Co-op games are, on the whole, not that popular. Is it because people don't get along? Or is it because, for every two players, you'll generally sell half the number of games, because you'll only need one copy for two people to play it together?
I don't know, but Split Fiction is one of those co-op games. You can play it on the floor, sat next to each other, or you can play it over a distance, sat apart. But the goal is to bring people together, which is exactly how the opening scenes of the game unfold.
The joint protagonists are fiction writers Mio and Zoe. They're at the publishing house, ready to meet their soon to be corporate publishing overlords, who have invented a machine that allow the writer's stories to .. be ... uh, extracted from their minds and turned into interactive experiences.
A mishap in this process occurs and so begins a story within a simulation that intertwines one writer's fantasy fiction with the other's science fiction, and as you flip flop between worlds (and the side quests, short stories from each author's imagination).
The machine, and the publishing house, appear to be nothing but malicious, wrapped up in soft-cotton candy and a public image built upon a foundation of exploitation and the extraction of value from creative individuals.
The gameplay is varied, depending on which controller you pick up, as Mio and Zoe have different skills and abilities, but the basic premise is the same. You have to rely on each other to progress and solve some puzzles along the way. Gameplay is frictionless, and there's some novel gameplay that I haven't experienced before, where you need to really cooperate with your co-player (in my case, my wife) in order to achieve success.
For the most part, its a third person action platformer, with some vehicular combat, puzzles, and a whole lot more comedy than I thought a game with these themes would contain. There are genuine laugh out loud moments in this game. One side quest turned both characters into pigs, in a probable nod to an Orwellian Animal Farm, which fit well - so very well, with the overarching themes.
Another, shortly thereafter, sees you do combat with a maniacal parking enforcement robot, who threatens to tow your corpses. It is creative, unique, original stuff, and an enticing game to play. If you have a friend. That's the important part of this game. You need a friend, you need a somebody else to play with.
It subverts every single thing that those who bemoan the lack of social ability in those who play games - by excluding the experience of being able to play this game alone.
It is an interesting study into more than just the intersection between creativity and capitalism itself, as the central themes of the story also go on to explore how many creatives are tormented by their histories, their thoughts and whatever rests deep down in their sub-conscious.
This game is excellent in all regards, and its difficulty in some parts is frustrating, but this is by design. Why is it so hard in some parts? It means you've got to really be in tune with your player two, whoever they are, and experience the sense of them being more (or less) capable at some actions when compared to you. Trade the controller and literally put yourself in their shoes.
Split Fiction is a fantastic game, and I hope that the film adaptation isn't horrible - to be able to introduce many more people to the wonder and magic of gaming.
