The Binding of Isaac

Overview

Despite being compared to a lot of games, The Binding Of Isaac is an original dungeon crawler with shooting mechanics. The game takes place in a procedurally-generated world which is filled with power-ups, items and special abilities which change Isaac's appearance. The game contains 5 chapters spanning 9 levels with over 21 bosses.

Story

Isaac's mother was always a religious woman, so when she became seriously mentally ill and started hearing voices, she believed that it was God speaking to her, and in an attempt to cleanse her innocent son of his "sins", she stripped away his toys and clothes and confined him to his bedroom. But the voice insisted that was not enough, and she must sacrifice her son in order to prove her love for him. Isaac manages to escape to the house's previously hidden basement, which is infested by horrible creatures and other shadowy things, but in order for Isaac to truly escape this nightmare and regain his happiness, he must confront his mother once and for all...

Gameplay

The Binding of Isaac is, according to its creator Edmund McMillen, "a Rogue-like shooter based on the dungeon structure of the NES version of Zelda" and instead of using a traditional leveling system, the game uses an item system and there will be 4 sets of special items; usable items, special weapon upgrades, passive upgrades and stat boosters. In every level there will be a treasure room, shop, boss and other secret/special rooms which might contain unique items. Most of the items, supposedly as many as 90%, stack, meaning that over the course of the game your character will become a "monstrous powerhouse" in both stats and abilities as well as appearance.

There are also "micro puzzles" which use pickup items (coins, bombs, keys, hearts, cards and pills) to allow the player to acquire special items, gain access to shops/hidden areas, kill enemies and affect the gameplay in other ways.

Character Progression

Character progression in the game is treated as a mix between games such as Spelunky, Desktop Dungeons, and Super Crate Box. The more you play Isaac, the more random elements such as item drops, enemies, rooms, characters, bosses, endings, and chapters are unlocked as you play.

The goal of this system is make the game feel endless to the player, and to make the content feel richer the more you play.

Difficulty Mechanics

Users playing the "basic" game and find themselves struggling will be rewarded with helper items, whose purpose is to aid the player and make the game easier for them. For players who are doing well, they will be presented with more challenging bosses, extra chapters, and an overall increase in difficulty.

Characters

There are four main character classes to choose from as you play the game. The four core classes closely resemble standard DnD classes; Fighter, Thief, Cleric, and Wizard classes.

Isaac

The Fighter

Unlocked from start.
HP: 3; Damage: 2; Range: 2; Speed: 2.
Starting Item: The D6 (Must be unlocked, changes items in the room it is rolled)
Starting pickup item: Bomb

Cain

The Thief

Unlocked by acquiring 55+ pennies in one playthrough.
HP: 2; Damage: 3; Range: 1; Speed: 3.
Starting Item: Lucky Foot (Passive item that raises luck)
Starting pickup item: Key

Magdalene

The Cleric

Unlocked by getting 7+ container hearts in one playthrough.
HP: 4; Damage: 2; Range: 2; Speed: 1.
Starting Item: Yum Heart (Usable item that regenerates 1 health)
Starting pickup item: None

Judas

The Wizard

Unlocked by completing The Womb.
HP: 1; Damage: 4; Range: 2; Speed: 2.
Starting item: Book of Belial (Usable item that raises damage to max)
Starting pickup item: Penny

???

The Dead Baby

Unlocked by completing the game 10 times.
HP: 3 (All Faith) Damage: 2, Range: 2, Speed: 2.
Starting Item: A Poop
Starting pickup item: None

Eve

The Cursed

Unlocked by making two deals with the devil during one playthrough.
HP: 2; Damage: 2; Range: 2; Speed: 2.
Starting items: Dead Bird and Whore of Babylon.
Starting pickup item: None

Unlocking each character will also unlock their special item as a pickup in the main game regardless of which character you're playing as. There are also unique familiars that are unlocked by completing the full game with each character.

Items

There are several types of items in The Binding of Isaac.

Activated Items - These items go into your space bar slot. By clearing a certain number of rooms, you regain the ability to use these items again.
Passive Items - Most of these items give Isaac a permanent upgrade.
Tarot Cards - Tarot cards go in your Q slot. They can be used only once.
Pills - Pills go in your Q slot. They have a random effect on Isaac which can be good or bad so using them might be risky.

Activated Items

Name	Effect
Anarchist's Cookbook	Spawns multiple bomb in the room.
The Bean	Causes Isaac to pass gas and damages nearby enemies.
Bob's Rotten Head	Shoots a bomb in the direction you are facing.
The Bible	Isaac gains wings and the ability to fly over obstacles. Can kill Mom, Mom's Heart and It Lives instantly.
Book of Belial	Increases your damage until you leave the room.
Book of Revelations	Adds 1 soul heart.
Book of Shadows	Creates a shield around Isaac that absorbs all damage for a period of time.
Book of Sins	Spawns a random pick-up.
The D6	Switches special items on the ground with new ones.
Dead Sea Scrolls	Activates a random space bar item.
Deck of Cards	Spawns a random tarot card.
Doctor's Remote	A controllable red target appears on the floor. After a few seconds, a missile explodes there.
Forget Me Now	Restarts the current floor, generating an entirely new level. Consumes Forget Me Now.
Gamekid	Isaac gains invincibility, can damage enemies by touching them, and can regain health by damaging enemies.
Hourglass	Slows down enemies.
Kamikaze	Causes Isaac to explode at the cost of 1 heart.
Lemon Mishap	A yellow puddle appears on the floor which damages any enemy who passes over it.
Mom's Bottle of Pills	Spawns a random pill.
Mom's Bra	Stuns enemies.
Mom's Pad	Enemies avoid Isaac.
Money = Power	Causes money to grant issac attack damage
Monster Manual	Summons a random helper (eg Brother Bobby, Forever Alone) to assist the player until they leave the room.
Monstro's Tooth	Monstro appears and damages a random enemy in the room. (Will not activate against Monstro, but will against Monstro II)
Mr. Boom	A large bomb appears in the room.
My Little Unicorn	Isaac gains invincibility and can damage enemies by touching them.
The Nail	Isaac becomes a demon, growing in size and gaining attack power and the ability to crush rocks.
Necronomicon	Immediately kills all normal enemies in the room and damages bosses.
A Pony	Passively Increases speed and lets you fly over chasms and barriers. Upon activation, you charge across the room in whatever direction you were facing, dealing damage to everyone you hit.
The Poop	Drops a poop.
Shoop Da Woop	Isaac fires a large laser in the direction he is facing.
Tammy's Head	Shoots 10 projectiles in a circle around you. Only takes one room to recharge.
Teleport	Teleports Isaac to a random room. Small chance of being teleported to an "Error" room, where the player will be presented with two active or passive items and a trap door to the next level.
We Need to go Deeper	A trap door to the next level appears.
Yum Heart	Restores 1 heart.

Passive Items

Name	Effect
1UP	Gives an extra life.
<3	Increases HP by 1 and fully heals you.
A Lump of Coal	Increases damage from your tears based on how far they travel.
Attack Fly	Circles around you, and if it hits an enemy, it damages it.
Bandage	Increases HP by 2.
The Battery	Allows active items to recharge while fighting.
Belt	Increases speed by 2.
Blood of the Martyr	Increases damage.
Bomb Bag	Bag that follows you around and may drop bombs after you complete a room.
The Book of Belial	Increases your damage skill to the highest rank until you leave the room.
Boom!	Grants 10 bombs.
Breakfast	Increases HP by 1.
Brimstone	Tears are replaced with brimstone, a charged beam attack with infinite range, a high attack value, and that can fire through obstacles and enemies. It has a short duration, and enemies in the beam longer will take more damage. However, if it must be fully charged before fired (Isaac will flash yellow when charged).
Brother Bobby	Follows Isaac around shooting projectiles.
Charm of the Vampire	Killing 13 monsters heals the player for 1/2 a heart. This effect happens even if your health is full. Causing an enemy to split in two or changes forms due to damage count as "kills" and can be exploited for the healing effect.
Chocolate Milk	Allows you to charge your shots by holding the arrow keys.
The Common Cold	Makes tears poisonous.
Compass	Reveals icons on map.
Cube of Meat	The first pick up gives a floating cube similar to the Pretty Fly. The second pick up changes it to a floating head that shoots red tears. The third pick up changes that floating head into Meat Boy. The fourth pick up increases meat boy's size and damage.
Cupid's Arrow	Piercing arrows
Dead Bird	Upon taking damage, will emerge and attack enemies in the room until you exit the room.
Demon Baby	Follows player around firing at any enemies that come close (player does not have to be firing for the Demon Baby to fire). Only fires at short range.
Dessert	Increases HP by 1.
Dinner	Increases HP by 1.
Dollar Bill	Gives the player 99 pennies.
Fetus in a Jar	Replaces tears with bombs.
Forever Alone	Friendly fly that circles you in a wide radius, damaging any enemies it touches.
Growth Hormones	Increase speed and damage.
Guardian Angel	Gives player one faith heart. Small angel flies quickly around you, absorbing projectiles and damaging enemies.
Guppy	Gives the player 9 lives, but limits the player's health to one heart.
Halo	Increases all stats by one.
Halo of Flies	Occasionally blocks incoming arrows.
The Inner Eye	Arrows are shot in bursts of 3.
Ladder	Allows the player to walk across gaps one square across.
Little Steve	Little Steve follows you, firing homing tears.
Loki's Horns	Increased fire rate, random chance to shoot projectiles in 4 directions.
Lord of the Pit	Grants the player demon wings and turns the player's entire body black. The player flies over all obstacles, including damage floors, spikes, rocks, and pits.
Lucky Foot	Raises luck.
Lunch	Increases HP by 1.
Magic Mushroom	Upgrades multiple stats and makes you and your projectiles larger.
Magneto	Pick-ups move slowly towards the player. This includes troll bombs.
The Mark	Increases damage by 2.
Max's Head	Increases damage by 1.
Meat Boy	Runs into nearby enemies and damages them over time.
Mini Mush	Increases speed and range.
Mom's Contacts	Tears gain freeze effect.
Mom's Eye	Increases tears and allows allows Isaac to fire in two directions.
Mom's Heels	Increases range by 2.
Mom's Knife	Replaces tears with a carving knife. Can be charged and thrown a short distance in one direction before it comes back to your hands. Very powerful, but low range.
Mom's Lipstick	Increases range by 1.
Mom's Underwear	Increases range by 1.
Mr. Mega	Adds 5 bombs, and makes all dropped bombs large bombs.
My Reflection	Gives tears a boomerang effect.
Number One	Tears fire more rapidly at the cost of range.
Ouija Board	Tears pass over solid objects.
The Pact	Turns the player's body black and grants the player to shoot blood instead of tears, giving a bonus to damage and rate of fire.
The Parasite	Makes the tears split in two when they hit something.
Pentagram	Increases damage.
PHD	Reverses the effect of negative pills, also fully heals Isaac.
A Quarter	Gives 25 pennies on pick up.
Radioactive Spider	Arrows have a chance to slow down enemies when hit.
Raw Liver	Increases HP by 2.
The Relic	Drops a soul heart upon completion of every fourth room.
Robo-Baby	Follows Isaac while shooting lasers.
Roid Rage	Increases speed & range.
Rosary	Adds 3 soul hearts.
Rotten Meat	Increases HP by 1.
Sack of Pennies	May drop pennies or nickles after you complete a room.
The Sad Onion	Increases rate of tears.
Sister Maggy	Follows Isaac around shooting projectiles.
Skatatole	Running into flies kill them instantly, with no damage taken to the player.
Skeleton Key	Gives the player 99 keys.
Small Rock	Increases damage. Found by exploding rocks.
Spelunkers Hat	See through locked doors. Reveals the location of the secret room when in an adjacent room.
Spider's Bite	Tears slow down enemies.
Spoon Bender	Homing tears.
Steam Sale	All items in the shop become 50% off.
Steven	Increases damage.
Technology	Tears turn into lasers. Can penetrate enemies. Unlimited range.
Transcendence	Remove's the player's body, allowing him or her to fly over obstacles.
Treasure Map	Reveals all rooms for every floor, including the secret room.
The Virus	Deal damage to enemies on touch.
Waffer	Give's damage resistance (attacks that would have done 1 heart of damage do only 1/2 a heart).
Whore of Babylon	When you reach half a heart, this increases your speed, damage, and changes your form until you leave a room with greater than half a heart.
Wiggle Worm	Makes tears zig zag. Tears can no longer be angled by movement.
Wire Coat Hanger	Increases rate of tears by 2.
Wooden Spoon	Increases speed.
X-Ray Vision	Reveals secret room entrances, opens them without bombing.

Tarot Cards

Name	Effect
O The Fool	Teleports Isaac to the starting room for that floor.
I The Magician	Gives Isaac homing tears until you leave the room.
II The High Priestess	Summons a large heeled foot to crush an enemy.
III The Empress	Increases speed, damage, and changes your form until you leave the room.
IV The Emperor	Teleports you to the boss room.
V The Hierophant	Spawns 2 soul hearts
VI The Lovers	Spawns 2 hearts.
VII The Chariot	Isaac gains invincibility and he can damage enemies for a short period of time.
VIII Justice	Spawns bombs, hearts, keys, and pennies.
IX The Hermit	Teleports Isaac to the mini-boss room or the shop.
X Wheel of Fortune	Spawns a slot machine.
XI Strength	Makes the player bigger, increasing maximum health and damage until the player leaves the room.
XII The Hanged Man	Isaac becomes a floating head until you leave the room.
XIII Death	Damages every enemy in the room.
XIV Temperance	Spawns a blood donation machine.
XV The Devil	Increases damage until you leave the room.
XVI The Tower	Spawns multiple bombs in the room.
XVII The Stars	Teleports Isaac to the golden item room
XVIII The Moon	Teleports Isaac to the secret room.
XIX The Sun	Reveals all the rooms in the current level.
XX Judgement	Spawns a Beggar.
XXI The World	Reveals all the rooms in the current level.

Pills

Name	Effect
And Ate Them!	Does not affect player's stats, but player's face becomes hollow-eyed and slack-jawed.
Bad Gas	Damages nearby enemies.
Bad Trip	Isaac loses 1 heart. If the player has only one heart, it will act as a full heal.
Balls of Steel	Gives Isaac 2 soul hearts.
Bombs Are Key	Swaps the amount of bombs and the amount of keys.
Damage	Deals damage to Isaac.
Explosive Diarrhea!	Isaac drops several lit bombs.
Full Health	Fully restores Isaac's health.
Health Up	Increases HP by 1.
Pretty Fly	A fly circles around Isaac which blocks projectiles.
Range Down	Decreases range.
Range Up	Increases range.
Speed Down	Decreases speed.
Speed Up	Increases speed.
Tears Down	Decreases rate of tears.
Tears Up	Increases rate of tears.
Teleport	Teleports Isaac to a random room.

Bosses

Each floor has a random boss that must be fought before moving on to the next level. The Basement, The Caves, The Depths and The Womb each have their own specific bosses. The final stage of The Depths will always be a fight against Mom. Mom's heart is unlocked after defeating Mom the first time, as well as the Four Horsemen. After beating Mom's heart 9 times, it is replaced by It Lives. After beating It Lives once, and thus completing the game 10 times, the level Sheol is unlocked, as well at the new final boss, Satan. Once certain conditions are met, more unlockable bosses can be fought.

The Basement

Monstro

Monstro
The Duke of Flies
Larry Jr.
Gemini (After certain conditions are met, can be randomly replaced by Steven)
Famine (Unlocked after beating Mom)

The Caves

Gurdy
Peep
Fistula
Chub (After certain conditions are met, can be randomly replaced by C.H.A.D.)
Pestilence (Unlocked after beating Mom)

The Depths

Loki
Monstro II (After certain conditions are met, can be randomly replaced by Gish)
Mom
War (Unlocked after beating Mom)

The Womb

Scolex
Blastocyst
Mom's Heart (After defeating Mom's heart in 9 previous games, it is permanently replaced by It Lives)
Death

Sheol (can sometimes be accessed before being always unlocked by having a devil room appear after defeating Mom's Heart)

Satan

Devil Room

Krampus (Can appear randomly upon entering the devil room)

Soundtrack

The original score for The Binding of Isaac was composed by Danny Baranowsky and is available through digital release at Steam.

Tracklist

Cover for The Binding of Isaac's

Those Responsible - 00:13
In The Beginning... - 02:21
The Binding of Isaac - 03:17
Unknown Depths Below - 00:05
Sacrificial - 05:08
Conflicted - 00:08
Divine Combat - 02:27
Pride - 00:07
Peace Be with You - 02:10
Agony - 00:12
Repentant - 05:22
Respite - 02:04
$4cR1f1c14|_ - 05:01
Dreadful - 05:02
Burning Ambush - 02:23
Greed - 02:43
Thine Wrath... - 03:15
Apostate - 05:08
Hereafter - 01:30
Temptation - 02:14
The Pact - 00:07
... Be Done - 02:01
Absolution - 00:46
Ultimate Reward - 00:13
End Times - 01:54
In The Beginning... (No Voiceover) - 02:21
The Clubbing of Isaac (Remix) (by Big Giant Circles) - 03:53
Atempause (by C418) - 02:03

Expansion

Wrath of the Lamb was announced in January 2012 and is set to be released in "late May".

System Requirements

PC

OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7
Processor: 2.5 GHz
Memory: 1GB
Hard Disk Space: 50MB
Video Card: Direct X9.0c Compatible Card
DirectX®: DirectX® 9.0c

Mac

OS: OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.
Processor: Intel Mac 2.5 GHz
Memory: 1GB
Hard Disk Space: 50MB

forum	Am I missing something here?	BlameGamer
forum	Wrath of the Lamb Trailer! Expansion will be released on May 28th	hbkdx12
forum	Wrath of the Lamb due in "late May"	sawtooth
forum	Some of my BoI playthroughs!	beanman25
forum	Face Palm	seaker71
news	Binding of Isaac Denied 3DS Release Over Religious Concerns	patrickklepek
news	Smash TV + Legend of Zelda + Roguelike = The Binding of Isaac	patrickklepek
news	Would You Play a Smash TV Roguelike With Zelda Dungeons?	patrickklepek

Game Name	The Binding of Isaac
Platform(s)	Mac PC
Publisher(s)
Developer(s)
Genres	Add a new genre Shooter Action-Adventure
Themes	Add a new theme Horror Fantasy Comedy
Original US Release	Sept. 28, 2011 need a fuzzy date?
Original US Release	September 2011 know the real date?
Aliases

	100 Rogues
	Aether
	Dungeons of Dredmor
	Rogue
	Smash TV
	Spelunky
	The Legend of Zelda
	Voxatron