Sometimes games just work. There can be elements which annoy or make you feel bored, but you enjoy it no matter what, eager to play more and more. It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios is a perfect example of this, and is easily one of the best games I’ve ever played.
This action-adventure game tells the story of Cody and May, who magically turn into doll versions of themselves after their daughter Rose finds out about their plan to divorce. Together, with a sentient relationship-therapy book called Dr. Hakim, they go on a journey to return to their bodies and reach Rose.
While the plot itself sounds interesting, in practice it is not the strongest element of It Takes Two. Overall, it is a story of self-realisation; the characters were just pretending to enjoy their lives while they were deeply unhappy inside.
The journey (as you would expect) makes them rediscover their real passions and get back in touch with their emotions. It’s a very warm and charming story, but as the narrative is quite standard and doesn’t really offer anything new, it’s not as impressive as it could be.
In addition, there is another thing which should be taken into consideration when talking about It Takes Two, which is that it is a co-op ONLY game, thus it requires you to constantly talk to another person to progress through the levels.
No matter how hard you try to concentrate on the story, you will definitely be distracted by your partner (for good or for bad), whether you are trying to solve a puzzle, or just having a laugh about how weird certain things look.
Saying that, there is also a huge benefit to playing with a friend – only one of you need to pay (well, you can also split the price, but my friend kindly didn’t ask me to pay)! On all platforms there is a feature called “Friend’s Pass” which allows a person to play through the campaign even if they don’t own a full version of the game. All you need is an invite from somebody who owns it!
The game costs around £35 at full price, or essentially £17 if you split the cost with a friend. It’s an absolute bargain for such an elaborate game; features of which magnificently highlight the capabilities of new-gen consoles.
One of the key features of It Takes Two is the variety of mechanics from different game genres. Fighting, Diablo-ish RPG, shooter – those are only the few examples of what you will experience throughout the game, all of which work to the same high level.
Another great thing about this game is that with every new level, the characters get unique abilities to help them go through a particular location. Starting with a simple hammer and nails, these abilities will evolve, and eventually, you will be able to reverse time and even make clones of yourself.
Similarly, as the abilities evolve, the puzzles will also become more and more sophisticated as the story develops. It will not be extremely hard, but it will require concentration and constant communication with your teammate.
In addition to that, the visuals in It Takes Two are absolutely stunning. The level of detail is close to the best Pixar animations; literally every object feels alive and adds something to the atmosphere.
The game is also multi-dimensional. You can be on the screen of a computer in 2D format, and then by looking at the characters from above, return to 3D, shooting your friend from a cannon. The transition between these dimensions is so smooth that even someone with the most severe motion sickness will be able to comfortably play through it.
The vibe of this game feels like a mixture of Pixar’s Toy Story and Inside Out; both in appearance and message. It Takes Two teaches some lessons not only to the kids but also to older generations.
However, this game isn’t exactly for kids. Some levels can be very tricky and elaborated, so kids will probably get very frustrated before passing some levels. In addition, in some places It Takes Two is very cruel and even licentious.
By the end of the game you feel deeply connected to the characters, and even the annoying Dr. Hakim feels like a close friend who just wanted the best for Cody, May and their daughter.
It Takes Two is a cultural phenomenon. What looked like a classic platformer, turned out to be an elaborate action-adventure game which continues to surprise you with every new location. This game feels so different to everything else I’ve ever played. Moreover, it genuinely has some great messages to take from it that may even help you to become more self-aware. It Takes Two is worth every penny spent, and now that I’ve finished the game, I will definitely miss my first time playing it with all my heart.
5/5 stars