Why Inside Is a PuzzlePlatformer You Shouldnt Miss
Playdead's moody puzzle-platformer Inside for Xbox One and PC may have you scratching your head by its close, then reloading to pick through its oblique vignettes in search of answers. I don't think answers are at all what Inside is about, any more than I think they're the object of a Quay Brothers or Jan Svankmajer film. Inside is more about the craftsmanship behind wicked smart puzzle design nestled almost invisibly, and thereby brilliantly, within the familiar running, jumping, climbing, shoving objects around, unlocking doors and so forth. This is a game about deftly positioning the extraordinary within the ordinary. I've only shown the opening few minutes of Inside to avoid spoiling anything, so if you want a safe glimpse of the game along with my thoughts on why it works, you can take this as a condensed video version of my review.