At first glance, The Binding of Isaac can seem quite daunting. When I initially tried the original game, I found myself unsure of how to proceed and struggled to understand its allure. However, after a friend shared some helpful advice and walked me through the early stages, I quickly became engrossed and ended up spending countless hours playing.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has been released on PS4, PS Vita, and PC, and PlayStation Plus members can enjoy it for free on the first two platforms. Although this remake provides more context for various elements, it may still be somewhat perplexing for newcomers. To help you navigate the game, we’ve created this beginner’s guide filled with useful hints and tips.
Essential Advice
Steer clear of foes as if they were toxic. It may appear straightforward, but your health is invaluable in Isaac. The journey to the finish line is lengthy, and you definitely don’t want to find yourself with dwindling health, as you’ll be back to square one in no time. Keep in mind, if you perish, it’s game over.
This game is a twin-stick shooter, so approach it accordingly. Constantly navigate using the D-Pad or left joystick, while shooting with the right joystick or directional buttons. Stay on the move and continue unleashing those tears.
Extinguish the fires. Although rocks typically contain nothing, the fires that emerge in the levels often hold valuable items, making them an excellent source for collecting coins or hearts.
Avoid hurrying straight to the boss. While the temptation to quickly advance to the next level is understandable, it’s beneficial to thoroughly investigate every room on each floor before confronting the boss. This approach will ensure you are well-prepared to face them, as well as the challenges that lie ahead.
Give it another shot. If you stumble – and it’s bound to happen to everyone eventually – don’t lose hope. The outcomes are generated randomly, so you can’t foresee what’s ahead, but you might receive improved upgrades this time around, and you’ll have a better understanding of the enemy behaviors.
The journey doesn’t end there. After finishing the game for the first time, you’re just beginning. There’s a wealth of DLC expansion content in Rebirth, along with a plethora of new features in this version. So, dive back in and explore what lies beyond the conclusion.
Be cautious with certain items. While some may appear beneficial, they can have negative consequences. For instance, there’s a tick that weakens bosses but can become stuck, preventing you from collecting anything. Similarly, the cat’s head grants you nine lives but resets your health to a single heart with each death. This can make advancing in the game even more challenging than simply starting over.
Now that we’ve covered those somewhat patronizing suggestions, let’s dive into the more substantial topics – we’ll share insights on hidden rooms, unique items, shops, abilities, and much more.
Collections
Many of these items are quite intuitive—keys are used to unlock doors or chests (prioritize the gold ones over the others), while bombs can destroy rocks and walls and can also harm foes. Coins represent the game’s currency and are easy to understand. Additionally, there are hearts that replenish your health, and soul hearts that increase your health temporarily, vanishing entirely once used. Black hearts, introduced in the rebirth, also function similarly, but they inflict damage on enemies in the area when they are used up.
In addition to that, there are capsules that can either enhance or negatively impact your character’s attributes, along with various unpredictable outcomes like teleportation. Additionally, tarot cards function in a comparable manner to capsules, but they offer a broader spectrum of effects unique to each card.
Objects, Baubles & Companions
The various items, which can function either passively or actively, form the core of Isaac’s gameplay. These items serve as upgrades, allowing multiple effects to accumulate, transforming your character into a bizarre yet formidable being. With hundreds of items available, some provide clear descriptions of their effects upon collection, but consulting a wiki or guide may be beneficial if you’re unsure of their contributions.
While many of these items can be stacked, there are certain items that serve as limited power-ups, indicated by a gauge in the upper left corner. These power-ups offer a variety of effects, enabling you to execute powerful attacks or leap across gaps in the ground. To recharge these, you must fill the gauge by finishing rooms. Trinkets function in a similar manner, as you can only carry one at a time. However, unlike the power-ups, their effects—like health recovery or enhanced item drops—remain active until you choose to replace them with a different trinket.
Followers are a distinctive category of attack items that autonomously hover around your character’s head. They can launch their own projectiles at foes or introduce special abilities into the gameplay. Numerous varieties exist within the game, with some even providing defensive support for your character instead of focusing solely on offense.
Unique Spaces
In numerous games, various rooms are filled with randomly generated enemies and loot, but certain rooms remain consistent across different playthroughs, such as shops, item rooms, and hidden areas. Here, we will discuss some of the fundamental types, along with a few that we believe warrant further explanation.
Object Spaces
These chambers featuring a golden door typically require a key to access and contain an object placed on a pedestal for you to collect. It’s definitely worthwhile to seek them out, even if it can occasionally be a letdown to find an item that isn’t as good as what you already possess!
Shop
In the store, you can purchase various products using the coins you’ve gathered. The selection includes a range of items, from hearts and pickups to larger goods, which will, of course, come at a higher price. The Steam Sale item offers a 50% discount on all items in the shop.
Altar of Offering
You might enter a chamber resembling a dungeon, containing only a central arrangement of spikes. In this place, you can choose to stand on the spikes, sacrificing some of your health to summon chests.
Infernal Chamber
This chamber is rather fascinating. In this space, you have the option to exchange a portion of your health points, perhaps one or two, permanently. This means you won’t be able to recover those hearts, although HP+ items will help you regain some health. It’s a gamble, but the potential benefits could be significant.
Secrets
We certainly aim to avoid revealing too much, but the hidden details in this context are not the kind you would stumble upon randomly; rather, they are insights that become apparent only when someone brings them to your attention.
Hidden Chambers
Let’s address this topic first, as there is one located on each level, and it’s possible to overlook it without realizing its significance. These special rooms can be accessed by detonating the center of a wall to uncover an entrance. While this may seem a bit unclear, you’ll have a better chance of discovering it at the junction of three rooms or at the center of four rooms, as indicated on the mini-map—essentially in the spaces between rooms that do not connect.
The collection of images displayed above illustrates the journey of identifying the location of a hidden room, followed by the demolition of the wall to gain entry, and finally, a glimpse of the room’s interior. Check the map to see where it might be situated, as it could be in similar areas.
Dark Stones
While the game features numerous rocks that serve as obstacles or decorative elements, there exists a specific type of rock that functions as a treasure chest, holding various items—primarily soul hearts, though not exclusively. To access the contents, you’ll need to detonate it, uncovering the rewards hidden within.
Take a look at the stone situated beneath the bomb in the image above. That’s the one we’re referring to.
Building connections
If you lack skills like flying or jumping to traverse a gap in the environment, you can construct a bridge by detonating a nearby rock. The resulting rubble will create a pathway for you, as illustrated in the images below.
We trust that this guide will assist you in uncovering the wonders of The Binding of Isaac. Feel free to share your experiences with the game and ask any questions in the comments section!
