Review of “Split Fiction”

So, here’s the thing: I’ve always been a sucker for couch co-op games. Remember the days before the Steam Deck and Switch? I was basically the party game guy. You know, showing up at friends’ places with some random laptop, XBOX controllers, random cables, and all the indie multiplayer games I could find. Picture that! Anyway, games like Overcooked and A Way Out (courtesy of Hazelight Studios, by the way) were my jam. They were perfect for, like, everyone—whether you were a gaming newbie or had been at it forever. Simple controls, fun puzzles, easy to get into. Now, Hazelight is taking things up a notch with Split Fiction. It’s… well, it’s got its moments but also trips over its own clichés.

Okay, so picture this: a sketchy corporation invites writers over for a supposed publishing deal. Surprise, surprise—they’re actually planning to suck stories out of people’s heads using AI. Our heroes, Mio and Zoe, get spooked by their creepy computer and—oops—they’re stuck inside the story-sucker gizmo. Now we’re in for a ride through their wild imaginations.

And seriously, I was just rolling my eyes at the evil AI story theft. But it doesn’t stop there. Mio’s this edgy Cyberpunk writer from the big city, while Zoe does Fantasy and hails from the countryside. The sheer cliché of it all—two opposites trying to get along. It’s like, come on, how obvious can you get? But somehow, it doesn’t linger too long on these eye-roll moments, unlike their last game, It Takes Two.

What keeps it fun? Well, once you’re thrown into a new story, each character gets these neat abilities. So, like, in Mio’s Cyberpunk universe, she wields this ninja sword changing gravity, whereas Zoe’s hammer can fling stuff around. It ends up creating these wild puzzles. Like, one’s scrambling along walls, the other’s shifting parts around. Sounds simple, but oh man, the perspective shifts are pretty cool. There’s even this puzzle where you’re cracking a CAPTCHA puzzle on a cell phone while the other drives a motorcycle. Totally different viewpoints, and it throws you for a loop—in a fun way!

The real fun is in these co-op mechanics. They’ve nailed it, always pushing you forward, generally in a straight line. But then, oh boy, these side stories pop up, luring you with the quirkiest shenanigans. Ever fancied playing as teeth in a sugary wonderland or riding dragons? It’s that level of bizarre. And hey, the visuals? Stunning. Smooth as silk on the Switch 2. Even when the screen’s chaos overload with particle effects, no hiccups. Controllers worked like a charm, whether Pro or Joycons.

This is where it gets tricky. I’d say, don’t throw totally unseasoned players into the mix—it’s a bit challenging. Got a little experience? You’re golden. Challenging bosses and exploration keep things spicy, but the infinite respawns make it bearable. It’s the kind of game I’d play with my partner, not, say, my mom. Neat thing—you can use Game Share to invite a friend. They just need to grab the 69GB download and have an EA account, but then they can jump in anytime. You can even switch between online and local play. Perfect for when a local buddy needs a break—just pull in another friend and chat your way through. Setting it up takes a minute, but once you’re rolling, it’s so smooth.

In many ways, Split Fiction might be Hazelight’s best yet, but it’s still not flawless. The plot is flat—cringe, even—don’t expect Shakespeare. But on the plus side, the action’s non-stop, with some epic set pieces to distract from the less-than-stellar dialogue. Puzzle mechanics? Solid, if you’ve got the patience. Riding on the rollercoaster ride of the game’s set pieces, the Switch 2 handles it perfectly. It might test friendships, but whenever Hazelight drops a new co-op title, count me in for the thrill.