Welcome back to The Backlog, the weekly column where I review video games based on a certain genre each month. November is our “multiplayer” month, so we’re going to be diving into a game that pushes you to both trust your friends and try not to kill them: “Chained Together.”
“Chained Together” was released earlier this year in June by Anegar Games and is available for purchase through Steam. It allows for up to four players at a time and can be played through online co-op or local co-op. It offers a single-player mode, but games like this are best played with friends.
As one of those games where you traverse up an unforgiving map, “Chained Together” literally chains together inhabitants of hell and challenges them to reach heaven. This is one of the few multiplayer games where being alone might be easier than going with friends.
The chain that connects players isn’t just a visual either; it works as a real chain would and can interact with the physics or terrain around you. That means it can get caught on platforms and potentially mess up you and your friends. But it also allows you to pull up other players who are off the edge and save them from weighing everybody down.
There are 18 levels in “Chained Together” as you ascend. Players start off in hell and make their way to the surface. After getting out of hell you reach the City, and then make your way up to heaven. The journey is not easy, as there are tricky platforms that disappear, moving obstacles and occasionally a segment where one player drives a vehicle and the others can only pray.
As I mentioned earlier, your ascension can be very difficult with three other players. In the case of four players, the chain will link you like it’s a circle, so everyone is linked to two other people. It also makes it very easy to drag others down if you miss a jump or fall off the edge.
Falling off is also part of the game, as it’s incredibly easy to fall all the way back down to hell.
Titles like “Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy” or “Pogostuck” are designed to frustrate players and enrage them through a lack of checkpoints or difficult controls. “Chained Together” offers checkpoints in beginner mode, but even so, the checkpoints are far and few between.
The controls aren’t particularly difficult or hard to use, but the physics of being attached to others can be hard to adjust to, especially if you are stuck with people who are struggling or want to rush off without coordinating first. We’ve all met those kinds of people.
As a tip, timing is everything. It’s best to have one person counting down to a jump or whatever maneuver you need to do to progress. Although it’s slower, it does ensure everyone is timing up correctly. The chain is your best friend and your worst enemy. It can save you from falling off the edge, but it can also get caught on obstacles and slow you down.
I think what “Chained Together” does well when compared to other rage games is making sure the experience is still fun. Traditional rage games have been single-player experiences like “I Am Bread.” But bringing your friends into the mix can turn your anger into laughter, or potentially turn it into acceptance of defeat. Trauma bonding is a great way to connect with your friends but be wary that it could destroy friendships as well.
As you progress through the map, you’ll also find hidden wings. Collecting all 10 wings unlocks the ability to glide while you fall. It helps players to fall slower and plan their descent rather than letting gravity take ahold of you. But the last set of wings is fairly high, so most players end up getting the wings in their first playthrough on beginner mode and use the wings for subsequent playthroughs.
I don’t judge games based on how state-of-the-art their mechanics are or by how long the experience is. Video games range greatly in their style and how they are meant to be played. “Chained Together” is designed to be both a frustrating and fun experience for players who want to connect with their friends. The only difference is that Anegar Games literally chains you together and throws you off the deep end.
“Chained Together” does exactly what it was designed to do. If you really want to test your skills and your friendships, try going through “lava mode” as a race against time.