Chances are we've all heard the old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover." Yet as videogame players, far too often we do just that.
Chances are we've all heard the old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover." Yet as videogame players, far too often we do just that.
We focus our attention on a game's graphics, not bothering to look beyond the realistic character models and detailed environments to see the beauty of the gameplay that lies beneath all those pretty pixels. As a result, we end up missing out on some otherwise great games.
Games like "Limbo," the first offering in Microsoft's "Summer of Arcade" promotion.
Created by PlayDead, "Limbo" is presented in a stark black-and-white art style. There are no flashy backdrops or lifelike animations. Your character, who can only move right, left and jump, is a dark, featureless figure contrasted against a white background. The audio is likewise kept to a minimum, with little ambient music filling the air. This minimalist approach helps keep the focus solely on you, your character and the quest at hand.
Your quest involves finding the boy's lost sister, but really it's all about staying alive. The world of "Limbo" is filled with some of the most original, creative and deadly traps I've seen in a videogame. Failing to solve a puzzle correctly usually resulted in a horribly gruesome death for our young hero, whether it was decapitation by bear trap or being cut in half by a giant saw blade. I experienced these deaths, and many others, over and over again while trying to reach the end of "Limbo." But despite the many deaths, I never became frustrated with the puzzles.
It's a fine line between challenging and frustrating, and "Limbo" manages to walk it without venturing too far one way or the other. Some puzzles were simple to solve, while others, especially the ones that used anti-gravity and magnetic switches, were significantly more difficult. No matter how tough they were, solving each puzzle left me with a real sense of accomplishment.
If there's any issue to be found with "Limbo," it's that the adventure ends too soon. The game can be beaten in one sitting, though it took me about six hours spread over a couple days. There are some hidden achievements to find, but "Limbo" offers limited replay value, especially for a $15 title.
But don't let the game's price tag or length deter you from trying "Limbo." I've played plenty of $60 games that don't hold a candle to the overall gameplay experience offered in "Limbo." And the game's final scene? You may finish playing "Limbo" in a few hours, but you'll likely be talking and thinking about it for days to come. This is easily one of the best games to ever grace the Xbox Live Arcade.
"Limbo"
Developer: PlayDead
Publisher: PlayDead
Available for: Xbox Live Arcade ($15)
Rating: T for teen
Score: 9.3/10
Chances are we've all heard the old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover." Yet as videogame players, far too often we do just that.
We focus our attention on a game's graphics, not bothering to look beyond the realistic character models and detailed environments to see the beauty of the gameplay that lies beneath all those pretty pixels. As a result, we end up missing out on some otherwise great games.
Games like "Limbo," the first offering in Microsoft's "Summer of Arcade" promotion.
Created by PlayDead, "Limbo" is presented in a stark black-and-white art style. There are no flashy backdrops or lifelike animations. Your character, who can only move right, left and jump, is a dark, featureless figure contrasted against a white background. The audio is likewise kept to a minimum, with little ambient music filling the air. This minimalist approach helps keep the focus solely on you, your character and the quest at hand.
Your quest involves finding the boy's lost sister, but really it's all about staying alive. The world of "Limbo" is filled with some of the most original, creative and deadly traps I've seen in a videogame. Failing to solve a puzzle correctly usually resulted in a horribly gruesome death for our young hero, whether it was decapitation by bear trap or being cut in half by a giant saw blade. I experienced these deaths, and many others, over and over again while trying to reach the end of "Limbo." But despite the many deaths, I never became frustrated with the puzzles.
It's a fine line between challenging and frustrating, and "Limbo" manages to walk it without venturing too far one way or the other. Some puzzles were simple to solve, while others, especially the ones that used anti-gravity and magnetic switches, were significantly more difficult. No matter how tough they were, solving each puzzle left me with a real sense of accomplishment.
If there's any issue to be found with "Limbo," it's that the adventure ends too soon. The game can be beaten in one sitting, though it took me about six hours spread over a couple days. There are some hidden achievements to find, but "Limbo" offers limited replay value, especially for a $15 title.
But don't let the game's price tag or length deter you from trying "Limbo." I've played plenty of $60 games that don't hold a candle to the overall gameplay experience offered in "Limbo." And the game's final scene? You may finish playing "Limbo" in a few hours, but you'll likely be talking and thinking about it for days to come. This is easily one of the best games to ever grace the Xbox Live Arcade.
"Limbo"
Developer: PlayDead
Publisher: PlayDead
Available for: Xbox Live Arcade ($15)
Rating: T for teen
Score: 9.3/10
