UNRAVEL TWO is a tangled treat. The second installment in this series by Coldwood Interactive adds a co-op element that makes this not only a beautiful experience, but a heartfelt one. Yarny no longer travels these Northern European landscapes alone, but is now (literally) connected to a little blue buddy. There is something very precious about the connection of these two silent creatures. Their relationship can be interpreted in a multitude of fashions; they could be friends, paramours, husband and wife, parent and child. It really doesn’t matter, but the concept that the two have to rely on each other to move forward in life is gorgeous and unique. The architecture of their cooperative movement imitates the profound bond between two people—neither yarn creature can stray too far from the other or they break.
At its core, UNRAVEL TWO is a puzzle game, forcing the mind to abandon the comfortable mechanisms of platform-style gameplay. We must learn and adapt to the movements that our two yarn friends gift us with. They can travel via piggy back ride, where they mesh into each other and one of the two carries them throughout their journey, other times they must separate to reach new platforms by swinging underneath the other, pulling each other up cliffs by their connecting yarn. It is repetitious, yes, but with patience, you will discover new ways to move your characters together and use one to move the other. This is the game for you if you look for the less obvious choice to travel from point A to point B—and if you like the answer to stare you in the face without seeing it until after five failed attempts.
This game offers hints, but I caution you to use the term hints loosely, because they are not as their illusion fools you. Each area comes with a set of hints that can be accessed at the bottom of the screen when you seemingly reach an impasse. However—the caveat here is that each area is much larger than the hints cover. I found that the hints would pertain to the easiest part of the area (normally at the beginning) and in my final descent to freedom when everything seems intentionally impossible, you’re on your own. I am all for a challenging puzzle, but in this sense, the nature of the game is very stagnant; if you are stuck, you literally have no choice but to remain exactly where you are until you find a solution.
While UNRAVEL TWO ended up being more in depth than I anticipated, single-player mode is a semi-guaranteed golden ticket to losing your mind if these repetitious, trial and error mechanics tire you. I recommend this game be utilized as a couch co-op to get the most enjoyment out of gameplay and make your money feel worthwhile. Solve the puzzles together as family, as friends, or drunken folk on a Friday night—working together is what makes UNRAVEL TWO fun. Share the anguish, share the triumphs, bond over this sweet journey that highlights that traveling is best done not-alone.
Rating: 7.5/10
Check Out the UNRAVEL TWO E3 2018 Reveal Trailer:
PlayStation 4 Review
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Overall Score - 7.5/107.5/10
Kendra grew up in the era where playing Donkey Kong in the dentist's office was a thing. Her creative mind enjoys the imaginative genius that goes into the intricate worlds and enticing narratives that have become the new wave of gaming. Forever a devotee of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, Kendra has stepped into the next generation of gaming with favorites like God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Spider-Man. She is always looking for the next gaming challenge and utilizes her fancy English degree to articulate her detailed reviews for hungry gamers like you.
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