a nameless hero; believed to be a young boy, who awakes in the middle of dark forest on the edge of his limbo. The boy seeks the whereabouts of his missing sister, whilst travelling through the very pits of hell. Limbo is considered to be similar to Brad, but unlike Brad, Limbo does not feature cut scenes, voice acting, nor does it feature on screen dialogue. The game simply starts, and then end with no clear indication as to what is going on in the plot. Other than reading about the story on official game sites, or on the detailed section before buying the game, Limbo can be taking as whatever you wish it to be. The "sister" could very well be the boy's mother or friend. The boy could indeed be a young man seeking his long lost love. There is even regulations of purgatory where the boy – or man – is living in his own limbo repeating the same events over and over again as you play through the story again. Despite what you believe or think, Limbo has an incredibly since of mystery behind it's story. A mystery we probably will never know full reason of.
The most unique factor about Limbo is it's visual aspect. Limbo is just a black and white game, but it gives a fantastic atmospheric tone to its overall presentation. The background environment is both interesting and mysterious and brings out a fantastic vibe at creating the world surround the game.
Limbo is a 2D puzzle platfoming side-scroller and the aim of the game is to protrude from one level to the other solving environmental puzzles. The gameplay is great and feel authentic on the controls. There are a few trial and error moments here and there, but that only adds to the gameplay's uniqueness. Limbo features 24 levels, each resulting with problem solving puzzles. As you get further into the game, and dwell deeper into the very pit of your limbo, the puzzles will get tougher adding more thought process. Although the game doesn't really have enemies in the game, throughout your vanquish you'll briefly meet human like natives that try to stop you from proceeding; by activating puzzle or cutting of your route so you'll have to work out a way to continue etc, as well as a massive spider lingering in the very darkness of your limbo, which adds more sense of mystery to the game. As you play, the game features surprises around ever corner, which keep you on your toes or could cause instant death; a poorly timed jump, stepping on a trap, getting crush by a bolder, getting electrocuted etc. Once you die, the game reloads you back at the same area from where you died. Puzzle can be quite tricky, which can result in serious thought process, listening and looking at the environment.
Limbo's sound design adds more charm to the overall presentation of the game. The sound effects and music are both eerie and chilling, but adds fantastic tone to the overall atmosphere.
Whist Limbo does feature 24 level, the game can feel slightly short ranging in at about maybe 3 hours of play; depending on how fast you are at solving each puzzle. Nevertheless, despite the short story, Limbo is a game worth playing again. Plus the achievement will take you some time to gain 100%.
Overall Limbo is a very fun arcade game. More than anything else I love the art direction in the game; it's eccentrically unique. The visuals are distinctly creepy, the sound design adds a fantastic tone to the game's atmosphere, and the overall gameplay is fun. Limbo is a game I'd say is worth the 1200 gamepoints yes, and it's a game I'd highly recommend if your looking for a great puzzle arcade with terrific sense of mystery.
*****FINAL OVERALL SCORE*****
- Story – 10/10
- Life Value – 5/10
- My Thought Score – 10/10
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- Presentation – 10/10
- Graphics – 10/10
- Game-Play – 9/10
- Sound Design – 10/10
- Originality – 10/10
*****EDITOR'S OVERALL THOUGHT SCORE – 10/10 *****
Limbo Review by Simon a.k.a. [TheDevilDweller]