Hazelight Studios is a video game company I’ve adored since my best friend and I played “It Takes Two” for the first time in 2023. The game was incredibly creative and full of imaginative ways to enjoy cooperative gameplay. It also told a touching story about marriage and divorce that resonated deeply with us, delivering powerful emotional payoffs, in an era when many co-op games rely on a singular gimmick. It wasn't until my friend and I completed Hazelight's first, but lesser-known, game, "A Way Out," that we truly became fans of the company for their innovation and creativity. When Josef Fares, the head of Hazelight Studios, released the trailer for the company's latest adventure, "Split Fiction." It made me so excited that I wanted to buy the game as soon as it was released, and that rarely happens for me. The concept where you jump across Sci-Fi and Fantasy Worlds had me hooked, and my expectations for the game were very high. Needless to say, the game lived up to those expectations and delivered an experience similar to It Takes Two, but with new additions that help set it apart from anything Hazelight has done in the past.
Authors Mio Hudson (Kaja Chan) and Zoe Foster (Elsie Bennett) are invited with many other candidates, to Radar Publishing to be a part of an experimental publishing deal. They are introduced by none other than Radar himself (Ben Turner), who introduces a machine that can simulate each of the candidates' worlds based on the genre they write in. However, after some drama, Mio accidentally ends up in Zoe’s bubble, where it seems that Mio’s Sci-Fi stories and Zoe’s Fantasy stories are colliding with each other. Mio and Zoe must work together to brave these unfamiliar worlds and stop Rader, who they eventually learn is using his machine to steal their story ideas.
The Story, like with all Hazelight Studios projects, is the heart and soul of Split Fiction. Without it, the game would have no purpose in keeping anyone engaged, no matter how much creativity and flashy graphics this game could throw at us. According to Josef Fares, “the game's narrative is similar to that of a 'buddy movie' as the two characters start as complete strangers who must slowly bond with each other to survive.” the game gives the players enough time to form emotional attachments to both Mio and Zoe and its no surprise that some storylines in the game can sometimes lead to emotional conclusions. One of the clever things about the backstories between Mio and Zoe is that they are told through level design and exaggerated obstacles that usually relate to the characters' deep emotions. There are some non-subtle, but also clever allegories to AI-generated content stealing ideas and taking credit away from true artists and writers, making this story way ahead of its time. The Narrative is an emotional rollercoaster, and whether you're having fun or feeling for our main heroes, the emotions are all balanced to make the whole experience feel complete.
The Characters are deep and complex, especially Mio and Zoe, who gather most of the attention. Mio is more into Sci-Fi and is a bit of a rebel and introverted, while Zoe is into Fantasy and is extroverted, seemingly hiding from some possible past trauma. These two work wonders off each other, and their differing personas harken back to how It Takes Two handled May and Cody. It's only when they are forced to live through each of their genre-defining worlds that they become closer and work toward a common goal to stop Radar from stealing other people’s ideas and their own. Radar admittedly starts as just a typical business tycoon threat that has been done before in different stories. However, things do tend to kick up a notch when he intervenes with the simulation, making it harder for our heroes to get out alive. Part of me does wish that the characters we meet in the simulated world Mio and Zoe cross had more personality, but only having a few noteworthy characters to make the story work as well as it does is better than having a whole slew of characters who feel empty and drag the narrative.
The Gameplay is just as innovative and creative as Hazelight’s previous entries. As mentioned beforehand, the game's main idea is to explore the imaginative worlds from Mio’s Sci-fi stories and Zoe's Fantasy Stories. Many gimmicks and new mechanics that the game uses mainly don’t happen more than once, making the game feel more exciting as to what challenge the players will discover next. So many creative ideas for gameplay happen throughout the game that it would be impossible for me to say what they are in one review alone. This game plays like “It Takes Two.” Each player gets a basic set of movesets, but the catch is in the gimmick designed for each character in certain levels, as they must use both of their newfound skillsets to make it through their unpredictable and chaotic worlds. Side stories found throughout the game can offer a nice break from the main gameplay and, in some ways, are a way for Hazelight to show off their tremendous creativity, which my friend and I truly appreciated. The other thing I appreciate about this game is how much more challenging it is compared to the Hazelight games that have come before. I like that while there are moments when the challenge seems too much for me and my friend, the game never feels like it's being unfair. Each obstacle allows the players to stop and think about how to get past a specific part of the level. After a few tries, the moments of victory do feel earned. In some ways, this game perfected Hazelight’s gameplay strengths and even improved some of the minor gameplay problems from their previous creations. Hazelight is the gold standard for creative co-op platforming games, and Split Fiction may arguably be their very best, judging by the gameplay alone.
The Graphics once again prove why Hazelight Studios is the best in the business when it comes to creating visuals unlike anything seen in a platformer or any game before. The worlds of Sci-fi and Fantasy collide, each realm rich in color and personality. The Sci-fi worlds are vibrant but often have a gritty, mechanical feel, reflecting Mio’s introverted nature. In contrast, Zoe’s Fantasy realms are filled with lush meadows and vibrant areas that embody her outgoing personality. As players explore these worlds, they start to see reflections of their own inner struggles or true selves. This means that the Sci-fi worlds may become more colorful while the Fantasy realms may take on darker, grittier tones. The level designs effectively immerse players in these worlds without becoming overwhelming, even as the genres begin to shift. The split screen can be arranged in various ways throughout the game, but it does so creatively, enhancing the adventure rather than distracting from it. Once again, Hazelight delivers stunning visuals that entertain and inspire, enchanting players with worlds that many of us have only dreamed of exploring.
The Music was composed by Gustaf Grefburg and Jonathan Järpehag. Grefburg has been composing music for Hazelight's games since “A Way Out.” With the assistance of Johnatan Järpehag, they have crafted beautiful compositions that capture the essence of both Sci-Fi and Fantasy. The game’s score effectively enhances the emotional moments, evoking a powerful rush of feelings that players may not have expected. While I hesitate to say whether this is the best score Hazelight has produced, it is still an impressive addition to the game and brings both the story and the characters' journeys to life.
Unsurprisingly, my friend and I loved this game just as much as Hazelight’s previous creations. The talented studio continues to push the boundaries of creativity and ambition with what may be their most complex game to date. The storyline is captivating and thrilling, while the gameplay consistently introduces new elements that keep players engaged until the very end. The visuals are vibrant and detailed, seamlessly blending the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres in a way that gamers have never seen before. Just when I thought Hazelight couldn’t surpass itself, they released this game—much like “It Takes Two”—that had my friend and me laughing, crying, and sharing an experience intended for two players, something that other games aspire to replicate. I hope Hazelight continues to deliver exceptional games like this one because "Split Fiction" proves that co-op games can be far more than just a gimmick.
(Final Grade: A)