EDITOR'S NOTE: Daniel's back with another review, this time of Limbo, a short but sweet little puzzle game. Take it away, Daniel:
***
Limbo is a 2010 platform/puzzle
game released for the Xbox 360 initially, then later for PS3 and PC.
REVIEWING STYLE:
--Green
is for mild content.
--Blue is for moderate or very brief intense content, provided that it isn't too graphic.
--Orange is for intense content.
--Red is for very graphic or prolonged intense content.
Areas
of Concern:
Violence:
Mild Moderate Heavy Very Heavy Extreme Ban-worthy
You wouldn’t think a simple black-and-white,
side-scrolling game could have graphic violence, but this one definitely proves
it can. Your character can be maimed, dismembered, beheaded, impaled, crushed
and more. The most disturbing thing about this violence is that it happens to a
young boy.
--The main antagonist is a huge, scary spider
that will frequently impale the boy to death with his legs. The boy turns the
table eventually by systematically pulling each of its limbs off with gross sound effects and goo spraying, and he uses the limbless
body to solve a puzzle.
--Bear traps pop up frequently and can make a big
mess if the boy steps on them. (A mess of blood and gore kind) They are also used in one puzzle to remove an
animal carcass from a rope.
--In a few instances, glowing worms attach
themselves to the boy’s head, forcing him to walk in one direction. They can be
killed by walking into light, but it’s pretty creepy.
NOTE: There is a filter in the menu where you can
turn off any gore/graphic deaths. The screen simply blacks out instead of
showing it.
Sex/Nudity:
None.
Language:
None.
Drugs/Alcohol/Smoking:
None.
Spiritual
Content:
Mild Moderate Heavy Very Heavy Extreme Ban-worthy
As the title of the game suggests, your character
is in a world very similar to Limbo, or “the edge of hell.” Aside from the
title, though, there are no overt spiritual references.
Morality:
Abysmal Bad So-so Okay Good Very Good
The morality of the main character is pretty much
unknown, as he doesn’t speak and the environment doesn’t hint toward any.
Scary Stuff: (By the Editor)
Mild Moderate Heavy Very Heavy Extreme
Ban-worthy
--There is a giant hairy spider in this game which chases you around. 'NUFF SAID!
Thoughts
& Impressions:
What it’s
about:
Limbo is a basic puzzle/platform game that
distinguishes itself mainly in two areas:
1.
It has black, white and grey-scale
graphics, with an emphasis on silhouettes.
2.
It has no music or spoken word,
with most of the sounds coming from sound effects.
The story involves a young boy who wakes up in the
middle of a forest. Why is he there? What does he have to do? It’s pretty
vague, but the only option is to keep moving forward by solving various puzzles
and combating various enemies.
The gameplay is very easy to pick up, while some
of the puzzles are very difficult. The platforming is also easy at first, but
gradually gets more difficult. As the developers of the game said, it’s a
“trial and death” game.
Quality Conclusion:
Limbo is quite unlike any game I’ve played. It
does have simple platforming elements and puzzles just like many games, but the
eery atmosphere and the fact it revolves around a child is a unique experience.
From the start of the game, you notice the unique grey-scale art style and lack of music. It’s unnerving at first, especially when
you hear various creepy-crawlers and other sounds as you progress. But I grew
used to it and actually appreciated it.
The platforming is simple, but can be difficult to
pull off. Plan on dying a LOT. As for the puzzles, they’re simple at first, but
grow into some serious mind-benders.
During a couple particularly hard ones
later in the game, I had to actually stop playing for a few days to wrap my
head around them. But once you solve them, it’s very gratifying.
The game is pretty short, but difficult
puzzles/platforming can extend this.
The ending is definitely worth any time
you invest in it, as it’s one of those “aha!” moments that leaves you sitting
there for a couple minutes contemplating what just happened.
In short, Limbo is a creepy psychological game
that has very inventive puzzles and platforming and is definitely worth trying
out.
As you’ve probably deduced, the main moral issues
with Limbo mainly involve violence, specifically the deaths of the main young
boy character.
The first time you die is definitely shocking, as
you’ll probably see various body parts and squirts of blood (though through a
black silhouette), or an impalement. Each time the boy dies, the lights go out
in his eyes and you have to try again.
And you will die. Many, many times. While the
graphics aren’t as bad as some games out there due to the lack of color, it’s
definitely disturbing. How will you feel about it? That’s up to you. I wasn’t
sure how I should react to this stuff being done to a child, and that feeling
stayed with me throughout the game.
Thankfully, there is a gore filter, as mentioned
earlier. But the atmosphere and other disturbing content is still there. It’s
up to parents of course, but I’d recommend mid-teens and up for the game with
the filter, and older teens and up (or young adults) without it.
Verdict: 16+
MODERATE CAUTION
(For scary situations and
intense violence involving a child.)
END OF REVIEW
So what do you think? Leave a comment below detailing your thoughts on this game, and the way it treats violence towards children.
I (Kyle) will be back next week with another review, as will Daniel in the near future.
See ya!
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