LIMBO Studio Hits Again With INSIDE
Welcome to Indie Spotlight! Today we take a look at a game that knows what really counts — INSIDE!
Created by Playdead, INSIDE is an eerie side-scrolling puzzle adventure with ZERO dialogue; the entirety of the story is told through action. As a huge fan of their first game LIMBO (which was a big hit in 2011), I jumped right into this with much excitement.
A young boy emerges from the brush, lost and alone. You realize you have control of him. You begin to travel through the dim, damp forest. You see a man leaving in his 18-wheeler. A hop down a cliff, and suddenly men with flashlights point your way. You stay hidden until you can get away. A trained dog has caught your scent! Jump the gap so it can’t chase you! Two guys in a van spot you and run at you. Quick, keep going, but don’t trip!
This is just a taste of the atmosphere provided in the game. You start with no idea as to what’s going on, and piece by piece you discover the reality of your world. Failing a puzzle or an escape means a gruesome death for the boy — whether it be falling to your death, being strangled or getting your throat chewed out. Bad dog!
The game’s controls are extremely simple — you can only move, jump and grab. It’s the complexity of the environment that makes this game deceptively clever and challenging. Some areas involve fixing a power source. Others have a flock of baby chicks following you around. Hordes of people seem to be brainwashed, and certain machines even let you mind control them for a time!
Not much more can be said without giving away answers and spoilers. Much like its predecessor, INSIDE provides an amazing atmosphere of mystery and dread which will keep you hooked until the end. I fully respect any game that can tell an entire story without words, and INSIDE is one you’ll want to experience.
INSIDE is available on Steam,PS4 and Xbox One.
