“It Takes Two” is the next co-op title from the “A Way Out” makers Hazelight. The unusual game was first presented at EA Play 2020.
This is It Takes Two: At EA Play 2020, Hazelight founder Josef Fares spoke about his studio’s aim to “continuously challenge what is possible in games.” That seems to be the driving force behind “It Takes Two” as well.
It Takes Two – an emotional co-op adventure platformer
What it’s about: According to Fares, “It Takes Two” is a 3D action-adventure platformer for two players. The game tells the story of a small family consisting of parents Cody and May and their little daughter Rose.
The problem: The couple wants to get a divorce, which their little Rose cannot deal with. The sad girl crafts two clay dolls modeled after her parents – and they suddenly come to life.
The consciousness of the parents has transferred into the dolls – and both want to quickly get out of there. These are the two characters you will ultimately control through “It Takes Two.”
The game sends your two characters on an unusual journey where you should “almost play their emotions.” In some levels, there is supposed to be a corresponding mechanic that leads to “story and game mechanics being married.”
Fares was confident: “I think this will feel new and unique for players. They have never played anything like this before.”
Hazelight impressed with co-op: Whether Fares is right with his assessment remains to be seen, as Hazelight has not shown much about the game yet. But if “A Way Out” is a benchmark, one can hope for exciting mechanics.
With this unusual, purely co-op game, Hazelight celebrated great success two years ago. Good collaboration was essential; nothing worked alone.
The thrilling story of two prison inmates on the run convinced not only through great two-player gameplay but also through the emotional story. A mixture that Hazelight is pursuing in their new game as well – just in a completely different way.
That Hazelight manages to blend story and co-op gameplay well has been proven in “A Way Out.” Whether this will work with a mix of platformer and divorce drama could be exciting.
