In 2011, a little game named The Binding of Isaac was released. It was designed by Edmund McMillen, the creator of the critically acclaimed Super Meat Boy, released a year before. I would like to disclose that I never played the original or its 2012 expansion, Wrath of the Lamb. However, many friends of mine suggested that I should try the game myself. At the time, I wasn’t really interested in a game with biblical themes in it. This was many years ago.
This year, BoI: Rebirth, a remake of both the 2011 original and its expansion, was released on the PC, Playstation 4, and the Playstation Vita, the latter of which I played the game on. I didn’t really know what to expect since I never got involved in this series before so it was an exciting time when I booted up the game for the first time. You are treated with a very, cutely drawn introduction which outlines the story of the game.
If you are unaware of the Biblical tale of the same name, basically, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, in order to show devotion to him. In the game, Abraham is replaced by Isaac’s mother and is set in contemporary suburbia rather than Mount Moriah. Isaac takes shelter in the basement from his knife brandishing Mother who is dead-set on obeying her Lord.
We are then thrust into the game itself. All of the environments are creepy and macabre, clearly displaying the dark undertones that surround the game. All of the various monsters are wonderfully designed by McMillen, and the cute design style that he is known for contrasts the bleak environments that Isaac traverses. Gone are the days of flash powered graphics as McMillen and developers Nicalis have adapted a 16-bit style. All of the monsters from the original have been wonderfully recreated and the retro style really adds to the game.
There are multiple characters to choose from including Eve, Lazarus and Cain. Each character has a different playing style and a lot of their Biblical persona is brought to life with their abilities. For example, Lazarus’ unique ability is that he has two lives, akin to the tale of Lazarus in which he is brought back from the dead. It’s little moments like this that make me really appreciate this game.
Gameplay is fast and hectic, with enemies coming at you from left, right and center. It took me a while to really learn the patterns of the enemies but it is insanely rewarding. Isaac can pick up items that greatly impact the way he plays. There are buffs, upgrades and all sorts of wonderful goodies that can both positively and negatively impact Isaac’s journey.
A lot of the time, beating the game relies on luck of the items you pick up. The first time I beat the game, I was getting damage upgrade after damage upgrade, to the point where I could kill bosses after only a few hits! I wouldn’t say this is a bad thing because playing over and over again really improves your skill over time and the reliance of items is simply an after thought.
The performance on the Playstation Vita is very smooth. Apart from the occasional framerate drop, the game runs very well on the portable system and without removing too many visual effects from the game. However, the game does suffer from portable port syndrome, in which the game’s HUD is a little bit too small at times. But that is the price one pays for playing a game on a handheld.
I was initially worried that the game would overwhelm me with religious imagery and scripture but it was relatively tame on that aspect. As an atheist, I was pleased with the religious undertones being put on the back burner. I’ m not offended by it, but I just think gaming and religion should be two separate entities. In fact, I was enlightened on some of the biblical tales and I enjoyed learning about them.
The best aspect of the game is the bosses. Each fight feels very unique and challenging. I love the imagination put into each and every boss. I loved the combination of cute and creepy that McMillen puts into his artwork and it really brings this game to life.
Overall, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a wonderful introduction of the franchise for me and I greatly look forward to where Isaac’s adventures will take us next.