Byte My Pixels: The Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb

I love indie games and a while back, I was shown this strange game called The Binding of Isaac: Wrath of the Lamb. Created by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, a little boy, Isaac is on the run after God tells Isaac's mom to kill her son to prove her faith to Him.

Main Menu

Pause Menu

The first thought to cross my mind was that this was a religious game that wasn't going to interest me. But I watched someone play it and thought, "Oh, this game is cute!" (Note: By cute, I mean the 2D graphics.) Then I played it. The images were still cute, even when they were grotesque.

Eyes being squeezed out; blood and poison everywhere.

It took me some time to get the hang of the controls; ADSW to move, arrow keys to attack (you also the option of using the mouse to fire), Shift/E to place bomb, Q and Space to use items. Once I was able to remember everything without thinking too hard, I had fun shooting tears (sometimes bloody tears or urine) at the baddies and picking up strange items such as ticks, stem cells, mom's underwear, Whore of Babylon, etc.

One of the problems I have with Isaac is that there isn't a codex in-game, so when something is picked up--mom's underwear, for example--there isn't a way to see what that particular item does.* It adds to the difficulty of the game. (But if you're struggling enough, there's always a Wiki, right?)

*Note: There are short item descriptions when an object is picked up, but it doesn't always reveal the nature of said object. Pills are randomized each play-through and aren't identified until ingested.

When you die, you start over from the very beginning. No saving, no backsies. This was a major turn-off at first, but then it sort of turned into a competition to see who could get the furthest in the game. (I still haven't completed it once and on my own Steam account I've logged more hours and deaths than I'm willing to admit, not to mention there's an achievement for completing the game nine times. If you have that achievement, I bow to you.) Permadeath is a beast.

"Game Over" screen. I see this a lot.

All areas (and items) are randomized, making for interesting game play. Never knowing what boss is going to appear means planning ahead isn't going to do much good. There are secret rooms, stores, power-up rooms, sacrificial rooms (go in, lose 1/2 heart, come back out, lose 1/2 heart), and then boss chambers. Mini-bosses can appear, too. Rooms aren't marked on the map unless you've found their entrance or have specific items.

One of the bosses.

A secret room!

I enjoy the music, but repeated sounds of the Duke of Flies coughing up, well, flies, or even Isaac shooting ammunition may be distracting for some players. I myself find that playing with the game muted works better for me.

Overall, the game is bloody, the story is disturbing, and the images entertainingly match the mood. Although I've yet to complete a full run-through (even the person who introduced me to this game hasn't beaten it), I find it addictive each time I play. Would I recommend it? Definitely, although I wouldn't recommend it to anyone easily upset by controversial topics.

I had a hard time deciding whether or not it was ethical to post a review about a game I haven't beaten, but I really enjoy this game, that even though I've died hundreds of times, I continue to try and (fail) to conquer it.

-Kirshell

P.S.
There are references to other games and even memes if you can catch them.

Other screenshots: