Couch co-op games are a rare commodity in the modern age of online gaming. It used to be a stable feature back when consoles only had two controllers and multiplayer worked on one screen. But as Hazelight Studios has shown with A Way Out and It Takes Two, couch co-op games are very much needed and relevant in today’s gaming. With their newest endeavor, Split Fiction, there is a lot of hype and potential for this one to outdo the previous titles. And I have to say, they blew it out of the water, as there is much that the players will enjoy with this one. For this review, I played on the PS5 and as Mio, while my co-reviewer Nick played on the PC as Zoey.
Our story revolves around Mio and Zoey, two aspiring writers looking for their big day of becoming published. Both receive an invitation to Ryder Industries for a publishing deal, but things take a weird turn as they are introduced to a machine that will allow them to immerse themselves in their stories. After a few issues and some misunderstandings, Mio and Zoey become stuck in the system and are intertwined in each other’s stories. The girls must find glitches to get out of the system as they complete each story to overload the system and free themselves.
The plot is wonderfully written, and it shows with the handling of the characters themselves. Mio is the hot-headed city girl who loves action and writes Sci-fi stories. Zoey is a country girl who also loves a bit of action but writes fantasy stories. Each complement the other in a yin yang way and balances well. As they travel deeper into each other’s stories, their facade of themselves begins to crumble, the players begin to understand the meaning behind their stories and why they write. Each having a deeper connection to each other than initially given.
Gameplay is pretty standard for the most part for the couch coop genre. Players must work together to solve puzzles and traverse each new world they visit. Players have the double jump ability, dash, and grapple hook right from the beginning. But as new stories are entered, the gameplay begins to vary. In some levels, players will become new objects with different abilities such as pigs that can fart to get distance or orbs that can use magnets. With each new location, it breathes not only new life into the world of exploration, but it makes the game that much more enjoyable. Making side stories a blast to play through as players progress through the main stories.
The online sessions are perfectly tuned, and it feels as if players are playing on the same console. Plus, with the cross-play feature ability, it is even easier to play with friends across various platforms. Hazelight Studios even gives owners of the game a friend pass, which allows you to invite a friend to play who doesn’t own it. Another niche thing I want to mention is all the references to various other games. From the leap of faith in Assassin’s Creed, to the bonfire lighting in Dark Souls; there are a ton and Hazelight Studios wanted to pay respects to their favorite games and genres.
Each story takes place in their unique worlds, each one as beautiful and impactful as the last. The colors and themes very much match the writers themselves and their personalities. Mio, who can be cold as steel and as heartless as a machine, has her worlds match that of an early 2000’s sci-fi movie. Surrounded by machines, guns, and explosions, filling the world with suspense and neon colors. Zoey, who is cheerful and cares for those around her, has her stories dipped in fantasy and whimsy. Very reminiscent of children’s books for the most part and are filled with bright and vibrant colors and creatures. Mio and Zoey’s designs even change with each new world, which adds another notch in the designer belt.
In the end, Hazelight Studios has outdone themselves again. They not only set the standard for couch coop games today but keep raising the bar with each new entry. With Split Fiction, they really gave it all the bells and whistles. The plot and characters are well written and mold together fittingly. The worlds are colorful and match the themes for Mio and Zoey as writers, as well as their stories. Hazelight Studios wants everyone to enjoy it and gives you every tool available, from cross-platform to the friend pass to make it happen. I would highly recommend reading Nick’s PC review, grabbing a copy yourself, and invite your friends to explore the minds of writers and the experience of a lifetime.
