It Takes Two is the Superior Co-op Game Experience

When comparing Hazelight Studios‘ two critically acclaimed co-op games, there is a clear winner – It Takes Two improves on A Way Out‘s formula and stands on its own as an incredibly polished and varied cooperative adventure. With vastly superior gameplay variety, next-gen visuals, engaging characters, and hundreds of interactive elements that necessitate teamwork, It Takes Two deserves its spot among the top co-op experiences this decade so far.

Significantly More Gameplay Depth and Variety in It Takes Two

With a 90 Metacritic and over 3 million copies sold, It Takes Two has received universal acclaim for its creative gameplay variety – no two levels feel the same. Across forests, shed workshops, magical dollhouses, and imagination-fueled mindscapes, players experience platforming challenges, third-person shooting, boss battles, co-op specific puzzles, and much more with distinct mechanics per area.

For example, the squirrel boss requires players to throw projectiles while maneuvering a floating platform to avoid attacks. The mindscape gameplay has one player manipulate environments like rotating pathways so the other player can navigate them. There are also fun minigames peppered throughout – rhythm sequences, whack-a-mole style games, and 2D side scrollers that pay homage to classics.

Conversely, A Way Out features more straightforward gameplay – some light stealth, gunplay exchanges, QTE sequences, and situational quick-time events that propel the cinematic action. While fun, it doesn‘t have as much variety as It Takes Two‘s gameplay that constantly reinvents itself.

In terms of enemy variety, It Takes Two again wins out with over 15 distinct enemy types throughout the adventure – aggressive squirrels, love-obsessed robot vacuum cleaners, sentient dolls, and evil bees that require coordinated attacks to defeat. A Way Out has basic human enemy types, no distinctive boss battles outside of quick time events, and less replay value as a result.

There are also more unlockables and extras as part of It Takes Two‘s additional content including minigames and trials that put your cooperation skills to the test!

Jaw-Dropping Visual Presentation

As a next-gen experience built from the ground up for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (and PC), It Takes Two delivers one of the most visually impressive co-op games ever made. Vibrant, varied colors pop from environments rich in detail from the mystical fantasy worlds to the spirited dollhouse action. Smooth 4K visuals running at 60 FPS means gameplay is stunningly fluid with intricate character animations and particle effects supplementing the chaos.

It Takes Two	A Way Out

As seen above, It Takes Two is far more vibrant and detailed even when compared to A Way Out‘s excellent cinematics. Every new area has its own visual identity with art direction that accentuates gameplay – towering tree stumps, precarious pillow fort towers, and a fantasy castle coated in ice showcase the visual creativity afforded by Frostbite Engine. Both games have excellent graphics for their target platforms, but It Takes Two pushes current hardware to its limits.

An Emotional Story That Sticks With You

It Takes Two surprised many with its unexpectedly poignant love story between estranged couple Cody and May. Relatable characters dealing with marital woes find themselves stuck in fantasy doll bodies, and only by working together across visually spectacular environments can their fractured bond be restored. Expert writing and voice acting give even kitchen appliances emotional resonance.

The story also features uniquely fun environments tied to characters – Cody‘s guilty love of cheesy 80s action flicks informs an explosive setpiece inside his imagination. May‘s hopes of being a space ranger lead to a Star Wars-esque trilogy of challenges. Gameplay compliments story constantly which wasn‘t always the case in A Way Out where someone could spectate extended dialogue scenes.

There‘s a greater emotional payoff in It Takes Two with a memorable climax and satisfying ending that reflects on themes of partnership, forgiveness, and enduring love. Participating in the journey leads to laughter and tears, unlike the strictly dramatic crime narrative of A Way Out.

Longer Experience with More Content

Across 8 distinct environments, 30+ character outfits unlocked, 81 discoverable memories, and 10+ hours of gameplay including all extras – It Takes Two offers substantially more content and replay value despite costing the same $30. Completionist runs take over 15 hours whereas A Way Out capped at 6-8 hours.

It Takes Two encourages exploration off the critical path more thanks to optional objectives, unlockable outfits, and minigames that make it easy to spend 15+ hours even for skilled players. Length advantage goes to It Takes Two.

Game Built From The Ground Up For Seamless Co-op

While both games emphasize cooperation, It Takes Two does it better thanks to mechanics requiring actual coordination between players. Environments frequently split abilities so carrying an object needs careful teamwork. Hazards require simultaneous button holds to pass putting trust in your teammate. Independent movement would lead to instant death forcing you to pay attention to their actions.

Conversely, many A Way Out scenes have limited interactivity for the accompanying player during shootouts or dialogue. It Takes Two demands cooperation through clever design eliminating the chance for one player to disengage. Checkpoint restarts if one player dies also keep things tense. The Friend Pass means only one copy needs purchasing too granting easy access for online partners.

It Takes Two also dynamically scales difficulty if you play single player with an AI companion – less coordination needed but more demanding platforming. A Way Out is exclusively two player and fails if attempting solo.

Thanks to universally praised gameplay mechanics interwoven with visually spectacular set pieces and an unexpectedly poignant narrative, It Takes Two stands head and shoulders above A Way Out as the superior co-op experience and an instant classic in the genre. With improved variety, length, storytelling, next-gen visuals, and inventive co-op specific challenges that force cooperation, Josef Fares and Hazelight Studios have done it again. We eagerly anticipate what they craft next after two hugely successful collaborative adventures in a row. All gamers owe it to themselves to play It Takes Two and experience one of the finest cooperative games ever made.