Just wanted to let everyone know I think Limbo is a MAGNIFICENT game.

It's not for everyone and definitely isn't a classic adventure: You can die (and you will - a lot), it's gruesome, it has quite a lot "action" and times bits (jumping with correct timing and so on), but if this doesn't scare you:

It's one of the most enjoyable games I've played in recent years. I was simply amazed by every second of it. It's a very powerful experience (like Dear Esther was - only of course very different). You should definitely play it with good sound and dark atmosphere. It's scary as h*ll. The puzzles are brilliant, giving the fact that you can only use 3 arrow directions and "ctrl" as action. I got stumped quite often but solved the game without any help :-)

The game isn't that long, estimated as about 4 hours gameplay (it took me 6, a total of 3 days), although for me it felt pretty long, it's beautiful to watch, and... what can I say - I wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Death thing isn't terrible at all cause you always get to start really close to where you died, and you've got as many chances as you want. In fact, I'm pretty sure they want you to die a lot - that's the only way to experiment with a lot of things there and to find out what everything does.
And although the game doesn't have an obvious plot, I could definitely complete it in my head... it's a sort of really surreal experience ... very powerful indeed.

Ok, I didn't mean to write a review, there are plenty of these. :-)
10 Euros (~13 bucks) in Steam!

Have fun!
Tomer.

Tomer -- with all the timed sequences, why do you think this qualifies as more of an adventure, rather than more of an action game? Would the gamers in the GB Dark Side forum be more likely to enjoy it and complete it?

I dunno, I don't like action games, and I loved this one. I love adventures. It felt like one to me, despite the action sequences.
I agree it's a border case, but this is what it felt like to me....

So right on the border between two genres? We've been seeing a lot of those lately.

Borderline is almost turning into a separate genre itself. Sigh.

Is this a good thing that I should welcome with open arms? It shows the spirit of innovation? Even if it does make classification nearly impossible?

heh, indeed... but if you think it belongs rather to the dark side, you can move it there :-)
I just never read in the dark side forums (cause like I said this genre usually doesn't interest me) - and I would hate to miss out on this game as an adventure lover. As I've said, it's definitely not for everyone, but those who have good enough reflexes or patience (and aren't afraid of a little blood) should definitely give this a try...

If this is the game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDnyGnixNuk

it looks like it plays more like an old side-scroller arcade game than either an adventure game or what we usually think of as an action game. Closer to Mario than Syberia.

This is the game (more enjoyable without that kid talking in the background)

However, you don't spend your time jumping on mushrooms and evil creatures like in Mario, but most of the game is about thinking and trying out solution to brilliant puzzles, many of which include good timing but mostly thinking.
Neither Myst nor Dear Esther nor Uru nor Machinarium play like Syberia and we still call them adventures. What makes this game a border case isn't that side-scroller but the whole jumping thing. Uru has it too, nobody would argue about it being an adventure. It isn't as fundamental in URU, yes - but that's why I said this game is a border case.

In any way, I do not play anything but adventures but open my mind to twists of the genre, I'm sure a lot of players are like me.

I only got to hear of the game because it was under "adventure" in Steam (apparently they think it is one). I then checked it out, saw what it's about, said "let's give a go" and the rest is history. Like I've said, I would really hate to miss out on this game - so I'm writing this for the sake of other adventure gamers who aren't afraid of "dark" twists to the genre. I mentioned it's obviously not for everyone but timed sequences and jumping don't disturb everyone.




Sorry, just saw your question.
I definitely think we should welcome it, can't see what's wrong with it. If you mean to imply less point and clicks are being made because of that, I don't think that's correct.
Classifying isn't always necessarily. My favorite films tend to be a mixture of genres as well. Just saying "Drama" sounds so cheap sometimes - when it can contain so much more.

I just think it's important to mention what the game contains - and then let the player decide. We know that it can get really bothersome to try and define adventures... no one really succeeded doing that. Sometimes it's obvious they aren't adventures. I noticed Ron Gilbert said that for him Limbo wasn't an adventure. For me it was. It's obviously debatable - the fact that he referred to this game comes to show it's in debate.
but to answer your question - yes, I think we should welcome it :-) Don't have to play it though!

This is more of a platformer than an adventure game, and I'm moving it over to the Dark Side forum.