Developer: RainDance LX
Publisher: Lace Games, KISS ltd
Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie
Platform: PC
Release date: July 1, 2016
Find the game here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/285070/Between_Me_and_The_Night/
Between Me and The Night is a story driven and thought provoking experience that lets you take on the roll as a young boy in a surrealist action / adventure that continuously blurs the lines between sanity and madness. The game currently retails on Steam for £9.99 or regional equivalent and was released by RainDance LX back in January 2016.
I have to admit, I was quite sceptical coming into Between Me and The Night because these indie titles aren’t generally my cup of tea. But this one was different. The story started in a very confusing and nonsensical way, leaving me confused for the first 5 minutes or so. However, as I got the hang of the basic controls I began to explore the house. I then began searching each and every individual room that was accessible and started collecting a range of seemingly useless items, such as a plastic toy soldier, a pile of books and a box of cat food. It wasn’t until later on that I uncovered the need for these items and how they would help me advance through the story.
The story itself is extremely compelling and intriguing. Every time you uncover something new, you begin to ponder about the reasons behind it. Why is this happening? How did this all begin? Where is my family? It is very clever in the way that it leaves you desperate to uncover the secrets to why you are all alone and without a family. This mechanic made the game surprisingly fun and enjoyable and gave me a reason to keep exploring the house and keep discovering more and more clues.
The game has a very unique art style that is coupled with some beautifully atmospheric lighting that can give the house some real character, and at times, a horror-esque theme. One thing I must tell you though, is the absolutely delightful music and weather effects. It makes everything feel so alive. The rain pattering down onto the windows and the distant thunder make the game very immersive and you can easily get lost in it for hours.
The game is full of intricate puzzles and surprising twists which are generally quite relaxing, this alongside the slow-pace gameplay make for a nice change from my usual stress-inducing titles. Not often do I feel connected to the story or the character, but you soon start to connect emotionally with the lonely child. The story isn’t completely without action though, aside from the emotional conversations that are brought to life through various means, the eerie footsteps and creepy monsters will goosebumpify (yes, that’s a word now – at least in my mind) even the most hardened of players.
The combat system does not feature too often throughout, however, I feel like it was a bit of a let-down and didn’t give the game a polished feel. The gameplay itself was incredibly smooth and was honestly a joy to play. The main issue I have with Between Me and The Night was the total lack of replayability. Unless you are an achievement hunter, there’s nothing in it for you.
Overall, I was very impressed with Between Me and The Night. The game offered a unique experience that I would easily recommend to those of you seeking a change from fast-paced titles or those of you that are looking for an engaging, story driven game to sink a few hours into.
Between Me and The Night – 7.5 out of 10
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- Scorpio
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