The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Arcade, roguelike, RPG elements, 2D, dungeon-crawler, for 2 players, indie games, co-op, splitscreen, multiplayer, singleplayer
Steam
An expanded version of a popular indie game that has been released in 2011 by Team Meat studio. Nicalis studio, a bit more experienced team, has been involved in refreshing of the title, in cooperation with original developers. When it comes to mechanics, the gameplay hasn’t changed much, offering randomly-generated levels, traversed by the titular Isaac, who solves simple puzzles and eliminates monsters or much more powerful bosses.
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Videos and Screens
[1:17] The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth gamescom 2013 - trailer
The main pros of the game
- Endless Replayability: The game offers a huge variety of items, characters, and challenges, ensuring that each run feels unique and engaging. Players can spend hundreds of hours exploring different strategies and combinations.
- Challenging Yet Fair Difficulty: Many reviews highlight the game's challenging nature, which is often described as rewarding once players master its mechanics. The difficulty adds to the satisfaction of progressing and achieving goals.
- Unique Art Style and Atmosphere: The grotesque and darkly humorous art style, along with the game's deep narrative themes, create an immersive experience that resonates with players.
- Strong Community and Mod Support: The active modding community allows for customization and new content, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly.
- Frequent Updates and Expansions: The game has multiple DLCs (Afterbirth, Afterbirth+, Repentance) that add substantial content, keeping the game fresh and exciting for returning players.
The main cons of the game
- Luck-Based Gameplay: Some reviews express frustration with the reliance on luck for success, noting that poor item drops can lead to frustrating runs, especially for new players.
- Steep Learning Curve: New players may find it difficult to understand item effects without external resources, as the game does not provide detailed explanations for many items.
- Repetitive Elements: While many players appreciate the variety, some reviews mention that the game can feel repetitive after extensive play, leading to potential burnout.
- Control Issues: A few players noted that the controls could feel awkward or floaty, particularly for those new to the game.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Item Descriptions: Many players desire a built-in system that provides clear descriptions of item effects when picked up, as the current vague descriptions can lead to confusion.
- More Choices in Builds: Some users feel that the game could benefit from more meaningful choices in terms of character builds and item selection, rather than relying heavily on random drops.
- Quality of Life Improvements: A few reviews mention the need for better user interface options or menus, particularly for managing and understanding the extensive content available in the game.
- Additional Game Modes: Some players expressed a desire for new game modes or challenges that could offer fresh gameplay experiences beyond the existing content.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 954 votes. 416 players anticipated the game.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Description
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for PC, iOS and etc. is an expanded and modified version of a popular independent title, whose gameplay had been inspired by the first installment of The Legend of Zelda series, and similar titles. The original version of The Binding of Isaac has been created in Flash, and was released on PC in September 2011. The game was developed by only two people – Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl. McMillen had been known on the scene thanks to Super Meat Boy – a platform game from 2010 that has quickly gained loyal following from the genre fans. The creators tasked another developer with creating Rebirth – Nicalis studio, which specializes in similar projects. The developers introduced a new engine, avoiding certain limitations of Flash, and introduced a number of novelties and fixes.
Plot
The plot is based on a biblical story of Abraham and his test of faith given to him by God, when he ordered him to make a sacrifice of his son, Isaac. In The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the players assume the role of the boy, hiding from the danger in the house’s cellar, which happens to be a nightmarish labyrinth full of demons and monsters from the most dreadful dreams.
Gameplay
The basic idea of the gameplay hasn’t changed in relation to the original version of The Binding of Isaac. The players traverse a randomly-generated labyrinth of chambers, culminating in a boss fight. During the exploration, we find various items that have an effect on hero’s statistics. The individual levels may contain shops, treasure rooms, and other secret locations, which require multiple playthroughs to be discovered. The items used to interact with the environment play a huge role in The Binding of Isaac. We use bombs to destroy obstacles or enemies, while keys are used to open numerous chests and doors to locked chambers. As the game progresses, we unlock additional characters, with differing strengths and bonuses available at the start of a new game.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for PC, iOS and etc. includes content that could be found in two DLC add-ons for The Binding of Isaac, as well as completely new additions, not available in the original game due to technological restrictions. Another novelty is a local cooperation mode, allowing for a joint tour of the labyrinth along with a friend.
Technical aspects
The visuals have been changed in order to resemble classic titles from 16-bit consoles. The design of items, characters, or enemies has not undergone major changes, but thanks to “pixel-like” look, they acquired some fresh appeal.
Last updated on September 9, 2016
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Summary
Game Series: The Binding of Isaac
Platforms:
PC / Windows November 4, 2014
PlayStation 4 November 4, 2014
Xbox One July 24, 2015
Apple iOS January 11, 2017
Nintendo Wii U October 29, 2015
PlayStation Vita November 4, 2014
Nintendo 3DS October 25, 2015
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core i3 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GT 240 or better), 449 MB HDD, Windows XP/Vista(SP2)/7(SP1)/8
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