The Binding of Isaac

Recommended Videos

Andy of Comix Inc

New member
Apr 2, 2010
2,234
0
0
Who's picked up Ed McMillen & Co's "The Binding of Isaac"? If you have, what do you think of it? I think it's freaking great and demented and dark and fun and everything I've come to expect from Mr McMillen, though you might have something to add to that...

...also, I guess you could share, like, your favourite combinations so far and stuff but I just wanna know who here on the Escapist has gotten into it :p
 

Souplex

Souplex Killsplosion Awesomegasm
Jul 29, 2008
10,312
0
0
? I, like most people on earth, in the gaming community, and on the Escapist have never heard of it.
Care to explain what it is?
 

Kotaro

Desdinova's Successor
Feb 3, 2009
794
0
0
I've seen this on Steam, and it caught my eye. Wasn't sure if it's any good though, so I'm waiting until some detailed reviews show up around the interwebs.
 

JustOrdinary

New member
Mar 13, 2011
91
0
0
Souplex said:
? I, like most people on earth, in the gaming community, and on the Escapist have never heard of it.
Care to explain what it is?
It's the new game by the developers of super meat boy. I've yet to try either so... don't really expect anything meaningful by me in this thread.
 

RaphaelsRedemption

Eats With Her Mouth Full
May 3, 2010
1,409
0
0
The Binding of Isaac is a top-down, 2D games with heavy Old Testament overtones. The protagonist, a little boy, has escaped to a variety of dungeons to escape his deluded Christian mother who believes God has asked her to kill him. Once in the dungeons, Isaac must survive, as well as pick up various items, some of which help him fight, and others which belonged to his mother.

The Binding of Isaac is lots of fun! I've not beaten the game yet, but I'm impressed by the numbers of different enemies, the amount of items you can pick up and the bosses. For me, a good buy!
 

Zedar0

Should probably make use of this
Aug 12, 2009
62
0
0
I'm enjoying it so far. For those wondering what it is, Team Meat said it's closest to Roguelike, and there's quite a bit of Zelda in there, too (for example, the ladder item, and one of the bosses is a more...unwholesome version of Blind the Thief). The levels are semi-randomly generated, so you should be able to go quite a while before you play it even remotely the same way twice, which is good because you only start with one life (sometimes you can get more, but one of the two ways I know of to do so comes at a ridiculous price), and when you die, you'll have to start from scratch. Fortunately, it doesn't really get hard until about level 5, but after that, well...let's just say I haven't gotten to the point where I can beat level 5 on a regular basis.

As far as the quality goes, I don't have too many problems. I've been screwed over by the randomness at times, but it wasn't anything I absolutely COULDN'T overcome. The game usually provides ways to get around that sort of thing, so if you're finding, say, a bunch of bombs but no keys, you can put those to use to find the secret room, which potentially lets you avoid a locked door. It also finds uses for any excess items you're finding. Hoarding a lot of coins? Here, have an arcade. Keeping that health bar up? Good, here's an arena so you win bonus stuff and get hurt. You did really well against that boss? Hm, obviously this is too easy for you, so here's the opportunity to sell your soul (reducing your max health) for nifty gadgets (protip: never, EVER take the Dead Cat. It's basically a lose-the-game button. The laser eye, on the other hand...)

So yeah, it's a solid game, wonderfully morbid, and with a satisfying (if a bit frustrating) difficulty. With all that replayability for $5, it's pretty hard to say no to.
 

LookingGlass

New member
Jul 6, 2011
1,218
0
0
TotalBiscuit was about to do a "WTF is The Binding of Isaac" video but he couldn't get it to co-operate with FRAPS... so I haven't seen anything substantial on it.

But maybe that's a blessing... I already have far too many games to play.
 

funksobeefy

New member
Mar 21, 2009
1,007
0
0
I totally read this as a book I should read, now I have a game I want to play

great lol
 

Jandau

Smug Platypus
Dec 19, 2008
5,034
0
0
I saw it on Steam. Then I saw the screenshots. Then I decided that I'm not in a mood for a game about deformed babies torturing each other. Then I went off to do something else...
 

Broderick

New member
May 25, 2010
462
0
0
I think its pretty fun, if a bit hard with some bosses *cough* gurdy *cough*. I have not beaten it yet, I have fought mom though several times; was doing good this one time before she stomped on my character, pushing him off the screen -_-, had to restart the whole thing. Other than that, its pretty fun, hard but not frustatingly so, has variety, and for its price it is well worth buying if you are in to top down ranged zelda like games.
 

Corven

Forever Gonzo
Sep 10, 2008
2,022
0
0
I like it although the game seems to hate steam at the moment as it will not start through steam launcher nor do the achievements that I know I've earned register as being completed. hopefully a patch is incoming making the game launch properly.
 

Scratch17

New member
Mar 1, 2011
27
0
0
Worth it. It's fun, twisted, and exploring to find new items and power-ups is what keeps me coming back to it. I haven't fully beaten the game yet, but the randomness of the drops and spawns keeps the game interesting. And it makes for a lot of WTF conversations when the game is taken out of context.

And at under $5 on Steam, it's a total steal. No reason not to pick it up if you like rogue-likes or top-down scrolling games. The only precaution I suggest is if you have any inclination to be offended by the use of religious symbolism on both sides of the spectrum (crucifixes, pentagrams, etc). Pro-tip: The Battery and the Book of Revelations is a highly effective combo.
 

Cavan

New member
Jan 17, 2011
486
0
0
It is hilarious, if for no other reason than you will do a double take every time you find a new item.

"What did I just do with that coat hanger?"

"What happened to the dog?"

"Where are its eyes? >_<"

Etc.

It's also oddly compelling and if you're not incredibly lucky or godlike at dodging it will last you quite a few hours just to complete once, and even after 30+ attempts you're finding new items still.

Worth £3.
 

hermes

New member
Mar 2, 2009
3,865
0
0
For people that don't know it, its a Zelda-like game by one of the guys that made Meat Boy. If you need more information, here is a link: http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-the-binding-of-isaac/17-4977/

Its kind of neat, and its only $5...
 

plugav

New member
Mar 2, 2011
769
0
0
A demo is out on Newgrounds [http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/581168], so I've checked it out. This game is f***ed up... but it's so damn playable!