Sadly for me, Break up Fiction is the kind of recreation you’re feeling totally compelled to inform your mates about. It is the kind of recreation that may have you ever setting your controller apart to wipe away tears, each of laughter and uncooked emotion, in addition to to name actually everybody in shut proximity to return see no matter darkish, hilarious, referential, or mind-blowing factor simply occurred. As such, I’ve spent the higher a part of the previous week impatiently ready for this embargo to drop–for the second I may discuss it with somebody aside from the shut pal I roped into becoming a member of me. In brief, Break up Fiction is likely one of the most memorable, sensible, and spectacular video games I’ve ever performed. And in the end, I’m allowed to inform everybody about it.
With Break up Fiction, Hazelight Studios solidifies itself as not solely one of the intelligent and revolutionary working studios, however as one desperate to develop and totally dedicated to creativity as each an concept and act. Although Hazelight has but to launch something lower than nice, it was nearly surprising to see how a lot it had realized from–and improved upon–2021’s essential darling It Takes Two. Ranges and environments are huge, attractive, and various; our two protagonists, Mio and Zoe, are filled with depth, appeal, and persona; the sport’s seemingly infinite gimmicks and gameplay mechanics, all of that are launched at way more speedy tempo than It Takes Two, are practically all so enjoyable, sensible, and tightly designed that they may stand alone; and its writing, plot beats, and total construction ship a exceptional story that rappels from coronary heart wrenching, commentative, darkly humorous, and brimming with pleasure simply as fluidly as our heroines grapple-hook between buildings. Although there’s a degree of cheesiness that coats the sport’s overarching story and its major antagonist, Rader, as a complete Break up Fiction is a wonderful recreation that units a brand new benchmark not just for Hazelight, however for co-op experiences as a complete.
Regardless of its inevitable greatness, Break up Fiction kicks off with a humble (if barely cliched) starting wherein it introduces its protagonists: Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster. Mio and Zoe are nothing alike. Whereas Mio is an angsty, city-slicking, sci-fi fanatic who’d sooner yank out her personal tooth than speak in confidence to a stranger, the fantasy-loving Zoe is sunshine incarnate. And but, the pair does share one factor in widespread: They’re each unpublished writers in dire want of cash and a byline.
As such, each of them leap on the alternative introduced by Rader Publishing, a fledgling firm that merges expertise and storytelling to create digital worlds for customers to immerse themselves in and discover. However whereas the overly trusting Zoe is greater than prepared to plug herself into the corporate’s simulation machine and pour forth her concepts, Mio rapidly decides in opposition to it. Her protests quickly flip right into a bodily altercation that’s reduce quick when Rader, the comically smarmy Silicone Valley-esque exec behind Rader Publishing, by chance shoves her into the identical simulation pod as Zoe. Meant just for one person at a time, this causes not solely a meltdown at Rader Publishing Headquarters, however a melding of the 2 girls’s style stylings as their consciousnesses join.
Delay by Mio’s pessimism and dismissive persona, Zoe is initially irked by her presence within the fantasy world she has constructed for Rader. Nonetheless, Mio is quickly capable of persuade Zoe that Rader is as much as one thing sinister–namely harvesting then erasing their concepts from their minds free of charge use–leading to the unlikely duo banding collectively. Mio and Zoe then set off to discover a sequence of tales they created as they hunt for “glitches” which may assist them escape with their reminiscences intact.
This premise lends itself superbly to what Hazelight Studios does greatest: creating stunning, immersive worlds which can be ripe for gamers to discover with a sequence of distinctive and thoughtfully constructed toolsets. As they try to combat again in opposition to Rader, Mio and Zoe get the possibility to discover upwards of 20 distinctive universes, all birthed from varied components of their imaginations. But what’s extra staggering than the sheer variety of worlds there are to discover is how filled with surprises and marvel each is.
Although every world falls into both the science-fiction or fantasy classes, the particulars differ dramatically. Within the recreation’s second chapter, Neon Revenge, Mio and Zoe traverse a Blade Runner-esque world as cyber ninjas intent on taking down a ravenous debt collector. On this darkish and gritty Mio-constructed universe, our protagonists are given two weapons, a gravity-shifting sword and a strong cyber whip, which they have to use in tandem to progress by the extent and take down baddies. When not wall-running, leaping throughout environments, and whipping unhealthy guys into each other, this degree additionally contains a number of high-speed chases that give gamers an opportunity to function Tron-esque automobiles, in addition to three “aspect tales” penned by Zoe. Amongst these is maybe one of the absurdly dark-humored ranges I’ve ever performed in a recreation, and it proves that Hazelight is prepared and desperate to do weird issues with its latest title. Whereas this whole part stands by itself and triumphs at propelling gamers from spectacle to spectacle, it later turns into clear that Neon Revenge solely scratches the floor of gameplay prospects.
I am hesitant to delve an excessive amount of into describing the worlds to observe, as I might hate to break even a fraction of the delight I felt whereas adventuring by them. Equally, I do not wish to fall again on “hey, bear in mind this recreation? This recreation does that” as a result of it feels reductive. Suffice to say Break up Fiction is as a lot its personal recreation as it’s a love letter to others. One degree was a really clear tribute to Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater, whereas one other was clearly impressed by 2D Metroid titles and Ikaruga. I discovered an unimaginable From Software program reference tucked in a single nook of the sport, and laughed as Zoe and Mio leapt off a constructing right into a neat pile of hay whereas a chook of prey let loose a fierce caw. “You must have religion to leap like that,” Zoe cheekily commented.
My enjoying partner–a 3D platforming fanatic who I’ll gleefully point out was dressed up as a sheep from Spyro one of many first instances I met her–was fast to say how sure ranges felt like Crash Bandicoot. In a while, she excitedly remarked {that a} timed trial requiring us to soar by rings reminded her of Spyro. As somebody who appreciated final 12 months’s Astro Bot, but was fast to level out it felt a bit extra like an IP flex than a correct recreation at instances, Break up Fiction now exists as proof that there’s a manner for that idea to be executed with out merely counting on nostalgia and model recognition. And but, I really feel as if our favourite ranges have been those that felt impressed but wholly completely different from preexisting works.
The Moon Market was considered one of my favourite worlds, with its towering fort spires, spectral cats, and chubby moles adorned in wizard cloaks toddling by cobblestone streets. When enjoying by The Hole, I remarked that sure screenshots taken from this degree may simply be handed off as ones from some gorgeously foreboding space in Elden Ring. In a single degree, the characters enter a pocket book whereas a younger Zoe scribbles up an journey solely her thoughts may conjure. In others, the pair depart their our bodies altogether.
But it is nonetheless crucial to place apart the sport’s atmospheres, design, dimensionality, and sheer spectacle to provide its mechanics the flowers they deserve, too. A number of instruments and powers have been so thoughtfully designed they may have simply been the crux of a complete recreation, with considered one of my favorites being a pair of weapons that had the capabilities of capturing by two several types of shields. Cautious coordination was required from us to take down shielded enemies, and issues grew much more annoying throughout fast-paced chases, when one ill-placed barrier that we forgot to take down for our teammate may spell their doom.
And it is not as if that portion stands alone in being extremely revolutionary and including a brand new dimension to the sport’s already participating puzzles and challenges. Break up Fiction’s ultimate chapter, Break up, may very effectively boast essentially the most mechanical cleverness I’ve seen in a recreation since enjoying a Steel Gear Strong title. Simply once I thought {that a} mechanic may not evolve and Break up Fiction had reached its apex, one other dimension was added. It was mind-bending, and I could not assist however assume, “This recreation would have rewritten my mind had I performed it with my sisters as a child.”
But as phenomenal as Break up Fiction’s gameplay is, its essential characters–Zoe and Mio–are what really elevated the whole expertise for me. Whenever you first meet Zoe and Mio, it is simple to dismiss them as a bit flat. Their Harry and Sally dynamic (or grumpy-sunshine, for my readers on the market) is the supply of quite a lot of cliche bickering at first of the sport, and it is extraordinarily apparent that they may ultimately be taught to understand one another’s variations and type a bond. In any case, we have seen one of these story play out time and time once more. Nonetheless, I did not count on to get as emotionally invested in that bond, and Mio and Zoe as people, as I finally did.
By the point Break up Fiction got here to a detailed, I had teared up a number of instances. In exploring their imaginary worlds, goals, concepts, and tales, the pair additionally delve into their pasts, their fears, and the emotional baggage they carry. This journey is executed superbly, and I discovered myself deeply in love with the sisterhood the 2 slowly develop. Mio’s angst and mistrust are there for good motive, but she additionally reveals a aspect of her that’s deeply devoted, type, spirited, and even a bit childlike. Zoe’s whimsy and optimism, whereas at first overbearing, conceal a painful previous and embody this concept that it’s the individuals who have endured essentially the most ache who show essentially the most kindness, and are keen to make sure nobody will ever really feel as harm or alone as they as soon as did.
It is hardly shocking {that a} multiplayer recreation stresses the significance of connection, however in Break up Fiction, it’s made clear that there’s merely no surviving with out it–that life is an excessive amount of to endure alone and making it out requires caring for individuals even after they cannot look after themselves. Simply as necessary, nevertheless, is permitting others to look after you, too.
Break up Fiction stresses the significance of one other core a part of humanity as effectively: creativity. That is one thing that feels notably pertinent proper now, contemplating ongoing conversations round generative AI. Rader, the sport’s chief antagonist, is actually a rich techie intent on actually stealing creator’s concepts from their minds to feed into his machine with the last word objective of making a tool that may weave tales itself. As such, Break up Fiction emphasizes that it takes humanity to create–that it takes the experiences that form our lives and assemble our unconscious to type tales.
Zoe may by no means inform the identical tales Mio does, and the other is definitely true too. Every lady has her personal lived expertise, which manifests itself of their written work even when they do not intend for that to occur. Every lady’s tales serve a special objective, be it commemorating a cherished one or giving them an alternate actuality wherein they’ve management over the issues that depart them feeling powerless. Break up Fiction repeatedly declares that our concepts, goals, and creations are a basic a part of us–that they’re valuable issues, tied intimately to our very beings, that can not be stripped away. Admittedly, I do assume Rader as a complete is maybe the sport’s weakest half, as he is a reasonably, effectively… cringey villain. But on the identical time, there definitely appears to be accuracy in depicting him that manner.
Break up Fiction may very effectively be one of the best cooperative recreation I’ve ever performed. On the very least, I firmly consider it units a brand new customary for the style. And but, it is greater than that. Break up Fiction is a love letter to creativity–to tales, video games, and the individuals who make them. It’s humorous, darkish, joyous, infantile, tender, tacky, thrilling, and noteworthy. All this mixed with attractive environments, improbable gameplay, and sheer spectacle make Hazelight Studio’s latest launch an early contender for one of the best recreation of 2025.
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