Hazelight Studios has only been around for a short time, but they have made an impact on the video game industry with two co-op games that were well-received by critics and players alike. Both A Way Out (2018) and It Takes Two (2021) were able to get people to team up together either locally or online.
While A Way Out is a mature, intense game about two runaway felons, It Takes Two is a more light-hearted romantic comedy about a married couple being forced to work on their relationship after being turned into dolls. Both games are a lot of fun to play, but certain aspects stand out in one more than the other.
A Way Out: Player Agency
Despite them being co-op experiences, both Hazelight games do a good job of letting each player have their own experiences in certain areas, so that one person doesn't feel like they need to be following the other constantly. While It Takes Two implements some elements of this, there's only a few areas where players can really separate from each other.
This is where A Way Out shines. Take the opening sequence, for instance, as Leo is hanging out in jail while Vincent is going through the stages of entering the prison for the first time. Rather than forcing players to experience the same story together, each player gets their own personal perspective with the character they are controlling.
It Takes Two: Mini-Games
Another Hazelight staple is sprinkling in side activities that players can do while they are progressing through the story. A Way Out does have some competitive games like arm wrestling and Connect 4, plus other silly activities. But It Takes Two takes them to another level.
The mini-games actually become a major game component for people who like to get 100 percent completion as the game will keep track of which games were found or not. Almost all games involve Cody versus May in Whack-A-Mole, Laser Tennis, Rodeo, Horse Derby, and a lot more.
A Way Out: Main Characters
The driving force for both games are its main characters as they grow to work together through each of their journeys. Players learn about Cody and May throughout the game, including various hobbies they used to be passionate about but have since given up on. But these characters' stories are shallow compared to that of Leo and Vincent.
Leo is the brass one who is ready to take anyone out if he needs to while Vincent is more methodical in his thinking. The players learn about the backstories of these guys and get to meet their relatives, which adds to their depth. Cody and May can become borderline annoying with their bickering, while Leo and Vincent's relationship is captivating.
It Takes Two: Side Characters
Along with the main characters, players will also have a good handful of side characters that they will get to know as they go through both games. However, It Takes Two shines brighter here in that the side characters both fit in with the levels they star and even outshine the protagonists in crucial moments.
Some of the best examples of this come in Chapter 2 with the Squirrels who are running an operation to take down the Wasps. There's also Moon Baboon, whose passion to protect Rose would be incredibly sweet if it didn't interfere with the plans of Cody and May. Even some basic characters like the Vacuum are more entertaining than any of the A Way Out minor characters combined.
A Way Out: Length
Co-op games are a lot of fun to sit down and play for a little while, but most of these experiences are on the shorter side for a reason. They naturally take a lot of energy in staying engaged with a partner. That's why a shorter campaign is more attractive to go through, which is where A Way Out beats its successor.
The prison drama is only six hours long, according to website HowLongToBeat, while It Takes Two takes double that time at an estimated 12 hours. A Way Out is a perfect length for its story as well while It Takes Two may overstay its welcome despite how fun it is.
It Takes Two: Levels
The settings over the course of both game are excellent and fitting of what each adventure revolves around. With that in mind, it is hard not to look at levels in both and not be enamored by the giant ball pits and beautiful clock tower village.
What makes It Takes Two special is how different each level is from the next from both a level mechanic perspective and a visual perspective. Cody and May could go from exploring the inside of a tree to traveling across Rose's room to climbing a mountain in a Snow Globe. The game keeps the player on their toes with what world the players will be thrown into next.
A Way Out: Story
The story of both games seem pretty straight forward. One story focuses on two prisoners escaping jail to get revenge, while the other is about a couple forced to fix their marriage through cooperative exercises. But while It Takes Two doesn't really go much deeper than its basic summary, A Way Out is so much more.
The player learns about the reasons Vincent and Leo are in prison, learning that they have something in common that they want to achieve. There is also their individual stories of their families that are gripping. And of course, there is a plot twist that those who haven't experienced the game won't see coming.
It Takes Two: Co-op Gameplay
A Way Out has a story that would have players at the end of their seats and has great gameplay to go along with it. But while It Takes Two never reaches those highs in its story, the co-op gameplay may be among the best in the genre.
As mentioned earlier, each chapter brings a whole new environment to experience. This is true with the gameplay as Cody and May are each armed with something unique at the start of the level and must work together using their differing tools. This adds to the game's replayability aspect as playing as Cody is very different from controlling May.
Verdict
It is no question that both of Hazelight Studios' co-op adventures are great. Those who want a shorter adventure with a strong story will likely want to play A Way Out, especially with all the twists and turns the story could make. However, the better game is It Takes Two.
Despite being long and having a less complex narrative, the latest entry from Hazelight took the genre to the next level with its gameplay, level design, and visuals. Every level could be considered its own unique game, which keeps the action fresh enough where the game doesn't become exhausting.
A Way Out is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, while It Takes Two is also on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.