Playdead is a company that I’ve personally taken an interest in ever since their first game Limbo, originally released back in 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade. It did so well, that in the following years to come it would be released on numerous different platforms.
Their latest release ‘Inside’ follows Limbo’s success on so many different levels, and brings some fascinating new ways to play.
Like with Limbo, you start off as a young boy in a forest with no explanation as to why, or what the end goal is. The only part that is clear, is that you must progress along the 2D platformer by running, jumping and grabbing – the only 3 controls given. You quickly reach a building/warehouse where you spend the rest or your time questioning what this grotesque, oppressive place is.
During the course of the 3 – 4 hours length, you’re tasked with an array of different puzzles in interesting and unique levels, each one designed in such a way that feels fresh from the last. It’s unlikely that you’ll be stuck for hours on a particular puzzle, as the solutions are logical and can be solved with a bit of trial and error.
You’ll die fairly often during your play through and the animations are quite alarming, one such case was being mauled by a pack of dogs for being a second too slow, another was being dragged under water by what I can only explain as the little girl from 2002’s ‘The Ring’. That being said, this isn’t your usual punishment for failure that most games express, but a life lesson on how you proceed next time.
The world of Inside is uniquely beautiful, giving you 2D movement with a 3D backdrop that you can’t help but stop and gawp at every so often. The colour is muted and the people are without definition, giving you the feeling that this is not a place of happiness for anyone. The music occasionally plays in a significant places, and you can’t help but get shivers in awe of the gorgeous art style and dramatic themes.
Inside is a 2D masterpiece that does a lot with a little, and for £15.99 ($19.99) it’s a great investment. The experience will leave you and friends talking for hours and feeling like you’ve been on one of the most intense adventures in a game to date. If you have a spare few hours, this is one game I urge you to experience for yourself before someone spoils it for you.
SNIKT!
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