It Takes Two, A review

 

A healthy marriage is like the ultimate co-op game: you need to know when to give and take when to push and when to pull when to talk and listen. The lockdown put a lot of relationships were put through the test. Some solved their challenges, problems tore apart others, and for those still under a test, a helpful therapy comes in the form of the game It Takes Two. 

It’s an unusual game about divorce or, instead, about trying to save the relationship of two people who have already given up on it. But also it’s a cooperative adventure that convinces you that you are always stronger together and that two heads are better than one. This article will examine the story, the world, and whether we recommend it to your kids.

We have revised a copy that came out for the switch.

 

The story of It Takes Two Story

 

Meet our (un)happy couple, Cody and May, parents who have stumbled on the foundations of a successful relationship. Cody thinks May is never at home and works too much, while May resents that Cody is always at home and not taking care of the family the way she does. After a brief conversation, the parents decide that each should go their own way, meaning the only solution is divorce. Their daughter, Rose, watches the whole argument from the window playing with her dolls. One clay doll that looks like Cody and one wooden doll that resembles May.

A few moments later, we witness a somewhat uncomfortable scene of the parents trying to explain to their daughter how mom and dad are continuing on their separate paths. At first glance, Rose accepts the situation incredibly well, but after asking her parents to play in her room, we witness the painful truth. Little Rose desperately wants her parents to become close again, and with tearful eyes, she turns to the magical book about love, the relationship expert Dr Hakim, for help. With some magic help, her tears bring the dolls to life, and her parents are now inside them. Dr Hakim explains that they must return to their bodies by working together.

The game is a cooperative adventure and does not offer the option to play with an AI partner! And just as well, it would be a shame if you didn’t play this with your SO or a friend, sibling, etc.

It truly is an excellent CO-OP game

So, the game is a cooperative adventure, and there is no option to play with a computer partner, meaning you have to find someone to play the game with, either online or locally. If you choose the online option, there is no matchmaking to connect you with a player who is on the same part of the story as you. Instead, you have to have a specific person in your contacts who you want to play the game with and invite them to join you. 

The positive thing about this is the “Friends Pass System,” which allows the person you choose to play the game with you without buying it. So if you decide to play locally, you only need a comfortable couch and two controllers. Or two Joy-Cons will do. I played this with my girlfriend on the go. We played it during our downtime on our holiday in Rome. Lucky for us, we had our SWL-50 Travel kit to keep our OLED switch protected while it bumped around in my backpack.

Whatever you decide, It Takes Two will mostly be on a split screen, with moments when the screen is united and both players are in the same frame. At first, this may cause discomfort and confusion because you may unintentionally focus on the other player’s screen. Still, through the game, it becomes entirely normal and even advantageous when, for example, you need to connect platforms for the other player to climb.

It Takes Two Gameplay

 

At the beginning of the game, every player has basic mechanics such as jumping, dodging, ground pounding, and a unique mechanic tied to a specific part of the story and the character you play with. The hammerhead that May receives and the three nails that Cody can use are the first examples of special abilities that you can wield. Just like in A Way Out, Hazelight Studios’ previous game, only by working together can you overcome certain obstacles. All mechanics are straightforward to understand, and mastering them has almost no issues, even if you are not an experienced player.

As you progress through the game, your characters experience new mechanics in a very natural, simple, and enjoyable way. The controls are very responsive and precise. The game teaches you how to use a unique ability at the beginning of a certain level, and it is up to you to practice using it until the next boss battle, which will test what you have learned. The abilities you receive always work in pairs. For example, Cody can spray a flammable gel on an obstacle while May ignites it with a match gun. In another case, May can clone herself, while Cody can manipulate time, reversing or fast-forwarding it depending on what you need to overcome obstacles. One of the most vital aspects of this game is the characters’ unique abilities that make the gameplay so exciting and diverse.

Boss fights are another hidden gem of this game, they are not too tricky so that you won’t get stuck on any of them permanently, but each one is special and indescribably fun. While we played the game, May had more complex things to do. If your gaming partner is less experienced than you or doesn’t game, consider giving them Cody to play.

It Takes Two Minigames

It’s worth mentioning the minigames that you can find on certain levels, where you can try and satisfy your competitive appetite. Like most things in It Takes Two, minigames are pretty diverse. So you can find yourself in simpler ones like rope pulling or Rose’s mini rodeo, to slightly more demanding ones like hitting targets or baseballs. Nothing is too tricky that you can’t master with a bit of practice.

The Worldbuilding

The continuous new content, beautiful animations, and fluid cutscenes make this game even more attractive. Each new level has a different theme, from a toolshed where the game begins to a tree where a war between squirrels and wasps occurs to the interior of a colourful kaleidoscope. 

At one moment, you find yourself in a typical platforming environment jumping around inside a vacuum cleaner. In the next, you’re trying to beat a squirrel on the wing of a flying machine made from Cody’s lost boxer shorts from the perspective of a fighter like Tekken.

In the part where you’re inside the tree trunk and charging at a wasp nest, the game switches to a third-person shooter. Throughout the game, you go through various perspectives that will remind you of some legendary games, such as Super Mario or Diablo. However, the perspective shifts to a birds-eye view in the part where you find yourself in a medieval castle. Cody becomes an ice wizard, May is a fiery knight, and the previous platforming experience switches to a classic hack-and-slash RPG (roleplaying game).

Hazelight Studios has done a great job taking the best from different genres. Whether jumping around on mini balloons in a sea of plastic balls, climbing pillow towers, swinging like Tarzan on a rope through the treetops, or grinding on cable ramps, you’ll never be bored. So many small details like a camera with which you can take pictures, movable books, a battery-powered dog toy, and a few easter eggs will often bring a smile.

Do we recommend it? 

This game guarantees 10 to 12 hours of unforgettable entertainment, and maybe even longer if you’re unsuccessful in solving the puzzles quickly or die a few times during boss battles. However, despite some main characters not sitting well with you and the story being shallow sometimes, that takes a backseat because the fun and satisfying gameplay will make you forget everything else. 

Another positive aspect of It Takes Two is that you can replay the whole story, even though it’s primarily linear, by switching roles and exploring different mechanics and unexplored parts of the level you didn’t encounter in your first playthrough. This game is rated T for teens, but even younger kids can play it if they don’t get too frustrated when they fail a skill check. But where this game shines is playing with your SO, especially if they are not a gamer. This may be the first game we recommend to parents. If you are more in a fighting mood and want something to play with your kids, try Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

 

Posted on 17th Apr 2023 by igorthegreat

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