Limbo

 I recall times, when I would see advertisements for games like Silent Hill 2 and catch snippets of my older sister play Parasite Eve. I would wish with my whole entire body that I could play such thrilling dark games without pooping my pants. But alas: I was (am) a Scaredy Cat.

Exactly once I got brave enough. One Friday night when my mother let me tag along to Movie Gallery, she perused the New Releases movie wall as I peeled off into the gamer's cubby. I knew she would let me rent one - she had to; it was the weekend! And I had saved my allowance all month. 

I had already sped through my latest round of Gex: Enter the Gecko, exhausted the latest Official Playstation Magazine demo disc and I was left wanting for more. Also I had no friends, so... what else was I supposed to do with 48 hours of free-time? 

I shrugged and sighed my way past all of the sports-themes and first-shooters until finally I saw it: Silent Hill 2. I approached the wall cautiously. It had just come out; the wall was covered in fresh copies. I stood there in wonder. This was the kind of event that would really impress "the guys" (my would-be awesome crew of friends). Was I about to be brave? Was I the kind of kid who casually rented horrific video games? To then play them by myself all weekend?

...In the dark??

Probably not. But maybe! And maybe just renting it would bring me one step closer to being... COOL.

I blew my allowance, brought it home, cautiously cracked the spine on the rental case and: Oh. Some guy in the bathroom. A dingy bathroom! Ooh, I'll bet creepy stuff is hiding in the - nope. But I'll bet if I look at my reflection - hm. No spookies. (My tiny brain did not understand "build-up" or "suspense".) (I kind of still don't - just read my book.) 

I walked out - nothing. No one to talk to, no items to interact with... How disappointing! My whole gut went into renting this damned thing and - after wayyy too long walking in circles - I was STUCK. I got stuck in the beginning. How the hell was I ever going to make it through to the good parts?? I contemplated raiding EB Games' game guide spinners the next time we went to the mall, but... then what? Just keep going back and covertly jotting down a new paragraph? Or better yet: buy the game guide with my hard-earned cash? And what if the game is bad? What then?? 

After eventually coming to a full stop, I finally admitted to myself that this game simply wasn't for me. I had wasted my allowance and more importantly: my precious weekend. I ejected the disc, placed the rental back in its case and searched my old MVPs for a replay. 

I never went back to the horror genre, I don't think. But this time: not because I was afraid - because I hadn't been tempted. 

Until I saw Limbo.

Bet you forgot that this post was about another game, didn't ya? Well my run-time of play was quite short and to be honest with you: I didn't have much to write about. But I still like writing. And we have to be fair and at least mention every game. PLUS I want to remember this experience as much as possible! Video games were such a fundamental part of me and it's wild being back (in a new way/less obsessive/I have a real life friend, now). 

ANYway.

I found Limbo on sale (online/the shop). It was a whopping 1.99 again and I figured "let's not even check the play time average. Let's really just go wild." I noticed it was by the same people who made this other game I had never played called Inside. Similar vibe, it appeared. Both dark / disturbing with simple, shadowy graphics. Limbo followed a little boy through a hellish kind of Limbo (clever), outsmarting little creatures and demons to try to survive and progress (to eventually [something something sister might be dead]). Inside followed a seemingly/possibly slightly older boy, trying to get through some kind of facility /past drones and harmful guard dogs/ to the Outside, presumably. 

One watch of the previews and I once again had faith that maybe, just maybe... a video game could make me never sleep again.

I obviously bought the one on sale. 

This game provided you with only silhouettes of your character / the setting / the creatures, leaving the visuals perfectly ambiguous. There is a part fairly early on that tricks your eye / makes you die suddenly (just after the lull of false security *chef's kiss*). The shock of dying plus the shock of the sheer brutality of how you die was worth the 1.99 alone. This game is really well done and thrilling. 

Until it's not. 

After the initial shock wears off, the game just feels fussy (with how precise you must be, at certain points) and same-ish. You could probably entertain yourself well enough if you got high and had some decent snacks. Maybe with a few buddies. I'm not really into that anymore, though. 

So until I revisit that part of my youth: I'll put Limbo into the archives.