Every Limbo boy and girl, all around the Limbo world! Gonna do the Limbo Rock, all around the Limbo clock! Translation: we're talking about Limbo — listen for the spoiler warning because we're covering it all: the puzzles, the successes and failures of the narrative, and the real meaning of the ending. Plus: Brad enjoys a private tour of Uber Entertainment and Monday Night Combat, Chi gets attacked, and Tim reveals the best use of the podcast ever. Featuring Chi Kong Lui, Brad Gallaway, Mike Bracken, Richard "Very Easy" Naik, and Tim "Also Very Easy" Spaeth.
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Through the years every aspect of Tim's life has been touched by gaming. He mastered typing thanks to Space Quest, honed his poker skills on The Sierra Network, and learned to hate after a particularly traumatic game of Tecmo Super Bowl.
Today, Tim lives in Chicago with his three kids and strives to find that perfect balance between family, career, and Warcraft. He enjoys broadcasting, martial arts, rock and roll, growing and shaving his beard, singing show tunes to the homeless, and losing at Mario Kart to his lovely, talented, and amazing girlfriend.
In late 2008, Tim became the producer and host of the GameCritics.com Podcast, and he's thrilled to be bringing GameCritics' unique editorial voice to a brand new medium.
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[quote=joe]Brad doesnt like the term “try and Die” to describe the LIMBO. But according to IGN, the developer used a similar phrase while promoting the game: “The developers describe Limbo as a trial-and-death game.”[/quote] Limbo did feel like a trial and death game to me as well at some puzzles. A lot of the times i did not actualy get what i was supposed to do and therefore kept trying out stuff, which of course usually meant death. In this respect i think Braid excelled with the no-death and the rewind. Although it was still trial and error it did… Read more »
Brad doesnt like the term “try and Die” to describe the LIMBO.
But according to IGN, the developer used a similar phrase while promoting the game:
“The developers describe Limbo as a trial-and-death game.”
I know EXACTLY the puzzle Chi was talking about, in LIMBO. Early on you have to pull the box backward. But it “looks” like you are supposed to push it forward, in to the water, and jump on it. I tried to do the wrong thing for a while. I felt so stupid, not being able to solve that. Because my 10 year old nephew figured it out in 2 tries. But i wasted a lot of time, jumping on the crate in the water. I figured I simply wasnt getting something “exactly” right. I blame all of the poorly… Read more »
Thanks Zolos! Glad you enjoyed the show. We definitely plan on playing more of the same games in unison moving forward since it certainly gave this episode a completely different dynamic.
[quote=Richard Naik]@Zolos The only time you’re told about the sister is in the little informational blurb that shows when you buy the game. It’s never actually mentioned in-game, which is why we thought it may have been Microsoft’s doing.[/quote] Thx Richard. I have also finished the podcast and heard the comments on this. I enjoyed Limbo a lot. Definitely one of the best games i played this year. I also appreciated Tim’s comment with regards to the game peaking too early. I did not realise it at the time not after playing it but now thinking about i actually agree.… Read more »
I have not finished listening to this podcast yet but i have to say that it’s one of the best you have done in terms of critique. I definitely think you should try and play the same games more often!
One question i have with Limbo is how do we know he is looking for his sister. Does the game tell you at any point that the girl is his sister?
@Zolos
The only time you’re told about the sister is in the little informational blurb that shows when you buy the game. It’s never actually mentioned in-game, which is why we thought it may have been Microsoft’s doing.
It is an abrupt ending for sure — although it doesn’t seem entirely fair to compare it to Ico on some levels since that was a full retail game and this was a $15 experience. I guess I’m willing to cut it some slack in that regard because it’s a lower price point title. Is that fair? I don’t know — maybe we’ll tackle that on a show one day. In my review over at Horror Squad, I mentioned that I felt like the sister revelation is a lot like the sister revelation in the original Halloween 2 — totally… Read more »
For what it’s worth, I asked Limbo creator Arnt Jensen at E3 what the story of Limbo would be and he answered, “You’re looking for your sister.” Of course this was after he’d made a deal with Microsoft, so he could have just been spewing out their jargon, but I believe the sister storyline was what he’d had in mind the whole time. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed when he told me that. I was hoping for something more. I liked the openness of it all, but wanted a little more structure to the tale. Though not… Read more »