It Takes Two
- March 25, 2021
- Hazelight Studio
- 13h median play time
It Takes Two is co-op gaming at its most joyous and whimsical, and will forever be in the hearts of anyone that is lucky enough to play it.
It Takes Two is a cooperative action-adventure game where two players control a married couple who have been transformed into dolls by their daughter's wish. They must work together to navigate through various levels, solving puzzles and battling enemies to restore their relationship and return to their human forms. The game features a variety of gameplay mechanics, including platforming, shooting, and driving, and can be played both online and locally with a friend.
Reviews
- story6,651 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "It Takes Two" revolves around Cody and May, a couple on the brink of divorce who are magically transformed into dolls and must navigate a whimsical world to mend their relationship. While many players find the narrative engaging and heartwarming, with themes of cooperation and personal growth, some criticize it for being predictable or overly simplistic, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its imaginative storytelling, vibrant visuals, and the emotional depth it brings to the cooperative experience, making it a standout title for couples and friends alike.
“The overall story did a good job of drawing us in and was entertaining in its own right.”
“A really wholesome game about repairing a broken relationship, it has a great storyline and good mechanics.”
“The story is incredibly engaging and gameplay is just challenging enough to be hard but not frustrating.”
“Our only issue was with the story, which was just so cheesy and forced that we were often rolling our eyes.”
“Despite receiving a ton of attention, the plot fails to capture a story that feels genuine.”
“The story is the weakest part of this experience, but it does not detract from our enjoyment of this game.”
- gameplay5,719 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "It Takes Two" is widely praised for its innovative and diverse mechanics, with each level introducing unique gameplay elements that keep the experience fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the seamless integration of cooperative gameplay, requiring teamwork and communication to solve puzzles and navigate challenges, making it a standout title for couples and friends alike. While the story may not resonate with everyone, the gameplay's creativity and variety are consistently highlighted as its strongest features, ensuring that players remain entertained throughout the entire experience.
“The developers have done an amazing job of sewing in the different gameplay types from level to level without making it feel gimmicky.”
“The gameplay is incredibly versatile, with each level introducing new mechanics that constantly keep things fresh.”
“The game constantly introduces fresh mechanics, keeping the gameplay engaging and surprising throughout the entire adventure.”
“The gameplay is all about cooperation, which is code for 'you’ll be trying to explain to your partner why they missed the jump for the 15th time.'”
“The gameplay, while creative, often feels gimmicky, especially when you have camera control ripped away from you and you have to try to discern which of the ant-sized characters on screen is you.”
“The gameplay is very linear, and while it introduces new mechanics frequently, it often feels like it doesn't build on them effectively.”
- graphics2,652 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in "It Takes Two" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and imaginative art style, often compared to a Pixar film. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, intricate level designs, and the seamless integration of gameplay mechanics that keep the experience fresh and engaging. Overall, the game's graphics are described as breathtaking, contributing significantly to its immersive storytelling and cooperative gameplay.
“The visuals, the story, and the gameplay are out of this world for a co-op game.”
“The graphics are super well optimized and look extremely realistic.”
“The graphics are stunning and the gameplay felt magical!”
“It's a mediocre platformer with so-so graphics, stupid cutscenes, and annoying characters.”
“The gameplay was mostly trivial and the plot was not that interesting.”
“The graphics were cute and varied a lot.”
- humor1,150 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "It Takes Two" is widely praised for its cleverness and variety, blending lighthearted moments with darker, more absurd elements. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, funny character interactions, and the comedic chaos that arises from cooperative gameplay, often leading to laughter and memorable experiences. While some find certain jokes cringeworthy or juvenile, the overall consensus is that the game successfully balances humor with heartfelt storytelling, making it an enjoyable experience for couples and friends alike.
“The story is heartwarming and funny, with great voice acting.”
“The narrative strikes a perfect balance between sincerity and humor, blending serious themes with lighthearted and funny moments.”
“The characters are well-written, the humor is top-notch and never feels forced, and overall just great casual and family-friendly fun.”
“It’s not funny, it’s not ‘artistically challenging’, it’s just vile.”
“Their conversations are not serious, not funny, not even funnily absurd.”
“This game was so uncomfortable and unfunny to play it took us almost a year.”
- emotional1,045 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "It Takes Two" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and the ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading players to tears. Reviewers highlight the game's exploration of complex themes such as love, divorce, and family dynamics, making it relatable and impactful, especially for those in relationships or with children. The combination of engaging gameplay, stunning visuals, and a touching narrative creates an unforgettable emotional journey that resonates long after the game ends.
“The narrative beautifully captures the ups and downs of relationships, making it relatable and touching.”
“The story is heartwarming and important.”
“The emotional depth and authenticity in the narrative are surprising, making it more than just a game about puzzles and challenges.”
“Boring story, boring mechanics, boring game.”
“Outstanding gameplay but boring storyline.”
- music733 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "It Takes Two" has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere and emotional storytelling. Reviewers highlight the diverse and immersive soundtrack, which complements various gameplay mechanics and levels, creating memorable experiences that resonate with players. Many noted that the music not only fits the tone of each chapter but also elevates the overall enjoyment of the game, making it a standout feature.
“The sound design and music perfectly complement the experience, enhancing the emotional moments and adding to the overall immersion.”
“The whimsical soundtrack perfectly complements the game's tone and storytelling, enhancing key moments and adding depth to the emotional journey of the characters.”
“The music seamlessly weaves through the emotional beats of the story, enhancing the player's connection to the characters and their journey.”
“The music is also serviceable, though I'd say it is of a higher quality than the voice acting overall, outside of the final song which I found rather underwhelming.”
“The soundtrack isn't all that engaging and it's very cliché at some moments.”
“Music was fine, there were only a couple of moments that were memorable or exciting but it never nailed it to the point where I found myself checking out the soundtrack, like I had done with other games.”
- replayability181 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers a unique experience through different character mechanics and mini-games, the overall replay value is limited. Some players appreciate the ability to switch characters for a fresh perspective, while others feel that the linear story and lack of alternative modes reduce the incentive to replay. Overall, it is often described as enjoyable for a couple of playthroughs, especially with different partners, but not necessarily a game that players will return to frequently.
“My roommate and I finished it in about 16 hours, but it's got really good replayability since both characters use different mechanics at different times.”
“The game's replayability is unparalleled, with it offering some of the most engaging gameplay I have seen in a long time.”
“The different chapters with the different biomes and abilities for each person gives the game replay value since you can swap characters and play again.”
“The amount of replayability is a tad minimal unless you want to play through again as the character you didn't play through as the first time.”
“While revisiting the game with different partners can be fun, the lack of alternative gameplay modes or post-story content limits its replay value.”
“It doesn't have the replayability element in my opinion, and the mini-games found throughout the game are not that interesting to play.”
- character development153 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the natural progression and depth of the main characters, Cody and May, as they navigate their relationship challenges. However, some players feel that the character development is inconsistent or lacking, particularly in the early stages, leading to moments where the characters seem unlikable or their growth feels abrupt. Overall, while the character designs and visual elements are widely appreciated, opinions vary on the effectiveness and pacing of the character development throughout the story.
“The character development feels natural and doesn't swing wildly like it might in other stories.”
“The story is heart-wrenching and the character development is superb.”
“The character development in 'It Takes Two' is superb.”
“But at the end, the story became so much worse - cliche Hollywood movie storyline with every single character being annoying and having 'character development' out of nowhere.”
“That being said, it went on for hours and hours with no real character development or interest/connection towards the life experiences of the main protagonists, which led to it being a drag to finish the game and by the end just being glad it was over and genuinely hoping they ended up unhappy instead of wishing them the best.”
“If I had to complain about something, it's that the character development is pretty nonexistent for a lot of the game (and the main characters just come off like bad people) until a point where everything suddenly changes; it feels almost insincere when they start improving.”
- grinding142 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 46 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is a significant issue, with many players feeling it requires an excessive time commitment, often likening it to needing "a second life." While some aspects of gameplay are praised for their creativity and variety, numerous players find certain mechanics, puzzles, and cutscenes to be tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. However, a few reviews note that the game manages to avoid feeling grindy for the most part, offering engaging content that keeps the gameplay fresh.
“Cute story, diverse gameplay, not grindy, fun, good visuals.”
“Fun platforming and puzzles, while not being tedious or repetitive.”
“Story rich, awesome graphics, no grinding, no repetitive chapters, lovely characters, fun fun fun.”
“Some of the mechanics and tools that you'd get for your journeys were interesting, but many fell short and eventually became tedious to use.”
“The cutscenes are horribly tedious to sit through and are filled with empty dialogue.”
“The gameplay, while its strong suit is half the time fun, the other half is tedious.”
- stability139 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in online play and during cooperative sessions. While some users experienced a relatively smooth gameplay experience with minimal issues, others faced frustrating connection problems, game-breaking glitches, and extensive troubleshooting requirements. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable number of players deeming it unplayable at times due to these technical difficulties.
“The game was almost completely bug free and felt refreshingly completed compared to a lot of modern releases.”
“During our play-through we encountered no glitches, bugs or anything one would consider unintended behavior.”
“Absolutely no glitches, fps drops or issues encountered.”
“There are so many glitches that are caused by online play and it completely ruins the experience.”
“The game is buggy and unplayable.”
“Unfortunately, the recent update broke the game, and now it either freezes my computer or hard crashes it.”
- optimization132 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its graphics and overall performance, while others report significant stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly during cutscenes. Some players noted that the game runs smoothly on lower-end hardware, but others experienced issues that detracted from the experience, suggesting that further optimization patches are needed. Overall, while the game showcases impressive visuals and gameplay, its optimization is inconsistent, leading to a range of performance experiences among players.
“The graphics are super well optimized and look extremely realistic.”
“The graphics are great and so is the performance on most hardware; the game is friendly to non-gamers so you can play it with pretty much anyone.”
“This game is incredibly creative throughout, has solid platforming, fun co-op puzzles, great optimization, and fantastic visuals.”
“Good game, but the PC performance is horrendous.”
“The game has a terrible stuttering problem.”
“The main problem we both had was stuttering issues in certain areas and cut scenes, so there needs to be some optimization done.”
- atmosphere127 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its vibrant, detailed environments and enchanting visuals that change from level to level, creating a captivating and immersive experience. Players appreciate the seamless integration of sound design and music, which enhances the whimsical and magical feel of the game. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, creative, and engaging, making it a standout feature that complements its co-op gameplay and storytelling.
“The atmosphere, story, and numerous puzzles, bosses, and mini-games are all incredibly well-crafted, creating an immersive and exciting adventure.”
“From lush gardens to fantastical realms, each level is a visual feast that reflects the game's whimsical and enchanting atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere in this game is magical and fantastic, re-living their love life from how they fell in love to why they are in the current situation, exploring the various different maps and power-ups while following every suggestion and direction a magical book gives you!”
“Honestly, if there was even just an extra level after May's concert where the two work together after rediscovering their passions and reading Rose's letter where they have to get to Rose before she runs away and discover they don't want to divorce anymore, or if the game placed the clock level as the final level with a 'your love is timeless/forever' theme to make that happen, it would've made for a stronger and more personal ending, providing a better atmosphere than anthropomorphic glowsticks and fireworks surrounded by dusty shelves and piles of books.”
“The atmosphere of the worlds they introduce feels a little barren, a whole lot of geometry to jump on that is just decorative or just looking for the hidden minigame.”
“I do feel like the game is pushing the wrong message: 'stay in an unhealthy relationship because it will make the kids happy.' If you are in an unhealthy relationship, it's creating an atmosphere of toxicity for the kids.”
- monetization30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been overwhelmingly praised, with users highlighting the absence of microtransactions, DLC, and other exploitative practices commonly found in modern titles, especially those published by EA. Reviewers appreciate the game's focus on gameplay and story rather than profit-driven mechanics, describing it as a refreshing return to complete, high-quality gaming experiences without the burden of additional costs. Overall, the game is seen as a standout example of consumer-friendly practices in an industry often criticized for its monetization strategies.
“It runs perfectly fine and the devs aren't trying to milk the player for microtransactions or similar either.”
“In an age of microtransactions, this is groundbreakingly consumer friendly.”
“I honestly couldn't believe how good this game was and my favorite part is that it doesn't have any kind of in-game purchases that it tries to advertise to you even though it's an EA game.”
“I was skeptical at first because a lot of platform/puzzle style games like this feel like a cash grab with amateur platforming and super basic puzzles.”
“Just a cash grab carried by the feeling of 'playing with friends' that can make literally any other game just as fun.”
“In a world where half-finished games, bundled with microtransactions and unpolished AAA titles from previously trusted developers are commonplace - it takes two brings light to the darkness.”
Critic Reviews
It Takes Two
It Takes Two Review – The Joys And Heartbreak Of Love
93%Teamwork makes the dream work
“It Takes Two is a charming co-op adventure that combines the best ideas from Nintendo and Pixar.”
90%It Takes Two Review – Interactive Couple Therapy
It Takes Two seamlessly blends multiple genres to successfully deliver a therapeutic coop experience for couples.
95%
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