Split Fiction: A Multi-Genre Co-Op Adventure

Split Fiction is an explosive co-op game featuring a vibrant mix of mechanics. If you’ve experienced Hazelight Studios’ earlier multiplayer hits, you’ll understand what I mean – there’s a level where you literally navigate through one of those colorful rotating toys. For those who haven’t, I’m mainly talking about the range of game types it incorporates, from platforming and puzzles to action-adventure role-playing and racing. Stepping into the brilliantly imaginative minds of two writers trapped in a simulation of their own sci-fi and fantasy worlds is a clever premise for a multiplayer, multi-genre game. It’s a very different scenario from two criminals trying to escape a prison in A Way Out or a married couple turned into their child’s toys in It Takes Two, giving it a completely fresh spin on the co-op adventure genre that Hazelight continues to champion, and offering an experience that stands out even compared to games people buy cheap PS4 games for.

Split Fiction: Play as Mio or Zoe, Master Unique Abilities

In Split Fiction, you can pick to play as either Mio Hudson, a decisive sci-fi enthusiast (voiced by Kaja Chan), or Zoe Foster, an empathetic fantasy fan (voiced by Elsie Bennett). Each character comes with unique abilities – for instance, Mio can use her dragon to glide in one level, while Zoe uses her dragon’s tail to climb obstacles. While I played as Mio, who I found to have the more thrilling abilities, the game ensures that no matter which character you choose, you’ll encounter new mechanics throughout the experience – whether it’s tilting the screen to help your partner navigate obstacles or moving objects to open up new paths.

The game’s main antagonist is the CEO of Radar Publishing, whom Mio and Zoe uncover as trying to steal their ideas without permission. Before facing him, you and your co-op partner must battle a series of bosses, including a rogue AI robot, an evil cat, and a Hydra-like mythical dragon, among others, as you navigate glitches to escape the idea-stealing machine. Each encounter is unique and demands a mix of maneuvers introduced progressively, such as timed jumps, shapeshifting, dodges, target shooting, and more. Even with the constant switch between sci-fi and fantasy styles, neither suffers from visual overload, as every level is designed in stunning detail. Hazelight has clearly devoted more time and resources to Split Fiction, making it noticeably more polished. However, this also means it has less of the rustic indie charm seen in their earlier games or in titles like Campo Santo’s Firewatch and Moon Studios’ Ori and the Blind Forest, though it still delivers a level of quality that makes players eager to buy cheap PS4 games for similar experiences.

Split Fiction: A Love Letter to Games and Pop Culture

Split Fiction has taken the strongest elements of It Takes Two and A Way Out to create a diverse co-op adventure with a dynamic storyline. The final level ties into the title in a way that delivers a crescendo of a finale that will stay with me forever. One aspect I adore is how Hazelight’s love for gaming is seamlessly woven into tributes to the mechanics that make great games, alongside a wealth of pop culture references and Easter eggs. For instance, you’ll wall-run and grapple in ways reminiscent of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. Other moments include side-scrolling sections in simple black-and-white reminiscent of Limbo, 2D platformers evoking the nostalgic feel of Mega Man and Sonic, and even a dance battle with a monkey that incorporates a retro mobile game of Snake. There’s also a level requiring the use of portals, clearly tipping its hat to the co-op classic, Portal.

Split Fiction: Pop Culture Fun and Clever References

This added layer becomes a fun activity in itself and delivers some of the game’s most enjoyable moments. I loved trying to guess which movies a particular section was referencing. Some are obvious, like the cutscene where you change into your next character style in true Sailor Moon fashion, or the dialogue where a boss says, “You think darkness is your ally?” clearly nodding to The Dark Knight Rises. Others are less subtle, such as the level where your teammate lowers you down an air vent dodging lasers, making me feel like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. It’s clear the developers had a lot of fun weaving these references into the game, creating brilliant moments throughout. A fun little detail to watch for: my personal favorite was the revolving doors that stop if you rush and try to push them, a charming touch anyone who’s ever been impatient with one would recognize.

My favorite part of the game, however, is the chaotic multiverse final level. It completely blew my mind and showcases the creative genius of Hazelight Studios. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever played, blending different level skins with gameplay elements in a way I’ve never seen before. What I love most about this is how broadly appealing the game is – it’s not just veteran gamers who’ll enjoy spotting all the classic game references, but also those whose closest brush with gaming might be something like Tetris. When It Takes Two came out, I saw people I never expected to play video games raving about the experience they’d just had, and that’s what makes this so special. You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy this entertaining adventure. Its variety and mix of styles make it a game you’ll want to play again and again. Split Fiction is another impressive success in the co-op space that Hazelight is steadily dominating.

Split Fiction: Hours of Co-Op Fun and Replay Value

Hazelight Studios has included plenty of features to make Split Fiction a smooth and accessible experience. Checkpoints are generous, with an option to jump between saved points. The game offers extensive settings for customizing controls, including key binding, camera rotation assistance, and reducing enemy damage. While you can’t adjust subtitle size, you can add solid backgrounds to improve text visibility. The voiceovers are available in seven languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese (simplified), and Japanese. Subtitles are offered in nine languages: German, French, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Japanese, Chinese (traditional and simplified), and Korean. Like It Takes Two, Split Fiction carries a teen ESRB rating for ages 13 and up, making it accessible to a wider audience than A Way Out, which has a mature rating due to its content. I played Split Fiction for around 19 hours on a PS5 Pro and still didn’t earn every trophy. Out of the 21 available, I only collected three: completing all side stories, finishing the game, and feeding a dragon. I’m confident that anyone investing more time could rack up even more hours, making it a great value for completionists.