INSIDE Review │ Puzzles, Platforming, Panic, Perfection

[@Robotoaster]

I finished this game days ago and still haven't got over the ending. It's on my favourite games of all time now.

[@Antasma1]

What was that...

[@NickHunter]

Same. Still reeling, an absolute joy to play and a masterpiece of a game. I'll gush about this game until I'm dead.

[@oxenford539]

None of the ideas presented throughout the various acts of the game amounted to anything. The sonic booms from across the wasteland that you need to avoid? the mermaids? the anti-gravity water? All of them are intriguing ideas but without those ideas amounting to anything they remain very shallow. The ending could have wrapped up so many aspects of the game, but how it stands the entire game feels like it's building to a shock reveal, or to a point where all the ideas presented to the player finally fall into place but we got none of that. Instead, what we got was an cop-out. No, it's not deep or with hidden meaning. It's an attempt at art for the sake of art, which is never how great art is made. I actually really enjoyed the game while I was playing it, though the ending ruined it completely.

[@owlflame]

See my reply to your earlier OP comment.

[@MinhNguyen-uu9xj]

"And by seamlessness, I mean there are no seams" -Arlo, 2016

[@irvyne6111]

I just bought Inside on a PSN sale last week. Played through it in two sittings, and WOW. It's so... refined! And that ending! My jaw was agape the entire time!

[@Nicholasryan17]

Awesome as always Arlo! Your videos show that all it really takes to be a reviewer is to have a passion for the subject and makes me want to put more work into my own channels

[@allidoiswin184]

I love how honest you are with your reviews.

[@Beriorn]

"Six years? That's longer than the time between Zeldas!" Not anymore.

[@binb5213]

What do you mean? SS came out November 2011, BoTW comes out with the NX in early 2017, still only about 2 and 1/2 years

[@binb5213]

+Mega Golurk I mean5 and 1/2 years, oops

[@mrpiggyjelly]

A Link Between Worlds was a 2013 release

[@binb5213]

mrpiggyjelly Yeah, I forgot about a Link Between Worlds until after I made the comment.

[@captainjjb84]

Triforce heroes

[@OtterloopB]

I played Limbo and it was one of those cases where I understood why it was getting critically praised... but in my heart, I didn't really like it. Which I think every gamer will have moments like that. Critics can bullet point everything that makes a particular game/movie great... but even if a person in the audience recognizes those points, that still doesn't mean said game or movie will align with that person's personal tastes. Critics praised Skyward Sword... I thought it was a plodding, drawn-out, boring, horribly written mess of a game. (Seriously... Demise's dialogue reads like a Miiverse RP) Critics were mixed on Monsters University... I thought it was a ton of fun! And both I and critics loved Psychonauts when it originally released back in '05... and I was one of the only, like... 11 people who played it before gamer's collective ignorance was broken and they woke up realizing how great it is years later. Inside does have my curiosity piqued though. Because who knows? A certain game you find a bit overrated (like me with Limbo) may end up getting a spiritual follow-up that really resonates with you! Thanks for the inside scoop on Inside, Arlo! If I ever get a chance to play this, maybe I'll end up liking this more than I did Limbo.

[@NickHunter]

I really liked the first 30 minutes of Limbo but found the puzzles too obtuse. This game has a crazy sense of urgency and you just can't put it down, the puzzles are telegraphed really well, the story is told only in gameplay and one of the most haunting and awe inspiring games I've played since brothers: a tale of two sons

[@elmaxo1591]

I hate monster university, still got your point

[@hasanelrabih283]

What did you think of it???

[@nerdy_posta1129]

I just bought this game for 66 cents (it was on sale and I used gold points) and so far I am enjoying it.

[@SakuraAvalon]

Good review, Cookie Monster-err, I mean Arlo.

[@Rayossan]

Huh, I kinda pegged him as Grovers son.

[@citrusnx8283]

Greeat review! I already have the game but haven't played it yet. Looking forward to do it someday!

[@richenrd]

4:04 5 years later...

[@yummyos]

Dang Arlo! Nice video the way you do your videos is so unique and amazing!!! keep it up dude

[@Antasma1]

Can somone please explain me the ending? I know what happens but what was that?

[@MookalH]

AAHAHH OH MY GOD I DIDN'T KNOW THIS GAME WAS OUT I MUST HAVE IT

[@Dshowtime718]

This game is on sale for $2. Figure I look it up and my man Arlo did a review. Thank You.

[@dcta51]

Damn his voice sounded different back then lol

[@jsnyderx]

Gonna go check it out now! Thanks Arlo :)

[@real_pat_ftw7882]

Thanks for telling me this game came out. I didn't know

[@Zonjo-]

Might have to give this one a go

[@DanielTheRobot]

Yeah if you like limbo, this game is just as good, maybe even better!

[@RanDom-bn6xm]

So, when I was little I had a fear of toys coming to life. My sister and cousin would tell me stories about murderous toys and I had nightmares, so, when I found your channel, it freaked me out. So, I decided to keep watching all Five Nights at Freddy's videos that I possibly could, and now I'm ready to subscribe to your channel 'cause your content is awesome. ^^

[@jackteague3896]

arlo you make me happy

[@capo5005]

Arlo! What did you think of ever oasis for 3ds?

[@tino9117]

AT 2:SOMETIN' IN THE MORNING!? SWEET!

[@Bob-np2uc]

Everyone's just complaining about this game in the comments but I liked it. It needs to cost a lot for all the atmosphere and detail that went into it.

[@pyguy7]

4:25 Damn Burgle, screwin the up the 'Z' thing

[@geico105]

I love your scoring system! XD

[@hoochiemoochie89]

Here's my take on the game. An excellent game if you go in knowing what to expect. HOWEVER, it is far too short for the amount of time they spent on it. I understand that great things take time, but would you really expect to wait one year for someone to bake an excellent cake only for you to enjoy one piece of it? That's how I felt with Inside. It took me only a few hours. I don't mind that it was $20 dollars even though there are excellent $60 dollar games that deliver 10-20x the amount of content (GTA V, Skyrim, Fallout IV, Zelda), but I do mind the fact that I started and ended it in one playthrough and everyone is lauding this game like it is the greatest game of the year. In short, they did not need 6 years to make a good follow-up to LIMBO. Look at Flower, Journey, and Abzu. Three excellent games from the same mind. Between the first two there was a gap of 3 years and between the last two there was a gap of 4 years...if they can do it, so could Playdead. I just hope Playdead doesn't take so long next time.

[@landoninthehood8849]

I've figured it out! Arlo is Cookie Monster's brother!

[@landoninthehood8849]

+Bingo Alpha Even more brilliant!

[@zhpDEREK]

Easily on my Top 10 list. Depending on the day, maybe even Top 5.

[@bagodrago]

After playing the end... I have no idea what happened...

[@sumguy3628]

Hey Arlo, I'm interested in what you thought of the games story and plot. I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it.

[@slenderfoxx3797]

Hey Arlo will you be doing a video on the new footage we've got for colour trash oh whoops urrr umm ahh I mean splash sorry cheap cheap my first wanguage.......( P.S it sucks😄)

[@tahatpa4246]

MASTERPIECE

[@cousinbernardcletus]

Some people may be turned off by the fact that your a fucking puppet, but you actually deserve a lot more love.

[@Zakanuva]

YAY!!! New Arlo review! *Watches video* ...Sounds like I need to buy these games! Should I go Steam or Xbox?

[@Buglin_Burger7878]

Steam since you can effectively play the game 50 years from now, on Xbox it has a life span before it is lost forever.

[@Zack-bl2gg]

“I hope its sequel won’t take half as long” Yea… about that Arlo… It’s been another five years, and we don’t even have a trailer yet. I’m pretty sure that the third game is taking even longer…

[@Jotar0w0]

Arlo, have you played mighty no. 9 yet?

[@wild_wingu]

Please, no... Everyone will says the same thing : "This game suck" This is really not a good idea

[@funnybill9630]

Who here was reminded of Some Ordinary Gamers when that song played halfway through the review?

[@mrpiggyjelly]

Wow I didn't know about this game, I enjoyed Limbo so i'll give this game a play.

[@scp_foundation_user1433]

Limbo was the very first game Playdead created, can't blame it for not being quite as polished as Inside if it was the very first game the created. At least, that is what I think.

[@TheGamersState]

I can name 1 reason I'd buy this game; To record the backgrounds and use them for my videos!

[@bagodrago]

Hey Arlo, around February of this year you made a fan level video for Mario Maker. The thumbnail said #1 on it so I was wondering if you were going to make a #2.

[@captawesome42]

0:17 cue laugh track

[@PauLtus_B]

I love Limbo's ending...

[@janicerogalewski8500]

Hey arlo do you love paper Mario 2

[@brianvaira486]

I did not see that ending coming. Really good game, but I think I like Limbo a little more.

[@hoochiemoochie89]

I agree. Limbo is better overall.

[@pkmntrainermark8881]

What's this for?

[@BagelBrain]

What is your opinion on mobile games, Arlo?

[@PeterSwinkels]

Once you have finished it the first time there may be secrets to be found left over.

[@Mugiwara_no_mo]

Arlo your da best

[@stevenewsom3269]

Is this the same guy that does the golden bolt channel?

[@SintasSays]

No.

[@protoluigi2047]

Do "A Gamer's Brief" on the NES Classic Edition!!!!

[@aaronatkinson177]

I'm going to be so honest and say I only played limbo and inside because of my love for little nightmares

[@Red_Viper1410]

Hey Arlo can you review Twilight Princess? It's my favorite zelda too :))

[@DaemonCaedo1]

Dammit Burgle!

[@tarterus0117]

Lol so.. Play Dead seems like the indie version of Bethesda, they take a long time to get a game out, but woah nelly when it comes out they are making a wave.

[@joshuafroat9288]

it reminded me of dead light

[@datdeerdude5139]

Is this Arlo's first 7/7?

[@Lulink013]

I think there was on in the "walking simulators" video... I don't remember how he called them, because walking simulator is such a degrading way of calling those games.

[@silvermoon5583]

+Lulink The term your looking for is "FPE", or "First Person Exploration".

[@VectormanRxQueen]

I love this game

[@MaterClaritas]

wouldnt a perfect score be a 5/7?

[@ProtestantsRUs]

Not sure how you can give a perfect score to a game that, atmospheric as it may be, looks blurry with way too much film grain, is just an overpriced, way too short, simple platformer with no replay value, a couple tedious puzzles, and virtually no pc settings. cool ending though.

[@KoreanSpy1997]

tedious? more like, brilliant and harmonizing with the environment.

[@owlflame]

I disagree. That's like saying you can't give a perfect score to the original silent hill because it had tedious puzzles and too much fog. It's a stylistic choice, a choice I haven't seen in a while since so many game developers are so scared of this exact comment that they'd rather give the player the ability to see for miles in what's supposed to be a claustrophobic horror game that it's not even scary anymore. Then people complain that it's not scary. Lots of horror games start development with some form of visual to go on that helps to make the world look fancier while limiting what the player can see. But, recently, publishers have been going to those game developers and asking them to remove the fog, filter, what have you, because gamers will complain that it looks cheap. And it almost always makes the game worse.

[@Real_The_Goof]

The ending made me despise the game and left me feeling empty... I don't know if i can ever play a game made by them again...

[@oxenford539]

100% agree with this. There was no pay-off for anything. What was causing the sonic booms across the wasteland that you had to avoid? what that with the evil mermaids? Was awesome to play, as I thought everything was building up to something that would tie it all together. But that reveal never came. The ending was a pathetic cop-out. My bet is that even the devs don't know how the mermaids fit into the world they created - they're just there to be a creepy mechanic and nothing more.

[@Real_The_Goof]

agreed

[@aeidla]

i know this comment is 3 years old but did you get the secret ending? also i found busting out of the facility and WRECKING THEIR SHIT to be pretty cathartic after everything that happened. it was a melancholy ending for sure but at least you got that blob out of its horrible imprisonment

[@tckittyff9catlover923]

watch MatPat's play though (GTLive)

[@leopoldvermilion1456]

why can't you upload more often again ?

[@SuperLegendOf364]

I think Inside will be added to the list of games considered art.

[@oxenford539]

Inside looked beautiful, and was really fun to play - but after the pathetic ending, I just don't rate the game highly at all. The problem with Inside is that the narrative that unfolds as you play the game is gripping, it truly is, although by the end it fizzles out and you see how shallow it really is.The game entices you with wonderful ideas and thought provoking set pieces, though none of it ever falls into place. Spoilers ahead: There's a part in the game where there are huge sonic booms sweeping toward the screen from across the wasteland vistas which form the backdrop. You have to avoid being struck by its force by timing your runs between cover. It's not the puzzle/mechanic which makes this an interesting aspect of the game, but rater it's the atmosphere and intrigue that grips you; you want to know more about this world. Well, you never find out what's causing the sonic booms, if they even were sonic booms, why they make an eerie fog-horn noise as they sweep past. You just never find out. This is true of every act of the game. You're presented with something interesting which you want to learn about, so you press on to look for a reveal. It never comes, be it the sonic booms, the mermaids, why the people are after you, why the kid is alone, what the zombie things even are, why they're making anti-gravity pools of water... you never find out. The ideas presented throughout the game are great, but unless you tie those pieces together somehow then it remains shallow. Inside is like a Tim Burton movie. It presents you with a harrowing twist on a normal world and has interesting ideas and presents them in a somber or unsettling way, but it's all just there for the 'look' without any substance. ... the game does look VERY nice though.

[@owlflame]

I just sorta chalked everything up to scientific experiments. It looked like humans were either scientists, people working for the scientists or people who are just cattle to be experimented on by the scientists. And once I started thinking like that, I started picturing "world domination." And world domination seemed very very likely after a while, what with the area that tests explosions (I didn't not have fun with a single puzzle in the game) the upsidedown water used to lock and siphon energy from the people, the mermaids, and so on. I started thinking this from very early on when you pull the parasite out of the pig, implying the brain parasites exist here. And after seeing all the zombies I just assumed they were people who were experimented on with the brain parasites. I don't know, the narrative I came up with lined up.

[@oxenford539]

owlflame It's a good conclusion you've come up with to fit things together, though the problem is that it's still all up for interpretation. The mermaids seem to have very little, if any, connection to the whole experiment/brain parasite idea. Like how is it that the mermaids can disappear and reappear through solid metal? This is how they enter the submarine if they catch you. What was with the act where you're caught by a mermaid and then you can breathe underwater? A story which simply withholds information from the audience honestly just comes off seeming pretentious.

[@owlflame]

Joshua Oxenford The mermaid doesn't phase through matter. She very obviously breaks through the window. I don't remember ever seeing a mermaid dissapear or reappear through anything. And it looked like something stabbed into you when the mermaid was dragging you down. The light from the thing made the mermaid leave, and the thing itself probably replaced the boy's lungs with something else. Because it was the same thing that was being used to preserve monster blob in the tank at the end that you pull off of it. I don't see the game withholding any information. It all looked like it was there.

[@oxenford539]

owlflame maybe it did break through the window and i'm remembering it wrong. it still didn't connect to anything else in the game though. to me, the different ideas posed throughout the game just don't connect. not just the mermaid, but most other parts too. it's fine to piece it together in your own mind, though i've read people have many different views on what's happening in the game - and this differing in people's understanding of the story proves that the game doesn't present you with enough information to form a coherent story.

[@owlflame]

Joshua Oxenford I mean... I don't know why you so desperately need the story spelled out to you. I usually don't. My favorite movie of all time "synecdoche new york" spells very little out and a lot is left to interpretation. In fact, I would say the game would be worse off if it told you what was going on. I love having the chance to think it through myself.

[@randellmay]

It's a prequel to limbo

[@october9407]

Amazing artwork and atmosphere; shit ending.

[@Gamesforus1]

Am I the only one who actually understands the ending?

[@NickHunter]

What is there to understand? "now when I see the sun...."

[@Gamesforus1]

(SPOILERS) The blob was controlling the kid to get him Outside because the blob was locked Inside.

[@NickHunter]

Gamesforus I don't agree. If that was the case it could've just mind-controlled any other being in the facility (who happen to be much nearer) I don't believe there's any set "correct" answer, the devs left it to interpretation, but that interpretation defies all logic. I'll theorise and debate the game forever though. Super interested in what everyone thinks/took from it.

[@Gamesforus1]

Um how? If it was controlling another person it would just be the exact same game. We would need someone to play as. The ending I get, but not the lore and stuff.

[@Doctor_Pazuzu]

I mean, I liked it but the game kinda...plays itself? The game is crazy linear in that all puzzles only have 1 solution and all get kinda boring after a while. It's kinda hard to explain and the puzzles aren't overtly easy but the best description I can give is that it sorta just...plays itself. Still a good game but I don't know if I'd say that it's _perfect_.

[@snailcinema9825]

I really liked this game up until the ending, I just thought they could have made it so much more interesting, I was expecting for you to understand what's going on, but instead (spoilers) you just kill a bunch of people with a giant blob. I know there's theories about what it means but that's the thing they're just theories. With limbo I felt the no explanation fit but with this a big part of why I kept playing was to figure out what was going on, And that's what made it so cool to me, it tricked me into thinking it had way more depth. I just felt very underwhelmed

[@renegadevegeta4824]

hey you

[@elkarlo1593]

"I won't keep you in LIMBO anymore... sorry" -Arlo 2016

[@link2thepast952]

Did that puppet always have a tongue?....

[@theriffwriter2194]

When the best xbox one game is an xbla game. It's time to move on.

[@RetroPowerUp]

$20 for a 3-4 hour game is pretty steep. I'll snag it whenever it goes on sale. Glad it is getting good reviews though!

[@suprastevio2264]

Whos here because its free on the Epic game store? 👌

[@janicerogalewski8500]

Wow

[@mr._2994]

The ending of Inside was weird as hell tho.

[@wiioweu8153]

A door with a switch lol

[@markp8581]

Paid $1.99 it was worth about $1.99 Very very very linear

[@seizurebee6308]

Im not first. 😐

[@mavway02]

I'm sorry, but.... ARLO LOOKS NOTHING LIKE COOKIE MONSTER!!!!

[@untoages]

Arlo, shave your head. The green-screen shining through your hair bugs me.

[@ecnius]

I liked the game... Before the ending. Its like the game just throws all these interesting facts about itself, but never really explains them. The ending felt empty. *Spoilers if you didnt play yet, but you probably did* You get in a giant abomination of people merged together. For no reason at all. Its just there. And thats it. you make your way "outside" the facility... just to die? such a bad ending for the game.

[@owlflame]

I think you're supposed to piece it together yourself, and this is the big complaint I'm getting out of the game. People want it to be a little more clear and less cryptic about what's going on. and then there are people like me who could pretty confidently tell you that they knew exactly what was going on. Or at least had a really good idea.

[@owlflame]

"Devoid of seems. No clipping through objects (I found some of that) No framerate skipping ( I found a couple areas that had to load in something.)" Just saying. Look harder. :P

[@mahdude6625]

Is it weird that I loved inside and disliked Limbo

[@thatguysho227]

You played inside first probably

[@mahdude6625]

@@thatguysho227 I actually did

[@thatguysho227]

@@mahdude6625 yeah that’s probably the reason then

[@griffinbrown5517]

Honestly I really don't like this game. Sure, it's artistic and intriguing, but I found it really boring. The gameplay felt basic and had far too little depth for my liking. Same with the puzzles. Plus, a lot of the sequences just felt to much like trial and error and, as much as I like games with enviotrmental stories, I just wasn't interested in this one This could just be me but I regret spending money on this game.

[@glitchtv2010]

mind reviewing overwatch? (0)₩(0)

[@trupotato]

Comparing Limbo to Inside is apparently like comparing Mario to Luigi. Luigi does everything Mario does, only better.

[@legomixandbricks]

first

[@jackwilliamson8058]

+Wrong Code Fat

[@Abuzz03_]

First! xD

[@Risu64YT]

I don't agree with this review. 20 bucks for a ~3 hour walking simulator with "not-puzzles" that you play once and there's no reason to do it again, it's too much. Yeah art style is nice but that's not enough.

[@YARGGG_GG]

It's not really a walking simulator though.

[@bobmodova2601]

It's one of those things where you pay more for the quality. But quality can sometimes be subjective so if you don't think it's worth it then it's fine. I'll probably wait for a price drop for it.

[@YARGGG_GG]

Bob, quality is not subjective, but taste is. If you're into horror and puzzle platformers, Limbo and Inside will be your jam, no doubts about it.

[@bobmodova2601]

Arjen Yeah you're right. I guess I meant it can be subjective the price someone thinks the quality is worth.

[@Risu64YT]

There's not enough platforming in this game to be called a platformer, and the puzzles aren't hard or challenging at all, so it's not a puzzle game. All that's left.. is walking right. Don't get me wrong, I don't think this game is same as other "games" as Gone Home or Firewatch, this one's actually a game, but still. The gameplay is lacking. This is all my opinion, of course, you're free to disagree and tell me why I'm wrong.

[@ofekmantzur]

this game is mediocre. In a couple of years no one will remember this artsy fartsy game

[@zhpDEREK]

Easily on my Top 10 list. Depending on the day, maybe even Top 5.