Overview

Split Fiction, the latest installment from Hazelight, a studio renowned for their incredible co-op single player experiences, from the Prison Break escapades of A way out through to the marriage counseling critical acclaimed gem that is It Takes Two, and now I think from a gameplay standpoint we have reached our peak here with the release of Split Fiction. This game is absolutely incredible, and is an easy Game of the Year contender, providing constant thrilling gameplay, that isn't afraid to throw new puzzles, platforming and outright game genres at the players, in a whole new way. When I played It Takes Two it blew my mind how effortlessly Hazelight would introduce new mechanics or ideas, and how experimental and versatile they were with each level. Split Fiction takes this concept and completely lets loose, not only introducing new mechanics, but shifting genres on the fly effortlessly and seamlessly and it makes for a game that is continuously going to surprise and enthrall you and surprise you throughout the whole entirety of this game. There is never a dull moment in this game, and it is a must-play video game.

Story

Split Fiction tells the story of Zoe and Mio both novice authors looking to get published, who have been given the opportunity by Radar, a big publisher running a new campaign that enables them to gather and conceptualize authors narratives in a virtual space. What Radar isn't telling these authors is to be discovered and as a reluctant Mio tries to back out of stepping into this simulation she falls into Zoe's and both worlds of these characters fiction collide and they have to work together to escape. Now look both Mio and Zoe star off as one-dimensional characters, but I do like how they're developed over time. Split Fiction doesn't have the immediate hook of It Takes Two where a divorce filled couple are forced to work together and mend their marriage in the process, but there is a charm to the plot points and the characters do grow on you. But whilst I do think Split Fiction's narrative isn't bad by any means, I wouldn't call it the major selling point of this experience, that goes to the gameplay which we'll get into now.

Gameplay

Split Fiction as a video game is absolutely exceptional, where from the get go there is a plethora of unique and distinct mechanics that are easy for each player to understand, and allow you and your friend to cohesively work together solving each level with your unique set of skills depending on who you're playing as. The core gameplay loop is quite hard to really define as it is dependent on the level that you're playing through, but for the most part Split Fiction is a puzzle platformer where you and your friend are working together solving puzzles and using your abilities that harmoniously correlate to the visual and narrative themes of the current world you're captured in.

There is an inclusion of new side stories, where you and your mate will be going into these alternative worlds that offer there own unique story for one of our two characters, but it is incredible with how wacky and out there some of these side stories are, with satisfying mechanics, level design and visual stylization that makes each of these stop-offs so satisfying and memorable. So many of these side stories feel like they genre swap with some of these stories feeling like a shoot-em up and others legit feeling like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. It was mind blowing and none of these ever felt like duds, each time we stumbled across a side story, me and my mate would sit there in awe wondering how or what they could do to top the last side story, and frankly all the way till the end, we'd be surprised.

I know that some of these points may read opaque, but let me say this, Split Fiction is brilliantly tied together making a a cohesive relationship between presentation, level design, and overall gameplay mechanics, as each chapter will narratively be exploring one of Mio and Zoe's stories, and the world's visual and level design will reflect this, along with the respective mechanics that both yourself and your mate will have. One world may have you exploring a farm as pigs where your ability is rainbow farts and yours mates being a pig that expands like a spring. The level in kind will revolve around these mechanics and have you work together, and the variety of worlds is incredible, from Cyber ninjas, to whimsical fantasy creatures, the game has it all and none of them feel undercooked or like an afterthought.

It all feels intentional and cleverly crafted in its design, and bursting full of creativity. There are these games that provide a sense of wonder in what the game will throw at you next, I think of Mario Wonder as a fantastic example, and even last years game of the year Astro Bot as another. Split Fiction is up there with its creative mechanics and level design, that is crafted in a way to encourage experimentation for not just one player but two, and Hazelight are filling a unique void in the gaming market, offering up an experience like this for not just one player, but two.

Need A Player 2

Yes, you can't play Split Fiction by yourself, you will need to find someone else to play this game with. But please do not let this detract or put you off this experience. There are many ways to find people to play with if you don't have anyone to play games with. There is a discord server that Hazelight are managing for you to find people to experience this game with, and the beauty of this game is that only one player needs to own Split Fiction to be able to play the game, as player 2 can download and play the game through a version called the Friend Pass. I think whether it is with a friend or a stranger, Split Fiction is a game that can and will be a great memory for you and whoever you jump into with this experience.

Hazelight discord - https://discord.gg/Hazelight

Conclusion

Split Fiction doesn't just play hot potato with all the different game mechanics that it introduces, but it does the exact same with full whole genres too, where one moment you're platforming like you're in uncharted, and then in a heartbeat you'll be in a shoot em up, or riding a snowboard doing tricks like it is SSX meets Tony Hawk. There is no shortage of genre swaps, mechanics to flex, and video game homages to behold in this game, where both me and my mate throughout this whole game were continuously like "NO WAY". To me, this game really felt like that magic of an old school video game. Like in recent years I feel like the reason why games like Mario Wonder, and the legit game of the year last year with Astro Bot, are so special and successful, because they feel magical and full of wonder with the mechanics, the level of diversity in their approach to level design and mechanics, and seriously, Split Fiction is in the same realm and ballpark as these entries, and I'm telling you even with juggernauts like GTA 6, KCD2, and Death Stranding 2 and Metroid Prime 4, I can confidently tell you Split Fiction is an easy Game of the Year contender and an experience that we will be talking about for years to come.