There have been plenty of solid titles from earlier this year that are strong contenders for winning Game of the Year awards from different publications. That said, for fans of co-op multiplayer titles, nothing has come anywhere close toIt Takes Two.
The most recent game from Hazelight studios led by Josef Fares,It Takes Twotook a lot of players by surprise with its competent platforming and excellent co-op gameplay. It is a rare breed of game that requires two players to complete and hopefully, it inspires more thoughtful co-op games that rely heavily on asymmetric multiplayer experiences.
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Embracing the Fun of Asymmetric Multiplayer Games
The bulk ofIt Takes Twohas players take control of one of two characterswho are constantly getting complimentary but wildly different abilities in order to solve puzzles and complete various types of 3D platforming sections. The abilities vary pretty immensely throughout the entire game with some standout examples being times when one character can throw nails into a wall and the other has a hammer allowing them to swing across great distances or when one character covers enemies and obstacles in flammable honey and the other can ignite it causing an explosion.
The game is constantly flipping the script and exploring all aspects of what collaborative asymmetric multiplayer titles can be. Hopefully, from here,It Takes Twois able to inspire more asymmetric co-op titles because, as the game proves, they’re just a lot of fun. WhileIt Takes Twocertainly borrows plenty of ideas from Hazelight Studios' previous work,A Way Out, it also feels inspired by otherpopular couch co-op games likePortal 2andOvercooked.It Takes Twomixes things up enough to stand out and other games should follow its example and expand on what co-op games can be.
AsIt Takes Twoso clearly examples, asymmetric multiplayer is a lot of fun and if more studios get to work on exploring the ideas that come with it, then there could bea new wave of multiplayer titlesusing ideas never before seen in video games.Among Usis one popular example that comes to mind and, while the asymmetric aspects of it aren’t cooperative, it’s a smash hit and extremely fun. By having different studios try their hands at other asymmetric-style games, they could be making the next biggest thing that connects hardcore and casual gamers alike, just asAmong Ushas done.
Keeping Couch Co-Op Alive
If asymmetric multiplayer titles are to continue growing, then so will the seemingly dying couch co-op genre. As the focus of video games has turned to a much more online competitive angle, couch co-op has taken a backseat. Eventhe major studios that say co-op is a focus in their gamesdon’t seem to share the same passion for the genre as studios like Hazelight. If more games can take influence from a hit co-op title likeIt Takes Two, then the genre can stay alive and hopefully have a renaissance in the coming years.
Even ifIt Takes Twodoesn’t have much of an impact on the industry, all hope isn’t lost for co-op multiplayer games. There will always be more titles releasing each year from studios that are passionate about connecting people through games, whether it’s withsomething as huge asAmong Usor with smaller titles likeLovers In A Dangerous Spacetime.At the end of the day,It Takes Twois simply a good place for game makers to look for co-op inspiration as it’s so full of ideas and is constantly having the players try new types of asymmetric gameplay.
It Takes Twois currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X.
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