No one has mastered co-op gaming quite like Hazelight Studios. From breaking out of jail in A Way Out, to saving your marriage in It Takes Two, the studio has nailed the art. Their latest title, Split Fiction, only cements this reputation. In fact, the Stockholm studio has added many facets and much depths to the gameplay front.
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The creators seemed to have dug deep into the toy box of ideas and thrown everything, including the kitchen sink, at it. The result is a unique experience that throws ideas at your thick and fast.
Friendship Required
Like the past two games from Hazelight Studios, Split Fiction is a 100% co-op title. If you don’t have a friend, you’ll not be able to play sadly. However, Hazelight have generously included friend pass mode once again. If you buy the game, a friend can download a free build and play with you.
The only catch is that they will not unlock achievements/trophies during your run. And for Split Fiction, friend pass mode has been made even better, with cross play now possible.
Tale Off
Split Fiction‘s tale starts strong but takes a back seat more often than not as the game gets going. You and you co-op buddy play as Mio Hudson or Zoe Foster, a pair of authors who have very different writing styles. Both are invited to Rader Publishing, thinking they were going to talk about setting up a publishing deal.
But instead, the shadowy firm have created a machine that can take your creations right out your head. All while you believe you are living through them when in the machine.
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Mio uncovers this just before diving in and ends up jumping into Zoe’s bubble. The pair them become imprisoned in a world of their stories, with their writing styles clashing since Mio is a sci-fi writer and Zoe high fantasy.
So, you have to fight your way through your creations, while trying to find a way out. All while trying not to lose you minds, as J.D. Rader the creator and CEO of the firm doesn’t want the truth about his machine to be outed.
Oscars Did Nothing Wrong
Directing the game is Josef Fares – the fella from the Game Awards from years ago that had the “f**k the Oscars” rant on stage. He also directed Starbreeze’s Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Reading ever so lightly between the line, Split Fiction is having a crack at AI/the games industry as a whole. The game’s argument seems to that proper stories can only be crafted by humans, which have blood pumping through their veins, and not circuit boards. Edgy.
While I am sure authors and games writers linked to the industry will agree, I am also sure that a few would say they are seen as ‘machines’ regardless.
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It’s a strong set up but loses steam around halfway through. Split Fiction tries to tackle some heavy and dark subjects, which have in turn shaped the tales both the girls have penned.
However, myself and my co-op partner ultimately didn’t really care about them and just cracked jokes during cut scenes. We just wanted to push on to see what the next idea or mechanic was around the corner.
Hitting You in the Mechanics
Gameplay on the other hand is wild. Split Fiction delivers some really interesting and fun mechanics, but don’t get too attached. The game moves through them at break neck speed. From riding on Tron-esque light cycles, to flying with an acid-spitting dragon – you truly never know what is coming next.
The game jumps between sci-fi- and fantasy-themed levels, with a handful of mini tales scattered between the core chapters. This side quests are based on unfinished tales from the pair and present some terrific content.
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Hazelight stretched their legs here, as it is where the most unique ideas are found. From being a rainbow-farting pig who quietly ends up as a hotdog, to battling a nightmare dentist after a sugar rush – the creativity on show is impressive.
That’s not to say the main chapters are bad in any way. However, they just feel a little bit too long sometimes. And this feeling is not helped by some bugs, and, at times, hit and miss controls.
Split Attention
It’s also clear to see that some sections have had more time and work than others. Some areas feel like Nintendo’s finest. Others just don’t feel nearly as polished. And, the same goes for the game’s bosses – some are very good, whereas others just aren’t in the same league.
It’s worth noting that there are no collectables or upgrades beyond achievements or trophies. As such, replayability, past a play each for the two characters, might be an issue. It’s worth further noting that this is an issue with all Hazelight games, they are excellent experiences, but only for a weekend.
Unified Vision
Split Fiction is visually stunning at times. You jump from rain-soaked neon cities, to jungles covered in different coloured flowers and plants, and each is teeming with detail and artistic flourish. The character models are also very good, and you can readily perceive a decent range of emotions as the game develops.
Music, on the other hand, is more ambient than thematic. This is a nice way of me saying it’s a bit forgettable, with no real stand out tracks or even riffs. Voice acting fares much better and does a fair bit of heavy lifting because the writing is a overly generic at times.
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It’s also worth mentioning that the constant bickering between Mio and Zoe may also start to grate after a while.
Sis Friction
Split Fiction delivers on the gameplay front despite a few rough edges. However, the tale that never gets close to hitting the highs of the titles that came before it, partly due to some naff writing, and partly due to two leads that are a right pain in the arse (we get it, they don’t get on).
Hazelight have crafted a brilliant co-op title to have a fun weekend with your mate online, or on the couch, there is no question about it. Take it all at face value and you’ll have a ball.
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