Limbo — Review

Limbo is a 2D side-scroller puzzle-platform video game published by Xbox Game Studios. It covers several topics related to mental health: phobia, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and trauma. The main character is a nameless boy who wakes up in a forest on the "edge of hell" and is searching for his sister. He is confronted by various creatures and traps as he explores the dangerous world. He successfully defeats a giant spider and a colony of boys who tried to kill him and gets rid of webs and cocoons. The forest gives way to a crumbling city, followed by industrial and flooded environments. Finally, the boy is thrown to the same place where the journey begins and meets his sister.

Limbo is presented in dark, greyscale graphics with lighting, film grain effects and minimal ambient sounds, creating a horror atmosphere. The player controls the boy to solve puzzles and traps throughout the game. The character has unlimited lives, which enables the player to find a solution after numerous attempts. In Limbo, the spider, rising water, and dark environment represent arachnophobia, fear of drowning and darkness respectively. The boy has trauma from the experience in the city and factory, as well as being bullied by other boys. No one helps the anxious, depressed, and lonely boy overcome fears and dangers. Despite the dark nature of the story, the ending of the reunion brings a glimmer of hope.

In conclusion, as a typical 2D puzzle-platform game, Limbo has a "trial and death" play style. It shows a portrayal of real life. The difficulties and mental health issues we may face such as bullying, depression, and loneliness can be seen in the journey of the boy.