In an period of reside companies, MMOs, and usually disconnected on-line experiences, the thought of native multiplayer is shortly turning into a rarity. And whereas we’ve seen a handful of nice sofa co-op experiences pop up right here and there, akin to TMNT Shredders Revenge, Overcooked, and Hazelight Studios’ very personal It Takes Two, I can’t consider something I’ve performed just lately that resonated with me fairly like Split Fiction. From its plethora of various gameplay varieties, akin to a twin-stick shooter, a pinball impressed puzzle platformer, and in a single occasion, a scorching canine simulator, to its dazzling graphics and plausible character dialogue, Split Fiction is trying to not solely be one other standout title in a yr stuffed with promising releases, however one thing that anybody who’s searching for a enjoyable and distinctive native multiplayer sport ought to pencil in on their gaming calendar.
In Split Fiction you play as both Mio or Zoe, two aspiring writers who’re chosen to participate in an early take a look at of a machine that may deliver their tales to life. From what I noticed, this plot gadget not solely helps construct the world of Split Fiction, but additionally offers an ideal excuse to seamlessly transition between its sci-fi and fantasy settings. During the few hours I bought to play, leaping backwards and forwards by no means felt pressured or tedious, and whereas I’m admittedly not the most important fan of fantasy except the phrase “Final” is connected not directly, I by no means discovered myself becoming bored of Zoe’s fantasy worlds. This was supported by Split Fiction’s well-written and plausible dialogue between characters, which helped persuade me that I used to be watching two actual people who find themselves polar opposites work together with one another in their very own make-believe worlds.
If you performed Hazelight’s earlier video games (It Takes Two and A Way Out), you in all probability have a reasonably good thought of what’s in retailer for you with Split Fiction. A shared multiplayer expertise on both the identical or a cut up display that’s stuffed with cleverly designed puzzles that require teamwork and communication, all wrapped up in a nice-looking and well-written package deal. What units Split Fiction other than different sofa co-op video games is its intelligent integration of quite a few gameplay types, preserving the expertise recent and interesting.
In truth, the number of gameplay types in Split Fiction is definitely its most standout characteristic. And throughout my temporary time with it, it was clear that this isn’t one other normal two-player puzzler or beat-’em-up expertise. Hazelight clearly took its time to refine the number of gameplay varieties in right here, as a result of nothing felt prefer it was rushed or created with the intention to add selection for the sake of selection. One standout second for me was a bit the place Zoe and Mio should snowboard their manner out of an energetic warzone, which felt extra like a mix of Sonic Adventure Battle and SSX than your typical on-rails downhill spectacle. In this second, Split Fiction launched a factors mechanic the place I needed to compete in opposition to my associate, performing as many grinds, grabs, and flip tips as potential whereas attempting to keep away from loss of life. While this mechanic has been performed earlier than in additional video games than I can rely, the truth that this occasion is only one of dozens actually exhibits the potential of enjoyable issues to do in Split Fiction.
That’s to not say they had been all hits, although. One part had us enjoying a hybrid of a platformer and pinball the place I used to be controlling the ball and my associate was controlling the pinball paddles. This required some exact timing on each of our ends, and it was a artistic option to introduce a slower puzzle mechanic to a sport that has a stunning quantity of motion in it. While I discovered myself getting a bit annoyed each time I tousled a badly timed leap, the satisfaction I felt as soon as my associate and I completed any of the marketing campaign’s collaborative duties actually elevated the expertise.
And simply to be clear: Split Fiction is 100% a collaborative expertise that retains you in your toes all through; single-player is just not an choice. But not like most co-op video games the place each gamers have to struggle a display stuffed with enemies or break a bunch of blocks with the intention to progress to the following stage, Split Fiction requires a heavy quantity of teamwork and important considering from each gamers in its heavy motion in addition to its mellower puzzle sections. Throughout my demo time, I discovered myself speaking extra with my associate and dealing collectively to attempt to determine the puzzles and managers as a result of, refreshingly, Split Fiction doesn’t maintain your hand by any means. Thats to not say that is immediately a soulslike by way of problem, however there wasn’t a second the place the UI pointed us in the correct course or gave us a touch on what to do. Which is form of the purpose of Split Fiction and co-op video games as an entire, and undoubtedly made my demo a extremely enjoyable and rewarding expertise.
In a time the place each sport can both be performed solo or is totally stuffed with NPCs or individuals on-line who don’t actually wish to work together outdoors of some phrases right here and there, Split Fiction actually seems to lift the bar in what a co-op expertise may be. I appreciated all the things from its attention-grabbing use of a number of gameplay types spanning throughout many genres, to its cleverly written dialogue and beautiful-looking worlds, plus the truth that it requires you to actively play with another person and suppose outdoors of the field to unravel its puzzles. And in a yr filled with dozens of promising releases, Split Fiction is unquestionably trying to set itself other than the pack in a manner that few video games can.
