Together in Between – A Monochromatic Co-op Puzzle Adventure

“That was our friendship: equal parts irritation and cooperation.” – Ransom Riggs

Overview

Together in Between is a first-person co-op puzzle adventure game. The protagonists are two lovers who have been trapped in different dimensions of the same place, within an enchanted book. They must solve the puzzles of the wizard-king and traverse through the surreal space in order to be reunited once more.

Gameplay

Together in Between places two players in different versions of the same space. They must communicate and work together to solve puzzles and progress through the game. There is a mechanic that allows each player to view the screen of the other player, however, this is at odds with the style of gameplay and feels like cheating. It would be better if this were implemented with a limit on its use so that it can be utilised as a last resort like a hint rather than all the time.

The game, whilst linear, does not effectively guide the player through its sequence of puzzles meaning it is possible to struggle through one task before later reaching a solution that could have been obtained prior to attempting the puzzle. For example, the chess game is the first thing players are greeted with after the tutorial. The solution is accessible at this point, past a few other puzzles, but that is not clear which leaves players attempting it straight away, despite the fact that prior knowledge of chess is required in order to be successful.

The puzzles can be quite fun and satisfying in terms of concept but the implementation leaves something to be desired. Often, solving the puzzle is drawn out much longer than it needs to be which can be frustrating and even get a bit tedious. One such incident requires one player to communicate a series of symbols to the other player who must then move corresponding library books. Not only are the symbols very similar and difficult to describe verbally, but the series of symbols is incredibly long. Once the players understand how the puzzle works, there should not be any need for them to demonstrate that to such an extent.

There are also practical weaknesses to some of the puzzles that result in repetition and a diminished sense of fun and satisfaction. One such task sees one player reading a set of directions to the other so that they can safely cross a grid. The sequence has 32 directions and must be completed before a harshly short-timer runs out. If the second player missteps or the pair runs out of time, the puzzle is restarted and the sequence completely changes meaning there is no possibility of memorising parts to improve movement speed.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of bugs to further hinder the enjoyment of Together in Between. For example, to initiate the chess puzzle both players must rotate statues. Player one was able to rotate their statue and take their first move before the 2nd had used their statue which meant that neither player could interact with the puzzle at all, requiring a restart of the game.

Narrative

Together in Between includes a fantasy narrative that haphazardly attempts a much more in-depth story than a game of this genre needs. Set in the realm of Dimensia the story features magic, abandoned libraries, enchanted books, dwarves, and lovers. It is delivered mostly through narration, via an extended piece of exposition at the start followed by more sporadic interruptions.

The spoken dialogue and the text subtitles often do not match which can be very jarring, which along with the overly verbose and stilted delivery makes the story harder to follow. The narrative does have some interesting elements but a somewhat stripped-back version of the tale told more succinctly would be better suited to the genre of game and style of gameplay.

Styling

Together in Between has a very distinct, high-contrast 3D art style that uses only black and white, this ties into the gameplay as each player is confined to only walking on, and picking up items in their designated colour. The overall effect is definitely striking but can be a little tough on the eyes after a while. Luckily, the contrast can be adjusted in the settings to mitigate any visual discomfort. The items and scenery are represented mostly with linework, showing a decent amount of detail despite the simple style.

The music is quite gentle and calm for the most part, with a clear fantasy tone, using strings, piano, and some twinkly sounds. It is fairly minimal and only becomes prominent at certain times.

Summary

Together in Between will take between 3 and 5 hours to complete. It boasts a unique art style, interesting visuals, and a pleasant soundtrack. However, the narrative is clumsy and overly ambitious in its delivery and the gameplay can be frustrating and drawn out. The concept of the game is solid and there is certainly a call for more co-op puzzle games on the market but this one lacks the finesse of other similar titles such as We Were Here and is not as satisfying an experience. I very much wanted to enjoy this game but immersion and enjoyment were a struggle and ultimately it needs some further refinement and polishing before I can confidently recommend it.

Looking for more co-op games? You might like these reviews:
A Way Out – Co-operative Prison Escape Game – Pets at Work – Cats and Dogs and Co-op Platforming Fun! – Starcrossed – A Kitchy Shoot-Em-Up Adventure

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