Hazelight Studios is one of the few modern developers building its games entirely around co-operative play. With 2021's It Takes Two, the studio created a memorable asymmetric co-op experience that deserves a follow-up. With the characters and themes set up in It Takes Two, the story could take several directions depending on whom the plot follows. Since the previous playable characters Cody and May had their marriage issues resolved, it might not make sense to continue with them, but there are two characters the story could follow instead.
It Takes Two has players take the role of either Cody or May; a couple in the process of getting a divorce. Their young daughter Rose is having trouble coping with her parents' decision and blames herself, so although her parents' marriage is saved in the end, a story following Rose could lean into darker themes. Or, keeping with the family-friendly tone of It Takes Two, players could follow Dr. Hakim - a love expert and voice of the animated Book of Love - as he helps a new couple to maintain the same magic and humor.
The Characters of It Takes Two Have More Potential
A direct sequel to It Takes Two could be great for young couples, following Rose after she's grown and started dating - or even after she gets married. Perhaps her parents' arguing affected her more than she realized, or she never fully forgave them. Maybe they gave Rose trust issues that never went away. There are a lot of deeper themes to play with, and many of them could lead to a game that feels distinct from the original.
Alternatively, following Dr. Hakim's Book of Love in a sequel could leave the door open for almost anything. Perhaps the family had a yard sale and accidentally sold the book, or Rose took the book to school and lost it, eventually landing in the hands of a new child with struggling parents. Either character could lead to several intriguing narrative paths, as even if It Takes Two's story doesn't need more to feel complete, it demonstrates the untapped potential of story-driven co-op games.
The Games Industry Needs More Asymmetrical Co-Op Titles
It Takes Two was nominated for five categories at The Game Awards 2021, where it won Game of the Year and Best Family Game. Though many games still offer co-op and asymmetrical multiplayer, such as Dead by Daylight or Friday the 13th, these are vastly different experiences. It Takes Two's story-driven co-op allows players to work together while having different roles and play styles. This leads to a strong feeling of reliance on one's co-op partner that builds up the game's story seamlessly.
The video game industry has slowly moved away from providing local co-op options. Even in franchises where local co-op has been a staple like Halo, the feature has sometimes been completely removed. In its place, the presence of online platforms drives paid subscriptions and microtransactions. In stark contrast to this trend, those who purchase a new copy of It Takes Two can bring in anyone of their choice for free. This allows anyone who buys the game to ensure they always have at least one person to play with.
In addition to the free copy that comes with each new purchase, the game retails at a reduced cost of $39.99 USD. A sequel could reach even more players. At this time, Hazelight Studios is currently at work on its next project, and a film adaptation of It Takes Two is supposedly in the works. For Hazelight's next game, a sequel to It Takes Two could benefit from this exposure to be even bigger than the original.
It Takes Two is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
