New Faces in the Basement: Exploring the New Characters of The Binding of Isaac: Repentance

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, the final and most expansive DLC for the popular roguelike, has significantly enriched the game’s already vast world. Among its many additions, the introduction of two new playable characters, Bethany and Jacob & Esau, stands out as a major highlight. These characters, initially developed within the Antibirth mod, bring unique mechanics and playstyles that offer fresh challenges and opportunities for both seasoned veterans and newcomers. They dramatically alter how players approach the game, demanding strategic adjustments and offering an unprecedented level of strategic depth.

Bethany: The Soul Heart Guardian

Unique Mechanics

Bethany, the first of the new characters, presents a dramatically different approach to health management in The Binding of Isaac. Unlike other characters who rely on red hearts and their variations, Bethany doesn’t directly use soul hearts or black hearts for health. Instead, these heart containers are converted into a special counter. This unique mechanic profoundly changes her gameplay, encouraging players to collect soul and black hearts at every opportunity, but also to think critically about their usage.

The Book of Virtues

Bethany’s starting item is the Book of Virtues. Activating this item releases a wisp that orbits around her. The wisp mimics the effects of the item used, but at a reduced power. Importantly, it utilizes the converted soul/black heart counter when firing off an item effect. This forces players to weigh the benefits of each active item against the cost in the form of the hearts they’ve converted. As Bethany gathers more converted hearts, she can unleash powerful item synergies through the book. The Book of Virtues mechanic also adds a layer of complexity, demanding a keen understanding of active item interactions.

Strategic Implications

Playing as Bethany requires a more cautious and strategic approach. Players need to be mindful of their converted heart counter while managing item usage through the Book of Virtues. Her play style rewards smart resource management and careful planning, allowing you to build a character capable of devastating power. Her starting item offers both utility and offensive capability while adding an engaging layer of complexity to the standard Binding of Isaac formula.

Jacob & Esau: The Twin Terror

Unique Mechanics

The second addition, Jacob and Esau, are unlike any other character in the game, controlling two characters at once. This presents an unprecedented challenge and a novel gameplay experience. Players control both brothers simultaneously, each possessing distinct stats and item pickups. Each brother can take damage, but the game ends if either one runs out of health. This forces players to be vigilant at all times, keeping a close eye on both characters. Their differing stats, combined with separate item acquisition, can make or break a run based on how effectively players manage each character.

Asymmetrical Gameplay

Jacob & Esau each have different attributes, meaning players can build them into wildly different builds, allowing for a wider diversity of strategies within a single run. One brother may specialize in damage output, while the other might be more focused on defense or utility items. This asymmetry encourages players to think about item synergies and how they impact each brother differently.

A New Level of Challenge

Controlling two characters simultaneously adds a significant layer of complexity, demanding a higher level of spatial awareness and micromanagement. The need to position both characters correctly while avoiding damage is a steep learning curve. The sheer chaos of managing two characters simultaneously can be both frustrating and intensely rewarding, making the brothers a high-skill character for the most dedicated Binding of Isaac fans. The brothers require players to develop an intimate understanding of the core game mechanics on a whole new level, as mismanagement can lead to a swift and frustrating end.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Were Bethany and Jacob & Esau part of the base game?

No, Bethany and Jacob & Esau were originally introduced in the Antibirth mod before being officially incorporated into The Binding of Isaac: Repentance as fully-fledged playable characters.

2. How do Bethany’s converted hearts work?

Bethany’s soul and black hearts don’t act as traditional health. They’re converted into a counter used by the Book of Virtues, powering its active item effects.

3. What starting item does Bethany have?

Bethany starts with the Book of Virtues, which creates a wisps mimicking the effect of active items used by the player.

4. Can Bethany gain regular red heart containers?

Yes, Bethany can acquire regular red heart containers. However, she still operates best by collecting as many soul and black hearts as possible.

5. How does controlling Jacob & Esau work?

You control both Jacob and Esau simultaneously. Each brother can pick up different items and has unique starting stats, but both characters share the player’s health. If either brother runs out of health, the run ends.

6. Are Jacob & Esau considered a difficult character to play?

Yes, Jacob & Esau are widely regarded as one of the most difficult characters in the game due to their demanding control scheme and the fact that both brothers must remain alive for the run to continue.

7. Do Jacob and Esau share the same items?

No, items are individual to each brother as they are picked up. This allows for different build strategies on each character.

8. What is the best strategy for Jacob & Esau?

Effective play with Jacob & Esau involves careful planning, item synergy, and the careful managing of each twin separately. It is also important to keep an eye on both characters when it comes to damage and positioning.

9. Are Bethany and Jacob & Esau the only new characters in Repentance?

Yes, Bethany and Jacob & Esau are the only new playable characters introduced by the Repentance DLC.

10. Do the new characters have variants?

Yes, each of the standard characters in the game, including Bethany and Jacob & Esau have a variant, known as a “B-Side” character, bringing the total to 34 playable characters in Repentance.

11. How do I unlock Bethany?

Bethany is unlocked by beating the game as Lazarus

12. How do I unlock Jacob & Esau?

Jacob & Esau are unlocked by beating the game as The Lost.

13. Are there other characters from Antibirth implemented into repentance?

No, besides the inclusion of the two new characters, and a couple of items, no other aspects of the Antibirth mod were included in repentance.

14. Can Bethany and Jacob & Esau utilize the same item breaks?

While Bethany and Jacob & Esau can certainly benefit from item synergy, each character is unique in how they interact with each item.

15. Which character is considered the “easiest” to play out of the new ones?

Bethany is considered by many as the easier of the two, as she relies on the more familiar gameplay loop of most characters, rather than managing two characters at once.