With March coming to a close, 2021 game releases are finally starting to roll in. One of the most notable recent titles is Hazelight Studios' It Takes Two. This co-op adventure follows a married couple on the edge of divorce who are magically turned into dolls and forced to cooperate in order to escape their predicament.

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The game has been receiving rave reviews from all over, so anyone with a friend should jump into the adventure. Before doing so, here are some things to know. Do not worry, none of these entries will try to dissuade you from buying it, because It Takes Two is absolutely worth buying.

10 It Is Only Co-Op

Most games designed around co-op still offer the option to play alone for those who just cannot find someone to join. However, It Takes Two is an exclusively cooperative affair. Cooperation is ingrained in the design. While we suppose a computer could have been programmed to take the role of the partner, it is just not the way it is meant to be played.

9 It Is Better To Play Locally

Creator Josef Fares recommends playing the game locally, and it is easy to understand why after playing. In addition to the action happening on screen, going through the story really does strengthen the bond between the two players. Fortunately, if local co-op is not an option, you are still able to connect with a friend over the internet and play together. In our time with the game, playing over the Internet has worked smoothly.

8 Friend's Pass Lets A Friend Play Without Buying The Game

If you do intend on playing the game online, you'll be happy to know that only one of you has to purchase the game. With a Friend's Pass, a buddy can join in without having to buy the game separately. While it potentially cuts down sales, it is certainly a move in good faith and probably encourages those who would never have touched It Takes Two to at least give it a go.

7 From The Creators Of A Way Out And Brothers

Hazelight Studios, founded by Josef Fares, previously made the similarly co-op only experience A Way Out. Before creating the studio, Josef Fares directed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons with Starbreeze Studios.

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The former is a more grounded cooperative game, while the latter is a single-player adventure game with an emotionally heart-wrenching narrative. Like It Takes Two, A Way Out allows players to play online cooperatively with just one purchase.

6 The Gameplay Variety Is Staggering

It is difficult to classify It Takes Two. Calling it a platformer is almost doing a disservice to the amount of gameplay variety present within the adventure. Once you think you understand the main hook, an entirely new mechanic is introduced and becomes the focus of the particular chapter. Then, a giant set piece happens and you are doing something entirely different for the next few minutes.

5 It Is Very Forgiving

While complete novices to gaming might have a hard time with It Takes Two, the game is extremely forgiving. There are no lives and checkpoints are plentiful. It seems like Hazelight Studios made it a point to make the game enjoyable to newcomers and experts. Maybe an inexperienced player will die a lot, but death never sends you too far back. Plus, as long as one player is living, the other has a chance to respawn after a short wait.

4 The Co-Op Is Asymmetrical

Most of the time the two players are doing two different things. Even when the two are together, they are engaging with different mechanics to achieve the same goal. Not only does it make the teamwork more interesting, but it also increases replay value. The two leads play different enough in each part of the game to make playing through it a second time intriguing. It would still be interesting even with the same partner.

3 It Is Between 10 And 15 Hours Long

At $40, some might be wondering about how long It Takes Two lasts. The linear adventure takes between 10 and 15 hours, depending on skill level and how fast you choose to move through the environments.

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This is a fairly significant bump over A Way Out, which lasts about six hours. Unless you are really passionate about burning the midnight oil, do not expect to beat It Takes Two in one sitting.

2 The New Systems Run It Better, But It Is Still The Same Version

You can play It Takes Two on PS5 or Xbox Series X and see minor benefits, but it is ultimately the same version you would play on Xbox One or PS4. While this may disappointing to some, it also means there is no issue with playing on the PS5 while a friend boots it up on the PS4. With fewer PS5s and Xbox Series X consoles out on the market than the demand calls for, it only makes sense for the priority to stick with the last generation.

1 It Is Visually Stunning

Even though the game is made for the last generation of consoles, the visuals are a standout feature of It Takes Two. Visual fidelity is one thing, but the art style truly helps the presentation. The regular world is masterfully brought to life as the tiny characters are exploring them as wooden dolls. It is true that graphics are not everything, but they are still something worth noting.

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