Limbo

Date Acquired: July 17, 2011

Date Completed: September 4th, 2011

Thoughts: Limbo is a puzzle/platformer for Xbox Live Arcade that is best known for it's strikingly dynamic visual style. There is no combat of any kind in this game, it's all solving puzzles and trying to keep from dying as you journey through the game looking for your sister. The game effectively uses it's soundtrack and sudued visuals to create a mood of wonder and exploration as you make your way through these mysterious woods.

Pros: I've already mentioned the graphics and sound, but they are definately the highlight of the game. Some of the aha moments as you solved a puzzle. The game has a very forgiving checkpoint system, which is great because you'll die a lot. The only achievement I didn't get in the game asks you to play through the whole game in one sitting, and die less than 5 times. For a measly 10 achievement points. That's not even close to worth it.

Cons: The game doesn't do a great job of explaining what you are supposed to do. There's no tutorial. You are introduced to new things in the game and are just supposed to figure out why they are there. I know it's a puzzle game, but figuring out how to play the game shouldn't be part of the puzzle, IMO. Some of the puzzles are pretty out there.

Final Thoughts: Ultimately I was a little let down by this game. I feel like it was over-hyped, largely due to the visual style. It's a decent game, but not this must-play experience that I've heard it made out to be. I was never pulled into this game to keep going as I am with most great puzzlers. I basically had to go 'oh yeah, I want to finish that game' and made myself play a few levels.

Portal 2

Date Acquired: May 4, 2011

Date Completed: July 17, 2011

Thoughts: Like many people I was a giant fan of the original Portal, originally included by Valve in the Orange Box compilation, and had anxiously awaited the sequal ever since it's initial announcement. There was some trepedation. The original game came out of nowhere. I had never even heard of it until I read reviews for the Orange Box when it came out. The original game was extremely original, funny, and a short, succinct experience. Now Valve was proposing to expand it into a full-length game. Can the mechanics hold up that long?

The answer for me, is an unqualified yes. The game succeeds on every level, both in a sufficiently lengthy single player, and an even more fun co-op mode, both of which I was able to play to completion. One of the fun parts about this game, particularily in the co-op is getting the wrong answer, but still solving the puzzle. It's like math class all over again. My friend and I would spend a ton of time working out a solution that was incredibly complicated and precise, pull it off, then go look up the right answer online and kick ourselves for missing what in retrospect, was a very obvious solution.

Pros: Most of the game falls into the category. The humor again is the standout for me. The creativity and the characters are all plusses. The co-op mode and the free content being released are also great perks to the game.

Cons: The game probably could have been a little more difficult. Too many times you'd be trying to figure out a solution to a puzzle, only to find one random white spot far in the distance that you can portal to. It takes away from the difficulty because you immediately know that's what you have to put a portal on. The replayability also isn't high. I basically have to just wait until I've forgotten all the puzzles before I can play it again, but I probably will eventually. I did get the game on PS3 and PC, in addition to the 360, afterall. The final boss battle wasn't as satisfying as the original either. I loved the original boss battle. The diaglogue is so good in it, and I thought it was challenging. You really don't get much of that this time around, it's pretty straight forward. Finally the greatest dissapointment for me was the final song. I loved the end song in the original game so much! I've played it in Rockband a hundred times. This song.... eh. It wasn't nearly as good. I played it twice, and it got better the 2nd time, but it's no Still Alive....

Final Thoughts: The Cons section may make it sound like I didn't like the game. I loved the game. But in such a good game the flaws stand out to me more than they do in a mediocre game. It's definately on my short list for game of the year.