Split Fiction Review – It Takes Pew Pew

Sadly for me, Cut up Fiction is the kind of recreation you’re feeling totally compelled to inform your mates about. It is the kind of recreation that can have you ever setting your controller apart to wipe away tears, each of laughter and uncooked emotion, in addition to to name actually everybody in shut proximity to return see no matter darkish, hilarious, referential, or mind-blowing factor simply occurred. As such, I’ve spent the higher a part of the previous week impatiently ready for this embargo to drop–for the second I might discuss it with somebody apart from the shut good friend I roped into becoming a member of me. In brief, Cut up Fiction is among the most memorable, sensible, and spectacular video games I’ve ever performed. And in the end, I’m allowed to inform everybody about it.

With Cut up Fiction, Hazelight Studios solidifies itself as not solely one of the crucial intelligent and progressive working studios, however as one desirous to develop and totally dedicated to creativity as each an concept and act. Although Hazelight has but to launch something lower than nice, it was nearly surprising to see how a lot it had realized from–and improved upon–2021’s essential darling It Takes Two. Ranges and environments are huge, beautiful, and assorted; our two protagonists, Mio and Zoe, are stuffed with depth, attraction, and persona; the sport’s seemingly limitless gimmicks and gameplay mechanics, all of that are launched at much more speedy tempo than It Takes Two, are practically all so enjoyable, sensible, and tightly designed that they might stand alone; and its writing, plot beats, and general construction ship a exceptional story that rappels from coronary heart wrenching, commentative, darkly humorous, and brimming with pleasure simply as fluidly as our heroines grapple-hook between buildings. Although there’s a stage of cheesiness that coats the sport’s overarching story and its major antagonist, Rader, as a complete Cut up Fiction is a fabulous recreation that units a brand new benchmark not just for Hazelight, however for co-op experiences as a complete.

Regardless of its inevitable greatness, Cut up Fiction kicks off with a humble (if barely cliched) starting by which it introduces its protagonists: Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster. Mio and Zoe are nothing alike. Whereas Mio is an angsty, city-slicking, sci-fi fanatic who’d sooner yank out her personal tooth than confide in a stranger, the fantasy-loving Zoe is sunshine incarnate. And but, the pair does share one factor in widespread: They’re each unpublished writers in dire want of cash and a byline.

As such, each of them leap on the alternative offered by Rader Publishing, a fledgling firm that merges know-how and storytelling to create digital worlds for customers to immerse themselves in and discover. However whereas the overly trusting Zoe is greater than prepared to plug herself into the corporate’s simulation machine and pour forth her concepts, Mio rapidly decides in opposition to it. Her protests quickly flip right into a bodily altercation that’s minimize quick when Rader, the comically smarmy Silicone Valley-esque exec behind Rader Publishing, by accident shoves her into the identical simulation pod as Zoe. Supposed just for one consumer at a time, this causes not solely a meltdown at Rader Publishing Headquarters, however a melding of the 2 ladies’s style stylings as their consciousnesses join.

Postpone by Mio’s pessimism and dismissive persona, Zoe is initially irked by her presence within the fantasy world she has constructed for Rader. Nonetheless, Mio is quickly in a position to persuade Zoe that Rader is as much as one thing sinister–namely harvesting then erasing their concepts from their minds without cost use–leading to the unlikely duo banding collectively. Mio and Zoe then set off to discover a sequence of tales they created as they hunt for “glitches” which may assist them escape with their reminiscences intact.

This premise lends itself fantastically to what Hazelight Studios does greatest: creating stunning, immersive worlds which can be ripe for gamers to discover with a sequence of distinctive and thoughtfully constructed toolsets. As they try to struggle again in opposition to Rader, Mio and Zoe get the possibility to discover upwards of 20 distinctive universes, all birthed from numerous components of their imaginations. But what’s extra staggering than the sheer variety of worlds there are to discover is how stuffed with surprises and marvel every one is.

Although every world falls into both the science-fiction or fantasy classes, the particulars fluctuate dramatically. Within the recreation’s second chapter, Neon Revenge, Mio and Zoe traverse a Blade Runner-esque world as cyber ninjas intent on taking down a ravenous debt collector. On this darkish and gritty Mio-constructed universe, our protagonists are given two weapons, a gravity-shifting sword and a strong cyber whip, which they need to use in tandem to progress by means of the extent and take down baddies. When not wall-running, leaping throughout environments, and whipping dangerous guys into each other, this stage additionally contains a number of high-speed chases that give gamers an opportunity to function Tron-esque autos, in addition to three “aspect tales” penned by Zoe. Amongst these is maybe one of the crucial absurdly dark-humored ranges I’ve ever performed in a recreation, and it proves that Hazelight is prepared and desirous to do weird issues with its latest title. Whereas this complete part stands by itself and triumphs at propelling gamers from spectacle to spectacle, it later turns into clear that Neon Revenge solely scratches the floor of gameplay potentialities.

I am hesitant to delve an excessive amount of into describing the worlds to observe, as I might hate to damage even a fraction of the delight I felt whereas adventuring by means of them. Equally, I do not wish to fall again on “hey, bear in mind this recreation? This recreation does that” as a result of it feels reductive. Suffice to say Cut up Fiction is as a lot its personal recreation as it’s a love letter to others. One stage was a really clear tribute to Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater, whereas one other was clearly impressed by 2D Metroid titles and Ikaruga. I discovered an unimaginable From Software program reference tucked in a single nook of the sport, and laughed as Zoe and Mio leapt off a constructing right into a neat pile of hay whereas a fowl of prey set free a fierce caw. “You must have religion to leap like that,” Zoe cheekily commented.

My taking part in partner–a 3D platforming fanatic who I’ll gleefully point out was dressed up as a sheep from Spyro one of many first occasions I met her–was fast to say how sure ranges felt like Crash Bandicoot. Afterward, she excitedly remarked {that a} timed trial requiring us to soar by means of rings reminded her of Spyro. As somebody who appreciated final 12 months’s Astro Bot, but was fast to level out it felt a bit extra like an IP flex than a correct recreation at occasions, Cut up Fiction now exists as proof that there’s a manner for that idea to be executed with out merely counting on nostalgia and model recognition. And but, I really feel as if our favourite ranges have been those that felt impressed but wholly totally different from preexisting works.

The Moon Market was considered one of my favourite worlds, with its towering citadel spires, spectral cats, and chubby moles adorned in wizard cloaks toddling by means of cobblestone streets. When taking part in by means of The Hole, I remarked that sure screenshots taken from this stage might simply be handed off as ones from some gorgeously foreboding space in Elden Ring. In a single stage, the characters enter a pocket book whereas a younger Zoe scribbles up an journey solely her thoughts might conjure. In others, the pair go away their our bodies altogether.

But it is nonetheless needed to place apart the sport’s atmospheres, design, dimensionality, and sheer spectacle to present its mechanics the flowers they deserve, too. A number of instruments and powers have been so thoughtfully designed they might have simply been the crux of a whole recreation, with considered one of my favorites being a pair of weapons that had the capabilities of capturing by means of two several types of shields. Cautious coordination was required from us to take down shielded enemies, and issues grew much more tense throughout fast-paced chases, when one ill-placed barrier that we forgot to take down for our teammate might spell their doom.

And it isn’t as if that portion stands alone in being extremely progressive and including a brand new dimension to the sport’s already partaking puzzles and challenges. Cut up Fiction’s ultimate chapter, Cut up, might very effectively boast essentially the most mechanical cleverness I’ve seen in a recreation since taking part in a Steel Gear Stable title. Simply once I thought {that a} mechanic might now not evolve and Cut up Fiction had reached its apex, one other dimension was added. It was mind-bending, and I could not assist however assume, “This recreation would have rewritten my mind had I performed it with my sisters as a child.”

But as phenomenal as Cut up Fiction’s gameplay is, its foremost characters–Zoe and Mio–are what actually elevated all the expertise for me. Once you first meet Zoe and Mio, it is simple to dismiss them as a bit flat. Their Harry and Sally dynamic (or grumpy-sunshine, for my readers on the market) is the supply of a number of cliche bickering at the start of the sport, and it is extraordinarily apparent that they may ultimately study to understand one another’s variations and kind a bond. In any case, we have seen such a story play out time and time once more. Nonetheless, I did not anticipate to get as emotionally invested in that bond, and Mio and Zoe as people, as I finally did.

By the point Cut up Fiction got here to a detailed, I had teared up a number of occasions. In exploring their imaginary worlds, goals, concepts, and tales, the pair additionally delve into their pasts, their fears, and the emotional baggage they carry. This journey is executed fantastically, and I discovered myself deeply in love with the sisterhood the 2 slowly develop. Mio’s angst and mistrust are there for good cause, but she additionally reveals a aspect of her that’s deeply devoted, form, spirited, and even a bit childlike. Zoe’s whimsy and optimism, whereas at first overbearing, conceal a painful previous and embody this concept that it’s the individuals who have endured essentially the most ache who show essentially the most kindness, and are keen to make sure nobody will ever really feel as harm or alone as they as soon as did.

It is hardly shocking {that a} multiplayer recreation stresses the significance of connection, however in Cut up Fiction, it’s made clear that there’s merely no surviving with out it–that life is an excessive amount of to endure alone and making it out requires caring for folks even after they cannot look after themselves. Simply as vital, nevertheless, is permitting others to look after you, too.

Cut up Fiction stresses the significance of one other core a part of humanity as effectively: creativity. That is one thing that feels significantly pertinent proper now, contemplating ongoing conversations round generative AI. Rader, the sport’s chief antagonist, is basically a rich techie intent on actually stealing creator’s concepts from their minds to feed into his machine with the last word purpose of making a tool that may weave tales itself. As such, Cut up Fiction emphasizes that it takes humanity to create–that it takes the experiences that form our lives and assemble our unconscious to kind tales.

Zoe might by no means inform the identical tales Mio does, and the other is definitely true too. Every lady has her personal lived expertise, which manifests itself of their written work even when they do not intend for that to occur. Every lady’s tales serve a distinct objective, be it commemorating a cherished one or giving them an alternate actuality by which they’ve management over the issues that go away them feeling powerless. Cut up Fiction repeatedly declares that our concepts, goals, and creations are a basic a part of us–that they’re treasured issues, tied intimately to our very beings, that can’t be stripped away. Admittedly, I do assume Rader as a complete is maybe the sport’s weakest half, as he is a reasonably, effectively… cringey villain. But on the identical time, there definitely appears to be accuracy in depicting him that manner.

Cut up Fiction might very effectively be the perfect cooperative recreation I’ve ever performed. On the very least, I firmly imagine it units a brand new commonplace for the style. And but, it is greater than that. Cut up Fiction is a love letter to creativity–to tales, video games, and the individuals who make them. It’s humorous, darkish, joyous, infantile, tender, tacky, thrilling, and memorable. All this mixed with beautiful environments, incredible gameplay, and sheer spectacle make Hazelight Studio’s latest launch an early contender for the perfect recreation of 2025.