notes from the couch

Introduction

So, I played Split Fiction (the newest game from Hazelight Studios), with my girlfriend when it first came out, and then recently with one of my best friends and we finished our play through about a week ago. I love the game and I honestly think it is Hazelight Studios’ best game to date.

I’ll start off with the good, or great I should say.

The Positives

The movement has been perfected; It is pretty much the same as its predecessor, It Takes Two, but more polished and feels great. The level design is also really cool and each level was unique and fun in its own way, but both people I played with agree that the Fantasy levels were definitely stronger and more fun than the Sci-Fi levels. The Sci-Fi levels felt repetitive and kind of dragged at times, but were overall still very fun. Some of the side stories were also super fun and all around every level was just super unique and cool, although I wish there were more levels honestly. I wish it could’ve maybe been 6 stories and then the 2 subconsciouses and the last level, rather than only 4 stories in total. It felt kind of short, but I get that’s what the studio is going for as a couch co-op. The abilities that you got for each level were also the best I think we’ve seen so far, even better than the ones that you got throughout It Takes Two, which is pretty cool. Also, the last level is one of the best levels of any video game I’ve ever played. If you play the game for nothing else, play it for that last level. It was phenomenal. One of the best experiences I’ve had in my years of gaming.

I think for the most part, Split Fiction improved on everything and is the best title that Hazelight Studios has come out with and is so polished. The graphics are great, the movement is great, level design, boss fights, etc.

The Negatives

Now for the negatives, which there aren’t really a ton of, but still there. The story and characters were good, but definitely not as strong as in It Takes Two. There also weren’t really mini-games like in It Takes Two, aside from the side stories which involved some competition here and there, but it was definitely something I missed in this game. A Way Out I think still has the best story, and the characters and story were better in both that and It Takes Two, although Split Fiction certainly had its great moments. Zoe’s story made my girlfriend and I both cry, I won’t spoil it but it was super heart felt and emotional. On the other hand, though, Mio is honestly pretty unlikeable for the first half of the story which is unfortunate. Mio definitely gets better near the end, but out of all the Hazelight games, she is for sure my least favorite character. But what the game lacks in character, it makes up for in everything else. Again, not that the characters and story are bad, just not as good compared to the studios other two entries.

Brownie Points for the Price (not affecting the review though, but props to them)

And for a side note, just like Oblivion Remastered, I applaud the studio for making the game only $50. I had more playtime in this game than Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and that game was $70. After hearing that games are going to be raised to $80, I really think we need to get back to $50 or $60 for games, and I think it’s great that Hazelight Studios made the game that price. The game is 100% worth the money which I can’t say for a lot of $70 games nowadays, so I definitely would recommend picking it up since it’s a great experience to play with another person. I mean, I did like it enough to play it twice if that tells you anything! It’s an awesome game and I look forward to what Hazelight Studios has in store for us in the future.

My couch rating: 9.2/10