Limbo is a fresh, mesmerizing cypher. Buy it

At this point, we've written enough about the look and feel of Limbo that writing a full review of the finished game almost seems redundant. There aren't any major shifts in gameplay, nor is there a midgame plot twist that we didn't experience in our previews. This Xbox Live Arcade release simply brings a pleasing aesthetic to a sparse story, and then asks you what it all means by the time the game is over.

If you've seen Inception—and if you haven't, you need to—you know the power of an ending that asks you to make a decision about what you've just seen. This style of finale annoys some to no end, but if you have paid attention to the details of what you've just seen and are willing to take something of a leap in your own mind, you'll understand and be satisfied by the story. I played Limbo to completion in one four-hour setting with my wife and good friend in attendance, and we instantly fell into a spirited discussion about what just happened. That's a rare, and very welcome, thing to happen as the credits roll.

What's surprising about Limbo, the story of a little boy trying to find his sister in a bleak, nearly hopeless landscape, is the level of the puzzles. They're not what you expect in this sort of platformer, and you'll need to master timing and inertia in order to move ahead. Playing Limbo, you'll realize just how many games are nothing but exercises in dragging crates or rearranging mirrors. The puzzles here are multilayered and tricky, and the frustration you'll sometimes feel while playing is offset by the thrill of finally figuring something out.

The game is out this Wednesday, costs $15, and will appeal to those who like games with an interesting artistic style, those who like platformers, those who like puzzles, or anyone with a hankering for something different. Buy this game, and vote for adventurous content on our consoles. When you finish it, send in an e-mail with your take on what just happened. I can't wait to hear what you think, and if we get enough entries you may see your thoughts in a future post.

via feeds.arstechnica.com

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