The player guides an unnamed boy through dangerous environments and traps as he searches for his sister. The developer built the game's puzzles expecting the player to fail before finding the correct solution. Playdead called the style of play "trial and death", and used gruesome imagery for the boy's deaths to steer the player from unworkable solutions.
Steam User 40
A confused boy walks through all the monsters and ugly shaped things and darkness to reach his sister. some may say that you can have your own perspective from the story but i don't think that's true, they clearly show us what the story is and why this innocent little boy (with frightened eyes) is trapped in this ugly, dark and terrifying world( I don't want to spoil anything, this is a review, so i leave it at that.) the game play is probably one of the simplest game plays in video game history, you can control your character with five buttons in keyboard. the puzzles mostly are medium and hard to solve, you can beat the game in 2 hours or less(depends on how many times you die.) so it has a very short game play, but what is about Limbo that makes it one of the best video games that will never be forgotten and can be used as an example of making a successful small game, the answer is simplicity of game play and an amazing story, they show the story without saying anything and this is just difficult to do in video games, in particular. Its definitely a must-play and remember this it's true that it has a very short game play but it will remain in your mind and soul forever.
Steam User 46
LIMBO | ★★★★☆
Playdead's LIMBO is a one of a kind short experience that manages to express a deep connection of being alone. A feeling that you're somewhere that you shouldn't be. Simple yet effective dark atmospheric art style blended with puzzle that could exercise your brain in some part. A non-dialog game but somehow gives a lot of mysteries for you to interpret.
Steam User 16
The game offers not only challenging puzzles but also spectacularly creative design. The sound part also deserves praise. When playing, you can perceive a climate of sadness and loneliness.
For me, LIMBO has already entered the history of games and deserves to be played by everyone who calls themselves game fans. However, the game turns out to be short and I think I couldn’t give a higher score.
OVERALL SCORE: 8/10
Steam User 23
My Thoughts on LIMBO
Limbo is an incredible achievement. It’s black-and-white 2D puzzle platformer with very simplistic approach to gameplay and visuals with just right mix of sound. Very few games are as original, atmospheric, and rich in emotion. The game story is told in a very subtle but powerful way. There are no cut scenes, there is no dialogue, there is no in game text or background ever told to you. There isn’t even a HUD!
There’s just a vague description about a boy, his journey, and what happens to him along the way. The Boy has lost his sister and has entered Limbo to find her. That’s all you know, and that’s all you need to know. Maybe you’ll find out the rest along the way. Or maybe not, depending on how deeply you want to question and interpret things. A word of disclaimer, Limbo isn't for everyone and it probably wasn't made for everyone. It was a niche title that became popular.
I think the developers did a great work with sound design. There are few puzzles that require you to listen carefully for sound effects that will clue you in on how to get past them. I found it to be very impressive because it actually complements the game in a cool way. While there isn't much of a soundtrack or great music in the traditional sense, the ambient sounds really touches a sense of dread in the player.
Limbo can be a very disturbing game for some! I bought this game without any knowledge because the screenshots caught my eye. I’ve had no idea what this game was about. And let me tell you, Limbo is one of the most disturbing games I’ve played. And I’m not talking about the usual approach of gratuitous gore and jump-scares. The game feels innocent at the beginning but boy when you make a mistake, you’ll get what I’m talking about! Deaths are brutal, fast and completely terrifying. The Boy will be horrifically broken and mutilated along his journey.
The game is very cleverly designed and eventually becomes quite challenging the more you progress! If you’re like me who isn’t into platformers and puzzle games you might have a very hard time with the game especially towards the end. You’ll die and fail a lot which kind of makes Limbo as a trial-and-death game. I would have been really de-motivated to complete the game if not for the amazing checkpoint and tracking system. I was thankful that it was easy to exit the game and easy to jump back in.
I did not have any major issues with the game. My only nitpick is with game’s second half which mostly takes place in a deserted Industrial Area. The puzzles get very complicated and I felt a bit disconnected due to the absence of other life forms or people to give that emotional touch from the forest areas. 100% achievements can be quite frustrating if you're a completionist.
Limbo's final moment is amazing and it still gives me chills. Although I had mixed feelings at the beginning it left me wanting for more! Limbo does not have a clear narrative and lot of it is left to the player’s interpretation. It’s also a deeply affecting, at times absolutely terrifying emotional experience. The journey may feel too short, but you will be entertained throughout your journey.
My Rating: 10/10
Developer Playdead made a real gem out of Limbo. Really appreciate what a small team of indie developers can do with a touch of simplicity and creativity. It deserves a 10/10 from me because I’ve had no complaints. Highly recommend if you care to give in some 3-4 hours for a beautiful and atmospheric experience!
Steam User 28
---{Graphics}---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS
---{Gameplay}---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It‘s just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't
---{Audio}---
☐ Eargasm
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf
---{Audience}---
☐ Kids
☐ Teens
☐ Adults
☑ All
---{PC Requirements}---
☑ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer
---{Difficulity}---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls
---{Grind}---
☑ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isnt necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You‘ll need a second life for grinding
---{Story}---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It‘ll replace your life
---{Game Time}---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☑ Short
☐ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond
---{Price}---
☐ It’s free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money
---{Bugs}---
☑ Never heard of
☐ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs
Steam User 14
This black and white game that takes place in a single plane, up / down and forward / backward, shows us that seemingly simplistic things can produce great results.
Puzzles require both, thinking and skill.
Wonderful!
One of the few must-have and must-play games.
Steam User 15
Limbo is a puzzle platformer developed and published by Playdead and released in August 2011. You play as a boy in Limbo that is trying to locate his missing sister. I received this game for free many years ago, and thought I would play it.
Story and Game Mechanics
Limbo is overall, an interesting and unique game. I have not played a platformer that has focused on the environment to inspire symbolism interweaved throughout the story. For example, Limbo has a minimalist design, where the graphics are black and white. The soundtrack complements this art by using a variety of tracks that suit the environment, such as a song that builds a sound of nature or another that builds suspense prior to tense moments. These designs are all done very well.
Limbo also exceeds in its attention to detail. As an example, I really like the movement of the boy and how the boy interacts with different objects. I also found the puzzles to be mostly difficult. I reflect that I am not patient when playing puzzles. I think the story was empty and felt void, noting it was a four-hour experience. I could not emotionally invest into the game, and perhaps, the developers intended for this type of experience. Noting this, I finished the game and I ended up reading ending theories online.
Issues
I encountered one problem, which appeared to be common across the community. Limbo froze on the final scene. I turned on V-Sync through the Nvidia Control Panel and it fixed the issue.
Conclusion
I recommend Limbo to readers because it is a unique experience. However, I do not think this type of game is suited to my interest because I found difficulty in interpreting the story and symbolism surrounding the story, and this ultimately reduced my enjoyment of it. I do not think this is any fault of the game because I wanted to keep playing it, but I think that this is a good product suited for other players. My key takeaway of the experience is that Limbo excels at using the 'less is more' principle.
Rating
5.5/10
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