Josef Fares became an internet sensation back in 2017 when he went on a “passionate” rant at the 2017 Game Awards. At the time I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Those who scream the loudest are often overcompensating. I took some time to see what this guy was about and found out he doesn’t compromise and does in fact “walk the talk”. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out already proved Fares and his team at Hazelight Studios know what they’re doing. With It Takes Two, anyone still doubting will surely be convinced that Hazelight and Fares are a force to be reckoned with.
It definitely takes two
It Takes Two continues on the path taken with A Way Out. Just like Hazelight’s former game, this game doesn’t feature a single-player mode. You either play in online or local co-op between two players. Communication is key during gameplay so playing with somebody you know will further augment the experience. The intended way to play this game is with somebody right next to you on the couch. With the current health crisis in mind, this might not always be possible. Therefore Hazelight made it possible to use “Friend’s Pass” to let somebody join you online who doesn’t own the game.
Save your marriage
It Takes Two tells the classic tale of a relationship on the brink of breaking up, caused by the stress of everyday life. Between managing work-life balance and raising their daughter, Rose, Cody, and May decide to call quits to their marriage. When telling their daughter the news, Rose is devastated. As she wishes her parents would reconcile, her tears fall on two dolls she made resembling her parents. All of a sudden, Cody and May are transported into the doll’s bodies. With their newfound bodies and the help of Dr. Hakim, a self-help relationship book, they set out to regain control of their real-life bodies. Through the journey, Cody and May will have to set aside their current differences and start appreciating each other talents in order to succeed.
Ruin your marriage
It Takes Two is a pure co-op action-adventure platformer meaning you’ll have to work together in order to overcome the many challenges in the game. There is some pure platforming to be done that can be achieved without the other player but most parts require help from your “significant other”. I, a seasoned gamer for over 25 years, tested this game with my wife who – for the most part – stopped playing videogames after playing the first level in Donkey Kong Country on the Super Nintendo. Although the whole shtick of the game is to save a marriage, at some points we felt like it could ruin ours… It was only when we discovered we weren’t communicating properly we figured out how to get past certain problems. Luckily the game saves automatically and you can’t really die. You actually respawn if the other player is still “alive”. If you both die at the same time, the screen turns gray and you automatically start from the last save point.
In the game, Cody and May, gradually grew closer again as they find ways to work together. Unexpectedly we did as well in real life. I’m not saying you should toss out marriage counseling in favor of this game but there was certainly some extra bonding happening.
A particular set of skills
The game’s levels are all dreamscapes spawned from the areas around and in the house. Every level feels immensely different from the others while maintaining an insane amount of quality. Each level is meticulously well made. Every detail fits the theme and makes it even look believable in an Alice in Wonderland kind of way. Around almost every corner, a new game mechanic fitting the level is introduced making the experience feel very original. Cody and May often gain different types of abilities making the experience for both players drastically different. For instance, in the first shed-themed level, Cody can throw nails while May can use a hammerhead to hang from those nails. These particular sets of skills make for excellent co-op action. Figuring out how to use these newly gained abilities on the many puzzles/problems the game introduces offers a great feeling of satisfaction. The fact you did it together and had to rely on the other brings it to the next level.
Mini-bosses, minigames, maximum boss fights
The game is filled to the brim with awesome content. Behind every corner is a new awesome discovery. Jumping, flying, sailing, sliding through the levels feels perfectly fluent. The puzzles/problems integrate into the level making everything feel in place. If the game would only feature pure platforming, I would be fine with that. Hazelight decided to add a whole bunch of extra in the form of mini-bosses and big God-of-War-like feeling end bosses. Figuring out how to tackle these fights by working in harmony was no small feat but when finally managing to chip away at that last bit of health felt awesome. As if a large number of game mechanics and the ever-changing world wasn’t enough, Hazelight also included minigames and easter eggs in the mix. With some exploring, you can find all these extra’s even including the “f****k the Oscars” rant I was referring to in my intro.
Conclusion
I’m not one to be throwing around accolades easily but this time I can honestly say It Takes Two is a perfect game. An experience I would convince everyone to give a try. Heck, it might even save your marriage.
