Split Fiction Evolves on It Takes Two
Josef Fares is a pioneer in the industry, redefining cooperative adventure as the core of his games. With each release, he has delivered groundbreaking experiences That will forever be woven into the fabric of the industry. It Takes Two built upon the cooperative foundation of A Way Out, pushing innovation with its ever-evolving gameplay mechanics. Now, Split Fiction takes that evolution even further, refining its systems to craft the ultimate co-op experience.
The genius of Fares is his ability to create characters with emotional depth and place them in situations that allow them to grow and flourish. It Takes Two captured that perfectly by intertwining environmental storytelling and well-written dialogue to present rounded characters that you can relate to. The premise allowed for Fares to experiment with ideas and to innovate throughout. This set a new bar for co-op experiences which hasn’t been rivalled until now.
It’s Evolution Baby
Split Fiction is a natural evolution of the formula, however, the intriguing plot allows Hazelight to experiment which leads to an array of wonderful moments that make the game soar above its peers. As the game centers around budding writers and delving into their fictional worlds, this leads to world hopping which is a big change from their previous releases. Not only do these shifts offer interesting tales within, they also give insight on the author further progressing their character. Naturally, this also gives the talented devs the ability to add wacky and zany ideas into the mix which you’ll experience in the fantastic side stories that you’ll encounter on your journey.
Each world, each chapter, and each story adds something new. Whether it’s different gameplay mechanics or the addition of puzzles, there is a delicious pace to the game that keeps you hooked. Combined with the enhanced cinematic scale where you play through huge action sequences, the game provides a more immersive experience than its predecessors. As Split Fiction is only playable with a partner, it’s great to see that EA has backed the company’s ethos and implemented the cross-platform friend pass so that you can invite a friend to experience this incredible adventure with you, promoting accessibility and inclusivity.
Breaking Boundaries
On a technical level, the game runs flawlessly. Given how much busier the screen is compared to the studio’s previous titles, I was initially concerned about the split-screen system’s ability to keep up with the action. However, to my surprise, I never encountered any issues. This attention to design is what makes the studio stand out. Not only do they promote innovation, but they also methodically craft moments that ensure accessibility for players of all experience levels. Systems build upon one another to not overwhelm players and the camera shifts to forced perspectives to support player progression. These nuances combine to create a truly remarkable adventure.
Hazelight continues to push boundaries with Split Fiction, showcasing the true potential of co-op experiences. Not only is it a worthy successor to It Takes Two, but it also elevates the genre and further solidifies the studio’s dominance in this space. The niche they’ve carved out is special, and right now, no other developer comes close to delivering this kind of experience. Will we see more mandatory two-player games? Absolutely. However, rather than simply emulating Fares’ approach to gameplay, I hope to see more developers draw inspiration from his genre-hopping, narrative-driven design elements that make his games truly stand out.
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