Chapter 149: Others Play in Pairs, We Duel
There are many solo players like Tom. At first, many players were interested in It Takes Two, but they decided to wait and see because of the high entry barrier.
But they soon discovered something: whether through the live streaming platform, the video platform, or the gaming community, this game was completely different from Overcooked, which Alex released last year.
First, there was the sheer amount of content. The cartoon art style and cooperative two-player gameplay make players easily associate it with indie or low-budget games. However, It Takes Two is completely different.
The game's large volume and content rival even blockbuster titles. And more importantly, the content of the promotional trailer that Alex released earlier was not just empty talk; it was actually present in the game.
The different scenes, combined with distinct special abilities and the game's various camera animations, made players feel as if they were watching a video game movie.
The experience is quite different from last year's Overcooked, where everyone started by having fun, then got addicted, and ended up arguing and breaking up.
The content of It Takes Two is incredibly touching. This is largely due to the game's content. Overcooked focuses on cooperation and chemistry. If cooperation fails and chemistry doesn't click, blame naturally arises, and if it can't be controlled, arguments can easily break out.
But It Takes Two is completely different. This game also includes puzzles and controls. In this situation, if both players are clumsy, there's no need to blame each other, and everyone can laugh and have fun together.
And if one player is more skilled and the other is struggling, the split-screen mode allows everyone to understand where the other's mistakes are. Unlike in Overcooked, where everyone thinks they're in the right and the other player is to blame, that's not the case here.
Once the problem is understood, a careful guidance naturally develops, deepening the bond, friendship, and connection between players. Additionally, the game's plot and level design are excellent at connecting with players' emotions. This includes the Book of Love, which serves as a catalyst for conflict and, to some extent, generates a lot of controversy among players.
With a common goal, arguments become infrequent and collaboration is more common.
After the game's launch, many streamers, especially those on live streaming platforms, due to their lack of experience, gathered to play It Takes Two. This hilarious entertainment has also tempted many players who had not considered buying it before.
As for how solo players find teammates, it's natural for them to visit various game forums and communities. For a while, the forums were flooded with similar posts looking for friends.
"Looking for a friend who has been online for a long time, with a good personality, to play It Takes Two with!"
"Looking for a partner, male or female, with a good personality and who can be online for a long time. I'll provide the game and you provide the people."
"I'll provide the game, you provide the people. Let's play It Takes Two this weekend! If you're interested, send me a message!"
At first, many players couldn't try this game because they were alone. But its appeal led them to look for partners. Then, many discovered that they weren't alone. There were many other players with similar experiences who, for various reasons, could only play alone.
Suddenly, many players who had previously felt lonely felt less so.
But if something didn't add up, it was that many players who had tried It Takes Two and praised it on community forums were paired up: a man and a woman. Or a husband and wife, or a boyfriend and girlfriend.
But looking back at the players who were looking for partners, they were all adult men.
Why did it turn into "male ketone teams," where everyone else in It Takes Two played in pairs, and here it was just "male ketone teams" competing with each other?
Regardless of whether it was a "female ketone team" or a "male ketone team," there was one thing in common: after trying the game, players were completely amazed by the various level designs.
Especially as the plot progressed, the game's content became incredibly rich. In addition to the various mini-games, the game also offered many other ways to express itself. Each theme had its own unique item.
For example, after leaving the tree level and entering the room, May and Cody were captured by space gorillas and transported into space. There, they received new items: May received anti-gravity shoes and Cody received a belt that allowed him to grow.
Combined with these two new items, the space scene offered players a fantastic time-travel experience.
However, the game's story finally reached a critical point. In the game, Cody and May struggle to accept their transformation from humans into dolls. At first, they want to ask their daughter how to return to their original form, but they discover that she cannot see or hear them.
Cody then believes that they have been cursed and that Rose's tears have transformed them into dolls. So, if they can make Rose cry again, maybe they can turn back into humans. It is at this point that Cody and May encounter a space monkey's obstruction.
One phrase that stands out is from the monkey: "You're only making her cry!"
To further convince the audience, the monkey even pulls out a voice recorder.
To make Rose cry, Cody and May get along and decide to go to their daughter's toy castle and destroy her favorite toys, making her cry.
"How can these parents be so cruel? It's too much!" Sarah, who was returning home after eating stew and was still playing It Takes Two, couldn't help but exclaim as she watched the scene unfold.
Destroying their daughter's favorite toy and making her cry, coupled with the previous behavior of the space monkey, is incredibly ironic.
"But it makes sense from a plot perspective. After all, he's gone from being human to a doll, and she doesn't respond at all when he talks to her," Mike said, standing beside her, scratching his head.
"That's true." Sarah listened to Mike's words, thought for a moment, and nodded.
"But communication is probably more important. This reminds me of when I was a child, when my mother sold my entire card collection as scrap metal. It made me cry so much!" Mike lamented.
"How miserable you are! I had a happy childhood and my parents didn't throw away my toys." Sarah smiled smugly.
"That's why communication and mutual understanding are so important!" Mike said.
"Indeed," Sarah nodded.
"So you should never throw away those figures and models of mine!" Mike laughed.
Sarah: ...
'So they were waiting here!'
"Come on, when have I ever thrown away your figures? I bought you the display case!" Sarah said angrily.
"Hey, come and see how to pass this level! Let's watch the plot!" Mike quickly changed the subject with a smile.
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