Inside (2016)

Sometimes, simplicity makes for greatness. Developers can find something that isn't too complex, do it really well, and voila! You've got an excellent game. Playdead's previous game, Limbo, took a simple concept - a side scrolling puzzle game - and excelled at making it dark and atmospheric. Their follow up, Inside, builds on that. Very similar in structure, it goes even further in creating a disquieting, disturbing environment despite being particularly stylized animation and a simple puzzle side-scroller.

The beauty of Inside is in its lack of direction. Yes, by virtue of being a side-scroller, players can only move to the left or the right, but there are never any prompts. Get stuck on a puzzle for long enough, the game provides no clues to assist you. You are on your own, just like the boy you play as. This element creates a parallel feeling between player and character; it's also why solving puzzles and advancing is extremely gratifying. The lack of aid makes it all the more satisfying when you finally do figure out what you're supposed to do.

Like Limbo before it, Inside tells a story through imagery and some gameplay mechanics only. One thing that sets it apart from other games, especially side-scrollers, is the use of background. When push comes to shove, you will take nothing away from the game in a story sense if you just don't pay any attention to it. While we never find out anything specific, the clues of what is going on are there. The developers do a good job training players to observe the background as well. In the beginning, they have several threats come at you from the backdrop. People with flashlights and dogs rush at you from background to foreground, not left to right. This specifically forces players to pay attention to the background, even though for much of it, there is no gameplay reason to do so. It's really well thought out construction.

The specifics of the story are subtle and often vague. While the background really contributes to it, the strongest aspect is the atmosphere. It is creepy and chilling at the beginning, when you control a young boy fleeing men in trucks. It gets terrifying and anxiety-inducing whenever you have run-ins with dogs. The quiet air with only the sound of your footsteps creates a tension. You often can't help but wonder what is going to come at you next. Panic sets in when you have to swim under structures and you begin to lose your breath. Blending the familiar with the strange makes for a game that is very disquieting and subtly disturbing.

The challenge of discussing more about Inside is that one doesn't want to give too much away. It is such a beautiful, chilling game, and so much of it is just out of the lack of knowledge. If you've played Limbo, then you are familiar with the kind of world they like. Yet even then, there is much about Inside that you don't expect. Suffice it to say that if you are going to play it, you should avoid any and all specifics if you can.

That said, I want to throw out some thoughts - if only for my own sake as I try to sort them.


Click here for my strange interpretation, with some spoilers.


Either way, Inside is a tense, rewarding, unique experience that you really should see for yourself. It's a lot to digest, but it's a great meal to consume.

REDUCTIVE RATING: It's Awesome!