the binding of isaac
‘The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth’: Our Ongoing Love Affair with the Twisted Mind of Edmund McMillen
The evolution of this game corresponds to the core idea of Isaac himself, a steadily growing monstrosity that becomes continually more twisted and more interesting with each gross addition to itself.
Returning to Isaac’s Body: The Metastasis of the Monstrous
In The Binding of Isaac, the monstrous body may be ugly and awful, but it is unique, free from established rules and stricture, free to continue to grow into something other than what others desire it to be.
‘Darkest Dungeon’, a Masochist’s Dream
For as much as you level up in Darkest Dungeon, you will also level down. This is not power fantasy. This is a fantasy of cruelty and self inflicted pain.
‘The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth’ and the Transformative Power of the Monstrous Body
In The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, the body is wrecked and made ugly for the sake of freedom from fear. Instead, it becomes something fearful in its own right.
‘The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth’: More Grotesque, More Fun
Grotesque, strange, and difficult, Rebirth offers a fantastic vision of what might be the ideal roguelike.
‘Runers’: What’s My Motivation?
Shoot better and better and better. Then, shoot some more.
‘FTL’ and the Failure of Text Narratives in Roguelikes
While it is possible for a roguelike to tell a story, textually based narratives are a burden to the genre.
