REVIEW: It Takes Two, a co-op game that entertains from start to finish

“Multiplayer” has been one of the most played (and watched) genres over the last year. In April 2020, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a first-person shooter that is a staple of e-sports, broke records for simultaneous players. Among Us, more casual competitive, was one of the most talked about last year for its implementation of cross-platform and intuitive gameplay.

However, it took months before we had a “friendly” game, where cooperation and entertainment were balanced between more experienced and first-time players. Luckily, the gaming industry has the blessing of the insanely creative mind of Josef fares, the same as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons e A Way Out, for the design of the ingenious It Takes Two: a game multiplayer that reinvents itself at each level.

Released last Friday (26) for PC and past/current generation of PlayStation and Xbox, It Takes Two requires two simultaneous players (local or online) to contemplate a beautiful story about relationships. The best of everything? Only one person needs to pay for the game. With the help of an experienced – and equally patient – ​​longtime friend, I was able to test this game and I'll tell you everything in detail in this review.

Recalling that All images below were taken by me on Xbox Series X, with a copy of the game provided by EA.

History

A couple is in a relationship crisis when their daughter's magical tears make them "own" handmade dolls. With the assistance of a book (with a Latin accent hot), the flame of passion needs to be rekindled, and for that to happen, you must set out on a miniature journey as you learn to deal with each other.

the introduction of It Takes Two is not meant to be taken too seriously, with the comic relief of the entire story being the book's own counselor, Dr. Hakem. Over 7 chapters, the protagonists Cody and May cross different environments, all in the proximity of their own residence. Even with humor at the forefront, Dr. Hakim and the situations experienced by the little girl's parents can bring reflections to players.

Without giving specific situations in case you, dear reader, want to play It Takes Two, I only say that the levels are unforgettable. Just look at the screenshots of this review to try to find a very different narrative. You pass a garden, a workshop, an electronic music club, a mole hole, a circus and even a castle.

It Takes Two it's a game of 12-14 horas, with a time that varies according to the style of play. watching all cutscenes, my playtime (in multiple Discord calls) hit a cumulative 12 hours. If you and your friend want to find all the minigames and do all the achievements, we're talking about 16 hours. Casual gamers may take time to pick up on certain mechanics if they are unfamiliar, taking longer to complete the game.

Gameplay and multiplayer

having played so much Brothers , the A Way Out, I thought I knew what to expect from the game in terms of pacing and gameplay. However, I couldn't be more wrong: in It Takes Two, you and your companion never do the same thing at the same time – and never repeat the same mechanic on another level. To make it easier, no matter which character you choose, you'll be able to see both perspectives simultaneously - and a single screen in cutscenes or special moments.

A quality he borrows from A Way Out is the purchase of the game, as one player only needs to make the purchase (digital or physical) and the other only needs to download a copy of the game. Friend Pass on the respective platform/online store. Also, as we are in a period of transition between generations, I was glad to hear that he was cross-generation. The only question that doesn't make sense is to deprive it of being cross-platform too, but the choice is even understandable when we consider prompts and specific actions – which can confuse anyone on PC, PlayStation or Xbox.

In addition to coordination and time to complete the necessary tasks, communication between players is essential. At various times the game places complementary actions between Cody and May. For example, while one of them has a hammer, the other has nails. In another scenario, each person has one side of a magnet, being able to interact with specific parts of the environment, with the objective of helping the friend's progression to the end of the level.

As well as the complementary variation between players, both also have standout moments with unique abilities/powers. Much of what we have It Takes Two is taken directly from dozens of other games, creating familiar (even if unconscious) gameplay. Colored buttons in sequence, levers that only work in pairs, applying weight on a seesaw and sliding between train tracks are some examples. A good distraction between levels are the minigames, competitive games that can be discovered in sections of the story. There is minigames such as chess, snail racing, arcade, tug of war and target shooting.

As a result of the gameplay variable, an issue can be put on the agenda. In the end, It Takes Two is inconsistent? I believe there are two ways to analyze the game's changes and innovations: one of them, of course, is the lack of gameplay consistency; the other, this being an “anti-boredom” formula.

In an open world game you will rarely feel bored, as all the pacing is usually dictated by you. Those who like to explore the map will do this first, those who prefer to go after collectibles will put this as a priority and those who only care about the lore of the game will want to proceed with the story as soon as possible. The latest adventure titles, such as franchises Uncharted e tomb raider, bring large sections of “semi-open” world, which gives the game breath to last longer.

Now, dealing with an almost 100% linear game, with the exception of the minigames and larger areas to solve puzzle, It Takes Two taking a dozen hours to complete is almost synonymous with proof of friendship. Bearing in mind that most players will opt for online co-op, despite the gameplay is innovated practically every 5 minutes, giving up tends to speak louder. I recommend booking two or three days with a friend, if you choose to finish the game early, to prevent the frantic change of play style from getting to the point of saturation.

Visual and Audio

No exceptions or exaggerations, all levels of It Takes Two there were at least 3 moments that took my breath away. I place special emphasis on the last one, the attic, which is an audiovisual treat in its own right. The game is constantly changing from miniature maps, justifying the marriage (pardon the pun) between gameplay and visual to culminate in dozens of innocent and fun moments.

Anyone who has watched the latest Disney animations will understand the beauty of this game. I think the most palpable comparison I can make is with Toy Story 4 which, even with a questionable narrative, has Pixar's most ultra-realistic animation to date. As we are also in a toy environment for most of the game, the metal, wooden or plastic surfaces of It Takes Two give the impression that you just have to stretch your hands to interact with these textures.

Lighting is another well-deserved highlight, as getting it right with such consistency in varied environments is not an easy task. The artistic direction of this game is worthy of awards. You have the same treatment given to a musical instrument room and a circus that is more like a child's dream. The realistic textures don't get to "tiring", as each color palette is renewed when transitioning to a new section of the game. The adaptation of weapons and interactions from the standard red (Cody) and blue (May) makes it easier for those who don't want to think too much about which character they are controlling.

Certain themes and sequences in the game, however, have an even darker approach if it weren't for the visuals. There's a dismemberment of a stuffed animal that, luckily, isn't taken seriously – and the look carries a huge responsibility. The only part of the game where I was detached from the immersion was with the simulation of liquids, specifically with one of the bosses. The water looks like it came from a game from the decade before (2000s), despite being in the X series. The strange thing is that the ball pits even manage to look like real water, so the contrast between the two is slightly disappointing.

The soundtrack ends up being complementary to the visuals of It Takes Two, without very remarkable moments. The cartoonish look finds its answer in the songs, because in a chase scene, for example, you hear what you've been used to for years - the "formula Tom & Jerry“, so to speak. Epic Moments has cliché music and the climax of each level is delivered without overdoing it.

The sound effects, on the other hand, can increase immersion in different scenarios. The dynamics extends to the different environments, with depth, reverberation and attention to the smallest details. O gut feeling. from pushing buttons, sliding across the ice or jumping over rubber objects translates into all the senses (sound, visual and touch), making each step of the journey a memorable moment.

It Takes Two on Current Console Generation

It Takes Two has two positive points when it comes to console: graphic improvement in X series/S and the fact that it is cross-generation. With comparisons to my gaming friend, who had the game on Xbox One, the improvement is more in lighting and textures (as in other games of the two generations).

O loading of the levels is also insanely fast, taking just a few seconds between cutscenes and transitions. Another valid compliment concerns the very little drop in frames (rate of fps), regardless of what happens on the scene. Like comments about the game on One, this appears to be a console issue that has been alleviated in the current one.

Conclusion

An example of creativity in terms of atmosphere and gameplay, It Takes Two conquers gamers looking for a good laugh and a bit of shared entertainment. No matter how casual or hardcore whatever your style of play, the level of difficulty of the challenges is an engaging obstacle that makes you interested in discovering the outcome of the saga of Cody and May.

The 13 hours of play are great for those who can separate a weekend with a friend, however, the two other games by Josef Fares were more focused and could be finished in a single gaming session – which requires local or remote availability by a longer period. Even so, because of the fun, the game is well worth it.

It Takes Two is available for R$199 all with Xbox (Series X/S and One), PlayStation (4 and 5) and PC (via Origin ou Steam).

So, what did you think of It Takes Two? Who would you most like to play it with? Tell us in the comments below!