EA has revealed its latest trailer for its upcoming title It Takes Two. The highly anticipated co-op adventure game from A Way Out developer Hazelight Studios is set to release later on this month.
Initially announced in June 2020, It Takes Two is Hazelight's latest foray into innovative cooperative games, this time with an emphasis on the 3D action-adventure platformer genre. While EA didn't think A Way Out would sell, the game went on to sell over 3.5 million copies and win multiple industry awards. Hazelight's follow-up effort looks to capitalize further on those co-op mechanics, albeit in a more lighthearted, whimsical setting.
The new It Takes Two gameplay trailer first sets the stage by quickly establishing the story. In this game, players will be taking on the role of either Cody or May, a married couple who are in the process of getting divorced. This upsets their daughter Rose who, through some sort of unexplained magical phenomenon, transforms her parents into two handmade dolls. Cody and May must then complete a variety of platforming and challenges related to rebuilding their relationship, guided by a sentient "Book of Love" which Rose can be seen talking to (pre-magic) along with the dolls. The trailer showcases Cody and May performing a wide array of tasks, from traditional Super Mario-style platforming, to physics-based puzzles, boss battles, and more.
Hazelight has stated that the studio's number one priority during It Takes Two's development has been to truly merge story and gameplay in order to create an engaging and compelling experience. Its outspoken director, Josef Fares, thinks that the melding of story and interesting game mechanics will make players not want to put the game down. In a recent interview with Game Informer, he guarantees players will be enthralled the entire game. “That’s a guarantee. I know I sound very cocky all the time, but that’s a guarantee.” Fares is so confident in It Takes Two’s ability to hook players that he will reportedly give $1,000 to anyone who gets bored of the game.
While a major departure in tone compared to the somber and tense atmosphere in A Way Out, It Takes Two looks to still pack an emotional punch. While whimsical on the surface, many (if not all) of the plot points and aspects of the game appear to be centered on the downfall of the protagonists' relationship. For example, one point in the trailer shows Cody and May discovering Cody's greenhouse, which has fallen into disrepair. When asking what had happened, the Book of Love responds with, "That is what happens when you abandon your passion, it gets infected."
It Takes Two looks like a fun and inventive romp, especially for gamers who love deep co-op mechanics. However, the fact that it requires another player for the whole game, along with its light tone, may disinterest some. The good news is It Takes Two isn't the only new cooperative title coming out soon, as the co-op shooter Aliens: Fireteam is set to launch this summer for those who prefer something a bit more intense.
It Takes Two launches March 26 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
