Split Fiction looks incredible. Considering the track record of developer Hazelight and the quality of games like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and It Takes Two, this is no surprise. I wasn’t the biggest fan of A Way Out, but even then, I can appreciate its relentless approach to creativity.
Its next project will follow contrasting writers Mio and Zoe, whose imaginations are being used for resources by a mysterious organisation. One is into science fiction, while the other delves deep into fantasy, creating a natural divide for level design and gameplay mechanics to base themselves upon. It’s an incredibly simple and effective premise, ideal for a studio that has made its name by surprising the player at every turn. With few restrictions on genre, it’s able to do anything.
Split Fiction Is The Most Creative Triple-A Game Of The Year
Sci-fi and high fantasy can be explored in so many different ways, whether Split Fiction decides to be faithful, eccentric, macabre, or anything in-between. This gives each and every level the justification to push the boat out as far as it can possibly go, but the delight in this approach is not knowing what is going to come next.
It Takes Two followed two troubled partners as they fought off armies of squirrels and hornets, battled sentient hoovers, and tried to navigate a suburban home that is now a sprawling world filled with life.
Every single level was a surprise, often sporting a new gameplay mechanic or visual identity other games might have built themselves around, but Hazelight understood the huge appeal of introducing new ideas, allowing us to realise their potential, and then casting them aside for something equally enthralling. It was relentlessly imaginative and didn’t let up until the credits rolled, and I have to imagine Split Fiction will want to do the same.
But despite only being revealed at The Game Awards last December, it sure feels like Hazelight is ruining a lot of the surprises I’d rather it’d kept hidden. Discoveries and mechanics that would have bowled me over if I went in with no knowledge of the game at all, now feel like they’ve lost that impact, and I know what to expect.
But I Hope It Doesn’t Ruin All Of Its Biggest Surprises
Don’t get me wrong, I understand this is just a natural part of marketing a video game. With such a short turnaround from reveal to release, Hazelight needs to advertise Split Fiction to a potential audience of millions and pull them in without much preamble.
That means plenty of gameplay being shown off, whether it be massive levels, big reveals, or set pieces perfect for showcasing the concept of jumping between two different genres like this.
You will seemingly befriend two dragon hatchlings and watch them grow from tiny drakes to behemoths capable of taking to the skies, a sign of growth and development I suspect may mirror the journey of our dual protagonists.
But we’ve essentially seen this journey play out in trailers already, while another level in the recent sneak peek sees us try defying gravity in fascinating ways before jumping onto Tron-esque light cycles to speed across a cyberpunk metropolis.
There is so much potential on display here, but the joy of It Takes Two emerged from landing in a level and having to get to grips with something you’ve never seen before.
Split Fiction will also include side stories off the beaten path, and director Josef Fares has promised these will be completely unique to anything found in the main game while also fleshing out the personalities and stories of the main characters.
Another level takes place in a fairytale landscape where you can shapeshift into a number of fantasy creatures, each with their own movement and combat abilities used for defeating enemies and solving puzzles. I doubt we’ve seen all of them as part of this new trailer, but an idea of even two or three is enough for me to feel bummed out.
Perhaps it’s an unfortunate symptom of covering games for a living and poring over trailers like this in search of worthwhile things to write about, but even casual players are bound to see what Split Fiction has to offer and have some of its defining surprises spoiled for them.
I could be worrying about nothing, and Split Fiction is so confident in its imaginative contents that it can show off this much and still blow us away when the real thing comes along. I hope that’s the case, because I really want this game to be a winner.
