A cooperative experience like you’ve never seen before. It may sound bombastic, but it’s what I think Josef Fares’s new creation offers. In the review of It Takes Two I tell you the enormous fun, variety and genius that is contained in the multi-genre production of Hazelight Studios.
One of the best things I can tell you about It Takes Two is that what its creator, the Swedish-Lebanese Josef Fares, said was true. Not only is it hard to get tired of playing it, but you’re always looking forward to what is coming next. It is not short for a game of this type, the cooperation between the two players is essential, and also there is no part of the game that is more neglected than another. The game is brutal in every way, and it shows how Hazelight Studios has progressed in such a short time.
So much so, that my impression has been to play an adventure that is even above Brothers and A Way Out . It seems complicated, but that’s the way it has been in my case. There is a level of enthusiasm put into each part of the game that made me think about the amount of talent and effort invested. Fares recently commented that his latest game was a love letter to Nintendo, and although he said it because – indeed – we have sequences that are reminiscent of his classics, I have also detected a way of weaving situations and mechanics that borders on, and sometimes overflows, the genius.
The way the game moves from one situation to another is overwhelming. The variety is the key point of this production. As soon as you are in a flight sequence, like shooting in a third person shooter or living a tribute to the Devil, with a change of perspective included. You never stop surprising you from beginning to end, with a roller coaster of situations that have a common denominator: the cooperative , without which it is impossible to understand the raison d’être of this video game. I am aware that there are people who will not play it for this reason, but Fares and company make it very easy for you to do so. And believe me: it is absolutely worth finding someone to play it with.
A non-stop of cooperative fun
One of the things that speak best about It Takes Two is that it is not a short game at all. They last 10-12 hours , but they seem like longer. It has an incredible playable density. You go from one situation to another in an impressive way. That is why Fares even offered up to $ 1,000 to those who were bored with the game . I was completely convinced of the existing variety, and the game has everything : platforms, shooting, driving, puzzles, role-playing … It is an absolute madness that encourages you to continue playing until you finish it.
One of the things that speak best about It Takes Two is that it is not a short game at allOne of the keys to the success of the game is in the pattern breaks, or in other words, in the introduction of playable mechanics that you do not expect , that change the rhythm, and that you must learn to drive to continue. For example, there is a part where one player can alter time, while the other is able to teleport. The combination of both techniques allows the resolution of the problems that arise in this phase, each time with greater complexity. The good thing about Hazelight’s title is that it’s hard to find one better situation than another. I’m tired of watching games that bring in a lot of experience, but most of them are little more than average. However, It Takes Two does the most difficult thing: achieve excellence in every moment of the game.. That for me is one of the great achievements of Fares and one of the reasons why this magnificent video game will be remembered. There are a hundred games in one: an absolute outrage.
The other big achievement is in the two-player cooperative multiplayer , of course. You already know that it is only a cooperative game, but I already tell you that it is completely justified. When you play it, you realize that it couldn’t have been otherwise, and that’s also the magic of it. Personally, I recommend that you meet on the same console to play, because exchanging information live is important, even when it comes to synchronizing your movements. But if it is not possible, the truth is that Fares and his team have thought of everything. With the Friend Pass , you can invite another person online.
The playable variety is the best of the game, hands down.
In this regard, in case you are interested, I will make some considerations. The first is that there is no crossplay, in the sense that it is not possible to play with users of platforms of another brand. There is only compatibility in the same family of consoles. That is, a player with a PS4 can play with someone who has a PS5. Then another aspect, quite obvious, is that the guest user depends on the host , since he does not have the possession of the game. Also, the advance always corresponds to Player 1 and a PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription is required. In short, not all are advantages, but the initiative is globally positive and helps to share the game with someone: which is something essential. Therefore, the word you will hear the most is “collaboration”, but a real one.complementary skills to those of our partner. In one phase we throw nails that the other player uses to hang himself. In another, Cody infuses enemies with flammable nectar that May can explode with her rifle. The game is based on cooperation from start to finish, with the succession of a thousand situations that you must check for yourself. I will only tell you my feeling, and it is that of having been living surprise after surprise at a brutal rate. Usually, the coop works on a split screen , although there are few situations in which we share the same screen. Actually, it takes a lot of ingenuity, so you can expect unforeseen situations and that, above all, they want you to never feel that you are repeating something.
The way the co-op works depends on the playable situations that arise , and here I can do nothing but take my hat off. The Fares team has found the formula of fun in company, making both players continuously understand each other. It can be with something as classic as piloting a plane while your partner shoots (very Indiana Jones), or it can be in more ingenious ways, like guiding your friend through radar while shooting at enemies.
The Fares team has found the formula for fun in companyAnd the difficulty? The truth is that it is not a difficult game to overcome . In this regard, there is no selector to make the game easier or more difficult, so everything will depend on your skill. The only thing I can tell you in this regard is that if your partner has less skill at the controls, everything will go a little less smoothly, although there is always the option of encouraging him until he gets through a situation. In addition, not infrequently we will have to collaborate to solve a puzzle. You already know that two heads are better than one …
To give you an idea of the approach taken, there are no lives, but unlimited respawns that bring you back to the game after a short quick time event. Nothing more. There is only a true penalty when both players die at the same time. In that case, they return to the last checkpoint. But what I said, everything is focused to reduce frustration, and it was probably the best decision, especially considering that it is a game aimed at all audiences … and above all to share it with anyone (no matter your ability ).
And another question: can it be replayed? Let’s say that a fairly closed adventure, which once completed does not offer a special incentive, although there is something that will catch your attention. You can start the game again, but selecting the other character. In this way, you will live the game from the other perspective, and although the situations are the same, you will try things that you could not do. So yes, replayability exists , but from this very particular approach (and I would say even original).
Baby I’ve turned into a doll
Not all the time there is split screen: it depends on the playable situation.
Another aspect that is very well resolved is the script. As you probably know, Cody and May are in the process of divorce , something that fills their daughter with sadness. As a result of the tears shed on two of their favorite dolls, the parents end up becoming them, starring from that moment in a great adventure. It is a bit reminiscent of the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids , but in reverse! In fact, the game takes place in the miniature world of your house, your garden … with all kinds of enemies to face, from militarized squirrels to a murderous toolbox.
Replayability is based on playing another character again.
I’m not going to tell you much more, because anything means taking away an important part of the surprise factor that It Takes Two contains. I’ll just say, because it’s commendable, that the narrative fits the gameplay perfectly. Not only because the cooperative is a way to help Cody and May understand each other, but because the tests link with the script . Another thing that I really liked is that, despite being a love story, it is not cloying at all. In fact, there are some very macabre moments that I am sure that more than one will be engraved in the memory.
There are more aspects to praise in this adventure, such as the impressive number of scenarios to visit. It is overwhelming, from the workshop to the toy room, passing through a frozen place that is actually encased in the typical snow crystal ball that you find in souvenir shops. Magical. So much so that you will find references to creations like Harry Potter or Toy Story. Also nods to Josef Fares’ own productions, including references to playable sequences by Brothers and A Way Out. It’s crazy. For this reason, you will enjoy the work more if you are able to identify all the details to which it refers, from the machines of the eighties to some books with articulable elements with which you can interact. It is another key. Aside from the adventure itself, you have moments to stop and inspect the scenery for optional items. There are no collectibles (Fares already said he doesn’t like them ), but he does have minigames , which could range from taking a photo in a set with different poses to starring in the classic game of hitting the mole.
These minigames are intended as accessory moments to the game, but still fit into the particular playable therapy that is It Takes Two. Basically, you face off against the other player in events ranging from the typical “tug of war” to a virtual tank battle. They are not unforgettable moments, nor do they pretend to be, but they do suppose a respite, a totally optional stop along the way. I liked the idea, because you are not forced to live these experiences , and therefore you do not feel that they are taking time away from you. Well played by the designers.
In the artistic I do not have to say another thing that is impressiveAs you can see, a lot of dedication has been applied to the production of the video game. In art, I don’t have to say anything else that is impressive, starting with the appearance of Cory and May, who look like real dolls. Although there are somewhat more neglected parts, the graphic work is charming , with a very high color variety. This is something that contributes to bring a touch of variety to the journey: I have never had the feeling of having passed through the same place. That in an adventure of this style is quite an achievement. Each set is unique and sometimes even a real sight to behold.
The game has beautiful scenes, sometimes merely contemplative.
The soundtrack is perhaps in the background, although it would not be fair to say that it does not enjoy prominence at certain times. He knows how to adapt to each situation and decoration, becoming bombastic when necessary. An example? The adaptation of the tones to a spatial rhythm when we are traveling through space (yes, and with references to Super Mario Galaxy , if it is a non-stop). The voices are not dubbed into Spanish -only in English- but the truth is that the actors’ performances are excellent and I had no problems following the events through the correct Spanish subtitles.
The technical performance is not outstanding, but it is not lacking either. I tested it on Xbox Series S with a frame rate that was stable for most of the time. I suffered occasional crashes in certain scenarios, usually related to a greater presence of elements, or a more elaborate architecture than normal in the scenarios (probably also less optimized). But what has been said, nothing serious, and in fact it is possible that these small problems will be solved as updates are made.
So now you know. Basically, It Takes Two has seemed like a great game and I have enjoyed it like few others. It has the requirement to play it cooperatively, but it is perfectly justified, because its playable proposal could not have been resolved in any other way. It is made by and to be played in company , following a style that goes beyond what we saw in Brothers and A Way Out. So my recommendation is that you find someone to play it (and the more special it is for you, the better).
“Cooperation to the fullest”
It Takes Two
10
Readers
(1)
It Takes Two is cooperation at its finest. The latest from Josef Fares is his biggest and best attempt to make a collaborative game in which storytelling and playability are combined with a lot of talent and genius. The enormous variety of situations, together with the success in each of the proposals, result in fun in 10-12 hours that seem like a lot more, because they are enjoyed like few others. Even if you are put off by having to play it in company, you should give it a try. Otherwise, you would be missing out on one of the best all-in-one adventures to come out in a long time.
5 things you should know:
- It is a non-stop of fun and crazy moments: Josef Fares in its purest form
- Cooperative situations are inspired and fit the narrative
- Spectacular variety, playing various genres – it’s an all-in-one adventure
- The story is followed very well and does not get cloying, despite the theme
- Lots of settings, some better than others, but all fun to watch and play
Duration: 10-12 hours
Players: 1-2 (Cooperative: Local and Online)
