If you always wanted to be in the shoes of a boy escaping from armed men, trained dogs and solving puzzles in abandoned warehouses, I have the game just for you. We have already reviewed side scrolling games before like Celeste, Blasphemous and most recently Gris. In the world of indie games, side scrolling adventures are always a great place to bring fun games and experiment with narrative and gameplay and Inside is a great example of this formula.
Inside is a game developed by Playdead, a Danish company based in Copenhagen, a city where independent and AAA game development is booming right now. The studio has developed only two games, Inside and Limbo, another amazing side scroller and many linking it as an spiritual predecessor to Inside. The company is currently working on a new project.
Visual Excellence: Aesthetic Mastery in Inside
The visual elements of the game rely heavily on a grayscale palette, with little splashes of color here and there, which give the game a very dynamic and appealing look. Most of the scenarios and levels depict a doomed, almost post apocalyptic world, where most of the buildings and structures are destroyed, maybe a weapon or a devastating war.
The scenarios are key elements for the gameplay. Each level is completely destroyed and we’ll have to use our intelligence to move across this desolate world. The main way to move forward is by solving puzzles and some are related to the scraps and junk we find along the way and some are related to an abandoned technology left behind.
Encounter with the Unknown: Discovering the world of Inside.
The plot is unraveled as we control the main character. Not much info is provided at the beginning, just a boy running into the woods. As we move forward, we realize the boy is escaping from armed men and trained dogs. The boy must move cautiously without being detected and the brilliance of Inside lies in its ability to convey narrative through gameplay.
The absence of open description throws us into a world that demands our intuition and wits. We’re left to piece together the story from the clues scattered throughout the environment, each step forward unveiling a fraction of the larger puzzle. Moving forward in the game requires strategy and in some instances, stealth.
As we continue progressing into the game, we encounter a series of intricately designed scenarios, each more spectacular than the last. From submerged industrial complexes to eerie, abandoned buildings, the environments themselves tell a story—a story of a world that has witnessed both industry and desolation. The game is not necessarily horror, but it has some nods to classic horror movies and one or two chilling situations, like being chased by rabid dogs or creepy entities under the water.
The relationship between gameplay and plot remains the pinnacle of Inside’s brilliance. The absence of traditional exposition compels us to be active participants in the unraveling narrative. Every discovery, every revelation, feels earned, as if we’re unlocking the secrets of this enigmatic world with our own hands.
I’ve mentioned many times that videogames are one of the best story telling channels, and Inside is the perfect example of it. The game is a testament to the power of storytelling through interaction. With each step, we’re delving deeper into the heart of an enigma, an experience that lingers long after the screen goes dark. If you want to check out the other games from Playdead, check out their website here.
