Inside Review - Legendary Indie Hit Finally Out on iOS

Inside your fears

While most films and games are scary with screamers and a meat grinder, the Danes from Playdead are digging deeper.

Their first project Limbo deftly pressed on pain points, frightened with an oppressive atmosphere and amazing voice acting. The game did not chew on the plot and did not lead by the hand, but forced to think, left room for theories and the search for deep meanings.

Inside partly continues this philosophy. This is a dark puzzle platformer about a boy fleeing the horrors of the world around him. However, this is where the similarities end.

Inside is a larger and deeper story. The monochrome picture has been diluted with color accents, and the light and sound make goosebumps run on the skin. But the main thing is the plot. Looking at the credits after both endings, you try to understand what it was and how to live with it now.

The game does not care about you: there is no training and even the usual menu. You, along with the main character, are immediately thrown out somewhere in the forest, and that's it - sort it out yourself.

The oppressive atmosphere constantly keeps you in suspense. The feeling of anxiety does not let go even in calm moments, because everything can change in a second.

It would seem like a desert landscape, but suddenly a flashlight beam cuts it, and now an unknown armed man is chasing you. And you run at breakneck speed, do not see the branches sticking out of the ground and fall. You fall and don't get up anymore, because a bullet or a rifle butt is catching up with you.

After passing the forest and abandoned farms, strewn with the corpses of cattle, you reach the city. On the empty streets, either people or zombies are walking in an even formation - weak-willed puppets watched by armed soldiers.

You will quickly discover the mechanism by which these people can be manipulated. They are almost furniture, things without rights, they are bought and sold here. In addition to the sentries, ordinary people are watching the column, some are holding children in their arms. Cynicism and indifference are striking.

This city is a terrible dystopia, a perverse fantasy and an attempt to point to our far from ideal world.

The story will unfold gradually - in the plot, the atmosphere, the smallest details. Often not in the most disagreeable, but sometimes just in disgusting scenes. The absurd and frightening world of Inside is both repulsive and attractive. It's hard to look away from him.

I would like to understand what is happening here in general. However, until the end credits, you will not see a single clue, you will not hear a single word. Rely only on your attentiveness and desire to get to the bottom of it.

Mobile nightmares

Inside is not a new game. The release took place back in 2016. The reason for this review was the release of the mobile version for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The port is excellent and looks amazing on the iPhone X screen. Still, frameless screens are great, no matter what anyone says.

Only the controls have changed. They didn't sculpt any virtual arrows and buttons, everything is tied to gestures. The controls are simple and intuitive, you can play with one finger without taking it off the screen.

The puzzles in the game are interesting, but at the same time quite simple. You will not hang on a task for half an hour, but you still have to use your brains. Tests allow you to catch your breath, but at the same time do not allow you to escape from the eerie and oppressive atmosphere.

Verdict

Inside is an amazing game that will leave few people indifferent. She touches with a dark visual style, an oppressive atmosphere, an exciting and at the same time frightening story. The developers managed to create an almost perfect mix of plot, atmosphere and varied gameplay.

As a result, the game does not let go until the credits, and the final act leaves an incomprehensible aftertaste and room for thought.

Inside will take about four hours to complete, but it's best to play it twice - you'll find previously missed details and unlock the second ending. It's worth it, believe me.

You can go through the first act for free, after which you will be offered to buy the full version of the game for 529 rubles. If the world of Inside drags on, then you will certainly want to understand what is happening there. No matter how creepy it was.