The Best Abilities In Split Fiction

While at its core, Split Fiction is a 3D platformer, the number of different gameplay styles you’ll play through from beginning to end will have you questioning this. No two levels in Split Fiction will repeat themselves, and as you progress through a world you can be assured that there’s something different around every corner.

The reason why Split Fiction can so consistently reinvent itself is thanks to the new abilities you’ll unlock with each of its chapters. These abilities are stretched to their limits and occasionally even evolve as you progress through the levels. However, some of these abilities are much more fun to use than others, but which is the best?

Honourable Mention – Side Story One-Offs

The best abilities you unlock in Split Fiction are the ones that you have a whole level to play with, but that doesn’t mean that the one-off powers in side stories aren’t worth acknowledging, either. While some side stories will just use standard platforming, others will give you new abilities to try out.

Whether it’s the magical pig transformations, Mio and Zoe racing around on kites, racking up combos on a snowboarding course, or even a session of impromptu potion mixing at the moon market, side stories often have some of the most imaginative abilities in the game. However, it’s a shame that some of them don’t get more time to shine with a whole dedicated mission.

7

Shapeshifting

Chapter 3

When the first full-length fantasy chapter begins, and it’s immediately made apparent that Mio and Zoe are shapeshifters, it might seem like the sky is the limit, but unfortunately, you realize the limitations of these abilities pretty quickly.

Zoe’s fairy transformation is the most fun to use to get around, but the other three end up feeling like duds. Mio’s giant monkey is occasionally fun but mostly feels lethargic, and swimming as the sea creature isn’t much better. And while Zoe’s plant creature has some interesting moments, they more often feel like a poorly disguised means to an end.

6

Gravity Sword & Whip

Chapter 2

Mio’s gravity sword and Zoe’s whip are the first proper new abilities you learn in Split Fiction, so they have the tough job of not wanting to be too complicated while also being interesting enough to justify being around for a whole level.

Mio, using the gravity sword to get around and for quick attacks, is responsive and leads to some mind-bending platforming moments. While Zoe using the whip isn’t as snappy, it does allow her to explore the level a bit more meaningfully, even if it means she ends up feeling a bit slower. While they’re a little unbalanced, they serve the level they’re used in well.

5

Red Gun Blue Gun

Chapter 4

What makes Hazelight’s approach to co-op gameplay so unique is that while you and your player two will often have completely different abilities, you’ll have to learn how to use them together. For most of Split Fiction, this is the case, but Chapter 4 breaks the mold, and Mio and Zoe’s shooting powers are almost identical.

Shooting colour-coded targets and using your grenades to blow up different coloured walls sounds like it could be tedious, but the level is designed to stretch these abilities so far that it stays fun. If one ability requires the most communication, it’s this one, since your timing will need to be perfect by the point the level is reaching its conclusion.

4

Spirit Powers

Chapter 7

At an earlier level, the spirit powers that Mio and Zoe unlock in Chapter 7 might not have been used as effectively. However, since they’re in the last standard chapter, Hazelight is more willing to test your skills and problem-solving to make these abilities stand out.

In essence, Mio’s light spirit lets her create platforms, and then Zoe uses hers to manipulate the environment around them. However, it’s used so creatively that it’s always satisfying to pull off, and visually stunning to see how it all ends up coming together.

3

Split Fiction

Chapter 8

While not an ability in the traditional sense, the way you’ll need to learn to work with the twisted reality of the final level feels akin to how you have to adapt to new abilities in previous levels. Even though it just starts as the levels being re-skinned with a sci-fi or fantasy coat of paint, the concept ends up being pushed to its limits by the time you’re directly confronting Rader.

The star of the show is the split screen itself. With the borders of the level between both you and your partner constantly shifting and worlds overlapping, you’ll have to use everything you learned in previous levels to be able to adapt at a moment’s notice. While it sounds like it could be overwhelming (and it is), having to keep up is what makes this final stage so satisfying to finally complete.

2

Dragon Twins

Chapter 5

Some of the abilities you’ll unlock throughout Split Fiction will adapt and evolve as you progress through each chapter, but none do this as satisfyingly as the dragon twins in Chapter 5. When you start the level, the dragons are just in their eggs and are essentially placeholders to complete some (interesting enough) puzzles.

Then, once they hatch, one can glide, and the other can climb. These abilities are then added onto once they grow up, and the acid projectile and rolling abilities are layered on top. By the end, your dragons are fully grown, and you’re controlling them like a master. This level has some of the best platforming and combat since Mio and Zoe’s dragons and their abilities are suited for both of these scenarios perfectly.

1

Morph Balls

Chapter 6

Even if it’s simple, sometimes there’s just something so satisfying about rolling around as a ball, and Chapter 6 of Split Fiction definitely knows this and designs the level around the concept flawlessly.

Just using this slightly adapted version of platforming would be enough, but the countering abilities of Mio’s hacking and Zoe’s magnet make it even more interesting. Unlike the similarly structured shapeshifting ability from earlier in the game, you can tell that Hazelight is willing to push this late-game ability further, and the level is all the better for it.