Limbo is the black sheep of 2010’s Summer of Arcade. It’s an odd and interesting game with a ton of style, which is often compared to another summer outlier—Braid. Both games are action puzzlers in which the environment is the puzzle; however, Limbo is significantly more abstract in presentation. Braid had music, a story, and a distinct level structure. Limbo has none of these things. Limbo’s sound design, though sparse, is excellent. The mood is set as much with silence as it is with ambient sounds. Although there is a vague mention of the main character’s lost sister, there’s no in-game narrative. Limbo’s “story” is actually more of a mood. The main character’s constant peril in a mysterious environment creates a sense of helplessness. While this sense is not as strong as Braid’s melancholy, its creation is impressive, considering the game’s minimalist presentation. Limbo foregoes a traditional level structure in favor of a single sidescrolling environment. Checkpoints are transparent, but frequent, and the occasional crumbling platform or too-steep hill prevents the player from returning to completed areas.
There exists a movement in games criticism wherein critics ignore both price and game length in favor of judging a game on its own merits. It’s true that price and length do not directly affect the quality of a game, but they are independently valid descriptors and are important considerations for many people. While I was startled at
Limbo’s brevity (roughly 3-4 hours), playing it was a great way to spend an evening. While it’s difficult to offer a blanket recommendation, it should be easy to determine whether Limbo is your kind of game. After viewing the trailer, if the game’s concept and artstyle don’t immediately grab you, it’s not for you. Otherwise, I’m confident that you’ll enjoy it.
[297 words] I struggled with this one. I really wanted to spend more time comparing Limbo to Braid, and there’s a ton more to the price/length argument. Fortunately, I think the entire review could be shortened to the last paragraph.
