When it comes to co-op play, the traditional form of couch co-op has been declining across gaming as online multiplayer becomes more and more successful. However, what sets It Takes Two apart as a co-op game is its dedication to what made couch co-op special. In particular, It Takes Two captures the fun of exploring a narrative-driven co-op, complete with split-screen, with a single friend. The additional benefit of this game is that it can be played cooperatively online as well as in person, which opens the door for a lot more players to try out this game.
Typically, one of the major hesitation with co-op games that lack a single-player option is the hassle of finding someone to play with. For everyone who can, It Takes Two is a whimsical adventure only playable through direct collaboration; the online mode allows remote players to experience this too, with the game even retaining a split-screen while playing online. With the added difficulties of pandemic lockdowns over the past two years, this feature really boosts It Takes Two appeal as a game experienced together despite any distance between two players. With the addition of It Takes Two to Xbox's Game Pass, it's now easier than ever for everyone to give this game a go. Fans of the co-op genre will definitely want to check this game out if they haven't already, and Xbox Game Pass is presenting a perfect opportunity to find out what the hype is about.
Gameplay and Story
As mentioned, It Takes Two is predicated on collaborative play and cooperation. The two playable characters, a married couple named Cody and May, bicker and consider the state of their marriage and parenthood as they explore the imaginative world of this game. The dynamic between the two characters, who are turned into dolls at the start of It Takes Two, is a perfect fit for a co-op game, as the narrative and story between the two draw the player in while the co-op play keeps the experience light and fun.
However, the story does have darker themes, and Cody and May begin the game on the brink of divorce. It Takes Two doesn't shy away from the more complex parts parenthood, which on a whole has become a theme of many recent games such as God of War, The Last Of Us, and many others. Gameplay includes numerous mini-games that have enough variety to keep every type of player engaged on some level.
The Success of It Takes Two
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Considering some of the limitations of co-op play, especially It Takes Two being a couch co-op experience, not many games in the genre are as successful as It Takes Two was. The developer behind the game, Hazelight Studios, had already proven its abilities in creating immersive narrative-driven co-op titles with A Way Out. With at least 3 million copies of the game sold already, It Takes Two seems to have captured something special. The game's narrative is complex enough that, despite its cutesy aesthetic, never feels childish or not challenging enough.
It Takes Two isn't a particularly long game to play, which is hugely beneficial when players have to coordinate their schedules to play together. Between the option of online or in-person play and the addition of the game to Xbox Game Pass, It Takes Two is a very accessible co-op experience right now. Ultimately, the game is popular because it is a really good co-op, narrative-driven adventure. As such, co-op fans certainly shouldn't miss out on playing It Takes Two, and even those who don't usually enjoy this type of game might find themselves sucked into the story and gameplay.
It Takes Two is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.