Me and Aimee complete Split Fiction a few nights ago, and we both really enjoyed it.
Perfect Two Player Game
We had an absolute blast with the game.
At no point did we feel like one of us wasn't really impacting the story or progression; there was a perfect balance throughout that made us feel like we were in it together.
There were a lot of sections throughout that were frustratingly hard, but when we overcame any obstacles, we both released a sigh of relief.
I liked the fact that we bounced from a fantasy setting to a sci-fi between each mission (and sometimes during the same mission). It helped to keep the game - and story in general - fresh.
There were some missions over the course of the game, however, that felt a bit too repetitive. Not necessarily for the gameplay, but mainly the aesthetics.
The Story
Comparing this game to It Takes Two (which is fair since they're both made by the same company) It Takes Two is more fun, I think, and the story felt like it had more heart.
This one certainly has a good story, but I think more people, in general, could relate to a story about the breakdown of a relationship, as opposed to authors who trauma dump their way to getting signed.
The first seems more Human, whereas the second seems to be catered specifically for writers.
One thing I find, though, with both games is that the characters in general are almost written to be unlikable.
At the start of each game, you are playing as fairly annoying characters, who eventually become likeable as you learn more about them and their stories.
There were certainly a few eye-rolling moments when the characters interacted with each other, but by about the mid-way point, things changed, and we both started to like them more.
The Gameplay
This game very much feels like a love letter to gaming in general, and while the story may not hook the average person, I believe the gameplay would easily hook and entertain the average gamer.
During the course of the game, you'll experience 2D side-scrolling, and there were even segments where you were flying a ship in 2D, avoiding enemy fire like some of the older games I used to enjoy playing.
There are numerous references throughout as well, which were fun to spot. Admittedly, I only caught a handful, but I know there are so many more.
At one point, there is a section on hoverboards where you rack up points like the old Tony Hawks games, and Mio, one of the characters actually makes reference to playing old games like that.
The constant change in dynamics, while keeping the foundations of the game a 3rd person adventure title, I think, was a good choice. It allowed them to explore, have fun, and, in general, reminisce about the industry.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and was much tougher than It Takes Two, but if I were to rank them, I would put It Takes Two higher on the list, mainly because of the storyline.
