Together: Amna & Saif (with Preview Gameplay)

It’s hard selling a cooperative-only game, but indie project Together: Amna & Saif wants that bond for its premise to be the driving point for its entire feature. A mother and child try to complete puzzles together in an often varied way, in this softly colored and soothing adventure.

For its presentation, the game uses painted natural stills for backgrounds, with small characters moving on each singular board. Tones have a slight washed aspect about them in an otherwise breezy atmosphere of rocks, trees and other vegetation. Completing this zen space, some minimalist tones pluck a note here or there during gameplay. At least, it creates a welcoming world that takes some pressure off the trials to come.

And trials there are indeed. Together is played with two players at all times. Even starting the game requires both parties to stand on a button to commence. From there, puzzles are presented one environment at a time. At first, this will just be a standard switch-based method, but the game soon builds on that in different branches. Switches can also affect barriers that block one character, but not the other. Some buttons activate walls vital for progression. Most items are color-coded for easy understanding, but that doesn’t make it easier.

There is quite the challenge to be had in Together. Aside from just some tricky thinking, players are often called upon their skills. For example, a creature is slowly on its way to gobble a series of butterflies that grant access to the next area. It’s up to the duo to complete obstacles fast enough to grab the butterflies before the bugs are eaten. Puzzling against the clock certainly makes it that tad harder, which works as a big plus when it comes to cooperative gameplay. Other than just mulling over problems together, players now also need to coordinate in near unison to get in the narrow gaps that this adventure allows for margins of error. There’s not a lot of room there; get to pressing switches or restart the whole thing and feel the shame of defeat. If not that, some areas require weaving through hazardous projectiles that instantly kill, forcing others to come revive the fallen comrade.

While there is certainly enough variety, it isn’t an ever-growing mechanism. There’s a finite amount of contrast to ultimately always pressing buttons, no matter how many different things they activate. This may be a slight deterrent, but the tightly-wound challenge should not make that too apparent, certainly not when trying to work as one. Most of the focus will always be in the cooperative aspect, which is another clever ruse. It’s possible to mask a lot of things by having a more hectic co-op scheme.

For those looking to play something with another person, to really interact profoundly with that person, Together: Amna & Saif is a cooperative adventure that may be a great exercise. Aside from a charming world, there’s also a puzzle design mixed with a tight pace that urges a team to work well and efficiently. It tests, grows and solidifies bonds. If it can also do so with more than a clever series of switches, it will most likely surprise a lot of team players.

There’s still some time to back Together: Amna & Saif on Kickstarter.

We were sent a preview build, so for more information, watch us stumble with the gameplay commentary below.

My thanks to my guest for putting themselves through that.

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed (@Daavpuke)