The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth

Pros

• Top-Tier Graphics
• Tons of Content
• New Items
• Additional 'Greed Mode'

Cons

• Adult Themes
• Nearly Too Addictive

The original version of this game was simply called The Binding of Isaac, but this version is an expansion of that first dungeon crawler called The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth, and it provides a valuable addition to what was already an excellent game.

The intense nature of The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth, combined with the randomly generated levels, creates a game that is uniquely addictive. The game never plays through the same way twice, but the player gleans valuable knowledge about the items and gameplay every time they are killed, and it will happen often. Much like The Legend of Zelda, when you die in this dungeon crawler, you are forced back to the beginning.

The premise of the game is basic enough, despite its morbid nature. You play a boy named Isaac who has been locked in the basement by his mother. God instructed Isaac's mother to sacrifice the boy, and the objective is to escape the dungeon of the basement before the monsters that roam the area are able to kill Isaac. If you fail, your mother will sacrifice you. Clearly, this is not a game meant for children.

There are more than 100 new items in this expansion, and there is a new game mode as well. There is also a new campaign with a new final boss, so the differences are pretty clear. There is also the addition of online rankings, new challenges, dailies, and more rooms than anyone could ever explore. The combo upgrade system is another new tool, and it opens up the gameplay altogether.

As if that weren't enough, there is also a new playable character named Lilith, as well as new achievements and secrets hiding in each dungeon. There is so much new content in this expansion that even the developer couldn't name it all without knowing he forgot something.

The original game definitely shines through the upgrades in this expansion. It's almost as if the developers were limited in what they could create with the first game, but this expansion is much more in line with what they actually had in mind. The pristine graphics combined with the mature story make this game one to play over and over, and the addictive nature of the dungeons only adds to that.

Perhaps the only main negative of the game is that it can eat away at your free time without you even realizing it. Players could easily sit for hours and continuously play, trying to get to the next dungeon over and over. Only those with the self control to put the game down after a little while should consider downloading it. Addictive personalities should steer clear. The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth is far too perfect to ignore, and the developers went above and beyond to fix what wasn't broken with the original.

Pros

• Top-Tier Graphics
• Tons of Content
• New Items
• Additional 'Greed Mode'

Cons

• Adult Themes
• Nearly Too Addictive