Think Jar Jar Binks, but dialed up to 11.ĭr. This talking Book of Love is among the most cringe-inducing characters you're likely to encounter in any medium, even outside of video games. While the narrative’s frequent tonal whiplash is frustrating, the biggest issue is with a single character: Dr. Sometimes, you’ll be left wondering who the target audience for this story was supposed to be. One scene, in which Cody and May literally dismember a stuffed elephant as it begs for its life, seems like the type of thing that would traumatize a young player. However, some scenes are decidedly more grown-up in nature. At points, it feels like It Takes Two is meant for young children. Of course, expecting a nuanced take on adult relationships in a game such as It Takes Two might seem like a pretty ridiculous nitpick - and it would be, if the game weren’t so tonally confusing. Instead, all their fractured relationship needs is for them to just “love each other again”. The notion that Cody and May may be fundamentally ill-suited for each other never comes up. It’s a cute idea, and there’s a lot of whimsy in the tale, but it also rings rather hollow in places.ĭivorce is a pretty serious subject, and the game never really treats it as such. As you and your co-op partner solve puzzles, Cody and May start to solve the broken aspects of their relationship. In It Takes Two, the plot matches the gameplay.

From here, Cody and May must learn to work together in order to find a way back to their human bodies.Ĭody and May (Image credit: It Takes Two) In a magical twist, her parents awaken to find themselves trapped within these miniature playthings. While she’s playing with the dolls, a few of her tears land on them. When their young daughter overhears their latest row, she escapes to the family’s shed with two small dolls that bear more than a close resemblance to her own parents. It Takes Two follows a husband and wife, Cody and May, who are on the brink of divorce. The clue is in the name here: To get through this adventure it really does take two. You’ll want to play with a partner, sibling, roommate, friend or family member. This isn’t a game you want to play with a random stranger you plucked from an internet forum. Because communication is vital to your success, it's absolutely crucial it is to play It Takes Two alongside someone you know well. Puzzles will regularly ask you and your partner to work in sync, using individual abilities in tandem to advance through the various worlds you explore. There also isn’t any form of online matchmaking, so you must either be sitting next to a second player on the couch, or have them in your online friends list beforehand. You must play It Takes Two from start to finish with a partner, no exceptions.

Games like it takes two