Few games are so instantly recognizable as The Binding of Issac. Now Edmund McMillen, James Id and Ridiculon return to that world in The Legend of Bum-Bo . Serving as a prequel to Issac, the game moves from a dungeon crawler and into the world of puzzle deck building. There is nothing in the world that looks like this and you might have a new obsession on your hands.
Bum-Bo, introduced in Issac as a passive item, has only one prized item. A coin. Bum-Bo is is understandably upset when a mysterious force takes the coin into the sewer. He follows and finds a dark and disturbing world full of monsters. Bum-Bo will have to use common items in order to fight his way through the creatures who are standing in his way. Items such as teeth, bones and… well other things. As he progresses, Bum-Boo will gain more items and spells to help him on this strange journey.
The Legend of Bum-Bo is a turn based card game. You see the enemies and have to pick the right combination in order to score the best possible hit. This seems a lot easier then it really is. If you are fan of games that give you perfect information, you will find a lot to love here. Seeing what you have available and what is coming is critical as it allows you to make the best possible move. Completing puzzle boards allows the player to activate a spell. One might knock down all the enemies or reroll the board. A strange mixture of card game and Tetris, it has a gamplay you have to see to understand.
The art style is one of the most interesting I have seen this year. Everything looks like cardboard cut-outs. This might seem to suggest the graphics are low quality, but nothing could be farther from the truth. It looks like a play being performed using cardboard puppets. It is so visual interesting that you might find yourself just starting at the world.The monsters are right from the world of Issac, so be prepared to see some cute, but disgusting creatures.
Issac concerned itself with finding the best items as you blasted through the dungeon, The Legend of Bum-Bo asks you to slow down and consider what your next three moves will be. It might take a little time to fully grasp how to play, but once you do, you might spend a lot of time down in the dark. New items and characters become available as you play more rounds. This game is difficult, but you will not mind
8/10
Available on PC
