#IndieSpread - The Binding of Isaac and Rebirth
Heyo all, it’s Max! As this is the first post for the IndieSpread segment here on GamerSpread, I figured I'd preface the post today with a paste of my face and a bit of info about the segment.
Real talk. Gaming is my life. No surprise, I've ended up here. As a self-proclaimed indie-connoisseur, I’m here to share my experiences and thoughts on the stuff I find personally cool/awesome and intriguing within the Indie Game Scene. I'll post bits about games i've played, try to get you guys some info and of course, link you up with some ways to get in touch with the indie game world and on top of that, create a conduit for you to discuss games (indie or not, I don't discriminate!) in the comments of these posts to create a back and forth between us. Gaming has an amazing way of breeding community and camaraderie between people, so I figure these posts will help facilitate that. Either that, or I end up posting into the internet ether and nothing happens. One way or another, it'll be fun. Promise.
So, again. Me. Self-Proclaimed Indie Game Connoisseur. I'll be direct here: What better way to start things off with the first #IndieSpread post AND the first official content post here on GamerSpread, than to talk about a shining example in the Indie scene: The Binding of Isaac and it’s remastered/upgraded older brother, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.
Now, I will level with you here. I played this game from release. A lot. We’re talking hours upon hours upon hours. That’s how addicting this game can be if you're into top-down, dungeon crawlers with gorgeous visuals, sound and a plot that pulls no punches. Pretty specific, but you’ll understand. So, first off, to those who don’t know, let’s clear up some probable confusion:
What is the Binding of Isaac and the Binding of Isaac: Rebirth?
Other than one of my all time favorite games, the Binding of Isaac is the story of a young boy, Isaac-who is apparently incapable of wearing clothes-and his over-zealous religious mother. Apparently, one day, God thought it was a good idea to tell this mother in particular, to kill her son to prove her devotion to him and, of course, as a perfectly normal person, she just decides that she’s gonna go with it instead of actually stopping to think for a second why a deity is asking her to kill her only son.
Regardless, the mother advances upon Isaac, wielding a knife and Isaac is forced to flee into the basement through a trapdoor in his room floor. For some reason, Isaac’s basement is apparently the size of a small multi-story office complex, as without warning-as the game begins-Isaac must now descend through multiple levels, each filled with grotesque monstrosities and strange demonic beasts, armed with nothing but the tears from his eyes as defense against them (Totally makes sense).
Descending with his teary-projectiles as his enemy’s only deterrent, Isaac must utilize the strange items that can be found in the basement until he reaches the lowest levels and faces off against his monstrous mother. However, should you defeat her, the game ends and an ending is played, but it is hinted that there is more to come.
This is where the Binding of Isaac gets juicy and teases its infinite replayability. I mean, this game ends relatively quickly, depending on what items you get and what enemies you face off against. However, the story’s ending changes every time you play through the game, allowing you to go deeper into the basement and fight even more powerful enemies.
But the amazing thing about this game, that just keeps me playing for hours and hours, is the fact that no two play-throughs will ever be the same (unless you want them to be).
Now one thing to note, is that the Binding of Isaac, the original, was a game designed with Flash and is all hand-drawn (very well I might add!). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on the other hand, got a whole pixelated treatment and runs on a different engine, which makes it a million times less clunky. Not saying the original was this, but there is a clear difference between the two.
The glory of Random Map seeds comes forth! Every time you press play, the game creates a new Map Seed, where the items you find on each floor are changed, the enemies are changed and even the spare change you find in the nooks and crannies are changed! A whole new, equally disturbing world. Always a good time. Random rooms smooshed together and given a seed code that can be used to replay that specific level sequence layout or share it with friends and challenge each other.
I’m trying my best not to ruin any part of the game’s endings here, save a few sparse details, for the off chance that some of you haven’t played it and could be curious. A man can dream.
But hey, if you have no problem playing a game that is effectively a dark-parody of Christianity, has references to Heaven and Hell, as well as loads and loads of pixelated gore and playing as a sad, naked, tear-firing child, then this is totally the game for you! I admit, that’s not the weirdest thing I’ve ever said, but it’s definitely up there.
Regardless, definitely pick a copy of The Binding of Isaac or Rebirth, as well as their respective DLC’s on PC or on Console. I mean, this game is super worth it, it’s affordable and it really never gets old. Classic dungeon killing fun. Good times.
Anyway, that’s my bit. If you guys have anything to share on your Binding of Isaac Experiences or any similar dungeon crawl Indie Games, let us know in the comments! We at GamerSpread would love to hear from you! It's why we're here!
For more indie-game talk, news and review, keep a lookout for the next #IndieSpread post! Every Saturday around midnight.
Plus, don't forget to follow us, TheGamerSpread on Twitter @TheGamerSpread and keep up-to-date with anything else we may get up to. You can also follow my personal Twitter @GSMaxify (https://twitter.com/GSMaxify) for anything else I may share personally.
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| Me from PAX Australia 2016. PC asked for a Selfie. I obliged. |
Real talk. Gaming is my life. No surprise, I've ended up here. As a self-proclaimed indie-connoisseur, I’m here to share my experiences and thoughts on the stuff I find personally cool/awesome and intriguing within the Indie Game Scene. I'll post bits about games i've played, try to get you guys some info and of course, link you up with some ways to get in touch with the indie game world and on top of that, create a conduit for you to discuss games (indie or not, I don't discriminate!) in the comments of these posts to create a back and forth between us. Gaming has an amazing way of breeding community and camaraderie between people, so I figure these posts will help facilitate that. Either that, or I end up posting into the internet ether and nothing happens. One way or another, it'll be fun. Promise.
So, again. Me. Self-Proclaimed Indie Game Connoisseur. I'll be direct here: What better way to start things off with the first #IndieSpread post AND the first official content post here on GamerSpread, than to talk about a shining example in the Indie scene: The Binding of Isaac and it’s remastered/upgraded older brother, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth.
 |
| The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Title Art |
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| Binding of Isaac Original Promo Art |
Now, I will level with you here. I played this game from release. A lot. We’re talking hours upon hours upon hours. That’s how addicting this game can be if you're into top-down, dungeon crawlers with gorgeous visuals, sound and a plot that pulls no punches. Pretty specific, but you’ll understand. So, first off, to those who don’t know, let’s clear up some probable confusion:
What is the Binding of Isaac and the Binding of Isaac: Rebirth?
Other than one of my all time favorite games, the Binding of Isaac is the story of a young boy, Isaac-who is apparently incapable of wearing clothes-and his over-zealous religious mother. Apparently, one day, God thought it was a good idea to tell this mother in particular, to kill her son to prove her devotion to him and, of course, as a perfectly normal person, she just decides that she’s gonna go with it instead of actually stopping to think for a second why a deity is asking her to kill her only son.
Regardless, the mother advances upon Isaac, wielding a knife and Isaac is forced to flee into the basement through a trapdoor in his room floor. For some reason, Isaac’s basement is apparently the size of a small multi-story office complex, as without warning-as the game begins-Isaac must now descend through multiple levels, each filled with grotesque monstrosities and strange demonic beasts, armed with nothing but the tears from his eyes as defense against them (Totally makes sense).
Descending with his teary-projectiles as his enemy’s only deterrent, Isaac must utilize the strange items that can be found in the basement until he reaches the lowest levels and faces off against his monstrous mother. However, should you defeat her, the game ends and an ending is played, but it is hinted that there is more to come.
This is where the Binding of Isaac gets juicy and teases its infinite replayability. I mean, this game ends relatively quickly, depending on what items you get and what enemies you face off against. However, the story’s ending changes every time you play through the game, allowing you to go deeper into the basement and fight even more powerful enemies.
But the amazing thing about this game, that just keeps me playing for hours and hours, is the fact that no two play-throughs will ever be the same (unless you want them to be).
Now one thing to note, is that the Binding of Isaac, the original, was a game designed with Flash and is all hand-drawn (very well I might add!). The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on the other hand, got a whole pixelated treatment and runs on a different engine, which makes it a million times less clunky. Not saying the original was this, but there is a clear difference between the two.
 |
| Binding of Isaac (OG) on the left, Binding of Isaac: Rebirth on the right. |
The glory of Random Map seeds comes forth! Every time you press play, the game creates a new Map Seed, where the items you find on each floor are changed, the enemies are changed and even the spare change you find in the nooks and crannies are changed! A whole new, equally disturbing world. Always a good time. Random rooms smooshed together and given a seed code that can be used to replay that specific level sequence layout or share it with friends and challenge each other.
I’m trying my best not to ruin any part of the game’s endings here, save a few sparse details, for the off chance that some of you haven’t played it and could be curious. A man can dream.
But hey, if you have no problem playing a game that is effectively a dark-parody of Christianity, has references to Heaven and Hell, as well as loads and loads of pixelated gore and playing as a sad, naked, tear-firing child, then this is totally the game for you! I admit, that’s not the weirdest thing I’ve ever said, but it’s definitely up there.
Regardless, definitely pick a copy of The Binding of Isaac or Rebirth, as well as their respective DLC’s on PC or on Console. I mean, this game is super worth it, it’s affordable and it really never gets old. Classic dungeon killing fun. Good times.
Anyway, that’s my bit. If you guys have anything to share on your Binding of Isaac Experiences or any similar dungeon crawl Indie Games, let us know in the comments! We at GamerSpread would love to hear from you! It's why we're here!
For more indie-game talk, news and review, keep a lookout for the next #IndieSpread post! Every Saturday around midnight.
Plus, don't forget to follow us, TheGamerSpread on Twitter @TheGamerSpread and keep up-to-date with anything else we may get up to. You can also follow my personal Twitter @GSMaxify (https://twitter.com/GSMaxify) for anything else I may share personally.
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