We are back again to the first time when we experienced the Masterpiece It Takes Two by Hazelight Studios. It was a one-of-a-kind experience filled with continuous adventure with amazing writing and heart-warming moments. We were not sure whether we would ever get to see another amazing adventure like that soon or not, but Hazelight Studios surely knows how to put together strong immersive adventures that you can seemingly enjoy with your friend. Well, this time Hazelight Studios is back with another co-op adventure, offering a blend of Sci-Fi and Fantasy adventures. The new title is Split Fiction and according to Josef Fares, it is nothing less than It Takes Two. This is our review of Split Fiction developed by Hazelight Studios and published by EA.
Story
Split Fiction Review – Story
The story of Split Fiction is about Mio and Zoe, two highly talented unpublished writers looking forward to publishing their stories and getting paid. They both come to the Radar Publishing medium for a chance to get published, but Mio has a suspicion about Radar, the Ceo of Radar Publishing, that he is a sus person and stealing people’s creativity and ideas. Radar is a tech guy who has built up a giant publishing media with its high-tech machine that turns people’s stories and creativity into an immersive experience.
As Zoe and Mio get to their respective platforms to test out the machine capability, Mio does not feel right about it and ends up fighting with Radar. Radar mistakenly pushed Mio into the same platform as Zoe, which put both Zoe and Mio into each other’s stories, and created a glitch in the machine. Mio’s character will feel a bit cliché as she does not share everything with Zoe at the start, but slowly reveals about her financial condition and the operation of her dad. Zoe is a jolly character who just loves her fantasy stories.
Both of them later find common ground to put Radar’s master plan of stealing people’s ideas to dust. They both try to go into each other’s story and find the glitches that will ensure the stories in the mind of people and break the machine. Radar, on the other hand, tries everything to stop Zoe and Mio from further causing problems to the machine so that he can show the world his giant project of turning stories into reality.
Gameplay
Split Fiction Review – Gameplay
Split Fiction is a co-op online/local action-adventure platforming video game. It is quite similar to It Takes Two, the previous title from Hazelight Studios that won the Game of the Year award back in 2021. Split Fiction can only be played by two players, as Hazelight Studios crafted the whole adventure to be progressed by two players simultaneously. As you get into the first story, which will be Mio’s Sci-Fi story, both players will get to play it in a Split-screen, controlling their respective character.
The overall game design of Split Fiction is a 3D platforming, allowing players to sprint, dash, jump, double-jump, grapple, and perform unique abilities. The unique abilities are different in each story, and you get to use them by pressing the L2 and R2. The rest of the actions are default for the characters. In each story, you have to carefully analyze the area and coordinate with the fellow player to continue ahead.
For instance, in the first Zoe’s Fantasy story where the whole town gets ambushed by trolls, players will reach a point where they have to distract the trolls to get around. If any player tries to go ahead without the other player distracting the troll, the troll will attack the player, which will reset their position. So, players will have to coordinate to distract the trolls and progress ahead. This example is the simplest one, as there are far more difficult and creative maneuvers that you will get to experience in the later stories.
Stories and Side Stories
There are around 20 different stories in the overall adventure of Split Fiction. Each story is unique in its own way, offering both players with unique abilities. Moreover, within each main story, players will get to discover multiple side stories. These side stories are shown as bubbles, requiring both players to interact with the bubble to initiate it. As players initiate the story, they will get to discover a new sub-story within the main story. The premise of the side story is to secure these small stories from being stolen by Radar along with the main ones.
In the side stories, you will experience a whole new location with different abilities. At the end of almost every side story, there will be a major threat or a boss that the players will have to defeat. The Hazelight Studios crafted the whole stories and the side stories so creatively that it might put you in a nostalgia for other games. Like there will be some moments where the game turns completely into a side-scrolling platform. All of these little scenarios within the stories greatly impact the overall experience.
Combat and Puzzles
Split Fiction Review – Combat and Puzzles
Combat in Split Fiction is exciting and intense at the very same time. Both players have to coordinate continuously to find weak points of the bosses and defeat them. In each main story, players will have unique abilities, which will be their attacks. Always be in contact with each other to find the openings to hurt the boss. For instance, one of the most intense fights that you will get to experience in the first few hours of the game is against a giant mech in a toxin facility.
Both players will have guns and an ability to temporarily disable the shield of mechs. However, each player can only disable a certain color of shield and the mech will have both types of these shields. Players will have to coordinate when they take down the first shield so that the other one can shoot it to damage. This is one of the longest fights in the game and it goes to the very end of the story.
Puzzles are the key aspects of Split Fiction. In each story and side story, there are numerous puzzles. Both players have to work together on finding a way ahead. Moreover, sometimes, one player has to assist the other one in their path so that they can assist you later in their path. So, the coordination plays a big role in Split Fiction.
Sound Design and Video
Split Fiction Review – Sound Design and Video
Split Fiction offers astonishing visuals with great details and unique world physics in both Sci-Fi and Fantasy stories. Progressing through each story will let you explore a unique world every time. There is no denying that the team has done a great effort in detailing every world carefully. Moreover, the sound design of the game is fabulous. From the background music to intense music in boss fights, it all just fits perfectly with the adventure. Moreover, the music resembles the type of story as well. Lastly, the voice acting for all the characters is amazing. You can hear the joy, stress, excitement, and anxiety in their voices in the corresponding scenarios.
Verdict – Score 10/10
Split Fiction is already a no-brainer when it comes to defining the perfect story video game that is filled with thrill and emotions. Despite the fact that you cannot play it alone, the game does not charge you twice for two players to play together. Only one person has to purchase the game and the other one can accept the invite via EA’s Friend Pass. This is absolutely amazing and sets the bar for the future games so high.
Even for the 3D co-op platforming games, I think the Split Fiction tops all the games. The continuous excitement of exploring new worlds and experiencing unique abilities in each story just keeps the fun high for both players. If you love co-op online or local video games, then Split Fiction is a must for you. We already see it as another contender for the Game of the Year for this year.
Split Fiction is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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