Limbo

 Released back some time ago especially for Xbox Live Arcade in July 2010 , LIMBO was praised as one of the best 2 D platformers that was ever made . The main beauty of the game is that there is zero Loading time , Game is completely small and controls are dead easy to accommodate and remember .

The game starts with a small boy waking up to a black and white forest and then trotting on . He comes upon a small girl plucking flowers there but as he approaches the figure vanishes . From then its starts with climbing , pulling levers , jumping across chasms etc , a journey to the end of the game where the boy finally gets to meet the girl that he sees in level 1 .

The beauty of the game which i loved so much is that the game when it got released as a port for PSN network and PC did not demand any huge configurations to make the game work . And the Installer was so small that you could easily get a digital copy of the game . From Level 1 , You will realize that this is not an action packed game but rather a puzzle solving game . Right from basic level puzzles where you have to use bear traps in order to escape from the claws of the huge gigantic spider that tries to pierce u with its legs to Pushing logs and jumping over dead bodies that are floating in the water in order to cross the puddle of water , the game has to be appreciated for its ingenuity .

The Mysterious girl that you meet in first level 

Because these puzzles are not going to test your patience like some game did . And there are no clues to give a hint as to what should be done next . All you have to do is just think a little and use a basic common sense to creak them and then proceed in the game  .. There is no saving option in the game , the game auto saves by itself and then picks up from where you left when you start the game again .

1. Spider Scare  :: 

This guy is the most villainous and big boss kind of thing that you ever get in this game . He is absolutely huge and lethal when it comes to piercing you with  his legs . All you have to do is to run fast as you can with your nimble legs and hope to out run him as this guy is slow like hell .

The way the spider slices into you with a slick snick is enough to give you jitters when you die ..Brrrr!! . And there comes a level where the spider actually captures you because you get stuck in the spidy Web trap . The spider crawls slowly  to ( Ahhhh !!  stay away you vile beast ) you and then wraps you up like a mummy in a web  . Now you have to hop around slowly until you find a way to get out of the web .The stage where you kill him brutally with Huge Rock falling on him is hugely satisfying that you will start shouting  " Die u F**K " :D ...

Death of the Hideous Beast

2. Magnetic Field :: 

This is the second upgrade in difficulty level  . Flicking on a switch will activate a small magnetic field initially but later on the field gets so powerful that it can lift you up too . The switches vary , Some may be switched on a for a infinite amount of time  while some on the other hand gets switched off on its own after a specific interval after you switch it on  . OMG , the things you can do with this is un imaginable . I never thought flicking on a switch and flicking it off can be used to in such innovative ways . Mind blowing .

Especially the level where you have to take a box from that side of a wall simply by turning it on and off and other level where the mag field is used to pull you sideways and upwards and you have to land on a solid base with out getting spliced in to pieces from the huge Spinning blades . Hat off to the ideology Man who was behind this .

3. White Glowing Nasty Worm that makes you a Zombie : : 

God this is the one real irritating things . Since the game takes place in a unknown world even the game developers didn't use any actual word to describe these things  . Thank god!! huh , Now a days its a routine to give descriptions about enemies and weapons that you carry that no gamer gives a shit !! but hell  , they do give it all the time . Well the worm actually doesn't do you any physical harm . but what it does is much more dangerous . It clings to the top of your head and forces you to move only in one direction . Now that may not sound Scary but in a world of black and white where your path is filled with chasms and Saw Wheels and lasers , timing is of essential in order to escape unscathed . This timing is the one tats affected hugely by this worm . The direction can be changed only by bright light . And the only way to remove this guys are to depend on some weird hanging NPC  ( Non player character )Mature Worms from the ceiling . When you jump to them they gobble up the worm and thus freeing you from the Curse .

Running in a direction uncontrolled and unstoppable

4. Electric Field :: 

These are electric lines that can be found on the grounds that when activated is capable of moving a trolley that can be used to ride in  . And here too the ingenious  way you have to time your jumps in order to cross them are remarkable like hell . Most of the time you have to time your jumps correctly and then escape from the current before it comes back on .

5. Water :: 

Being a small boy , u obviously cant swim . So if the water level is ever going to raise above your noise your character is going to die a slow and choking death . You use Crates or boats to jump on when the water level is raised deliberately by you in order to reach higher levels .

6. Levers :: 

Watch out whenever you come across Levers in your journey . Because once you pull it the entire topography is going to rotate and the ceiling would become your new ground . Quite cool when this happens . But be careful about where you are standing as a fall from greater height may break your head . And also keep a look out for falling crates or worse Boulders :D

7. Machine Guns :: 

These are alerted of your presence whenever you disturb the motion sensor Laser that they emit in a straight line towards the direction they are pointing too. Can make a mince meat of you in seconds , so make sure before you jump and dance before them that you have a alternative way planned before hand  .
























There are a overall of 40 levels in this game . But each level has single puzzle in it that when solved takes you to the next level . So depending upon how sharp you are and your basic common sense , you can finish off the game within one Hr or may extend it 4 Hrs . It depends on how you play it .

Pro's ::

1. Simple but attractive graphics that entirely pulls you into the depressing world of Limbo.
2. Simple controls with direction keys for moving the character and one key for Jump and another for action .
3 . Very small game , both in installer size as well as in gameplay level .
4. Innovative puzzles that makes you to scratch your brain out and when finally you figure it out , you will smack your head saying ' Now why didn't I think of that ' .

Con's :: 

1. The game World and environments with eerie sounds and lighting that , playing it continuously can some what depress you .
2. No hints for solving puzzles which can be very frustrating at some place that you may throw down your controller vowing that you are never ever going to play it again .
3. Zero Loading time and initialization time .

Overall :: A Game that must be played not only by Gamers but by everyone who is itching for puzzle solving  .

Rating : 9.3 / 10 

Regards 
Ram