Review of “Split Fiction”

Sure thing, let’s dive in. So, back in the day — way before Steam Decks and Switches took over the universe — I was that “party game” person. You know, the one who’d show up at your door with every gadget you can imagine: laptop, XBOX controllers, that inevitable tangled mess of USB hubs and HDMI cables, plus some weird indie games no one’s heard of. Total chaos, but man, it was fun.

Now, fast forward a bit — Hazelight Studios, remember them? The brains behind gems like Overcooked and A Way Out. Love those games. They were quirky but simple enough to rope in both gaming pros and the “which button is jump?” crowd. And now they’ve cooked up something new: Split Fiction. A step up, they say, but somehow, it trips over its own clichés. Go figure.

Here’s the deal: evil corporation — yeah yeah, eye roll incoming — lures writers with some fake publishing deal. Instead of signing books, they’re sucking stories straight outta their heads using AI. Gotta love the irony, right? Mio and Zoe, our heroes, get freaked out and, bam, trapped in, what I’d call, a twisted storytelling machine.

Mio does cyberpunk, all edgy city vibes. Zoe’s more countryside fantasy — think dragons and magic wands. Sounds like a sitcom pitch, right? Total Odd Couple. They bicker about explosions and fairy tales, and meanwhile, I’m just trying to get on with it. Split Fiction doesn’t drag these out, though — thank heavens. Keeps ya running from one puzzle to the next, unlike their last hit, It Takes Two, which was kind of a slow burn.

Anyway — oh, yeah, back to the game! So, each writer’s world gives you these neat abilities. Mio with her gravity-bending ninja sword — epic, right? And Zoe has a flying hammer thing going on. Sounds weird, but it works! There’s this puzzle, like, one has to crack a CAPTCHA while we’re both on a motorbike. Too chaotic to explain, but you get the jam.

The real magic, though? It’s how Hazelight nails cooperation mechanics now, better than ever. They keep you hooked with these blasts of energizing set pieces — sugar worlds, dang dragons, you name it! Played this smooth on the Switch 2, not a hitch in sight, even when the screen’s all particle-crazy.

But here’s the kicker about co-op. If you’re a newbie, this might be a shaky ride. The game’s got crazy challenges, especially those boss fights. So maybe not one for absolute game virgins. Moms might get overwhelmed, but your gaming buddy? They’re in.

Oh, and Game Share? Genius! Send a code to a buddy, and they’re in. They’ll need to download, like, a bajillion gigabytes and jump through EA’s social hoops, but after that, seamless. Play local or swap online without skipping a beat — perfect for when your first choice partner flakes.

So… Split Fiction. Not perfect. Storyline’s kinda flat, lots of cheese — like, cringe moments galore. Still, the thrill and mechanics win me over every time. If you’re down to team up, this game’ll push your buttons in more ways than one. Hazelight’s latest is a rollercoaster — clunky yet oh-so exhilarating. Sign me up for the next drop; I’m all in for what’s next on their madness menu.