Split Fiction First Impressions
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor
Split Fiction is a new co-op game from Hazelight Studios, the company behind the cult hits It Takes Two and Brothers. In the game, you and a friend take on the roles of Mio and Zoe, two writers who participate in a revolutionary experiment that will transform the future of storytelling. After an unfortunate accident, they find themselves trying to survive their imaginary worlds while relying on each other.
My wife and I played the first two hours of the game, and it’s safe to say that it’s one of the most refreshing and unique games we have played in a long time. Over the years, the idea of couch co-op seems to have gone out the window in favor of online play. If you are anything like us, we grew up playing games with our friends and family locally. While I love the challenge of competition between each other, the thrill of playing side by side on a quest with someone you know just can’t be beat. There haven’t been very many options to do this recently, but Hazelight has brought the goods.
After hearing about the game, one of my initial concerns was whether it would fully commit to its different worlds or if it was going to be surface-level. Mio is a sci-fi author, and Zoe does fantasy, which are two worlds that couldn’t be further apart. Within the game, you hop from one genre to another using “glitches” that appear to escape the one you are in. The developers put a lot of thought and effort into fully realizing these worlds, making each one feel unique and like its own gaming experience. Even the smallest detail isn’t missed, and it’s really impressive how they have balanced everything so far.
The variety and gameplay styles have also been incredible. One minute, you are a cyber ninja in a cyberpunk future, and the next, you are trying to survive murderous giant trolls in a medieval wasteland. One of my favorite side quests has been the flying pigs who fart rainbows; the fewer details you know about that, the better. Oh, and we have also played as hot dogs. It’s a wild ride and one that is easy to navigate and control. The changes come fast, but you get the gist after a few seconds of a new control scheme. My wife isn’t an avid gamer, but she caught on to everything quickly.
It’s just the beginning of our journey, and it has been a blast so far. Mio and Zoe have distinct and unique personalities; hanging out with them is so much fun. As the story progresses, we learn about them and the real motive behind this new storytelling technology. It’s engrossing, and we are itching to pick up our controllers and continue from where we left off. While I hate thinking about the end, I have no doubt Split Fiction will stick the landing, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes.