The first time I played Limbo is in my high school years–a game that i accidentally discovered when I scrolled down app store(yes, at first I played it on my mobile device). It was a boring night. I discovered it, clicked on it, thought I can kill some time, and then it ended up to be a game that accompanied me throughout the high school years.
Different games have different ways to attract your attention—some games have you spend all night exploring and then easily be put aside the following morning, and some games can keep attracting you to get back. Limbo is that kind of game that, you may not be patient enough to play through in two days, but definitely has you back to its world now and then. This is exactly the reason why I spent my high school years playing this game—its game play and art design has the power to keep you faithful.
~Gameplay
In terms of game play, Limbo strikes a perfect balance between challenging control of adventure games and puzzle games. Players need to look closely and think audaciously to help the character go further, while maintaining a good control of the character to get past the barriers. This excellent combination of character control and puzzle solving keeps offering players challenges and fresh gaming experiences, and finally motivates players to stick to the game.
~Art Design
Limbo holds an unique art style among many games: simple, silent, black&white, but somehow charming. The game follows the story of a little boy looking for his sister at the edge of death and hell, and the art design definitely fits the vibe. Everything is in black, grey and white, so it will take a little while to tell something from the foggy background. Even the main character, the boy, is a dark shadow with merely his eyes shining, and there will be some moments when the boy’s shape melted into the dark background, and you can only tell where he is by the shining eyes. It’s almost like a visual challenge for the players, as if we’re really desperately looking for something in the edge of darkness.
The audio design for the game is also simple, with merely any background music, but ambient sound of the game world instead. Few games let players play without music, but silence in Limbo has a weight that presses you into the Limbo’s world. And it’s confident enough to catch your eyes without a stimulation to your ears.
~Potential Development
- More sensitive action capture
- More changes in sights and sounds
