Hazelight Studios has been working co-op magic for years now and their shared experiences are only getting better. In 2021, It Takes Two snagged the “Game of the Year” award with ease, leaving us all eager to see how the most creative studio under the EA publishing umbrella would take it to the next level. A few years on, we’re now looking at Split Fiction, the Josef Fares-led team’s latest two-player exclusive experience. And, boy, what an incredible and unforgettable ride it is, one that rekindles the captivating essence of gaming’s former imaginative spirit. The modern gaming landscape doesn’t commonly market or fund wild concepts such as Hazelight’s creations. In a sea of iterative sequels and uninspired “AAA” slop, Split Fiction sits as a reminder of the incredible adventures awaiting us when developers and publishers are willing to break the mold and let passion eclipse stakeholder-driven trend-chasing.
Much like the prior Hazelight releases, Split Fiction continues the trend of requiring two players and a forced split-screen format in most scenarios, even if playing online co-op. It speaks to the conviction of the team to fully realize their vision that they’d essentially reduce each player’s screen real estate by half, but that’s because the journey requires both views to be present simultaneously. In Split Fiction, players will keep their eyes on protagonists Mio and Zoe as they tumble through a bevy of fantasy and science fiction worlds borne from their own mind. But let’s back up a bit. How does that genre-jumping rollercoaster ride come to be in terms of the narrative?
The Top of Co-op
Under the guise of a publishing deal, Rader Publishing is leveraging their impressive simulation machine (simply titled “The Machine”) to extract and steal the story ideas filling their participants’ minds. This machine places users in a suspended bubble wherein they are given the ability to experience their crafted narratives as if they were physically living out every detail. Of course, there’s a bit of a scuffle that sees strangers Mio and Zoe enveloped in the same simulation bubble. Oops! Now both minds are throwing out high fantasy and sci-fi settings in equal measure, giving each insight into the other’s interests, motivations, and deeper emotions. Soon, two strangers gain new perspectives and lay the foundation for a lifelong friendship.
Besides the seemingly targeted commentary on corporate greed, the threat of AI in creative mediums, and so on, the overarching narrative thread of Split Fiction isn’t all that deep. Exposing a faceless, self-serving corporation, the power of friendship and making peace with the past sit among the core pillars holding up the story. But that’s not really a problem given that this framework only serves to justify the engrossing madness that plays out across each vastly different level. One moment you’re racing through a dystopian society on a motorbike while your partner spams through the Terms and Conditions on a smartphone in a nail-biting effort to deactivate a bomb and the next one player is the ball in an intricate pinball machine while the other controls the color-coded paddles scattered around the environment.
Over the 15-hour campaign, there’s no shortage of unique, inspired set pieces and mechanics; both the visual spectacle and gameplay diversity never run out of steam for the duration of the runtime, managing to show how much creativity is still in the tank at Hazelight. Split Fiction is their seminal work, conveying a deep understanding and meaningful evolution of the cooperative-first mindset that has driven the developer’s pursuits since the beginning. My mind can hardly comprehend the insanity embedded within each new level, the stage-restricted mechanics that sprung to life, that made fifteen hours blow by far too quickly. Hazelight understood the assignment, not only injecting a hefty amount of variety into Split Fiction, but also ensuring that no segments overstay their welcome; everything moves at a fairly rapid pace, quickly scurrying players towards the next eye-popping locale not long after they’ve begun mastering the latest mechanics tied to each character.
One of a Kind
There’s so much to be said about what’s on offer here, because it doesn’t stick to a set formula. Split Fiction pulls from countless genres, and even takes the time to nod cheekily at gaming’s history. Assassin’s Creed, Dead Space, Sonic, and even Red Vs. Blue are among the many references tucked within each level. As if there wasn’t enough zaniness happening in whichever character’s tale is currently playing out, there are side stories placed off the beaten path that really crank the absurdity setting up to 11. One starring a farting pig and another sporting a vibrant candyland are two that stuck with me for reasons which I will not spoil here.
Perhaps that’s what makes Split Fiction so difficult to talk about. What it contains is worth experiencing with no prior knowledge. The level design is so incredible that I often found myself sitting in awe, mouth partially agape, of what was occurring onscreen. This is doubly true when the multi-stage final boss fight began. That final level takes everything from the past 10+ hours and turns it on its head, making for easily one of the most memorable moments in recent gaming. Split Fiction may not boast the most compelling characters or groundbreaking story beats, but both are more than likeable enough to elevate the one-of-a-kind romp through a collection of distinctive and striking landscapes.
Split Fiction Review Verdict
Split Fiction: Split Fiction is a one-of-a-kind experience that leverages seemingly limitless creativity at Hazelight Studios to bring us another easy Game of the Year contender. While the overarching story and character depth may not be award winning, every other area effortlessly extracts endless praise in regards to its imaginative and inspired design. – Joshua
[Editor’s Note: Split Fiction was reviewed on PS5, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]
