When a game is released under the name of a Biblical story and is billed as a Legend of Zelda clone, it immediately turns heads. Throw in the fact that it is made by one of the creators of last year’s Indie hit Super Meat Boy and you’ve got a combination that can’t go wrong. After spending some hours adventuring through The Binding of Isaac, I can happily say that very few things have gone. Edmund McMillen’s The Binding of Isaac is one of those diamond in the rough indie games that everyone should play.
The game tells the story of a child named Isaac who goes through a questionably troubled childhood. After being subjected to ridicule from his peers and receiving the cold shoulder from his mother, Isaac is eventually stripped of all of his belongings after his mother receives a calling from a higher power. After being persuaded further by this higher power, Isaac’s mother attempts to sacrifice the boy. Luckily, Isaac finds and enters a trap door in his room and escapes to the basement below. However, as you will quickly discover, Isaac is only lucky if he can survive the horrors that await him in this basement.
As Isaac travels through the basement and beyond in his attempt to flee his mother, you will become acquainted with the rogue-like, Legend of Zelda-inspired gameplay of The Binding of Isaac. Each randomly-generated area is split into multiple rooms filled with enemies that Isaac must defeat. His weapon: a stream of his own tears. However, veteran players won’t be using simply tears for long as there are certain rooms in each area that feature special items and upgrades. Everything from chocolate milk bubble weapons to pills that give Isaac “bad gas” are available as possible items to collect in these rooms. However, a lack of description for all of the items is a little disappointing. Isaac must also collect keys to open more rooms, including item shops and arcades as he traverses the various areas. Once Isaac has passed through a few rooms and has collected his item, he moves onto fighting the area’s boss enemy. Although, due to the game’s random nature, it is entirely possible for Isaac to go straight to the area’s boss without having to venture to the item area.
The most surprising aspect of The Binding of Isaac is how addicting the gameplay is, even for those who aren’t usually fans of rogue-like games. I believe that the addicting nature of The Binding of Isaac stems from just how accessible the game is. Although the is incredibly punishing and insanely difficult, it takes only minutes to understand the fundamental aspects of the game and to begin adventuring the basement. The pace at which The Binding of Isaac develops a plot to when players actually begin controlling Isaac is very quick and is something a lot of AAA games could learn from.
I can’t publish a review of this game without highlighting some of the great ideas and comedy that are hidden deep within The Binding of Isaac. Some of my most memorable moments with this game didn’t come from the gameplay, but the hidden little jokes and references that litter the game. For example, every time Isaacc dies, a last journal entry appears on screen. This entry shows the enemy that killed him, features a message to his mother that is trying to kill him, and lists all of the items he collected, which are said to go to his cat Guppy. Other times when collecting items Isaac would come across pills that he would take. These did things such as give him a “bad trip” that removed a heart and even went so far as to make him retarded. There are also growth hormones that make Isaac’s brain grow alarmingly large. When combined, Isaac’s look is something that you can’t help but crack a smile at. It may be a little adult and a bit offensive, but the humor in The Binding of Isaac is top notch.
Graphically, The Binding of Isaac is simple, yet sleek. The menu at the top is simple and retro as it brings back fond memories of the original Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The cutscenes that appear at the beginning of each area share this simple, yet sleek look. Although Isaac and the game’s enemies clearly look hand-drawn, the style just works. There was never a moment where I was disappointed by the look of a character. A tone is set by the use of colour in the game. Brown, black, red, pink, and blue are used constantly . While at first it may be disappointing that a hand-drawn game isn’t a little more vibrant, it quickly becomes clear why the colours were chosen. The blood-splattered and soiled rooms along with the menacing blue and red zombie children do a great job of making the player feel for Isaac as he ventures from room-to-room.
With everything being randomly-generated and multiple rooms being locked or hidden away, The Binding of Isaac is chock-full of replay value. It is easy to lose a few hours in each sit-down with The Binding of Isaac as once you start, you won’t want to stop until you have explored every area and have unlocked every secret.
The Binding of Isaac is an ingeniously addicting rogue-like that is sure to attract gamers of all types. With a great but limited story, fantastic Legend of Zelda-inspired gameplay, and more random references and content than can be listed here, The Binding of Isaac is an indie title you would be silly to miss. Sure, the game could use some descriptions for all of the various items you will collect, but that is only a small misstep in an otherwise surprisingly great game.
Pros:
- Quick, yet meaningful plot
- Addicting gameplay
- Full of content
- Tons of replayability
- No item descriptions
- Lack of difficulty options
Score: 9/10
