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It Takes Two Review

Jesse Hoyt

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From the beautiful mind of Josef Fares and the talented developers of Hazelight Studios comes a game that’s just too darn charming to pass up. It Takes Two is a brand new co-op game featuring some incredible moments of true beauty, companionship, and overwhelming amounts of fun and shenanigans. Grab a friend, party up, and prepare yourself for an experience full of heart and unbridled creativity. 

I was lucky enough to see this game pop up in my social media feeds right before it came out. My buddy and I were looking for something to play during this early year lull in gaming. It Takes Two seemed like a perfect break from the slew of uber-serious and violent games we’d been playing for the past year. It was bright, colorful, and just seemed like good old-fashioned fun

Love, Happiness, and Making Your Only Child Cry

It Takes Two starts off with a familiar scene of two parents, Cody and May, fighting while their daughter, Rose, listens to them from a window. It’s not anything we haven’t seen before and the game kind of beats you over the head with the sadness of the situation. The opening scene closes with Rose taking out two dolls in the likeness of her parents and imagines they “stay friends.” As their daughter mourns her parents’ relationship, she sheds a tear on the dolls and they come to life as she walks away. Here the player selects one of the dolls to play as, and the game begins. The rest of the story is not particularly noteworthy but it’s sad and heartwarming at the right moments. There are some really odd choices in the character-building though. For over half the game your express goal is to make your daughter cry which paints Cody and May in a seriously bad light. They can seem downright cruel to their daughter in this situation. It creates a bad case of emotional whiplash as you weave through depressing cutscenes, strangely brutal boss fights, and extremely charming moments. 

Gameplay: Full of Surprises and Fun

I was pleasantly surprised by the controls. Platformers on PC can be pretty dicey with controls if you’re using a mouse and keyboard, but It Takes Two has a great setup. The controls were smooth and responsive. It almost felt like a regular third-person shooter with really slow aiming.  No controller required! They made the actual gameplay a ton of fun. The world of It Takes Two is filled with wonder and a plethora of activities to keep you engaged from start to finish. You can glide across a ball pit with a fidget spinner on your back or get into a dogfight with wasps in a plane made from boxer shorts. It’s always fresh and a joy to discover all the new toys the game gives you to play with. It never stopped being fun for me. The gameplay is the star of the show here and is the reason why I’ll be back for another playthrough. The sense of wonder and discovery is on an entirely different level and I can’t get enough of it. My co-op partner and I have never had as many laughs as when we played this game.

Graphics: Surreal Beauty

It Takes Two is filled with imaginative and jaw-dropping beauty that’s incredibly refreshing. Environments pop and make you want to hang back for a second to admire the obvious care that went into designing these levels. The colors are bright and vivid. The characters are delightfully cartoony and animated. One second you’ll be river rafting down a dark sewer fighting luminous wasp larvae and the next you’ll be riding on the back of a translucent fish that floats through softly glowing water flora. You can’t help but stare in awe as the environments envelop you in their raw beauty and sheer creativity. Not everything is perfect though. The “real-life” character models are a little bit off-kilter and break up some of the charm but thankfully most of the game takes place in the “fantasy” world.  It hardly detracts from the overall experience but it’s still present and noticeable.  

Technical Issues

It Takes Two is a great game, but it’s hampered down by some issues with cutscenes and super long loading screens. Over half of the cutscenes in the game were accompanied by stuttering that was both noticeable and annoying. This issue persisted for both my partner and me. He even experienced some audio issues where music would cut out completely and sound would momentarily stop altogether. Loading screens were few and far between, but they would take an entire minute or more, even when installed on a solid-state drive. Using Friend Pass was also a bit of a pain since the Origin client refused to show my partner as online. These issues were minor, but they do detract from the experience a little bit. 

Is It Takes Two Worth It?

This game is an easy purchase. If you have a friend to play it with, you’ll have an incredibly fun time. The best part is you only need to buy it once since your buddy can use the Friend’s Pass to hop in your game. It’d be a shame to miss out on it. The lush environments suck you in. The gameplay keeps you involved and entertained and the level design is so wildly creative. It has some technical issues, but just they become unimportant as you lose yourself in the game world. Most importantly, it’s just a big box of fun and laughs.

Rating: 8.25/10

After turning away from professional cooking, I refocused my efforts on something I love: writing. I can’t get enough of it. Copywriting, content writing, novels? Count me in. I have quite an array of writing interests, but right now I’m loving gaming and virtual reality, and I can’t wait to do more.

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Artificial Intelligence

Super Skrull G’iah: Unleashing a New Powerhouse with Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and The Outriders

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Super Skrull G’iah: A New Powerhouse

Key Points:

– Super Skrull G’iah has gained new powers, making them a force to be reckoned with.
– Corvus Glaive is a member of the Black Order and is known for his superior spear-wielding skills.
– Proxima Midnight, another member of the Black Order, is a master at long-range combat and is deadly accurate.
– Ebony Maw possesses telekinetic abilities that allow him to manipulate objects and people, making him a formidable adversary.
– The Outriders are an army of genetically engineered creatures loyal to Thanos and are frequently used as his foot soldiers.

Get to Know the Players:

Corvus Glaive:

– Member of the Black Order
– Skilled spear-wielder

Proxima Midnight:

– Member of the Black Order
– Exceptional long-range combat skills

Ebony Maw:

– Member of the Black Order
– Possesses telekinetic abilities

The Outriders:

– Genetically engineered army loyal to Thanos
– Frequently used as foot soldiers

Hot Take:

Super Skrull G’iah is like a power-packed superhero cocktail, with abilities from Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and The Outriders. It’s like they went to the “Supervillain Swap Meet” and came back with all the coolest skills. But let’s hope they use their powers for good and not just wreak havoc on the universe.

Original article: https://www.dualshockers.com/secret-invasion-corvus-glaive-proxima-midnight-ebony-maw-outriders-explained/

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Artificial Intelligence

PS5 Beta Update: New Features and Exciting Tweaks Revealed

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PS5 Beta Update Out Today, New Features Detailed

Key Points:

  • Sony is rolling out a limited PS5 beta update today with tweaks and new features.
  • The update will only be available to invited participants from select countries.
  • Details about the new features included in the update have been shared on the PlayStation blog.

Tweaks and New Features Galore!

Sony is treating its lucky beta participants with a sprinkle of excitement today. The company is rolling out a limited PS5 beta update that promises to bring some tweaks and new features to the current-gen PlayStation console. However, only those who have received an invitation from select countries will have the privilege to be part of this beta test.

The PlayStation blog post details some of the new features that players can look forward to. While there are no major overhauls expected, this update aims to improve the overall user experience and provide a smoother gaming journey. So buckle up and get ready for some exciting tweaks!

Hot Take:

Sony is treating its beta participants with a taste of what’s to come. While the limited rollout of the PS5 beta update might leave some gamers feeling left out, those fortunate enough to be part of the select few can anticipate a more refined gaming experience. Who knew tweaks and new features could create so much excitement? Happy gaming!

Original article: https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2023/07/31/ps5-beta-update-out-today-new-features-detailed/

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Artificial Intelligence

Leaked Information: Samsung Galaxy S24 Line – Key Features and Speculations

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Leaked Information: Samsung Galaxy S24 Line

Key Points:

  • The Samsung Galaxy S24 line is set to be released next year.
  • News and rumors have been circulating about the potential features and improvements of the new devices.
  • The Samsung Galaxy S24 may have a new design with thinner bezels and a smaller hole-punch camera.
  • There are speculations that the S24 could feature an under-display selfie camera.
  • The devices are expected to come with upgraded processors and improved cameras.
  • There might be a Pro model in the S24 lineup with additional premium features.

Hot Take:

The Samsung Galaxy S24 line is generating a lot of excitement with its rumored design changes and potential new features. With thinner bezels and a possibly under-display selfie camera, the S24 could be a visually stunning device. The improved processors and cameras are also likely to enhance the overall user experience. Samsung fans should definitely keep an eye out for this highly anticipated release next year.

Original article: https://www.techradar.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s24

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