"Split Fiction" played: Exciting journey through video game history
After the surprise hit "It Takes Two", Hazelight has once again succeeded in creating a co-op hit that will put a smile on the faces of old and young players.
Split Fiction
(Image: heise online)
Hardly any other development studio relies so consistently on the successful "couch co-op" formula as the Swedish Hazelight: "A Way Out", "It Takes Two" and now "Split Fiction". All exciting adventures from different genres for two players. Playfully mature and excitingly told. "Split Fiction" now covers several genres at the same time and maintains the quality.
Quality in series
Hazelight's games are full of impressive and sometimes quirky moments. This escape from the hospital in "A Way Out", "The Book of Love" in "It Takes Two" and now two hot dogs in search of the meaning of life in "Split Fiction". Almost every game level is a different genre. Different game mechanics, but never overwhelming or frustrating. And a story that makes you think. Excellently realized and set to music.
Too much advance praise? Ok, back to the beginning. In "Split Fiction", we play two young female authors who are preparing for a job interview with a major publishing house.
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Mio is a science fiction fan, serious, secretive, mysterious. Zoe loves fantasy and tells everyone about it, even if it is a bit annoying. At the publishing house, the job interview turns out to be a scientific experiment that throws them both into a kind of virtual reality. There, the authors have to come to terms with their stories and escape as quickly as possible.
Varied gameplay
In terms of gameplay, the individual levels switch from the science fiction to the fantasy genre. While the adventures in the high-tech world are action-heavy, there is more to puzzle over between green forests and large palaces.
There is no dominant game mechanic: sometimes the two jump from one leaf to the next from a shoulder perspective, sometimes they move through a building complex in the style of a side-scroller. Quirky side missions turn the two of them into pigs or let them take part in a "Tron"-like competition.
Mio and Zoe always have different abilities that they have to combine. Sometimes Mio glides through the air with a kite, while Zoe climbs up ivy to create air currents at switches. Sometimes Mio has to break through a robot's protective shield with a bomb so that Zoe can land deadly hits. There is usually a boss waiting at the end. There is no frustration even when you die on screen. As long as one of them is still alive, the game continues at the same point. The reset points are generously placed.
Journey through video game history
Split Fiction cannot be reduced to one game genre. In addition to modern action games, classics such as "Snake", "Donkey Kong Jr." and "Super Contra" also served as inspiration. Evil tongues might call this a mini-game, others might call it a love of the game.
The controls focus on just a few inputs. The adventure of the two up-and-coming authors plays smoothly. Nobody needs time to get used to it. At times, the adventure plays like a journey through video game history.
Hazelight doesn't just add nostalgic touches, however, but also makes a real visual splash. As the scenarios differ greatly, there is hardly any visual boredom. Whether it's an escape from an exploding palace or calm and detailed landscape shots –, the doubled budget compared to the award-winning "It takes Two" is evident in every corner, edge and animation.
Similar to Hazelight 's last two predecessors, "Split Fiction" supports the "Friends Pass", with which players can invite their friends to a round free of charge and this time also across platforms. A local game session works without restrictions, but as a prerequisite for an online game, the invited players must create an account with the publisher Electronic Arts and download the Friends Pass from their respective store.
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Interim conclusion
With such a concentrated load of gameplay wit, it is difficult to remain objective. There is more love for the game and detail in "Split Fiction" than in the competition. Every level plays differently, and the development studio surprises again and again with original and sometimes quirky ideas. As there are no moments of frustration, "Split Fiction" is also suitable as a family game for young and old.
"Split Fiction" is therefore not a game for fans of playful challenges. Nobody needs thumb acrobatics here. Instead, the game focuses on accessibility, variety and an exciting story with two unconventional main characters. An extraordinary adventure that co-op fans will find hard to resist this year.
"Split Fiction" by Hazelight, published by Electronic Arts for Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series. It costs around 50 euros. USK 12+. We played the Windows version for a few hours for our "play-along".
(vbr)
