Without Within
- January 22, 2015
- InvertMouse
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamVinty has been getting nowhere with her calligraphy. Her confidence has sunk to an all time low. As life pressures her toward giving up, will she forget why she pursued this craft in the first place?
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Cute art style and charming character design.
- Humorous and relatable story about pursuing dreams.
- Free to play, making it accessible for everyone.
- Extremely short, taking only about 10-20 minutes to complete.
- Limited choices that often lead to instant bad endings.
- Abrupt ending that leaves players wanting more.
- story564 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Without Within" follows Vinty, a struggling calligrapher, as she navigates her dreams and challenges in a light-hearted yet poignant manner. While the narrative is simple and brief, often clocking in at around 20 minutes, it features multiple endings based on player choices, though many reviews note that these choices can feel binary and lead to abrupt conclusions. Overall, the story is described as charming and relatable, with a mix of humor and emotional depth, but many players express a desire for a longer, more developed narrative.
“Without Within is a short visual novel that tells the story of a girl named Vinty, who dreams of becoming a famous calligrapher. As we follow her journey, we make choices at key points that can lead to multiple endings, making the experience engaging and interactive.”
“The story is a charming slice of life about a struggling artist, capturing the essence of perseverance and the challenges of pursuing one's dreams. It's a light-hearted narrative that resonates with anyone who has faced obstacles in their creative endeavors.”
“This visual novel offers a delightful and humorous story about a young calligrapher navigating her aspirations and the realities of life. The art style complements the narrative beautifully, creating an enjoyable experience that leaves players wanting more.”
“I am unsure where to really place this visual novel as the story is simple and for me just feels open-ended as it doesn't feel like a real ending each time you reach one of them.”
“The story just ends... no wrap up, not even an epilogue to satisfy my curiosity surrounding the development of the story or Vinty as the protagonist.”
“It's obvious which to choose to continue the story, and there feels to be no build-up to the decision-making.”
- humor191 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is widely praised for its lightheartedness and relatability, often eliciting genuine laughter through clever writing and amusing bad endings. Players appreciate the short, engaging narrative that combines cute art with a whimsical tone, making it a delightful experience despite its brevity. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a quick, funny escape that doesn't take itself too seriously.
“The bad endings are hilarious for no reason.”
“It's free, the art is good, the story is quite funny even if it's a bit soul crushing, and it's short.”
“I highly recommend this game because the female protagonist is absolutely hilarious!”
“Reminds me of a quote from comic artist Scott Adams: 'It's not funny if I have to explain it.'”
“A short, unfunny, quite predictable, and quick-ending story about a stupid girl who can't properly use money.”
- graphics129 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a cute and charming art style that many players find appealing, though some describe it as amateurish or simplistic. While the visuals are generally well-received for their warmth and ability to complement the story, opinions vary on their overall quality, with some noting inconsistencies in detail. Overall, the artwork is a highlight for many, contributing positively to the game's lighthearted and humorous tone.
“The artwork is adorable, the opening theme is soothing, and the interface is very simple and easy to use.”
“The simple artwork, fitting soundtrack, and heartwarming plot all came together to create a beautiful work of art.”
“The art style is quite cute and certainly nice, and the music is fitting, if not sounding somewhat standard.”
“Graphically, it's a bit amateurish but cute, with art for every situation.”
“The artwork is bland.”
“The art style was slightly iffy to me.”
- music120 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant, fitting, and supportive of the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its uplifting and soothing qualities. While some found the soundtrack to be repetitive or simplistic, it effectively complements the cute art style and emotional storytelling, enhancing the player's experience. Overall, the music is appreciated for its ability to evoke emotions and match the game's themes, making it a notable aspect of the visual novel.
“The soundtrack is lovely and adds to the emotion of the game.”
“The music pieces are enjoyable, soothing, upbeat, and funny.”
“The music is varied depending on location, but always retains an upbeat quality to it - which fits well with the optimism of Vinty in achieving her dream.”
“While the music is quite bad, created more to keep you company while reading than to create the scene's atmosphere, the drawings and especially the colors are nice and well done.”
“My only real gripe is that the music is a little bit generic and loops somewhat frequently, although I must admit that I was idle for quite some time with the game running.”
“The music, though well made, has one song over and over.”
- emotional41 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartwarming and relatable storytelling, often resonating with players' personal experiences and aspirations. While some found the narrative touching and inspiring, particularly in its portrayal of ambition and creativity, others criticized its brevity and simplicity, feeling it lacked depth. Overall, the game is praised for its charming characters and uplifting messages, though opinions vary on its emotional impact.
“A short, heartwarming visual novel about chasing your dreams.”
“The character might be relatable due to her awkwardness and ambition, and I believe the message of this story is to not give up on our dreams and keep working hard, which is really wholesome.”
“I enjoyed the game; it's the first visual novel I have ever played, and it has such a touching story that I think many of us can relate to in life.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this visual novel is primarily centered around making binary choices that lead to different endings, but it lacks depth and engagement, often resulting in poorly written dialogue and a very short playtime of around 10 to 30 minutes. While some players appreciate the potential of the story and characters, many criticize the limited interactivity and overall execution, suggesting that it feels more like a brief reading experience than a traditional game. Overall, the gameplay is minimal and may not satisfy those looking for a more substantial gaming experience.
“This is a modern masterpiece which promises hours upon hours of exciting gameplay and thrilling emotional endings.”
“Even though it's only around 15 minutes of gameplay, it's a cute little story, with fairly good artwork.”
“The story is fun, in-game flags (choices) and gameplay are meant to keep on story or get a bad end.”
“As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
“Just play the first game and don't bother buying the second one; there isn't any gameplay in it and it doesn't show much of a message.”
“The gameplay is very short and can be finished in 10 minutes.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is characterized by its heavy reliance on advertisements, which some players find amusing rather than intrusive. While it serves as a promotional tool for the developers, the game is perceived more as an introduction to their future projects than a standalone experience. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted approach to advertising, viewing it as a preferable alternative to traditional TV ads.
“The story seems cute, but then switches into cheap advertising for itself.”
“I can only think that this isn't supposed to be a game, but an advertisement for whatever the developers are cooking up next.”
“This game is shorter than TV ads.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is primarily enhanced by its automatic voice-over and well-crafted artwork, which create a relaxing and immersive experience. While the music is often criticized for being subpar and more of a background element, it still contributes to the overall ambiance when combined with the visuals. Overall, players appreciate the calming and simplistic atmosphere, making it a welcoming entry point for newcomers to the visual novel genre.
“The atmosphere of the game is only enhanced by the fantastic automatic voice-over setting, which really brings the characters and setting to life.”
“When you combine art with music, the result is a wonderful atmosphere that does a great job amplifying the simplicity of the story.”
“I really enjoyed the cool and calm atmosphere the story surrounds you with and the story of Vinty.”
“But it does lack important things for visual novels like characterization, length (really, it probably did pretty well for the length) and atmosphere (sort of).”
“While the music is quite bad, created more to keep you company while reading than to create the scene's atmosphere, the drawings and especially the colors are nice and well done.”
“The atmosphere of the game is only enhanced by the fantastic automatic voice-over setting which only really brings the characters and setting to life.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its immersive storytelling and cute design, though some players feel a disconnect between the appealing character designs in the background and the chibi style of the main character. Overall, the game is seen as inspirational, encouraging perseverance through its narrative.
“It really is an immersive story with good character development.”
“The character design is rather cute, and it's a rather inspirational visual novel--basically just wait for an (unexpected) opportunity and persevere.”
“I would love to see the developer make a game using the character designs on the background posters and magazines.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development made the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with a score of 6/10, primarily due to the restriction of following only one "right" route. Players express a desire for more diverse pathways and extended gameplay, indicating that enhanced replay value could significantly improve their overall experience.
“This game has good potential in the storyline, and if they release a sequel, I would definitely play it. If it had more replayability, more routes, and lasted longer in terms of gameplay, I would probably buy it.”
“Only bad thing is that there's no replay value, since you can only take one 'right' route.”
“This game has good potential in the storyline and if they release a sequel, I would definitely play it. If it had more replayability, more routes, and lasted longer in terms of gameplay, I would probably buy it.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where progress is hindered by the need to click through text. This repetitive clicking can feel laborious, leading some to suggest that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort, akin to needing a second life to complete.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users noting issues such as a short playtime and subpar fullscreen resolution.
“The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Fullscreen mode is not optimized well, causing visual glitches and a subpar experience.”
“The overall performance is lacking, with long loading times and inconsistent frame rates.”
