Why is this review so late, you may ask? Well, because I’ve been trapped in a damned basement. I wouldn’t say it’s been all bad, though, because this basement has been me playing the latest game by Edmund McMillen, with his sometime collaborator Florian Himsl, The Binding of Isaac, a zelda-shooter-roguelike. Even if that conjunction of words immediately scares you off, you should keep on reading to learn why Isaac is in fact one of the best games you’ll find this year.
Gameplay
The Binding of Isaac is a game that combines elements from a lot of different games. You’ll probably notice first of all the usage of the screen-by-screen overhead view of dungeons from the original Legend of Zelda. The combat, however, is more of a twin stick style from the likes of Robotron and Smash TV. The final piece of this puzzle is the dungeon structure itself. Drawing heavily from the randomly generated dungeon adventure games of the past like Rogue and Nethack, nearly every element of every game is randomized. Between the equipment you find, the enemies you encounter, the items you collect and the very layout of the dungeon levels themselves, just about everything is randomized.
What’s interesting about Isaac is that it really calls attention to the untapped potential of the “roguelike” structure in modern games. I’m not even talking about games like Diablo that, although using randomization heavily for aspects of the game, don’t incorporate the other important half of the formula: a shorter length, perma-death, and having a very specific end goal that is hard to actually achieve. The only other game that really comes to mind that can effectively be called “rogue-like” in its structure is Derek Yu’s Spelunky, which took the genre and combined it with platformer elements. Whereas classical rogue-like games are a very niche genre, Isaac tends towards making the style more accessible. It’s easy to jump straight in and get all the information you need to start from the control markings drawn directly on the floor of the very first screen.
The complexity of rogue-like games is boiled down to the essentials here by dividing items you find into four types. Collectibles immediately and permanently alter your bullet in some manner such as increasing range, damage or adding some extra effect. Activated Items perform an effect when used. They can be very powerful, but require a “recharge” time which elapses based on completion of subsequent rooms. Tarot Cards/Pills are both one time use items, with Pills generally being permanent stat adjustments and Tarot Cards all having preset effects. Finally, there are Pick Ups which consist of the incidental bombs, keys and money you find along the way. While the complexity of rogue-likes is often seen as one of their great benefits, in the case of Isaac the streamlining is a welcome change.
One unfortunate aspect of Isaac you run up against is just how much the random number generator actually means. This is especially true as it is entirely possible to get screwed on keys, meaning you won’t have access to shops, golden chests, or most importantly, the item room found on every floor. So while you could probably get by on skill alone to escape the basement, items tend to make it far easier. It’s also possible to luck into an item combination that basically makes the end stages trivial as well.
But all told, Isaac is a game that obviously got a lot of love in its design, and it shows. The sheer amount of content found within (and the promise of more due to its success), though a bit troublesome at times for balance, makes for an incredible replay value you can’t find in most games.
Audio/Visual
The visuals of The Binding of Isaac are very recognizable to fans of Edmund and any of his past work. The entire game is hand drawn and animated with a very stylized cartoonish look.
To date, Edmund has had a continuing theme to his work where the main characters are vulnerable in some manner. For example, Gish being a tar-ball initially helpless to stop the abduction of his girlfriend, Meat Boy being a boy without skin physically vulnerable to the world around him made whole by his girlfriend made of bandages, and now we have Isaac, a naked little boy lost in an unforgiving basement full of danger. While Isaac himself is depicted simply as a clothes-less pink form, with oversized tear-filled eyes, it is interesting to note that the enemies as well all bear a striking similarity to Isaac.
One of the great selling points of Isaac from a visual standpoint is the fact that Isaac’s look changes depending on the items you acquire and the pill effects you receive. These do everything from adding adornments like hats and pendants, to changing his size, color and facial structure. Because of the item randomization, Isaac will look strikingly different from game to game, giving you distinct visuals that can be at times comical, and other times frankly disturbing.
The audio is also outstanding. Sound effects provide ambiance, as well as audible clues. Zelda fans will especially appreciate the inclusion of a “secret room” tone. Collaborating once again for music is Danny Baranowky, famed indie composer for Canabalt, Super Meat Boy, and quite a lot of other recognizable gaming experiences. I purchased the sound track (which you can pick up for as little as 99 cents, by the way), and found the subtly creepy ambiance a perfect addition to my work background playlist. (Don’t forget to read our review of the OST too!)
Summary
The Binding of Isaac is not a game for everyone. It is difficult to “win,” at times unfair, and features subject matter that may not be appreciated by all. But if those things don’t bother you, then this is very nearly the perfect game. In re-combining elements from disparate game experiences, Edmund has developed a formula that works on a great deal of levels. The Zelda-esque view is familiar enough to draw you in, and the item collecting shooter gameplay will keep you going. Though a complete game can be relatively short, thanks to its rogue-like sensibilities you’ll find nearly limitless replay-ability.
You can pick up The Binding of Isaac right now for $4.99 on Steam, and I personally believe the game is of far greater value than that meager Fin.