LIMBO Review

[wuodland.]

LIMBO

Storyline-

Well to start with there is no Specific story. The game starts in a Black & White 2D Environment with a Boy(The Protagonist of this game) "waking" up suddenly in the Middle of the Forest. No objective shown clearly. So there is nothing much to get us started with. There are quite many instances in the game that there very strong messages of death and violence in the screen. People hanging from Poles by their Necks, Dead bodies floating on Water. Since the game doesn't have any kind of Voice Narration or on screen narration it is upto us the players to think about a story. I won't give my own version of the story and am leaving that part to you.

We basically have to make our way to wave after wave of various Obstacles and Puzzles(some of which literally gave me a really bad Head-ache)

The variety of puzzles are quite a lot many and very impressive. Not even one of the Puzzles feel repetitive. There will always be a variation from one to another. On the later stages of the Game, the changing Gravity opened a whole new dimension on playing this game, keeping us interested till the final puzzle was solved.


Gameplay-

The Gameplay and controls of this game are pretty basic. We just have a total of 5 buttons to worry about. The Direction and the [Ctrl] button that enables us to Push or Pull various objects. The Physics in the game is very realistic. The Boy can jump just about far enough to clear most obstacles.

One thing has to be said though there are various places of the game where we have to do a "Trail by Death" sort of thing. Trying out various things to get through the obstacles. We are made into a Cocoon by a Giant Spider(this one is really HUGE)
Also I would like to emphasize on the various types of creatures we encounter in the game. In most of these interactions there is always something or other that relates them to us(We have to climb a huge Bee kind of insect that gives us a lift to higher ground)

Cut off by saw blades, fall huge heights to a splattery death, Hit by a automated Machine guns(as shown in following screenshot)

By the Time we solve the various Puzzles, go through changing Landscapes from a Forest to the iconic place with the "Hotel Sign"

To a Factory before finally reaching our Goal(won't reveal it as it will spoil the game experience as you play).

There is a gradual increase in the difficulty of the Puzzles. In no point of the game you will feel that the game suddenly got very difficult and you are not able to progress further. Provided we use each and every product in game properly we should go through. There is no item given in the game that goes in Vain. We have to use each and everything.


When you do complete the game, you well be not only left with a deep sense of self satisfaction but also with a need to Introspect. You will need to think about what the game really is and what the game really wants to convey to you.

Although the Puzzles look difficult easily but a bit clear thinking does help most of the time. Unfortunately I found this out the hard way. Kept wandering around many places trying to figure out solutions whereas the solution was a sitting duck in front of the Player.


Conclusion-

To sum it up in one word- "Brilliant". Yes. This is not the traditional game that you will play. The Devs manage to keep a errie-dark Atmosphere with a great Soundtrack. Soundtracks in the game are minimal. But when the do come in is really astonishing. The game doesn't convey anything to us directly(not once we get a text message or a mystery voice talking). It leaves it upon the person playing it to render thing in his/her own way. I think the Devs have been very successful in doing this.
The Dark atmosphere with good backgrounds(after all it is a 2D game) will keep the gamer engaged. Average playtime is around 4 to 6 hours(although it took me longer as I lingered around some puzzles not being able to spot easiest of solutions)
The keep you properly busy for most of the game time. You won't feel like closing the game and start another thing. There is always the want for more. It will surely keep you in a state of Limbo thinking about the story of the small boy
The game is completely worth its $9.99 price

Steam Store Link- Limbo on Steam

Screenshots-

[hatZim]

Nice and quick review. I installed it after I read your review, and am sort of enjoying it at the moment. I say sort of because as you've said the game starts off without any background, you're just there and you start off.

I have downloaded the demo version, will buy if I play long enough. Thanks for sharing.

[wuodland.]

Great game
Completely worth the time and effort to complete it.

Also, I have added a few more screenshots

[Morpheus3000]

Nice review! Short and sweet!

[wuodland.]

Review updated! Added a couple of screenshots too

[hatZim]

Much improved. Am picking this up for eval.

[Tenida]

Good review there.

[wuodland.]

Much improved. Am picking this up for eval.

Great

Good review there.

Thanks mate

[hatZim]

You're up next!

Congrats! I've have fallen in love with the game, and you're the reason why I picked it up in the first place.

We should have the review go up sometime tomorrow. Send me a PM with your contact details soon!

[wuodland.]

Woah! Thanks a lot