Support NeoGAF

[therealminime]

Just finished it, that was something else. What an utterly bizarre, deeply unsettling game. I am definitely playing it again to go after all the secrets.

I was constantly thinking about Eraserhead while playing this as it's really the closest piece of art/entertainment I can relate it to, particularly in its visuals, the creepy body horror and industrial corporation combo, and the intensely vague story. True surrealism is so hard to do well and is so rare in games that when it rears its head so confidently (like Kentucky Route Zero does) I am left in a state of awe.

 

[Grisby]

Still can't stop thinking about blob thing.

KANEDAAAAAAAA!!!!!
TETSUOOOOOOO!!!!!

Of LIMBO? Probably the

Spoiler

car crash

or

Spoiler

treehouse

theory. Here's the article that excerpt was taken from: http://kotaku.com/the-most-depressing-theories-on-what-limbo-means-1724276367

Thanks.

 

[SOR5]

im still getting blob excitement

 

[ultron87]

This gritty reboot of Katamari Damacy was real good.

 

[Auto_aim1]

Such a beautiful experience. This game is minimalistic video game design perfected. Not a single dull moment in the game and most of the puzzles were easy to solve. The last section was pretty phenomenal, I had no idea what was going on but man was that fun! I can't wait to play through this again but have to go to work now.

 

[Banditscout]

Just finished it as well and really just trying to wrap my head around what the overall message of it is.

Think it has something to do with either A) a general Big Brother type vibe B) animal cruelty C) society's obsession with social media D) terminal illness.

I am leaning towards the last one terminal illness. It is just the overall feeling I leave the game with. It was a very weighty, oppressive atmosphere, with basically one situation worse than the last, to finally "escape" and die by the edge of the ocean. I believe each "stage" may be metaphors for what one goes through once they are diagnosed with a terminal disease and also the feelings that come with knowing you are in fact dying.
I mean we all know we are eventually going to die, but if and when you know how and approximately when you are going to die, that is some heavy shit.

But the beginning when you are just trying to "escape," that is when you first find out the news and want to avoid/forget it at all costs. You come across being able to control other people pretty shortly after, and I believe that is a metaphor for losing control yourself and your fate is basically in the hands of other people (doctors, etc.). Then there are the water scenes, and drowning is usually a metaphor of feeling as if you have no control. Plus there is that evil mermaid you have to avoid, which is death itself. Also observation and being observed is a big theme throughout, and again, that can be doctors, operations, etc.

The only thing is though, I am not sure how the blob at the end plays into it. Perhaps it is all of the other people going through the same experience to become one solid entity. All of whom just are looking for a peace?

Or it is about something completely different and I am totally off. That is a lot more likely I imagine.

That is why this is a brilliant game though make no mistake about it. It is open to interpretation, and different people will come away with different takes on what it all means. I am sure we will find out eventually what it all means, or maybe not. I almost hope we do not.

Brilliant game though. No doubt.

I really like this breakdown relating to terminal illness; cancer, more specifically. I feel that the secret ending somewhat justifies this theory, given that the boy simply "pulls the plug" and the game ends.

 

[golem]

am i the only one that got to the furnace, expected that to be the end and got sad, gave a hard swallow then tried to climb in?

Lol me in a nutshell. This is my life now.jpg

 

[Ape]

I honestly didn't like it. The game or the "story".

 

[danowat]

I honestly didn't like it. The game or the "story".

Yeah, I get that it's not for everyone, what specifically didn't you like?

 

[SpacLock]

I think people are stretching way too far into what the possible meaning behind the story is...

I can see slight hints of animal cruelty, or oppression, but most others are a little... out there.

I don't think it is some genius deep telling of a specific message, but rather has a variety of messages. It's it's own story right there in front of you.

Anyway, I liked the game a lot. Great atmosphere. Will play again for the rest of the secrets.

 

[Bornstellar]

The moment you turn off the gravity and all the bodies plop to the floor and get up, some without limbs flopping around after you, ready to do your bidding is when I was really sold on the game.

Then I turned into the blob.

10/10.

am i the only one that got to the furnace, expected that to be the end and got sad, gave a hard swallow then tried to climb in?

lol, there was no hard choice for me. I literally said out loud "I am an abomination and must be destroyed" and tried to squeeze in the furnace.

 

[More_Badass]

The moment you turn off the gravity and all the bodies plop to the floor and get up, some without limbs flopping around after you, ready to do your bidding is when I was really sold on the game.

Then I turned into the blob.

10/10.



lol, there was no hard choice for me. I literally said out loud "I am an abomination and must be destroyed" and tried to squeeze in the furnace.

Seriously, I flashed back to that scene in The Fly where final-stage Brundlefly pulls the shotgun against its head

 

[Mr.Fletcher]

I finished it about half an hour ago and really have to applaud the craftsmanship, attention to detail and design.

It's a wonderful game and a definite 10 for me.

 

[LukasTaves]

This game OMG!

I barely could sleep thinking of it, so many crazy theories on my head right now XD

There's also the scene where you hide behind a trash dumpster(?) you pull away from the wall and in the background there is a cage full of "test subjects". Then you see the guy in the forklift along with a man holding a small child's hand watching the forklift driver load the cage onto the semi. The child seems to be looking at you almost knowing you're there.

I'm also trying to wrap my head around the ending after a good night's sleep. The only things I'm really confident about is that this is the same boy from Limbo and the universe is related. He's searching for his sister again and finally finds her when she takes you down the abyss which seemed to be a metaphor for "it's gonna be o.k., I'm with you but we're gonna die". He then wakes up on another "plain" if you will of Limbo(one where he know longer bleeds) and is trying to get to the center of the machine/light/sound/ which I think signifies heaven/the afterlife/the void?

Anyways, Play Dead nailed it again. Two fantastic games that this 44 year old guy will never forget. This is why I love video games.

He definitely bleeds in the spinning fans after being reborn.

One impression that I had, but I don't know if I'm remembering right, is that after being dragged down I think there's no one else looking for you anymore. It might be that because you soon enter the research facility, but when I was playing through I thought: Oh okay, so I'm definitely doing what they want know, that's why no one is chasing me.

 

[wesleyshark]

The shockwave part is my favourite part of the whole game. And you fucking nailed it bruv, regarding sound design.

When you first get to that room outside the shockwave section, the thumps are very very faint. You keep travelling rightward and the thumps get louder and louder. And you have absolutely no idea what is causing those thumps. You have to solve a 15-to-30-minute long mind-control puzzle, with thumps rhythmically beating around you, gnawing at you, before you finally open the door and realize what's happening outside.

It's such a beautiful section. Partly because of the sound design. Partly because it made me expect a huge monster was making slow, lumbering stomps outside. Partly because once you actually get outside, the shockwaves were very reminiscent of a test site/town for a nuclear weapons test (the way the lamp posts and other debris shook with every shockwave reminded me of that). And also because of the sheer brutality when a shockwave actually hits you.

Can't disagree. The setup for thst section was just as important. You knew for at least 10-20 min that something massive was happening in the next area.. But what? I was expecting something gargantuan and horrible, but what awaited was far more frightening.

The way the shockwave swept towards you, and the way it shook everything... So good.

the mind control inception with the second guy bursting out of the cardboard box was an aw shit moment

Loved that bit. Was not expecting that at all haha.

 

[danowat]

Can't disagree. The setup for thst section was just as important. You knew for at least 10-20 min that something massive was happening in the next area.. But what? I was expecting something gargantuan and horrible, but what awaited was far more frightening.

The way the shockwave swept towards you, and the way it shook everything... So good.

Are there any theories on what was creating the shockwave?, it's cadence would suggest something mechanical, rather than an explosive.

 

[wesleyshark]

Are there any theories on what was creating the shockwave?, it's cadence would suggest something mechanical, rather than an explosive.

I'm leaning towards mechanical. As to what though... Not sure. The first bit of that area has you open the blast gates, and you're standing next to a bunch of test dummies in chairs, which is interesting.

 

[Twookie]

did NOT expect that last 30 mins of the game

like wut

what a fantastic game that was though

 

[danowat]

I'm leaning towards mechanical. As to what though... Not sure. The first bit of that area has you open the blast gates, and you're standing next to a bunch of test dummies in chairs, which is interesting.

I don't know why, but I've just got a huge great hammer crushing bodies in my minds eye!

 

[Sanjuro]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

 

[danowat]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

It's an interesting question, my feelings were they just wanted you out of there as they were fearful for their lives.

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

I think you're controlling them and the machine/being is controlling you?

 

[JonnyKong]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

Ha, I think it was a case of "get that bloody weird thing out of here!" so they helped.

 

[convo]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

The ending clearly showed how the people had figured out how to deal with the monster by exploiting it's instinct to grab for the box. They helped to get us where they wanted us. I was sad that there was no other way than to fall for that trick.

 

[LiK]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

seems like they want you to leave asap so they help you. there doesn't appear to be any guards at all that could handle you and i didn't notice a lot of them in the facility.

 

[Easy_D]

So am I alone in thinking the blob represents the players?

If we go with the Blob was connected with the big computer theory, it kinda fits, you have countless people playing the game, a whole bunch of faceless limbs, all controlling the boy for their own purpose.

 

[Sanjuro]

The ending clearly showed how the people had figured out how to deal with the monster by exploiting it's instinct to grab for the box. They helped to get us where they wanted us. I was sad that there was no other way than to fall for that trick.

I'm not sure. How were the people that aware of the blob's gameplay mechanics?

The guy opening the door seemed logical in that thought though.

 

[Nintendad]

I thought at the end the game was going to go black and white only to have the boy from Limbo to come out of the blob. That didn't happen.

 

[Zach]

Just finished it as well and really just trying to wrap my head around what the overall message of it is.

Think it has something to do with either A) a general Big Brother type vibe B) animal cruelty C) society's obsession with social media D) terminal illness.

I am leaning towards the last one terminal illness. It is just the overall feeling I leave the game with. It was a very weighty, oppressive atmosphere, with basically one situation worse than the last, to finally "escape" and die by the edge of the ocean. I believe each "stage" may be metaphors for what one goes through once they are diagnosed with a terminal disease and also the feelings that come with knowing you are in fact dying.
I mean we all know we are eventually going to die, but if and when you know how and approximately when you are going to die, that is some heavy shit.

But the beginning when you are just trying to "escape," that is when you first find out the news and want to avoid/forget it at all costs. You come across being able to control other people pretty shortly after, and I believe that is a metaphor for losing control yourself and your fate is basically in the hands of other people (doctors, etc.). Then there are the water scenes, and drowning is usually a metaphor of feeling as if you have no control. Plus there is that evil mermaid you have to avoid, which is death itself. Also observation and being observed is a big theme throughout, and again, that can be doctors, operations, etc.

The only thing is though, I am not sure how the blob at the end plays into it. Perhaps it is all of the other people going through the same experience to become one solid entity. All of whom just are looking for a peace?

Or it is about something completely different and I am totally off. That is a lot more likely I imagine.

That is why this is a brilliant game though make no mistake about it. It is open to interpretation, and different people will come away with different takes on what it all means. I am sure we will find out eventually what it all means, or maybe not. I almost hope we do not.

Brilliant game though. No doubt.

Could the "evil mermaid" death sequence be acceptance?

 

[LiK]

I was hoping the kid would come out of the blob at the end but I guess not. WTF was going on in that facility? Why are there weird zombie people and why were there pieces of people around too? So many questions.

 

[More_Badass]

I'm leaning towards mechanical. As to what though... Not sure. The first bit of that area has you open the blast gates, and you're standing next to a bunch of test dummies in chairs, which is interesting.

I'm still subscribing to the reverse engineered Limbo connection. The rain machine let out a bright flash and thunderous rumble when activated

 

[LiQuid!]

Can someone please tell me what happens in the last half hour of this game that all the reviewers go from thinking it's just a good Limbo successor to being the best game since sliced bread? TIA

 

[More_Badass]

Can someone please tell me what happens in the last half hour of this game that all the reviewers go from thinking it's just a good Limbo successor to being the best game since sliced bread? TIA

Haven't played yet? If not, you should and find out for yourself. The impact and effectiveness comes from playing, and the pacing, and expectations subverted

 

[LiK]

Can someone please tell me what happens in the last half hour of this game that all the reviewers go from thinking it's just a good Limbo successor to being the best game since sliced bread? TIA

You're in a spoiler thread so I won't tag anything. Such an unexpected moment and they change up the gameplay by making you all powerful. They also use all the gameplay elements you learned throughout the game to solve the final sections as blob monster. It was pretty amazing and weird. I'm still in awe with the blob animations.

 

[Nintenleo]

I guess that the facility was both a sort of factory of "no-humans" and a research lab for further development of this technology. Those "humans" are probably used by families and industries (and even for military purposes) as a sort of slaves. Someone, outside the facility, built his own computer to control one of those zombies (the kid) and try to destroy the facility, freeing the blob (that I guess it's very important for the research lab) and killing the director. That's my theory about the plot, I haven't still thought about the overall meaning.

 

[Listonosh]

I really enjoyed the game, especially being able to complete it in one sitting. That's a rare thing these days, and since I don't have a lot of time on my hands, I welcomed this. Everything about the game was fantastic, literally a masterwork in design.

However, I did buy the game based on its secrecy and "shocking" reveals, and I'm just not sure if the game delivered on that front, at least to me. Yeah, the last 20 minutes we're certainly shocking in that you now play this hunking mass of blob flesh, but I'm not sure that I "got" what was going on. When all the scientists were looking into the window, I thought, oh man, this is where the big twist happens, what's in there, and then once I found out, I just didn't understand it. Maybe I'm just bad at deducing ambiguous plots.

I also feel like the connections people are finding with Limbo, which certainly adds to this games mystique, is also lost on me since I only played about 10 minutes of that game. So not drawing those parallels feels like I'm maybe missing out on yet another plot device that would have otherwise blown my mind.

I restate, the game was fantastic, I'm just not sure if the "oh shit" moments that many reviews are overhyping delivered.

 

[danowat]

Can someone please tell me what happens in the last half hour of this game that all the reviewers go from thinking it's just a good Limbo successor to being the best game since sliced bread? TIA

Too words.

Body Horror

 

[LiQuid!]

You're in a spoiler thread so I won't tag anything. Such an unexpected moment and they change up the gameplay by making you all powerful. They also use all the gameplay elements you learned throughout the game to solve the final sections as blob monster. It was pretty amazing and weird. I'm still in awe with the blob animations.

Thanks a lot.

 

[wesleyshark]

I'm still subscribing to the reverse engineered Limbo connection. The rain machine let out a bright flash and thunderous rumble when activated

I think this is a good theory.

 

[Nardonicus]

One thing I noticed, is that right after you get sucked into the chamber and lose your clothes (right before you become part of the blob), is that you look just like the "mermaid witch thing"...Except you don't have the long hair.

I think the thing in the water is just another kid, maybe had experiments done on it and maybe escaped? The long hair just shows that it has been living down in the water for a very long time.

 

[DirtyLarry]

Could the "evil mermaid" death sequence be acceptance?

Nice. I can absolutely get behind this as well. Very good call and I no doubt am on board with this as well.

 

[Alienfan]

lol, there was no hard choice for me. I literally said out loud "I am an abomination and must be destroyed" and tried to squeeze in the furnace.

Lol me too, the animation had me belief if I could get a big enough run up I would be able to dive straight into the furnace - spent way more time than I'm proud of in that section trying to kill myself

 

[More_Badass]

The deaths in this are way more disturbing than Limbo's. The bear traps were shocking in their suddenness, and the spikes were sickening in how your corpse slowly slid down, but Inside's are just disturbing and unsettling. Like when you snagged by a taser wire. The fact that you're not dead, but instead been dragged off...somewhere, that unknown is eerie. The way the pursuers just brutally strangle/suffocate you rather than just outright killing you.

 

[ccharla]

Why do people help you in the game at point where they charge your jump boost box?

IIRC It seemed like no one in a suit helped you. Only people in hart hats. The suits were just taking notes. So I got some class war vibes from that a little. Doing my second playthrough now and noticing so much more.

 

[More_Badass]

IIRC It seemed like no one in a suit helped you. Only people in hart hats. The suits were just taking notes. So I got some class war vibes from that a little. Doing my second playthrough now and noticing so much more.

Weren't many of the husks wearing hard hats? Maybe those workers are like some expendable faction? Once they die, their bodies become used as the controllable drones?

 

[Sanjuro]

IIRC It seemed like no one in a suit helped you. Only people in hart hats. The suits were just taking notes. So I got some class war vibes from that a little. Doing my second playthrough now and noticing so much more.

Blue collar propaganda, told using a narrative millennials can only understand.

My God...

 

[op_ivy]

The deaths in this are way more disturbing than Limbo's. The bear traps were shocking in their suddenness, and the spikes were sickening in how your corpse slowly slid down, but Inside's are just disturbing and unsettling. Like when you snagged by a taser wire. The fact that you're not dead, but instead been dragged off...somewhere, that unknown is eerie. The way the pursuers just brutally strangle/suffocate you rather than just outright killing you.

the first time a shockwave blew me to pieces

 

[More_Badass]

The E3 trailer is much more interesting now, since it seems to show the facility during its everyday routines

https://youtu.be/E0V2rPVQWfM

 

[All Killer No Filler]

I'm pretty sure it's a metaphor for conception and birth.

-There is a lot of phallic imagery in the beginning (Trains, diving board, sperm in the form of drones all going toward the laboratory, some of them on trains).

-You literally burst into "the womb" at one point and there are tubes and water throughout.

-Umbilical cords are prevalent.

-You can breath underwater.

-As the boy you dive into the blob (egg) and become one with it.

-There is a vagina door at the very end.

-You travel toward the light at the end of it and burst out into the world.

-The name of the game is Inside. You spend most of the game trying to get inside the blob, when you do, you leave.

This may explain a lot about the game, it doesn't explain everything. Mind control, the industrial nature of the whole thing, and why most of the "cells in the body" would be trying to stop you are still a mystery to me.

Thoughts?

 

[Kastrioti]

Goddamn, finished it last night. When the blob or whatever the hell that thing was hit the beach I was pressing my controller expecting it to move or do something and screen fades out and credits roll.

Brilliant game. Love the theories in here, I never really gave LIMBO a chance so I may have to go back and play that seeing some of the (potential) connections.