It Takes Two, the new game from Friv2Online Studio, contains as many different gameplay mechanics as you'll probably never see anywhere else. It's also one of the best two-player co-op projects to date. Read more in our review.
Friv2Online Studio has only three games in its portfolio - but what games! Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons with "reverse co-op", where the player controls two characters at the same time. A Way Out, which is impossible to play alone. And It Takes Two, another cooperative game that develops the ideas of the previous project, adds elements of comedy and - guaranteed - does not let you get bored.
It Takes Two is both a fairy tale and a romantic comedy about a couple who, on the verge of divorce, get into an adventure, are forced to act as one and eventually find their common ground again. In this case, the catalyst for the events is the daughter of the main characters, spouses Cody and May, who turns them into dolls with the help of a magical relationship book. The same book will be the characters' guide in a small-big world full of dangers and challenges.
Cody and May are rather unlikable characters. They bicker and nag, don't consider their daughter's opinion, and blame each other for the breakdown of their marriage. In a fit of selfishness they are capable of terrible deeds - the episode with the elephant you will not soon forget. At the same time, the couple are hostages to circumstance, and the events in which they find themselves provide an opportunity to discuss the problems in their relationship, finally express everything that has boiled over, and unite to overcome obstacles together.
Perhaps, if the characters had not so often grunted and shrieked (yes, it is usual for children's cartoons, but It Takes Two is designed for an older audience), they would have been more likeable, but up to the very end I was not able to fully penetrate their characters. Dr. Hakim, the book's Dr. Hakim, turned out to be rather ambiguous - his movements with obviously sexual overtones don't look very appropriate, but at the same time every appearance of the character on the screen is accompanied by funny scenes and silly, but sometimes shooting jokes.
Co-op in the friv game can be considered as a metaphor for relationships in marriage: just like in real life, it is impossible to work for yourself and your partner, pulling the second player behind you like a ballast. To pass the tests, it is necessary to interact, agree, share responsibilities and jointly go to the goal. This is also reflected in the scenario - for example, in the episode where the heroes receive the halves of the magnet, they feel the attraction to each other. So I highly recommend playing with someone you know, ideally with your other half and at the same screen.
Yusef Fares, the head of Friv2Online Studio, promised that he would not let players get bored in It Takes Two. And he kept his promise: the friv game is as varied as you can imagine. It changes locations and gameplay mechanics with mind-boggling speed, and never repeats itself.
Here the heroes are trying to get used to the new world, and in a few minutes they are already involved in a war between squirrels and wasps.
Here we are running around the children's room that has increased in size, and in another chapter we go into space and look at the Earth from orbit.
Further - more: a medieval castle, a clockwork mechanism, a snowy village and other no less interesting locations are waiting for us. And they look like we dreamed of in our childhood, playing in our room or dreaming of being in the place of our favorite cartoon characters. Ordinary cubes turn into platforms hanging in the sky, the model of a car becomes quite a working transport, and toys come to life, fill the playground with life - just as we once filled it with the help of imagination.
The developers don't push the players, they give them time to get accustomed and have fun in each location. There are plenty of mini-games to compete against each other. There are also a lot of small, optional, but fun scenes: playing snowballs, taking the driver's seat on a train, mixing paints and using the character's body as a paintbrush, trying to climb the tallest tower, and so on.
Fares noted that he intentionally didn't add collectibles and, quote, "other stuff" to It Takes Two. According to him, this is not what players need. In my opinion, such items would have motivated players to explore the world more carefully. Get to a hard-to-reach place in It Takes Two and you won't get rewarded for it. Most of the mini-games are in plain sight. The only secret I was able to discover was the A Way Out passahalke, and that wasn't hidden very carefully. I, like Fares, do not welcome the desire of some developers to fill the levels with hundreds of collectibles (hello, Assassin's Creed), but without them it's kind of empty.
The plot rushes forward, players are constantly getting into new scenery - and in each area the game throws up new tasks and tools to solve them.
At the same time, It Takes Two features asymmetrical co-op, where each of the heroes gets gadgets and abilities that his partner won't get. In one of the locations, Cody throws nails like spears, while May dashingly wields a hammer. In another episode, Cody gains the ability to control time, while May gains the ability to clone herself. Even when the pair share the same tools, such as halves of a magnet, they have different polarities, which means they affect the same objects in different ways. You might even want to replay the campaign to see how different the gameplay is for a different character.
The friv game switches genres with equal dexterity. At its core, it's a 3D platformer, but occasionally other gameplay elements are woven in, and It Takes Two turns into a third-person shooter, an arcade air sim, or a diabloid. What's more, at one point in time the friv game can place each player in a different environment: for example, while Cody pilots an airplane while dodging obstacles, Mei fights a Mortal Kombat-style opponent, or while Mei controls a flying saucer, Cody takes aim at a fleeing enemy on a radar screen.
How gracefully this is implemented is impressive: none of the mechanics feel superfluous, and work as they should.
It Takes Two can also be an entry point into the world of video games for newcomers, thanks to its amazing variety. All you have to do is teach your partner how to control the camera, and then he'll get the hang of it, try his hand at a few genres, and who knows - maybe he'll ask for more! The difficulty is gentle, control points are generously placed, it's almost impossible to die, but at the same time the game doesn't become too easy for experienced gamers and gives a cool cooperative experience.
All this is complemented by stunning visuals. And it's not only about the technical side, which was provided by Unreal Engine 4, but also about the environment design and amazing solutions used by the artists. You will be shocked by the changing reality inside the kaleidoscope, marvel at the colossal mechanisms inside the cuckoo clock, appreciate the imagination of the game-makers while passing the level in space. I give a standing ovation to the richness of the scenes that the friv game demonstrates, and how boldly the authors strive to surprise gamers, rather than treading in the same scenery.
It Takes Two is a great, nay, the best friv game for two. There are certain flaws: in the middle the plot sags, some jokes can seem quite rude, and the story does not shine with originality. But at the same time, the project does not let you get bored and relax for a minute, and if you play together with your significant other - also allows you to put yourself in the place of the heroes and perhaps learn something from their mistakes.
The game can be played online by two people with just one copy, thanks to a special Friend's Pass. A player who has bought It Takes Two can invite a friend who doesn't have his own copy of the game and complete the campaign from start to finish without any restrictions. However, this only works within a single platform - MS, PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X|S; cross-platform play is not supported.