*The author has not finished the game but has written this review based on an early impression of the game.
Split Fiction is a 2 player co-op game developed by Hazelight Studios, the same studio behind A Way Out and It Takes Two. Both of those are extremely well regarded 2 player co-op experiences, with It Takes Two even winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2021. So, how does Split Fiction fare against the extremely stacked past work of Hazelight Studios?
In short- amazing. Expanding on that, Split Fiction has everything you want in a co-op experience. It has chaos, collaboration, varied gameplay and more to keep players engaged throughout the story.
In Split Fiction, both player play as an aspiring writer being offered a publishing deal by Rader Publishing. At the same time, they are required to test out an experimental simulation device to advance this promised publishing deal to its next stage.
Through some unexpected circumstances, Mio, one of the playable characters, falls into the same simulation device as Zoe, another playable character. In doing so, both of them become trapped in the device, and will have to go through simulations of each other’s written work, in order to escape and uncover the conspiracy behind Rader Publishing and this mysterious machine.
The most interesting aspect of this story is that Mio is an aspiring sci-fi author while Zoe is an aspiring fantasy author. We go through their work throughout the game, giving us extremely different flavours of worlds and gameplay as a result. One moment, we might be cyber ninjas trying to exact revenge on an evil corporation’s boss, and in the next, we might be playing as mages in a magical, fantastical world.
This keeps the setting varied and interesting whilst also keeping the players on their toes at all times, with different gimmicks built into each of these unique worlds. The realism showcased in the overarching story of these two struggling artists, combined with the sci-fi elements in Mio’s world, and the fantasy displayed in Zoe’s, feels like a perfect blend of A Way Out and It Takes Two.
The control of the game is really well tuned and fun, much like It Takes Two. The base moveset allows for fun platforming, and each introduced gimmick provides varied gameplay, building on top of the great platforming controls. Most gimmicks do not overstay their welcome, and are expanded enough throughout each section of the story to never feel boring. This also keep players looking forward to the next gimmick at all times.
In short, this is more similar to It Takes Two rather than A Way Out, and that might be good news for many players. The gameplay is varied in style and always fun. There is a little something for both players at all times. The story is interesting and engaging, but never in your face and never to the extent of distracting players from the gameplay.
If you are a fan of It Takes Two and A Way Out, this is more of those games, and a perfect addition to your co-op library. This is the perfect game for 2 players to play over the weekend.
