It Takes Two - PS4

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: 3-26-2021
Moby Score (1-10): 8.6
Genre(s): Action, Side view, Platform, Puzzle elements, Fantasy, Romance, Behind view, Mini-games, Direct control, Contemporary
Media Type(s): Physical

Embark on the craziest journey of your life in It Takes Two, a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op. Invite a friend to join for free with Friend’s Pass* and work together across a huge variety of gleefully disruptive gameplay challenges. Play as the clashing couple Cody and May, two humans turned into dolls by a magic spell. Together, trapped in a fantastical world where the unpredictable hides around every corner, they are reluctantly challenged with saving their fractured relationship.

Master unique and connected character abilities in every new level. Help each other across an abundance of unexpected obstacles and laugh-out-loud moments. Kick gangster squirrels’ furry tails, pilot a pair of underpants, DJ a buzzing night club, and bobsleigh through a magical snow globe. Embrace a heartfelt and hilarious story where narrative and gameplay weave into a uniquely metaphorical experience.

It Takes Two is developed by the award-winning studio Hazelight, the industry leader of cooperative play. They’re about to take you on a wild and wondrous ride where only one thing is for certain: we’re better together.

KEY FEATURES

• Pure co-op perfection — Invite a friend to join for free with Remote Play Together**, and experience a thrilling adventure built purely for two. Choose from couch or online co-op with split-screen play, and face ever-changing challenges where working together is the only way forward.
• Gleefully disruptive gameplay — From rampaging vacuum cleaners to suave love gurus, you never know what you’ll be up against next. Filled with genre-bending challenges and new character abilities to master in every level, experience a metaphorical merging of gameplay and narrative that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling.
• A universal tale of relationships — Discover a touching and heartfelt story of the challenges in getting along. Help Cody and May learn how to overcome their differences. Meet a diverse cast of strange and endearing characters. Join forces and go on an adventure you’ll treasure — together!

ABOUT HAZELIGHT
Hazelight is an award-winning independent game development studio based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 2014 by Josef Fares (film director and creator of the award-winning game Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons), Hazelight is committed to pushing the creative boundaries of what is possible in games. In 2018, Hazelight released the BAFTA award-winning A Way Out — the first-ever co-op only, third-person action-adventure — as part of the EA Originals program.

ABOUT EA ORIGINALS
EA Originals helps shine a light on some of the most passionate, independent, and talented game studios across the globe. Discover innovative and unforgettable gaming experiences from highly creative game makers who love to enchant and inspire.

It Takes Two is a cooperative-only action platform game. It requires two players at all times, either via local split-screen or online play. A single player cannot complete the game, as each section is designed around both characters contributing simultaneously. The game supports “Friend’s Pass,” allowing one player to invite another online even if they do not own a copy.

Cody and May are a married couple on the verge of divorce, whose daughter Rose wishes to keep them together. After making dolls of her parents out of wood and clay, Rose’s tears magically transform them into the toys. The couple awakens in miniature form inside their own home, guided by the eccentric talking Book of Love, authored by Dr. Hakim. To return to their human bodies, Cody and May must work together, overcoming surreal environments that reflect the challenges in their relationship. The story is told through stages that metaphorically explore themes of family, trust, and reconciliation.

Gameplay blends multiple genres across its levels. Platforming is the core mechanic, with characters running, jumping, and dashing across elaborate environments. Each level introduces new mechanics, such as rail grinding, shooting sections, puzzle-solving, or environmental manipulation. Boss fights punctuate chapters, requiring both players to use their current abilities in tandem. Minigames are scattered throughout, offering competitive diversions ranging from simple races to rhythm challenges. The dynamic split-screen presentation shifts fluidly to emphasize critical actions, and it remains present even during online co-op. Throughout the campaign, Cody and May gain unique abilities that vary with each chapter, ensuring asymmetrical cooperation - such as one character manipulating time while the other creates clones, or one controlling magnets of opposing polarities.

Progression is chapter-based rather than open-ended. Players advance linearly through themed areas representing elements of Cody and May’s lives, such as their garden, attic, and a child’s toy castle. Levels mix environmental hazards with puzzles that can only be solved through communication and coordination. Failure results in quick respawns, keeping the pace consistent and minimizing downtime. There are no collectibles that significantly alter gameplay; instead, exploration rewards players with hidden minigames or playful interactions in the environment.

The title does not employ traditional role-playing systems such as character leveling or permanent upgrades. Abilities are reset at the start of each chapter, ensuring that mechanics are tailored to the narrative setting rather than long-term progression. This design choice prevents players from relying on a single set of skills and emphasizes variety across the game’s duration. Each level’s mechanics are supported by highly detailed environments that turn mundane household objects into large-scale playgrounds.

Dialogues and cutscenes advance the story between gameplay sections, often featuring arguments between Cody and May or comedic appearances from Dr. Hakim. Player choices do not affect the outcome of the story, as the narrative unfolds in a fixed structure. However, interactive dialogue moments and character banter during gameplay add variety and humor to the journey.

*** Data by MobyGames.com ***

× Some Disclaimers

  × Video games are pre-owned unless otherwise specified

  × Disc-based video games come with their case and cover art unless otherwise specified

  × Cartridge-based video games come with just the cartridge unless otherwise specified

  × CD & DVD based discs are resurfaced before we put them out for sale