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pluralstories2022-07-26 05:43 pm
lb_lee) wrote in pluralstories2022-07-26 05:43 pm
The Binding of Isaac, by Edmund McMillen (horror video game, 2011-)
"Isaac and his mother lived alone, on a house on a hill. Isaac kept to himself, playing with his toys while his mother watched Christian broadcasts on the television. Life was simple, and they were both happy--that is, until the day Isaac's mom heard a voice from above: 'Your son has become corrupted by sin. He needs to be saved...'"
Blurb: A computer game following an abused child and his possible-headmates fighting through randomly generated dungeons filled with poop, trauma, and abortions. Offense guaranteed. This game has very little narrative, but McMillen has stated that all the player characters are Isaac, so I don't think it's a stretch to see them as headmates, or to interpret the levels as a form of violent headspace. (Especially since there are items which, if possessed, allow you to die and come back as a new player character--i.e., switch.)
Why is it worth your time? The game is a blast to play, as long as you aren't bothered by the grotesque aesthetic. It has insane replay value, due to its randomness. It rewards experimentation, though it does rely on fine muscle control.
Plural Tags: nonhuman headmates, abuse high-focus, switching, otherworld, children, the dead
Content Warnings: In comments below; contains spoilers.
Accessibility Notes: No subtitles for spoken cutscenes, but there are only maybe two or three of those, all of which you can probably follow through visuals alone. There are a bazillion Let's Plays of this game, but I haven't watched many and the nature of the beast makes completionism kind of impossible, so I can't recommend any one in particular. Any one playthrough lasts maybe an hour tops, but getting everything can take hundreds of hours, making this impossible to length-tag appropriately.
Miscellaneous Notes: There are two main versions of the game, a bunch of expansion packs, and a card game now, the last of which I have not played.
Blurb: A computer game following an abused child and his possible-headmates fighting through randomly generated dungeons filled with poop, trauma, and abortions. Offense guaranteed. This game has very little narrative, but McMillen has stated that all the player characters are Isaac, so I don't think it's a stretch to see them as headmates, or to interpret the levels as a form of violent headspace. (Especially since there are items which, if possessed, allow you to die and come back as a new player character--i.e., switch.)
Why is it worth your time? The game is a blast to play, as long as you aren't bothered by the grotesque aesthetic. It has insane replay value, due to its randomness. It rewards experimentation, though it does rely on fine muscle control.
Plural Tags: nonhuman headmates, abuse high-focus, switching, otherworld, children, the dead
Content Warnings: In comments below; contains spoilers.
Accessibility Notes: No subtitles for spoken cutscenes, but there are only maybe two or three of those, all of which you can probably follow through visuals alone. There are a bazillion Let's Plays of this game, but I haven't watched many and the nature of the beast makes completionism kind of impossible, so I can't recommend any one in particular. Any one playthrough lasts maybe an hour tops, but getting everything can take hundreds of hours, making this impossible to length-tag appropriately.
Miscellaneous Notes: There are two main versions of the game, a bunch of expansion packs, and a card game now, the last of which I have not played.