It Takes Two Review

It Takes Two

Release: January 1, 1970
Publisher: EA-Hazelight Studios-T
Developer:
Genre: Xbox Series X Reviews
PEGI:
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It Takes Two is an action-adventure platformer developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Originals label. The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S in March 2021. Like A Way Out, Hazelight’s debut title, It Takes Two has no single-player option: it is only playable in either online or local split-screen co-op between two players.

Cody and May, a married couple, are planning on divorce after Cody argued with May about her working all the time and Cody not showing a little appreciation for her job. After telling their daughter Rose that they are breaking up, she takes her hand-made dolls that look like her parents into the family shed and tries to tell Dr. Hakim “Book of Love,” to try to repair their relationships and after a tear lands on Rose’s dolls, May and Cody find themselves as the dolls. While trying to figure out what’s going on around here Dr. Hakim appears to them and tells them he has the job of trying to fix their relationship.

While I was not the biggest fan of A Way Out, It Takes Two seemed to be much more up my alley right from the first trailer. I am often looking for opportunities to play games with either my wife or my daughters to bring them into my hobby I spend so much time doing. It Takes Two looks and feels almost like a family animated movie, with a lot of tough life lessons about relationships, marriage, divorce, and healing wrapped into it.

Visually the game looks fantastic, with well-crafted characters, level design, and top-notch voice acting. The game does a great job of inviting gamers into this magical world they developed. I thought this game would be a slam dunk with my wife…and it was…..for a while. A word of caution that this game is NOT for casual gamers with little platforming experience. My wife toughed it out through about half the game with me cursing her way through most of the boss battles. While overall I wouldn’t say this game is hard for gamers, but for beginners, it’s very tough to handle what the game asks of you.

Each level is designed with new mechanics which can make it hard for casual gamers to really “get” the game. Most people would learn to get into it easier by using the same mechanics over and over again you could develop a level of comfort with how the game plays. But It Takes Two gives you a different theme or game mechanic in each world that is unique to it. Early in the game one character gains a hammer used to hit switches, break items, and swing from. The other gets magic nails that work like Guardians of the Galaxy’s Yondus magic arrows, you can throw them around into items so your partner can get to different areas, or to lock something in place. Then with a simple whistle, the nail comes flying back to you to use again. But these items are only with you for that level, after that it moves on to something else. This can be frustrating to some, but I found it game the game longevity, keeping me on my toes, and having no two levels really be the same. From flying to sailing, platforming, to even a diablo-esque level kept me wondering what the heck would be next?! Every stage is set in a different environment, from the shed to the backyard, to the playroom, it’s honestly almost what I wanted Grounded to be as a game. Don’t be surprised too, the game has a few very DARK turns in it as well, so it’s not all cute and cuddly on this adventure.

After my wife reached the breaking point of where her skill levels would take her in the game, I recruited my eldest daughter to keep going as I was heavily invested in this game and the story it was telling, and I really wanted to see where else it would take me before it was all said and done. She has a little more experience with gaming but it’s really limited to Fortnite and other FPS games. She fared a little better and the game felt easier with her comfort level of playing games, so the rest of the game went smoother.

All in all, It Takes Two is a fantastic adventure that really grips at your heartstrings with its narrative, but gameplay-wise is a blast at every turn. Even levels you may not enjoy that much aren’t around long enough to really sour the experience at all. I mean minus the fact that I want to punch the stupid Book of Love Dr. Hakim in the face at every twist and turn (which I think is the point), It Takes Two is 100% a game you should not miss.

So find a partner to couch co-op this one as soon as possible, or you can use a buddy pass with a friend who doesn’t own the game and play it remotely as well.