2021 was a year of many new games. That said, there weren’t many that were hugely successful blockbusters. Sure, there were plenty of niche games that came, all of which excited the fans. However, therein lies the problem. Not many performed exceptionally well, and still only within their realms of interest. One game that tried to take down the walls and create a fun experience was It Takes Two. It was a sort of dark comedy twist on a divorcing couple that is magically forced to work together. Hazelight Studios put a lot of love into the story and gameplay aspects, as usual. Well, it seems that all paid off, as It Takes Two was given the Game of the Year title at the DICE Awards, outdoing major hitters like Resident Evil and Halo.
It Takes Two to Tango With This Book of Love
If you haven’t caught the wave on It Takes Two yet, now is a great time. After all, it takes more than two to get something to Game of the Year status. The game focuses on a couple on the edge of divorce who’ve forgotten what is important in their relationship. Their daughter Rose takes things into her own hands by creating dolls modeled after her parents. With a Book of Love and some magic involved, the two parents are trapped inside the dolls. As a result, we hit a wave of co-op intensive levels that make game partners think. No wonder it sold 5 million copies.
Overall, the story of It Takes Two is a bit cheesy. However, it does make some critical comments on love and relationship maintenance. The worlds and levels are all intertwined into their lives. It makes a huge impact on the story and can even serve as an allegory for their neglected relationship and personal passions. And above all, it’s just plain, stupid fun. If you’re willing to suspend your belief and argue with a vexing book named Dr. Hakim, it’s worth the time. Consequently, I’m sure the good doctor would be very pleased with the progress It Takes Two made at the DICE Awards.
For those interested, It Takes Two is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Just make sure you and your co-op partner are on good enough terms to keep the eventual boss rage from kicking in too hard.