Why Limbo Sucked
With all the end-of-year awards popping up now, I figured I should finally let my complete and utter distaste for this game out of hiding. The source of my loathing is very simple: When you begin a new game of Limbo, there is absolutely no indication of when the game has actually started. It just transitions into a completely black screen. How are you supposed to know that there is a boy sleeping on the ground with his eyes closed? After waiting for something to happen for a few minutes, I finally started pushing buttons, to no avail. It wasn't until I randomly moved the left stick that the boy opened his eyes and stood up, letting me know that there was something other than the color black on my screen.
After that it was all downhill. From traps that are unavoidable because they are indistinguishable from the foliage to monsters that made no sense until they killed you several times, Limbo does not let you have fun until you already know everything about it. Don't think I hate all hard games, I loved Braid, and Super Meat Boy is fun as hell. Yes, in Braid you also start as a guy sleeping (knocked out?) on the floor, but at least you know there's someone there to move. And in Super Meat Boy (and almost every other platformer that is good), when you die, it's because YOU messed up, not that the game kills you uncontrollably. Limbo couldn't give you a little pop-up at the beginning that says, "Hey, the game has started, move the stick" or something?
Maybe it's just that I don't have time for games that don't let you mess up on your own anymore? Whatever the reason, I will not stop recommending that no one plays this game.
