LIMBO Review

Black and white is the new colour. At first glance, Limbo could look like an old fashioned film, but there is no need to write off this arcade gem. We finally could have a game that comes knocking on the door of Braids crown for something unique.

Never before has a game captured the imagination of the player as much as Limbo manages to do so. It is a striking example of how you can turn the video game industry on its head and create a masterpiece that will see developers rushing to try and copy its distinctive charm.


Forget the fact that the arcade is sometimes a minefield of dodgy ports or under-conceived ideas, Limbo developed by Playdead has already received awards from the Independent Games Festival for its art and technical excellence and you really have to experience first-hand the creativity that has being crafted into this title.



You play as a young boy on his travels to try and find the whereabouts and fate of his lost sister. It isn’t all plain sailing throughout the 24 chapters that await you during the game. The blend of sublime game play and art is a joy to behold. It is a magical experience that begins as you hit the load button on the menu. A small warning appears at the bottom that some sections of the game may offend and it gives you the option to turn the gore off, however the unique black and white charm means any gore is minimal but superbly implemented.

Despite the lack of colour, the world is rich and vibrant through a series of different shades of the black and grey scheme. You start off asleep on the floor before awakening in a cut-scene which feels like a life-time. Yet this is the beginning of the special journey that awaits you, picking yourself off the floor you see these big white eyes blinking in the darkness. Your character is nothing more than a black body with the eyes being at the forefront of the movement.

Whilst it may seem basic, particularly with just two buttons, which are jump and action, this doesn’t hinder the magic of the movement which flows perfectly. Each chapter is intertwined to create one large novel like game and auto save is hidden in the background so it doesn't interfere with the action.


Darkness tends to give us a sense of fear and Limbo’s creepy atmosphere is designed to create tension and a fear of the unknown. With each step you’ll hear the rustle of the leaves or the wind blowing through the trees. There is no soundtrack in Limbo, just the impressive atmospheric noises and the odd score to create small amounts of anxiety. It works perfectly to give Limbo its unique corner-stone on the gaming spectrum. Each trap will make you jump as it’s cleverly disguised in the landscapes along with the scuttle of feet and of course, that spider.

If you have acrophobia, you may want to give Limbo a miss, because you’ll be creeped out even further by the appearance of a certain eight-legged friend. It all adds to the tension as you navigate the dark caverns and woods. A slip into the water and you’ll die, one foot out of place and you’ll be caught in a trap, wincing as our hero gets shredded to pieces.

The idea of puzzles and platforming can be a daunting one, particularly after the complexity of Braid. Yet Limbo gives everyone the chance to solve a simple solution to trying to cross a chasm of water or attempting to hook onto a rope. Some will frustrate and some will send you mad, but each one is a charm and a credit to the distinctive game play. Even if a puzzle seems straight-forward, the ensuing escape may not be so simple.


While Limbo has no narrative to speak of, it cleverly tugs at the strings of your own curiosity to question the motives of those featured and the possible out-come of the game. Keep playing and small developments in the mechanics of the game are unveiled to keep up the intrigue.

Limbo is a fine example of how you can create a masterpiece, yet sell it through the Xbox Live arcade at a budget price. It may not be the longest game, but to capture the imagination of any player is something that is a rarity in gaming. If this is what black and white can do, then we can’t wait to see how colour revolutionizes our world.