It Takes Two - Game Experience: Discover the Ultimate Co-op Adventure!

Genre: Action-Adventure, Puzzle-Platformer, Co-op

Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Developer: Hazelight Studios

Publisher: EA Originals

Release Date: March 26, 2021

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Age Suitability: ESRB T (Teen) / PEGI 12 - For fantasy violence, mild language, and emotional themes (aka animated heartbreak with talking hammers)

Translation: It’s family-friendly-ish. No gore, no swearing marathons, but still not quite one for the toddlers. Think of it like an animated family film meets couples therapy… with boss fights.

💥 Overview

Imagine if Pixar directed a therapy session and added fidget spinners, squirrels with military experience, and enough emotional whiplash to make a soap opera jealous. That’s It Takes Two in a nutshell. It's not just a game - it's an experience. One that demands two players, a bit of trust, and possibly a couples’ retreat afterward. Every level throws a new challenge, a new mechanic, and a new reason to scream, “Seriously, WHY would you jump there?!”

🔧 Gameplay: Mechanics & Features

• Teamwork or Divorce: You play as Cody and May - two estranged parents turned into handmade dolls by their kid's tears. If that doesn’t scream emotional stakes, I don’t know what does. Nothing in this game is solo-friendly. You either work together or stay trapped in marriage limbo forever.

• Dynamic Mechanics: Every 10 minutes, the game basically hands you a new superpower like it’s desperately trying to outdo itself. One moment you’re using gravity boots, the next you’re rewinding time or growing leaves out of your face. It never gets stale.

• Combat: Not violent-violent - more like Looney Tunes meets DIY Home Destruction. Acorn turrets, toolbox tantrums, and nail-gun precision platforming? Yes, please.

• World Design: From snow globes to sentient treehouses, the environments are jaw-dropping. Each area feels like its own mini-game, complete with unique rules and physics. You’ll constantly say, “Wait, the game does THIS too?!”

• Progression: No boring skill trees. You grow by solving puzzles and, you know, healing your virtual marriage.

📖 Story, World & Narrative

You’re dolls. Your kid’s sad. A salsa-dancing book of love named Dr. Hakim is here to make sure you feel things. What follows is a hilarious, heartbreaking, and occasionally absurd journey through your relationship history - reimagined via magical realism, talking tools, and musical snow globes.

Honestly? The story hits harder than expected. There’s real emotional depth behind the chaos, and by the end, you might just hug your co-op partner. Or high-five. Or scream “WE MADE IT!” in triumph.

👀 Visuals & Graphics

It Takes Two is stunning. Every level has its own personality - from soft lighting in a kid’s bedroom to neon-lit circuits in a cuckoo clock. Characters are animated with Pixar-like charm, and the environments are alive with tiny, beautiful details. It’s the kind of game where you’ll stop mid-chase just to admire the view.

🔊 Audio & Music

• Voice Acting: Cody and May’s banter feels natural and genuinely funny. Dr. Hakim? Let’s just say he’s unforgettable. Like, “voices-in-your-dreams” unforgettable.

• Music: The soundtrack flexes. One minute it's whimsical orchestra, the next it's a funky groove while you're chasing sentient garden equipment.

• Sound Design: Top-notch. You can feel the hammer’s grumpiness and the vacuum’s decades of suppressed rage.

• Supported Languages:

  • Interface & Subtitles: Available in English, French, German, Spanish (Spain), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.​

  • Full Audio: Supported in English, French, German, Spanish (Spain), and Japanese.

🎮 Controls & UI

Tight. Responsive. Zero confusion. If you mess up, it's on you - not the controls. Tutorials are baked into gameplay, not slapped on as boring text walls. Even your non-gamer partner could pick it up and hold their own (maybe).

🌐 Multiplayer & Online Experience

This game is built for two, and it shows.

• Modes: Couch co-op or online. No solo play - it’s literally impossible.

• Friend Pass: One copy = two players. Bless you, Hazelight.

• Connectivity: Smooth, with barely a hiccup unless someone’s WiFi is running on hopes and dreams.

⏱️ Playtime & Difficulty

• Average Time: About 12-15 hours, longer if you're easily distracted or really bad at cooperation (no judgment).

• Difficulty: Just right. Not soul-crushing, but not mindless either.

• Puzzles: Range from “awww, cute” to “so this is what therapy feels like.”

⚙️ Performance & Bugs

Runs like butter. On toast. On a Sunday morning.

You might encounter a bug or two - maybe a floating Cody or a rogue squirrel - but nothing game-breaking. Restarting usually fixes it.

✅ Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The co-op gold standard

• Stunning level variety

• Constantly fresh gameplay

• Pixar meets therapy

• Dr. Hakim. Enough said.

• Friend Pass = genius

Cons:

• No solo mode

• Some mechanics might boggle the brain

• May cause relationship flashbacks (emotional support items encouraged)

⭐ Rating

Category	Score
🔧 Gameplay: Mechanics & Features	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Story, World & Narrative	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👀 Visuals & Graphics	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔊 Audio & Music	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎮 Controls & UI	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌐 Multiplayer & Online Experience	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚙️ Performance & Bugs	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🔄 Replayability	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎤 Thoughts & Verdict

It Takes Two isn’t just a game - it’s a joyful, chaotic, surprisingly emotional duet about love, loss, and murderous vacuum cleaner. It’s the kind of co-op experience that makes you laugh, yell, panic, and maybe… grow a little?

Whether you’re sharing a couch or a continent, this game is a must-play for any pair brave enough to test their communication skills under pressure.

I played this game with my partner, and honestly? It was part therapy session, part comedy show, and part chaotic button-mashing madness.

The absolute highlight for us? The minigames. We turned those into full-blown tournaments - bragging rights were on the line, and yes, things got intense. (Who knew ice-skating chicken fights could unlock a competitive streak?)

Another unexpected joy? Finding sneaky ways to mess with each other using the game’s mechanics. Whether it was launching them off a ledge with a well-timed gadget or “accidentally” triggering a trap, it became our unofficial mini-game: How to annoy your partner with love.

But beyond the chaos, something kind of magical happened - we started quoting the game’s dialogue in real life. Suddenly, “You never listen!” and “Focus, Cody!” weren’t arguments - they were inside jokes. The lines, the banter, even Dr. Hakim’s outrageous motivational speeches became part of our day-to-day. Somehow, the game wove its way into our relationship in the most unexpected, hilarious, and oddly sweet way.

⚠️ Spoiler alert: It gets deep. But you’ll be too busy shooting sap at wasps to realize you’re having feelings.

💡 Pro Tip: Bring snacks, patience, and a playful spirit. And if your partner starts quoting Dr. Hakim in serious conversations... just roll with it. It's cheaper than therapy, and way more fun.