INSIDE is a 2.5D puzzle platformer adventure game developed by Playdead that made LIMBO. The player will control a boy in a dystopic world to solve challenging environmental puzzle to avoid death.
Website link: http://www.playdead.com/games/inside/
Gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1FU-T2EsVA&t=4116s
Elemental tetrad
Story
A little boy found himself in a dystopic world and trying to figure out the mysteries that are happening around him.
Mechanic
- Arrow keys to walk and jump, Control Key to interact with environment
- Solve environmental puzzle to progress through the level or to avoid the enemy
Aesthetics
- 2.5D adventure platformer
- Monochromatic world that creates a spooky and dark environment
Technology
- Customized Unity 5 engine
- Runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox one
Analysis of game through lens:
The lens of secrets
At some parts of the game, players might discover hidden rooms that contains glowing orbs. If all glowing orbs are collected, the player can unlock an alternate ending.
The lens of challenge
The player can die in a number of ways if not careful or quick enough, mutilated by dogs, being shot by tranquilizer dart, blown apart by shockwaves or drowning. Although the challenges don’t scale according to the level, but new challenges are introduced instead.
The lens of puzzle
INSIDE is about solving puzzle to proceed to the next environment.
Example of puzzle principles applied:
- Easy to get started
The environmental puzzle are very easy to interact with only control and arrow buttons.
- Goals are easily understood
Goals of the puzzle are often the obstacles that are preventing the player from progressing. For example, to reach a higher ground.
- Sense of progress
Player will be able to feel like they progressed to the next area or level when they solved the puzzle to overcome the obstacles.
The lens of atmosphere
The game is very dark and mostly silent with some musical cues to represent a dystopic world.
The lens of simplicity / complexity
The game has very simple graphical look and interaction. Only control key and arrow buttons are needed to interact with the object. However, the mechanic of the object that are interact with can produce complex results. For example, swinging on the rope to produce more momentum.
The lens of Actions
The little boy in the game can only run from enemy or interact with objects. The player must rely on basic controls to interact with the environment to outsmart the enemy.
The lens of curiosity
The game is set on a dystopic world where there are full or mystery like walking dead body and ability to control the dead which will cause a lot of curiosity on what is going on in that world.
