“It Takes Two” was an incredible, unique moment; everything aligned perfectly for that game to achieve massive success. Although it was undoubtedly fun and demonstrated the creativity of the designer at the peak of his powers, some parts of the game – especially the narrative – didn't thrill me, and the game eventually felt a bit too long. “Split Fiction,” the third title from this studio, returns once again to the source of pure, cooperative fun and, incredibly, offers unexpectedly unique ways of playing and collaborating in what can only be described as an epic genre journey about the power of friendship.
“A Way Out” was grounded in the drama of a prison escape, while “It Takes Two” ventured more into the supernatural and fantastic, where a child’s imagination delayed a couple's divorce by turning them into living dolls in their daughter’s room. “Split Fiction,” thanks to technology from the far future, merges the best of both worlds – literally.
Zoe and Mio, two ambitious, unpublished writers, sign up for a test study believing it will bring them a major breakthrough and serve as a stepping stone for their careers. A revolutionary machine, developed by the Rader Corporation, provides creators with a virtual platform to enter and live out their ideas – what better way to present a story than to live in it? Shortly after starting, it becomes clear that all these writers are being exploited for their ideas, and Mio’s refusal to participate in the experiment leads to her being accidentally absorbed into Zoe’s capsule – a collision of ideas and worlds that unfolds through the next eight exciting chapters.
An emotional journey through imagination
Although a large part of the game focuses on the growing friendship between the two of them, as their trust and sisterhood strengthen through overcoming obstacles together, their individual stories – and reasons for participating in the program – deliver an emotional punch, especially Zoe’s, which culminates in a powerfully moving scene masterfully performed by Elsie Bennett. Discovering the origin of Mio’s restraint justified her almost one-dimensional anger during two-thirds of the game, while Zoe’s sadness was hidden behind a cheerful exterior, making her revelation even more heartbreaking.
What I appreciate most about “Split Fiction” is that its core premise, writers intertwining through imaginary worlds they created themselves, even those – in one case literal – castles in the clouds, justifies everything. Although I felt that some chapters of “It Takes Two” didn't contribute to the plot, here everything seems in its place; everything fits into the bigger picture. The variety of landscapes isn't massive, as each writer's penchant for science fiction or fantasy serves as the basis for their chapters. However, side stories, where you are a pig in a barn, a glutton, or a drawn hero on a page, provide moments of relaxation.
Perfected cooperative play
Of course, there are few games like “Split Fiction” where the focus is primarily on boisterous cooperative fun reduced to its purest form. As always, I love the split screen because it is crucial to know where your partner is and what they are going to do. It requires concentration and communication from both, and I appreciate that the studio, for three games in a row, can set that as a foundation and still create creative games like “Split Fiction.” The final act of this game, which contains the craziest things I’ve ever seen in a game and would make even the dimension-hopping in “Rift Apart” look pale, contains more creativity in one minute than most games offer in eight hours.
While most games have moments, “Split Fiction” is a game of moments. Every trick and passing idea that appears during the game builds on a solid platforming foundation. There is no mechanic in “Split Fiction” that feels unfinished, especially those that disappear after a minute of attention, but most impressive is the fundamental platforming of the game. It is almost as perfect as the best Mario games, although it sometimes feels like it moves itself to keep things going. If you have a solid knowledge of video games, you probably won't stay long on the harder parts of “Split Fiction,” although I think it might be a bit harder than its predecessors. For a game with so many elements to keep track of, while you and your partner struggle with complementary abilities, the game is extremely intuitive and never buries the fun in complicated situations.
Different perspectives and the friend pass
More than ever before, after experiencing the events only through Zoe’s eyes, I feel that there is another game I haven't played. Mio’s side is something I mostly absorbed through peripheral vision, and I would certainly return to see her perspective. After playing “Split Fiction” exclusively with Shannon via online co-op, it’s worth noting that the game worked flawlessly and we didn't experience any negative effects regarding connectivity or game performance, which was a relief in this new, cross-platform world, where he joined with his PlayStation Portal while I stayed safe on the rival console.
If you are familiar with Hazelight and their way of working, “Split Fiction” brings back their invaluable “friend pass” system, which allows you and a friend to play the entire game even if only one of you bought it. How exactly that works in a cross-platform world, I’ll never know, but it is so consumer-oriented that I have to praise it.
Visual focus and final verdict
I think it can be argued that “Split Fiction” is not as aesthetically dynamic as “It Takes Two.” With its dual focus on science fiction and fantasy worlds, and everything that entails from neon cities to exotic, forgotten forests, it looks like a game with two different parts and visually struggles to keep up with the variety offered by the gameplay. However, it seems more focused on what it’s trying to do, and the worlds in “Split Fiction” feel fully conceived and realized with a lot of love and attention to their genres. I would often be left mouth agape by spectacular scenes, and equally, I would be delighted by beautiful landscapes – often accompanied by a bench in the style of “Brothers,” where you can enjoy a quiet moment with your best friend.
It is hard not to consider “Split Fiction” an almost perfect example of what it’s trying to achieve. Despite getting dangerously close to clichés, which, given the characters' profession, is a bit too obvious, it tells a better story than “It Takes Two” with a much faster pace.
I entered “Split Fiction” with an open mind, wondering if this game could once again capture what they did before. I left with the knowledge that it will only be with the next Josef Fares game that I will have this much fun again. Simply put, it was a joy. No game has ever kept me in such a constant state of “ooh.”
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