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It Takes Two Should Inspire More Asymmetric Co-Op Games

There have been plenty of solid titles from earlier this year that are strong contenders for winning Game of the Year awards from different publications. That said, for fans of co-op multiplayer titles, nothing has come anywhere close to It Takes Two.

The most recent game from Hazelight studios led by Josef Fares, It Takes Two took a lot of players by surprise with its competent platforming and excellent co-op gameplay. It is a rare breed of game that requires two players to complete and hopefully, it inspires more thoughtful co-op games that rely heavily on asymmetric multiplayer experiences.

RELATED: How Many Times Does Hazelight Have to Prove Couch Co-op is Great?

Embracing the Fun of Asymmetric Multiplayer Games

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The bulk of It Takes Two has players take control of one of two characters who are constantly getting complimentary but wildly different abilities in order to solve puzzles and complete various types of 3D platforming sections. The abilities vary pretty immensely throughout the entire game with some standout examples being times when one character can throw nails into a wall and the other has a hammer allowing them to swing across great distances or when one character covers enemies and obstacles in flammable honey and the other can ignite it causing an explosion.

The game is constantly flipping the script and exploring all aspects of what collaborative asymmetric multiplayer titles can be. Hopefully, from here, It Takes Two is able to inspire more asymmetric co-op titles because, as the game proves, they're just a lot of fun. While It Takes Two certainly borrows plenty of ideas from Hazelight Studios' previous work, A Way Out, it also feels inspired by other popular couch co-op games like Portal 2 and Overcooked. It Takes Two mixes things up enough to stand out and other games should follow its example and expand on what co-op games can be.

As It Takes Two so clearly examples, asymmetric multiplayer is a lot of fun and if more studios get to work on exploring the ideas that come with it, then there could be a new wave of multiplayer titles using ideas never before seen in video games. Among Us is one popular example that comes to mind and, while the asymmetric aspects of it aren't cooperative, it's a smash hit and extremely fun. By having different studios try their hands at other asymmetric-style games, they could be making the next biggest thing that connects hardcore and casual gamers alike, just as Among Us has done.

Keeping Couch Co-Op Alive

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If asymmetric multiplayer titles are to continue growing, then so will the seemingly dying couch co-op genre. As the focus of video games has turned to a much more online competitive angle, couch co-op has taken a backseat. Even the major studios that say co-op is a focus in their games don't seem to share the same passion for the genre as studios like Hazelight. If more games can take influence from a hit co-op title like It Takes Two, then the genre can stay alive and hopefully have a renaissance in the coming years.

Even if It Takes Two doesn't have much of an impact on the industry, all hope isn't lost for co-op multiplayer games. There will always be more titles releasing each year from studios that are passionate about connecting people through games, whether it's with something as huge as Among Us or with smaller titles like Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime. At the end of the day, It Takes Two is simply a good place for game makers to look for co-op inspiration as it's so full of ideas and is constantly having the players try new types of asymmetric gameplay.

It Takes Two is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X.

MORE: It Takes Two Director Josef Fares Comments on 1 Million Sales Milestone

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