Played on PlayStation 4
Limbo is a puzzle-platform video game developed by the independent studio Playdead. It was originally published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360 and was released way back in July 2010. The game was later made available on other platforms as well including PlayStation 4 which is the version that I played and reviewed here. A unique video game that excels in its simplicity, Limbo has been listed as one of the greatest games of all time by various publications, and it has also won many awards within the industry since its release.
It's Black & White
Limbo is a minimalist video game not just in its visuals but controls, story and sound as well. When it comes to its visuals, the game is basically in black and white. However, the developer still managed to create beautiful and eerie settings with its monochromatic tones. I'm surprised at how striking the visuals can be even in its limited use of colours and art designs. It shows you the creativity of the developer on how they can stretch their imagination in creating the world of Limbo with simple designs.
The soundtrack of the game is very interesting. It's more like a compilation of sounds than music, at least that's what I feel about it but other people might disagree. Nevertheless, it's a unique soundtrack that evokes the sense of calmness and at other times, a sense of dread as well. It's a weird combination, I know, but it complements the game very well.
Horrible Death Ahead!
The controls of the game is simple; one button for jump, one to grab and pull things. You can move left or right, climb ledges, and climb up and down ropes or ladders. You move forward by figuring out how to overcome certain obstacles. Honestly, I find some of the puzzles quite difficult mostly because I can't think outside the box, so I was constantly stuck. The game is quite short relatively, but because I kept getting stuck at certain puzzles, it felt kind of long to me.
There are many deadly hazards throughout the game such as traps, sharp spikes and giant spider, and that mean your character will faced gruesome deaths over and over again. When I said gruesome, I mean gruesome. I flinched almost every time I died in the game. It's fast, it's brutal and it's almost always unexpected. At times I feel bad and tried to not die but you learn and understand the traps in the game by dying, so it's almost hard to avoid dying when you play the game for the first time.
A Brother On A Mission
As I've mentioned before, Limbo is a minimalist game, and it's true for the story as well. There's really nothing much in the story: you play as a little boy waking up in a gloomy and deadly forest, and you make your way to find your sister. I can't remember if it's explicitly mentioned in the game that the girl is the boy's sister, but that's what I got from Wikipedia. From the forest, you move forward and face traps, dangerous creatures and other boys who tried to kill you, then into a crumbling town, and then to mechanical industrialized settings. No dialogue, no voiceover, nothing...but I would argue it still manage to tell its story in a simple way with its unique visuals and settings.
Conclusion
Limbo is a unique albeit simple video game. It won't take much of your time (aka it's a short game) but it's still worth to play with its challenging puzzles and beautiful multiple-shades-of-black settings. I enjoyed the game but I get frustrated sometimes with the puzzles. So I feel like it is not a suitable game to play when you're impatient. So if you feel that way, close the game and come back when you're more relaxed. It will be more enjoyable if you give yourself time to complete it.
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