Our Darker Purpose has had the unfortunate luck of existing in a world that has already experienced The Binding of Isaac and will be forcibly labeled as a pretender and compared to that game until the end of time. Let it be known that looks are quite deceiving, and Our Darker Purpose's resemblance to Edmund McMillan's indie blockbuster begins and ends with the top-down, twin-stick shooter appearance that both share.

Where The Binding of Isaac is a fast-paced, almost bullet-hell game, Our Darker Purpose is much less about quick reflexes and more about patience and planning. You will never achieve Isaac levels of speed and destructiveness in this game, because that isn't the point or the core of its challenge. This game is about endurance and taking in the world around you. There are times I've felt more engaged by Our Darker Purpose's gameplay than Isaac's simply because it is a more demanding game. If Isaac is about reflexes and becoming mighty, then Our Darker Purpose is about staying two steps ahead of the game, because once you perform any action, you are committed to it.

The game features a wonderful art direction and soundtrack that blends together into a beautifully gothic piece of design that I fell in love with from the first trailer I watched. There is a detailed lore and story woven throughout this game that is surprisingly esoteric and adds a flavor of mystery to this pleasantly Dark little journey. Similar to the original Dark Souls, the different elements of this game support each other in such a way that were any one of them removed or altered, the entire game would lose its unique atmosphere.

Long story short: Don't go into this game expecting anything similar to The Binding of Isaac. It isn't a copycat just because it bears some surface level similarities. If you allow yourself to approach this game on its own terms, you will find a unique game whose world is enchanting and challenging in its own right.

People will compare this to The Binding of Isaac, and they aren't wrong in doing so. They are both very similar, and yet play very differently.
The similarities follow:

• Twin stick top-down-ish shooter.
  
• Procedurally generated levels.
  
• Items to pick up which improve your character.
  
• Bosses at the end of levels.

That is where most of the similarities stop however, and the games become very different.

In conclusion, The Binding of Isaac and Our Darker Purpose are both great rougue-like twinsticks, however, they are pitched very differently. The Binding of Isaac is made to make you feel powerful, yet fragile, while Our Darker Purpose makes you feel weak and alone, trying to survive, while also being relatively sturdy.

Our Darker Purpose is a gorgeous game in many ways. The way the story and setting is drip-fed to you via talking desks or boss descriptions allows you to engage with it or get on with the gameplay itself, and the writing manages to be funny without being cringe-worthy. The music is also truly amazing, perhaps the best I've heard in any indie game.

I find the gameplay particularly engaging as well. On the surface it does hug closely to Binding of Isaac gameplay, with randomised rooms, unlockable items and locations, starting over when you die etc. But it does go beyond that. The emphasis on choice over randomness is far more evident in ODP: Each time you level up you choose between two perks that may boost your attack or survivabilty in some way (life leech, attack speed, or some more exotic perks), and you unlock lessons that you can equip before a play-through that can have a dramatic effect on your gameplay. You can also choose which floor to enter after a boss battle, and each floor may have different enemies or modifiers to them (enemies will drop more juice boxes, won't have champion enemies, you and the enemy will take more damage etc.)

These elements allow for less of a feeling that the RNG was against you, and more that if you die you messed up in some way. It also means that even if you are having trouble, you may unlock lessons that will help you in the future, so there is always a small sense of progression without making the early levels feel trivial.

One downside to the game is that earlier areas can feel repetitive, as there is a smaller set of potential enemies and items that you will encounter. Earlier levels can also look a little too grey for my liking. It also isn't clear how to unlock each of the lessons - something I find frustrating but other people may enjoy discovering the unknown.

Over all its a good game to play for several hours in a row or just half an hour, and its easy to sink at least 30 hours into the game (for those who care about replayability). And the music is to die for - that cannot be said enough!

This review will hopefully bust the myth that Our Darker Purpose is a cheap copy of Binding of Isaac:

This game deserves so much more attention! I can't think of many reasons why anyone would dislike it, except maybe its difficulty. One thing that might be putting people off is the game's seeming similarity to Binding of Isaac, which is understandable, but very superficial. I played the hell out of Binding of Isaac. I finished both the original and the remake with all their DLCs on 100%. It's got a very special place in my heart. But I would never say Our Darker Purpose is a cheap copy of it. It's very much a game of its own. Besides belonging in the same game category as Isaac, it's not affected or derived from it in any way. There are indie games out there that downright copy Isaac and use the word 'homage' as an excuse for their lack of creativity.

And creativity is something any sane person can't deny this game has. The gothic/Burtonesque art style is so neat and polished, it almost tops the phenomenal orchestral soundtrack, which is probably the thing I loved most about this game. It's unheard of amongst indie games. Yes, Binding of Isaac had addictive tunes, but it's like comparing the Looney Tunes theme to Star Wars. Both are addictive, but only one is epic and blows your mind. Too bad you can't truly enjoy it, until you reach higher floors. From the little background I could find, the music is made by an experienced composer who writes scores for famous TV shows. Big thumbs up to the devs for getting him on board! One thing I shouldn't forget when mentioning creativity is the story. While I love the art style of Binding of Isaac, I've always felt it lacks a deeper concept, yet alone a story. It's gore-ish and grotesque, but somehow bland. This game has such a dark, depressive and deep story, it actually feels like playing a game based on a novel. Have you ever read through the Harry Potter books and thought the last book was dark and depressing compared to the first ones? Well imagine the same leap, but use the last book as a starting point.

The gameplay itself is much less fast paced, bullet-hellish and much more about strategy. Where Isaac relies on reflexes and synerging good items, ODP is much more about the learning curve, which is very distinguishable and steep. Every time you play, you get at least one step further. Also there's almost no grinding involved, which in my opinion is a good thing. Sure, there are better items unlocked by finishing challenges, but they aren't essential for a succesful playthrough. Each time you finish a floor, you get to choose between 2-4 ways to continue. There are different sets/clans of enemies on each floor type and random floor traits you get to choose from. Usually floors with the more rewarding traits (e.g. higher loot rate) have more difficult enemy sets. You also level up during every run and gain perks in the process. Another thing I really appreciate is that ODP, unlike Isaac, isn't locked to 60 FPS (let alone 30), so I can fully enjoy it on my 120hz screen.

I never really loved bossfights in Binding of Isaac. Most of them feel the same and instead of finding a strategy and/or weak spots, you just have to keep dealing massive damage and dodge projectiles. Bosses in Our Darker Purpose remind me more of Dark Souls / Titan Souls. There's a total of 24 bossfights and each one of them is smart, unique and requires a different approach. For example there's a bossfight inside a maze with an enemy that randomly teleports every 10 seconds. There's a slow trail of fire behind you and floating projectiles that reduce your movement speed on hit (to an eventual zero), so if you aren't careful enough, you get too slow and either burn or can't keep up with the boss anymore. I don't want to spoil too much, but there's even a boss involving a little game of chess! All in all this game is very though-through and if it had half the support and fanbase Binding of Isaac has, it could be legendary. I can't wait for another game by the same developer and I'll do my best to spread the word about it, so it doesn't die off.

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Summary/TLDR:

This isn't a Binding of Isaac clone! It's a very creative game of its own, that does many things different and lots of them even better! Don't get discouraged by the few superficial similarities and its rather high difficulty. Visually, musically and even story-wise it's a piece of art! I'm a roguelike games lover and this is game is one of my favorites. Its bossfights remind me of Dark Souls/Titan Souls. Give this hidden gem a chance, it deserves it!

9/10!

This game is getting a lot of crap for being too close to Binding of Isaac. To be fair, it does resemble Binding of Isaac a lot, a keyboard, top-down shooter with accumulation of items and perks. The mechanics differ enough to give this game an entirely differnet backbone, though, and let it be said that Avidly Wild games did not rip off Edmund Macmillan in any way, shape, or form.

That being said, though this gives some pretty good Binding of Isaac type gameplay, whether it helps the addicts who are weaning themselves off that famous game remains to be seen. Our Darker Purpose's art style is, in my humble opinion, far more beautiful and intriguing than Isaac's quirky and humorous one, and the music in this game is subtle yet stellar, offering a nice, edgy background to the game's ominous atmosphere.

The lore in Our Darker Purpose is uniquely amazing. Binding of Isaac came with tons of items and an allegory within a story, but it's story is hardly as good, interesting, or compelling as that found in Our Darker Purpose. Many words went into the lore of this game and for that, Avidly Wild, I applaud you. Cordy is a character one can sympathize for, have fun with, and imagine a backstory for in the dark orphanage she lives in. The fragments about bosses, items, and Edgewood are equally fun to read, and all offer a dark humor that is quite well done.

Our Darker Purpose adds more choice than Isaac as well. Isaac's customization had two options: yes or no. You took the item, or you didn't. In this game, the perks and items are a bit more varied and a bit more easier to alter. Arguably, Our Darker Purpose is more user-friendly and easier in that sense. The wiggle room allowed by its choice of perks upon level up and its item stores allow one to build up Cordy in a more specific and designed manner than Binding of Isaac.

Now that I've said everything it has over Binding of Isaac, let me warn you about what NOT to expect from this game. Many people fell in love with the sobbing little boy sitting on poop because of the game's learning curve and skill requirements. You had to be fast on your fingers, or else the unforgiving monsters of the basement would get you. In Our Darker Purpose, however, speed and reaction time is less important. Cordy, though she moves smoothly as of the most recent update, will never hit the speed of Isaac with speed-ups, Wooden Spoon, and the Belt. Though this might seem like it makes the game easier, the enemies in this game are far more advanced, difficult, and tankier than those in Binding of Isaac. This game prioritizes thought over reaction time, and you'll find yourself frustrated not because you didn't tap down fast enough, but because you didn't think to roll at the right time.

TL;DR: Our Darker Purpose has the same surface mechanics as Binding of Isaac, but a deeper story, fresh graphics, and an entirely new item customization system. While it will never replace the mad speed dashing and the crazy bullet and fly frenzies in Binding of Isaac, it offers a new dimension of thought and planning while in the midst of combat. It is definitely worth looking at and getting if the abovementioned bonuses are attractive.

Great game, very enjoyable, a lot of depth and some interesting lore. Add to that a fantastic sound track and appealing visuals and there's really not much to ask for.

If you enjoyed The Binding of Isaac, you'll enjoy this as well. And there's less poop, so that's always a plus.

Binding of Isaac meets Tim Burton in this amazing rogue-like/lite game that offers captivating gameplay and atmospheric soundtrack to complete the package. Best purchase I did during this sale.

Comparisons to The Binding of Isaac are unavoidable, but Our Darker Purpose is no clone. While the rogue-like elements, dark tone, and general playstyle are certainly similar, ODP adds plenty of new elements to the formula. Any resemblances to the 2011 indie hit should be considered characteristics of this new genre. The first thing veteran BOI players will notice is that the individual rooms are different sizes, the majority of them significantly larger than before. Visibility then becomes more of an issue and - combined with a reduced movement speed - positioning Cordy around obstacles becomes more critical. This is reenforced by a roll mechanic that increases movement speed for a short time after dodging.
The leveling system and the more persistent credit system makes for an experience that leans on its RPG elements rather than the arcade-like variability BOI relies on. Each level up is rewarded with a choice between two power-ups, keeping things random while providing an opportunity for strategy. Credits allow for even more control with consistent upgrades, but in turn encourage grinding to get a better chance of overcoming the challenge at hand. And those advantages are needed as the developer has specifically stated that parts of this game were meant to give even Platinum God BOI players a run for their money.
While the feeling of a desperate and narrow survival invoked by all the challenge, randomization, and even the permadeath suits the game's narrative perfectly, the richness of Edgewood's story struggles to be told through the long string of failed runs required to learn a new set of patterns and terrain. Repetition allows for a greater ability to strategize; however, ODP does not avoid tedium like BOI does. Don't get me wrong, the enemies themselves are a joy to learn and become familiar with. Each is distinct and varied, most even possessing a rare champion version which adds yet another layer of complexity. Each new room is chosen from a list of predesigned rooms meaning strategies can be formulated not just around particular enemies, but also particular combinations of enemies in specific surroundings. Overall the game is a slow build that pays off wonderfully, the only frustration is a result of impatiently hunting for the next tidbit of such an enticing story.

Our Darker Purpose has so much potential - the art style is gothic and frequently impressive, the lore of the Edgewood Orphanage setting is rich, and it has a few unique mechanics in terms of incremental buffs tied in with a leveling system. And it squanders it all.

Our Darker Purpose aspires to be the next Binding of Isaac - it's a top down, twin-stick, rogue-lite with an exhausting array of usable and passive items. But it's worse in every way, and three times more expensive to boot. I couldn't even fathom pouring more than 10 hours into this game, let alone the 100 hours Isaac can satisfy. What it comes down to is gameplay. Signs of sloppy design are on display almost by the minute. The hitboxes of enemies are incomprehensible and your pathetic, pixel-size shots pass through even the largest of bosses for no discernible reason. Movement is imprecise and, without rolling everywhere, is slow and clunky. Everything takes far too much damage before it dies and deals far too much damage, each creature doubling in strength, HP and defense after every level, as opposed to the strict rules governing monster types in Isaac. Difficulty is never an issue if it's fair, but the poor design choices present the challenge as cruelly unfair. A player's skill will never be able to respond to impossible to dodge hazards that appear the instant a player enters a room, or the awkward placement of innumerable indecipherable objects that block player projectiles and obstruct any sense of movement.

In the end, the greatest crime Our Darker Purpose commits is an obvious empty ploy to prolong the length of its campaign. Rather than implement as large an array of items as Isaac or Risk of Rain, encouraging a sense of discovery and experimentation, a lazily implemented upgrade system built around earning 'credits' in a poorly designed menu sets positive bonuses for the next run. A next run that you won't want to make.

It's funny, you know? It's been years and years since I've last played Our Darker Purpose. I don't know why I'm only just posting this review now of all times. Maybe it's nostalgia. I just started thinking about it again, trawled through the soundtrack, combed through the wiki, and just like that I was back in the Edgewood Home for Lost Children.

This game is difficult. In some cases, I would even say it's unfair. But it's also worth your time. The art style is gorgeous, the writing is top-notch, and the gameplay is a loop that had me always saying "I can make it - just one more run." It isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I would still argue that this is an overlooked and underappreciated gem in the roguelike genre.

I wish I knew what became of the developers - this is the first and only game created by Avidly Wild Games, and they're otherwise completely untraceable. Are they still out there, creating unsung gems? Are they well? Are they happy? I hope so, because this game they've made is very near and very dear to my heart.