It Takes Two

It Takes Two is co-op gaming genius and is going to go down as both a classic of the genre and a Game of the Year contender. There's not a single dull moment in the entire game, and we didn't run into any glitches or technical issues of any kind either. It Takes Two is polished to near-perfection, and an absolute must-play for co-op gaming fans.

I struggle to think of another co-op puzzle game that's better. Maybe Portal 2? Even if that's true, It Takes Two belongs on that same tier.

It Takes Two is a Pixar-worthy adventure that consistently innovates, offering players an excellent co-op experience unlike any other.

It Takes Two has so much to give for players seeking a deeper connection or just an enjoyable, varied game. When Cody and May’s journey reaches its emotional crescendo, there shouldn’t be a dry eye on the couch. Tucked beneath a hilarious script is a beating heart of human connection, one that is easily shared between the players and their digital counterparts. Few games are able to successfully bridge the gulf between narrative and gameplay like this. It Takes Two is a brilliant fusion of creativity, placing itself at the front of the best games of 2021. More importantly, however, it’s an experience that may teach you and your co-op partner a lot about yourselves, bringing you closer than ever before.

It Takes Two is one of the best co-op games we've ever played. The creativity is splashing and the adventure is incredibly entertaining thanks to the mix of all kinds of elements, locations and situations. It plays wonderfully and the variation in environments does the game well as it provides a good surprise effect, and does so time and time again. The presentation is also sublime with razor-sharp graphics that are incredibly colorful and that is complemented by a wonderful soundtrack that connects seamlessly with everything.

It Takes Two is an incredible game thanks to its ingenious and addictive gameplay and its fresh and neat universe. Josef Fares has a real gift for offering experiences in successful cooperation but here he sets the bar very high with a multitude of brilliant ideas at the heart of a touching and well-told story. A must to share without moderation!

It Takes Two is one of the most delightful and ceaselessly entertaining co-op games I’ve played. Hazelight offers so many exciting levels, abilities, set-pieces, and mini-games, but does not let this extreme level of variety affect its quality. Every new idea is introduced to the game with care and used in a way that players can enjoy, before promptly being recycled out for an even better one. That this is the developer’s first platformer is staggeringly impressive, and I can only hope that this won’t be its final flirtation with a genre it’s clearly head over heels for.

It Takes Two is an amazing game that keeps players on their toes with its impeccable pacing in both story and gameplay. This 3D platformer mixes genres every step of the way in a magical ride through different locals. At the center, though, is a great love story full of heartwarming moments and plenty of laughs to boot.

It Takes Two is a cooperative gaming experience like no other. Its gameplay sometimes takes a back seat to the overall spectacle of the adventure but even when that happens, it's hard not to enjoy every minute of this incredible journey.

This is a passionate declaration of love for videogames and one of the best co-op experiences out there.

It Takes Two is a one-of-a-kind experience. There is a joy and whimsy to the entire game and so much variety it’ll keep players entertained and surprised from beginning to end. The world is so detailed and gorgeous and the cohesion between storytelling and gameplay is incredibly impressive. It’s the kind of game that proves there’s still plenty of room for innovation in games.

It Takes Two is full of ideas and it’s, unquestionably, the best cooperative game for two players out there. The environments and puzzles change frequently enough to keep things fresh, the only slight disappointment being a rather weak story.

Alas, what should be a runaway creative success for the game’s director, Josef Fares, is marred by a tone-deaf narrative element which shows that asinine ethnic caricatures unfortunately still exist in video games.

It Takes Two is an amazing coop experience, a rollercoaster of love that always succeeds in giving new gameplay mechanics to players, as well as interesting characters. A true playable romantic comedy that lasts 10 hours that will leave some pretty good memories. And another success for Hazelight.

With It Takes Two, Hazelight has cemented itself as one of the most creative and talented developers of today. Not only does It Takes Two look absolutely fantastic, it’s a delight to play and its story is wonderful; sometimes moving, sometimes utterly hilarious. It’s essentially your own interactive Pixar movie – co-op gaming really doesn’t get any better than this.

It Takes Two is a beautiful and exciting co-op experience, that can potentially mean so much more for those who relate to this premise. Working together is not always the issue in a relationship, sometimes you just don’t get along. Across all the jumps, boss battles, and deadly puzzles, we get to witness this couple’s journey. From this, we also learn a few pointers on teamwork and having a ton of fun along the way.

Hazelight further hones its craft as ambitious creators of unique co-op experiences with It Takes Two. A clever, inventive procession of ideas and concepts that gel together to form a spellbinding co-op game.

Though some may be disappointed that its story never capitalizes on its full potential, It Takes Two is a masterpiece of creativity and cooperative gameplay that makes it one of the most memorable experiences in modern gaming.

It Takes Two is one of the most special games that you will play in a long time. In pandemic times when it's still difficult to meet a friend face-to-face or play side by side in an coach, there's no better cooperative experience than It Takes Two.

It Takes Two is a spectacular co-op adventure that lays down a path of great gameplay ideas and uses it to play a giddy game of hopscotch. It’s beautiful, breakneck-paced, and bubbling over with creativity, and playfulness and experimentation are rewarded at every turn. If you have any kind of co-op partner in your life, be they spouse, friend, sibling, or other (even a child, though the themes might be too mature for them), It Takes Two is a truly joyful trip you really need to take together.

Quotation forthcoming.

It Takes Two is one of the best co-op games I’ve ever experienced, and if you’re on the lookout for a great platforming adventure that you can play with a friend or spouse, then I can’t recommend it enough. Sweetening the deal even further is the fact that only one person needs to own the game for two people to play it online. You can’t ask for anything more than that.

It is enchanting, funny and terribly refreshing.

It Takes Two is Hazelight and Josef Fares’ most fully realized vision of co-op gaming yet. It uses clever interactivity to highlight the importance of good communication in video games and relationships alike. With Nintendo-quality level design and a charming story to motivate its platforming action, It’s the rare multiplayer game that will strengthen friendships rather than end them.

It Takes Two is endlessly creative. Gameplay speaks to narrative, while narrative informs gameplay, and the entire experience just feels incredibly polished and detailed. It nails relationships in ways that so many games—and even other forms of media—just can’t. It asks the player to engage with the the story through mandatory co-op to tell the tale of a couple on the verge of divorce, rediscovering the good in their relationship. It’s not just one of the best action platformers in recent memory, but also a fantastic and unique story representing a dynamic that you don’t often see represented in games, at least not to this depth and nuance.

Time and again, It Takes Two finds new ways to demonstrate how vital communication and effort are in getting two individuals on the same page. It even riffs on classic toys like the Etch A Sketch and See ‘n Say, as well as seminal video games (like Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road, Crash Bandicoot’s chase sequences, or Diablo’s isometric combat), to bring that message to us. But even when it isn’t toying with our nostalgia and just reveling in the sublimely ridiculous, the game is sneakily, delicately balancing our desire to remain kids at heart with the reality of our adult responsibilities. That’s a valuable lesson, and it’s one that the developers at Hazelight deliver without making it feel like they’re tasking us with grown-up homework.

It Takes Two is a fantastic coop-adventure, that overwhelmed us with its creative and fun gameplay ideas.

It Takes Two is a charming, playful, tight, and extremely varied platformer which manages to stay fresh hour after hour, in a way few other games can.

Some publishers may feel couch co-op isn't viable anymore, but It Takes Two proves just how powerful the setup can be with the right blend of gameplay and charm.

It Takes Two is, without a doubt, the best co-op game you can play right now. It’s much more ambitious and bigger budget than A Way Out, which was still brilliant in its own way. Josef Fares and the team at Hazelight take things to the next level here, and I can only imagine what they’ll do when they’re inevitably given a triple-A budget. Grab a friend by the hand and pull them through an adventure unlike any other as soon as you can - you won’t regret it.

We have a game that deserves all the praise with its gameplay dynamics, storytelling and most importantly, its dynamic structure from the beginning to the end.

While it has some story pains, make no mistake: It Takes Two is a fantastic game and a welcome 2021 surprise. Grab a friend or loved one; find a co-worker or bridge buddy. Regardless of who you pair up with, this is one adventure you'll want to share together.

Just grab a good friend and go play this amazing coop adventure.

It Takes Two is not only a wonderful co-op experience, it’s a genuine masterpiece of platforming and interactive storytelling. Every moment my partner and I were playing this game was filled with pure joy, and it became the perfect way to cap off our days for the last few weeks. It Takes Two is arguably one of the greatest games I’ve played in years.

It Takes Two is one of the most unique games I’ve played in a long time. The heartfelt story can be really dark at times, but does it’s job to reinforce the narrative. There aren’t many co-op games on the market, and none of them do what It Takes Two does, with each bit of the platforming gameplay being tons of fun and adding enjoyable new techniques as you make your way through each level. It may be tough to lock someone down for fifteen hours to play it, and even then I feel like I’m reaching for this as a con, but if you find someone that wants to play It Takes Two with, you probably won’t want to put down the controller.

There’s so much on offer in It Takes Two and it does it all so well. If you’re looking for a new game to play with your friend or partner then It Takes Two should be at the top of your list. It’s a delight.

A fun, gorgeous platforming romp that makes great use of its split screen-only twist in both gameplay and narrative. Hazelight proves that co-op lightning can definitely strike twice.

It Takes Two is a thoroughly entertaining and engaging cooperative journey that constantly throws interesting new mechanics and gameplay ideas into the mix. Its narrative shortcomings are disappointing, but the stylish visuals and detailed sound design make for an impressive presentation.

A surprisingly meaty, touching miniaturised romp. Ready up a player two! [Issue#187, p.79]

It Takes Two is a dazzling adventure filled with more mechanics than you can shake a stick at. Working together throughout the mesmerizing set of levels is compelling and full of hearty chuckles, but sadly the story falls short of that bar with inconsistent tone and a lack of perceptible character growth along the way. It’s still well worth your time and energy, just don’t expect to be as emotionally invested in the journey as you might have been with Hazelight’s past work.

A joyful, colourful, and hugely inventive cavalcade of co-op antics that makes superb use of having two players for both its unique challenges and unscripted hijinks.

Hazelight is back with the puzzle-filled adventure It Takes Two. Just like in their previous games, the whole adventure revolves around cooperation, but this time in a much more charming and almost excessively varied form - where it sometimes can feel like we are thrown between completely different games. But somehow, the adventure never feels disjointed, rather the opposite. Right from the start, both the world and the gameplay feels perfectly synchronized, and it is a joy to tackle all the obstacles that stand in our way.

It Takes Two is a true couple therapy in which the two players (mandatory coop) will have to work together to overcome a large variety of challenges and activities. The overall feel of the game is very refreshing, but some minor flaws are still there (like poorly balanced minigames).

It Takes Two improves on previous Hazelights games, setting aside cinematics and betting on 'a game that has been rebuilt onto a toy'. Gameplay-wise the game is excellent: it has a ton of variety, and it is as surprising as fun until the very end. Nevertheless, the story itself is unable to properly talk about love or relationships in any way, and so it kind of puts a dent on a work that would otherwise have been a must-play experience.

It Takes Two is an excellent co-op adventure. While it stumbles on certain narrative aspects and not all the performances are winners, it more than makes up for that with its brilliantly fun and ever-changing gameplay. Forcing two players to work in tandem in countless ways, the game embraces co-op play wholeheartedly, and the variety of gameplay and environments makes it a joy to play from start to finish.

With its relentless stream of clever ideas, It Takes Two is one of the most memorable and inventive co-op games of the modern era. Just make sure your partner knows their way around a DualSense controller.

It Takes Two is one of the most varied, inventive games ever made, serving up dozens upon dozens of different styles of gameplay in a remarkably polished, approachable package. An inconsistent level of challenge and lack of editing may strain your relationship with the game at times, but It Takes Two is good enough to justify working through the rough patches.

Although the story of Cody and May doesn’t meet the standards set by the game’s varied gameplay, It Takes Two sees the continued form of Josef Fares and his team at Hazelight in crafting wonderfully creative and engaging worlds for players to share and collaborate in. It Takes Two is a co-op experience that’s second to none, which offers more ways than you can imagine to experience these larger than life play spaces.