It Takes Two Game Review

It Takes Two is a co-op game developed by Hazelight, published by Electronic Arts, and released in 2021. It’s perfect for gamers of all skill levels. The storyline is cute and engaging. It follows the couple, Cody and May, who are struggling with marital issues and ultimately decide to get a divorce. Things take a turn when they tell their daughter, and she accidentally casts a spell on them, turning them into wooden and clay dolls that must work together to fix their relationship. They have more than a little help, or rather, more relationship challenges from the book of love, Dr. Hakim, whose goal is to fix Cody and May’s relationship. He also provides plenty of comedic relief when the story gets a little too serious.

The gameplay in this co-op changes from chapter to chapter, which keeps the game more entertaining than the average co-op. It’s a semi-open world, semi-linear game with plenty of mini-games that pit players against each other in friendly competition. There is action, adventure, puzzle-solving, some third-person shooter elements, a couple of sections that resemble brawlers, platforming, and plenty of good old-fashioned parkour. It Takes Two has it all. It pleases a wide audience of players in the gaming community, and it was refreshing to see a game that brought all these styles together in such a skillful way.

Since It Takes Two is a co-op and the story has everything to do with fixing Cody and May’s marriage, you can expect plenty of Co-lab-or-ation! The entire premise of the game is centered around working together to progress, like any other co-op. It Takes Two takes it to another level though. Every chapter has new items that complement each other, and players have to figure out how to use them to effectively fight enemies, cross chasms, or clear the way forward for a partner.

It Takes Two is no stranger to boss battles either, each chapter has a boss waiting at the end. The developers should get extra credit for creativity because each boss fight was a unique challenge. Players won’t feel cheated during boss fights, even more experienced gamers will enjoy them.

One of the best things about It Takes Two is that gamers of all experience, even beginners, can enjoy and get through the game. The revival system is very forgiving. Falling off the edge won’t start players at the very beginning of the section, only at the beginning of the challenge. Dying during a boss battle won’t leave one player out for good or end it entirely. The fallen player can revive in 3 seconds by spamming the button indicated on the screen. Another plus is that the boss battles have checkpoints, so if both players die, they restart at the checkpoint and not at the beginning of the fight.

It Takes Two is a fantastic game to play with friends, family, and significant others who have never played video games before or have little interest in them. It’s a great introduction to so many styles of gameplay, not too rigorous for a beginner, and a great way to spend time and learn to work together. 

The game is rated PEGI 12, meaning it’s rated for 12 years old and up. It Takes Two contains some mild language and violence. There is no blood or gore at all. When an enemy dies, they disappear into a cloud of smoke. Cody and May either fall down with stars around their heads when injured or disappear into blue particles and reform the same way. 

SPOILERS FOR CUTSCENES

There are two scenes in particular that come to mind when thinking about younger audiences viewing the game. The first is towards the beginning of the game during the boss battle with the Vacuum. When his health bar is depleted, it triggers the cutscene for his demise. Cody and May each control one of the vacuum’s arms that are suctioning. They guide the suctioning tubes to the Vacuum’s eyes and proceed to suck the eyes out. None of it is gory and there is no view of the eyeball being removed, but it is something to note when playing with younger children.

The second cutscene is later in the game when Cody and May have reached Cutie the Elephant. Cody and May need to kill her.  In the process, they accidentally rip off her leg and ear. Again, there is no blood, just stuffing. The only thing about this scene is that poor Cutie is begging the entire time. Another thing to note when playing with children.

END OF SPOILERS

In my personal opinion, It Takes Two is one of the best games I've played recently. I have experience as a gamer and I played it with someone who didn’t have the same level of experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This game requires quite a bit of patience, but it is worth it. I loved the different gameplay, the new items, and the parkour, and I loved playing it with people I love.

Let’s talk price real quick. It Takes Two is absolutely worth the $40 that it is listed at. If you really want to play it right this second and can’t wait, you wont feel ripped off if you spend 40 dollars on it. However, if you can wait, I encourage you to do so. It Takes Two goes on sale quite often on Steam and Epic Games. The sales range anywhere from 20% to 80% off. Waiting until it goes on sale for 8 dollars is a steal. There is also the It Takes Two Friends Pass, which allows you or a friend to play the game without needing to purchase it. So long as one player bought the game, the second player can play via friend pass.

In conclusion, It Takes Two is an amazing Co-op game that you can play with friends and family. It keeps players engaged and entertained with changing gameplay, exciting new items, and a storyline with a great balance of serious tones and humor. It’s a gem of a game and well worth a play if you’ve got the time and a friend.