The Binding of Isaac

A smart little game with great music, a plethora of items (will take some getting used to, though), and yucky baddies will have you coming back every now and again to see what new evil lurks around. The expansion pours on more content to keep you entertained. Just be ready for sheer retribution; the game offers no forgiveness for its often surprising difficulty spikes.

Through smart design and simple mechanics, The Binding of Isaac manages to feel approachable despite its difficulty. Superfluous elements have been stripped out, and what remains is a tightly focused game that continues to feel fresh even after multiple completions. While it does lack some of the extra bells and whistles of other modern games, The Binding of Isaac remains an enjoyable (and demented) adventure.

It occurred to me upon finishing The Binding of Isaac that crude as it is, it reminds me of avant-garde art or haute cuisine; interesting and bold but made for a small group of devoted connoisseurs. Those of a certain palate are sure to love its humor, weirdness and replayability but the broader gaming audience is likely to find it more of an acquired taste.

These issues, combined with inexplicable slowdown and some other minor technical hassles, slightly hamstring what is otherwise an enormously entertaining experience. For those not daunted by challenge, in the market for a game that’s quick to jump into and a great deal of fun, The Binding of Isaac is a fantastic way to spend five bucks.

The Binding of Isaac is an exceptionally weird game with a list of caveats longer than I’d like, but when McMillen’s vision shines through, it’s as compulsory of an indie title as Castle Crashers or Everyday Shooter. Even if you get bitten by a save or achievement bug, I have a hard time believing you’ll regret dropping five bucks here.

All told, The Binding of Isaac is a deceptively deep game. That it only costs $4.99 is nothing short of astounding. I don't see myself putting it down until I hit that magical 100% completion mark, which is hours and hours away at this point. This is one trip that I recommend to everyone open-minded enough to give it a chance.