In Between is the latest in the current trend of narrative 2D platform games that use its stages as a backdrop for a much deeper story than the likes of Mario and Earthworm Jim ever encountered. In this case the story’s protagonist is diagnosed with cancer and so the player takes a journey through his head, visiting his memories and feelings.
The game’s core mechanic is the ability to flip gravity in four different directions. Your character can’t jump, he can only walk left and right along the plane he’s on, so a combination of positioning and gravity manipulation is required in order to steer him through the 60 levels.
Cleverly, each of the worlds introduces a new mechanic that corresponds with the stages of dealing with the diagnosis of a terminal illness. Denial comes in the form of an ever-approaching wall of black fog that will kill you if it surrounds you but will back away if you turn around and face it. Meanwhile, Anger materialises as large glowing orange balls that slowly skulk around the level, causing you to explode if you touch them.
The game’s narrative elements are beautifully revealed, tearing away parts of the background wall as you approach them and showing past memories while the narrator (who is perhaps a little too over-dramatic at times) explains their significance. The playable cut-scenes are also a joy to wander through, as scenes transition in ingenious ways and your heart grows ever fonder for this man.
Given its subject matter, its unique art style and its flowery, over-acted prose, In Between could so easily have tumbled into pretentiousness. It’s a credit to developer Gentlymad that it never does this: instead it delivers a touching story and wraps it around a compelling puzzle platformer.
A BEAUTIFUL PUZZLER THAT WILL STAY WITH YOU