Little Boy Lost- Limbo Review

14 Aug, 2010

I have tried to keep this as spoiler free as possible, as not to spoil your experience, but there may be one or two. Just a heads up!

Limbo is by far one of the most original and darkly delicious journeys that I have had the pleasure of embarking upon in a game for quite some time. Created by Playdead studios, this arcade title had gathered something of a cult following leading up to it’s release on July 21st, exclusively on XBox Live. While sat in full insomniac mode at some unGodly hour of the morning, I was browsing through the XBox Marketplace for something to occupy my mind, when I stumbled upon the ambiguous ‘Limbo’. After downloading the trail and doing a little research, Limbo became the natural winner against forking out for the (admittedly wonderful!) HD version of Earthworm Jim, to which I still have on a Mega Drive cartridge in my little retro treasure box under the bed.

So, Limbo- what is so original about a 2D sidescrolling platformer? Well, I challenge you to remember a time where you were required to find way to fend off a giant spider via bear-traps, falling stones and finally brute strength. For arachnophobes out there, these initial encounters of the game are very uncomfortable and borderline distressing. As someone who has grown out of their fear of spiders, being cocooned by an approaching 8 legged monstrosity still sent me into a little fit of panic. Going from that to then directing our anonymous child protagnonist to pull the remaining leg off with his bare hands, I was left feeling somewhat apprehensive and shocked! Limbo combines clever puzzles with an unsettling horror gameplay element to create a truly unique experience.

The first thing you will notice about Limbo is the haunting and strikingly affective black and grey colour scheme. As well as looking visually stunning, it creates a thick, creepy, smothering atmosphere. Our young protagnoist in a nameless boy drafted entirely of black silhouette, and two beady glowing eyes. He neither talks, nor makes any emotional reaction to the situation he’s in, which is decribed in the synopsis as our character waking up in a forest on the ‘edge of hell’. Given that the word Limbo is derived from the Latin word ‘Limbus’ meaning ‘Edge’, the title gives us some inclination of what to expect.

We are given very little in the way of initial story, there is no opening scene to set up the plot, no dialogue, just our character waking up and beginning his journey through the dark and dangerous forest. The actual description of the game tells us that our little boy lost is searching for his missing sister, to which we believe we get a glimpse of early on before disappearing. But speaking generally we are driven on by just how engaging the puzzles are, and how darkly enchanting the environments become. You are essentially the only other person in this world, outside of the same kind of faceless beings like yourself, who for seamingly no reason want to dispose of you in a rather unpleasant fashion. But especially when we get into the second half of the game, it is just you alone in a bizarre undustrial city that has fallen into disrepair, that the sense of loneliness increases. There are no cutscenes to break up the game, so the experience is overall very fluid, though in terms of pacing there is a slight issue with the lack foes in the final section. The absence of engagement by other creature makes it just a straight puzzle game and feels slightly lacking, but to no game-breaking degree.

The puzzles in the game are very creative, and you will die a lot as you try to figure out how to get around them. From dodging swinging bear traps that will rather brutally decapitate you, to finding appropriate pressure points on the ground to avoid being flattened by heavy machinery. There really is no way to engage your enemies, and running into a trap means instant death, which all adds to the very bleak overtone of the game, in that you are a young child lost and alone in an oppressive environment with no means of defense. However when you finally figure out how to outsmart your various obstacles and foes, you feel a great sense of achievement. The game itself comes with 12 achievements and few little avatar awards thrown in for good measure. These are awarded on the basis of how you play, in terms of how many times you die and discovering eggs hidden within the levels.

Limbo generally lasts around 5-7 hours, which considering the 1200 MS points price may seem short. But trust me, it goes back to the old quality vs quantity arguement. Limbo offers in it’s brief but engaging life a compelling and totally original platform experience, with an ending that will have you dying to find others to talk about it with. The open endedness and sudden nature of the ending have already been the subject of debate amongst the fans, which are definitely worth a read once you’ve worked your way through.

To conclude, Limbo is not only one of the best games on XBox Arcade, but one of the best games released this year full stop. This game was truly a treat to play from start to finish, and a totally unexpected and compelling experience. The critical reception, considering that it is a mini game of sorts has been astonishing, with IGN alone awards it a 9.0/Outstanding rating. To anyone who owns an XBox and has a little cash to spare, invest in this title, it really is a must play for any fans of platformers, horror titles and generally anyone who appreciates a fresh experience! This is a must!

Limbo is available from the XBox Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points.