Wednesday 21 December 2011

LIMBO: This Game is Depressing

If it wasn't obvious enough that I'm a gamer (and that I would give internal organs to Valve if they asked) I'm not sure what else I need to do. However, I know a lot of you aren't like this and can't understand the appeal. That's fine, but whenever I do make comments on a game I will do my best to make the commentary more accessible to non-gamers.

Preemptive apologies to Beth because this isn't a book review.

Thanks to finals being done I can actually enjoy myself. So today we'll be talking about LIMBO, a game about a boy who wakes up in a forest and needs to go find his missing sister. It's a 2D platformer with physics puzzles, in layman's terms you run and jump around and manipulate the properties of the environment to move to the next stage. Sounds pretty standard so far.

And now why LIMBO is horrifying and how only a serial killer could smile during a playthrough.

This is not a happy game.

The entire game is set in black and white environments. Utilizing that grainy film effect and clever lighting it creates a ominous, dark and unwelcoming world. To further help this, the only sound effects in the game are faint background noises such as the sound of flies and soft crunching of questionable objects.

The puzzles generally take a bit of thinking and timing to figure out. Most of them consist of some variation of timed jumps, operating switches and machines as well as pulling and moving objects to help you advance. The game particularly enjoys having you desecrate the bodies of the dead.

Oh and did I mention? The entire world hates you. Everything, anything and everyone can and will kill you at a whim. Whether it be like falling from too high, drowning, cut into pieces by a sawblade.

Being eviscerated by massive spider.

And the boy dies in the saddest ways possible. You feel bad every time you watch his tiny body go limp or fly in all directions of the wind. Afterall, it is your fault he missed that jump or electrocuted himself. That being said, you do come back in a safe and reasonable location in respect to where you died. You're not going to have to redo every puzzle upon your death.

The story is sparse and is left almost entirely to the player to figure out. Some people think this is a problem but I personally found it added to the unnerving atmosphere of the game. You don't really have a sense of what's going on or why. Some people question if the boy and his sister are even alive.

It's a mystery!

That being said, it is a very solid puzzle game and has won many awards. I love supporting the independent developers because they don't produce bland and repetitive games. These guys are willing to take steps in new and unique ways and they should be rewarded for it. Unlike companies such as Electronic Arts.

(By the way, I will take as many opportunities as possible to bash EA because I hate them with every fiber of my being).

This is technically my first review of ANYTHING ever. Any comments or suggestions would be great whether it be about the post or potential future reviews. I'm really open to anything, as long as I can make it entertaining.

You can pick up LIMBO on Steam for $9.99 or try the demo for free. HOWEVER, Steam is currently having their 2011 Holiday sale so LIMBO is $4.99 until January 2nd.

64 comments:

  1. I don't know if this sounds like a game I'll be wanting to buy or not although I love the review you've did and hope you'll do more man. You've certainly told me a lot about a game I had no clue how to understand and people asides from me even will appreciate that.

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  2. I think you did a pretty good job of reviewing. I've heard good things about LIMBO but I know it's going to scare the bejeezus out of me, that's my excuse for not playing it. I would hate EA, but they gave me Dragon Age.

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  3. haha I so agree with the hate for EA, but my hate is stronger for stupid UBISOFT, I wish that no good for nothing company would go tits up. And you mean COD isn't new and innovative? It has one whole new gun a year. Now that is innovative..haha

    LIMBO looks intersting too.

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  4. You should add me on Steam, my name on there is Jerauldo. I appreciate your how to get followers blog, it did help me out.

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  5. I used to worry about my eldest son's addiction to these sort of games - but he turned out just fine. I think... ;)

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  6. I really love LIMBO's art style. Really adds to the general creepiness of the storyline and all.
    Also, yeah, someone reminded me of Steam's sale today. Really need to get my hands on Portal 2 so I can play it if I get my computer upgrade!

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  7. That's right, but nice game too.

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  8. Sounds depressing.....I may have to give it a go!

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  9. Sounds like the perfect game for the holidays.

    ho ho ho

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  10. I should play it.

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  11. Neat game I wanted to check that one out

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  12. I LOVE that background!!! So cool!!!

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  13. I played this and I had a similar reaction, the game was fun and interesting but very bleak and suicidal-ish

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  14. Limbo is a lot of fun to play at night, I love the creepy minimalism.

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  15. Hmm, I need a new way to waste my time.

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  16. Hmm, not 100% sure how this game works. In a way, sounds like Mario but black & white? Being smacked by a turtle shell and/or falling down a brick hole sounds painful to me!

    Congrats on finishing finals.

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  17. I think i played a trial of this game on steam.
    Keep blogging:)

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  18. LIMBO sounds fun. I also love bashing on EA, and I'm not even a gamer. HIFI'!

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  19. Hmm... I should really download that demo...

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  20. I like the look of the game but I can understand how its not for everyone! Its always best to support the little guys! They can often be the ones who come up with the next big thing!

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  21. Hmmm.... I'm not a gamer but this one sounds interesting. I like the black and white and the fact that it's mostly quiet

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  22. I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you on EA. Thanks to SW:TOR I am a big EA fan right now and enjoy their sports division games (Specifically the NHL ones)

    Still, Limbo looks intriguing. If I find myself with extra time on my hands I'll have to give it a look.

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  23. So dark and edgy. Actually this game does look pretty cool, seen some vids of it and looks like simply fun, but a bit depressing yeah.

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  24. seems like a very strange one, Damian!

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  25. I'm not a gamer at all but this one looks interesting. An Ingmar Bergman film in the form of a video game.

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  26. I'm not a gamer, but that first picture is pretty funny!

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  27. Wow, this looks depressing as hell. Do I cut my wrists before, during, or after the game is over?

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  28. And you might get coupons for various games with the Steam Holiday Sale Gift Pile!

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  29. as depressing as it looks, i've only heard good things and really want to play it

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  30. rising alcohol prices dont affect you. u really are a derp. :) lol jk so u now have some time to "actually enjoy" yourself. lol have fun bud.

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  31. Looks like quite a game, those massive spiders would haunt me though so.

    The only reviewing advice I can give you (and I'm probably not qualified to give but whatever) is to keep reviews short and sweet, there's nothing worse than a long blathering review.

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  32. wow looks pretty gloomy. might give it a try!

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  33. That game sound like something I'd love.

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  34. beautiful but look scary, merry christmas

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  35. Man if I get money in my bank account I'm gonna get this game :<

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  36. what a great pictures =D..great post follow

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  37. Oh man i loved this game, i peronally think they are in Limbo as the title would make sense. It is quite dark but i love games like this

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  38. That game looks pretty cool. And I SUCK at video games, but I'd pay $4.99 to try and play that one. Shame it doesn't come for macs tho. :(

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  39. Ho boy, I was on edge whether or not I want to buy it. I think you just tipped the scale to, must buy.

    Now to find my anti-depressants.

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  40. That actually sounds really interesting to play. Much better than warfare games..i'm not so into those

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  41. I actually have been meaning to try this game. I really love steam, especially all these free things they are doing, and the sales are amazing. Too bad I am out of money =/

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  42. I'll download the demo, it looks totally differnt to anything else

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  43. Have a Wonderful Holiday Season !

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  44. EA make FIFA, which I cannot escape from, therefore, they're okay! Ish.

    LIMBO is fucking awesome. I loved the darkness to it, a completely different tone to most other stuff out there, and I am a massive fan of 2D platform puzzlers. Reminded me of the original Abes Odyssey games. Shame LIMBO was so short though.

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  45. Sounds like something my sister would like...

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  46. Very interesting. I've never heard of Limbo...will check it out.

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  47. I really want to play Limbo too.
    If you played it, I suggest you also play "To the Moon".

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  48. Well it wasnt depressing for me. It's a very nice game IMO. Finished it some time ago. Will re-play it soon

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  49. Pretty solid review in my opinion. This sounds like the kind of game that I'd like to play. I may buy it since it's only 5 dollars right now. Or maybe I'll end up winning it from the holiday event going on. +Followed

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  50. This looks like my type of game!

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  51. Enjoy your downtime!!! Happy holidays to you~

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