“A shadow leaned over me, whispering, in the darkness,
Thoughts without sound;
Sorrowful thoughts that filled me with helpless wonder
And held me bound.”
-Alfred Noyes
Bound with helpless wonder is exactly how I felt playing Limbo on the
PS4. Limbo is a puzzle platformer published by Playdead, that originated on the
Xbox 360. Limbo is now available across all major gaming platforms. The world
of Limbo is crafted in creeping shadows and piercing darkness, and I enjoyed
every moment of it. I went into Limbo knowing nothing about the game. In fact,
I was looking for another game entirely. It happened across me as I perused the
PSN and since it was on sale at the time, I ended up purchasing it out of
curiosity. Oh, but I am so glad that I did.
Before we discuss game mechanics and the technical aspects, let’s talk
story. While playing Limbo, I had no idea what I was doing, and more
importantly I didn’t know why. We play as an unnamed boy, traversing the
shadows, and trying to survive in a world that is full of danger.
There was been some debate about the actual meaning behind Limbo’s
story. There may be some story spoilers here, so I will try to hide them.
If I can code it right, you should be able to click on the spoiler to show it. The most popular theory, and the theory that I ascribe to is that our
young protagonist boy is, sadly, dead. I’m not religious but this is about to
get a little religious, so I’ll try my best to explain this. Christian
Ideologies ascribe to a place called “Limbo.” Limbo is derived from the Latin
word limbus, which means edge, and Limbo is considered an outlying area of
Hell. You end up in Limbo if you were too good to end up in Hell, but not good
enough to get to Heaven. That doesn’t explain why our young boy would be here,
does it? Well, Limbo is also the place for unbaptized babies.
Perhaps our
young boy was never baptized, and thus he ends up in Limbo. You cannot escape
Limbo unless Jesus intervenes directly.
The game and its
meaning are open wide to interpretation, and the creator is confirming nothing.
Although he has said that some people were close. But I wonder who?
Limbo does an
exceptional job of creating a suspenseful, and spooky, atmosphere. The shadows, the music
(or lack of), and the subtle sound effects in the background, like flies
buzzing, create and immersive experience. I found myself on the edge of my seat
through much of the game.
Next, let’s talk
about game mechanics. The game operates as a side scrolling puzzle platformer.
As such, I was happy with the controls. The controls are simple—move, jump, and
grab. Many times, you must manage those in quick succession, lest you should be
caught by a giant spider, caught in the rising water, or struck by falling
objects. The darkness of the game also hides many traps, such as bear traps, so
it’s important to move with caution.
Limbo requires some skill in timing, and patience. I died a LOT. And
every time you die, you have to watch your poor character be crushed,
suffocate, get cut up by saw blades, or watch his broken limbs flail as he
crashes to the ground. When you die, you start over from checkpoints, which are
frequent, so it’s not quite as frustrating. However, if you can manage to make
it through the game without dying, then you can get a special
trophy/accomplishment. I have not managed to do it, but good luck to you.
Source: Rely on Horror
The art style only adds to the charm, and eerie atmosphere, of this
game. Even though the game is in grey-scale, the details of the environments
are something to behold. The darkness against the lighter background creates a
dynamic effect. Even small details were given consideration, such as the sway
of the grass, the spray of dirt as a giant spider tries to impale you, and the
hairs on said spider’s body. Although this game may come off as simple, it’s
clear that the creators poured their souls into this game. I have such
admiration for their team of artists.
I think I have gushed enough. If it isn’t apparent, I really love this
game. Limbo was a surprise to me, and a very pleasant one. I highly recommend
that you play it yourself to get the true feel of it, as I cannot do it enough
justice. Limbo can currently be found on Steam for 9.99, click here and you'll be taken there. It can also be found on nearly any other
major console, so have at it!
Happy Gaming, Friends!
Bell
See my Current List of Games to Play: Here!
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Email me at: bellannmae@gmail.com
