Kinda Funny Gamescast: Split Fiction Review – Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
• Hosts: Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and Andy Cortez
• Episode: Split Fiction Review
• Release Date: March 4, 2025

Introduction In the March 4, 2025 episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast, the hosts—Tim Gettys, Greg Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and Joey Noel—delve into an extensive review of Hayes Light’s latest cooperative adventure, Split Fiction. The episode begins with casual banter and brief mentions of ongoing projects before transitioning into an in-depth analysis of the game.

Game Overview

Split Fiction is a co-op adventure developed by Hayes Light and published by EA, released on March 6th for $50. The game emphasizes cooperative gameplay, requiring two players to navigate through diverse, creatively designed worlds. It includes a Buddy Pass, allowing one additional player to join for free, enhancing its accessibility and multiplayer appeal. As of the episode’s recording, the game holds a Metacritic score of 91, following in the footsteps of its predecessors like It Takes Two (score: 88) and A Way Out (score: 78).

Gameplay Analysis

The hosts unanimously praise Split Fiction for its inventive gameplay mechanics and the sheer creativity embedded in its design. Greg Miller highlights the game’s ability to continuously surprise players with diverse mechanics and inventive level design:

Greg Miller [07:21]: "The gameplay side of Split Fiction, Hayes Light has it absolutely wild as far as the amount of ideas, the amount of mechanics, the amount of creativity to where I look at Hazelight now in the same regard as [other top developers]."

Joey Noel echoes this sentiment, appreciating the game’s accessibility and adaptability:

Joey Noel [10:27]: "This game, I feel like is really accessible in terms of platforming. I didn't think it was overly hard, which I appreciated."

Tim Gettys adds that the cooperative elements allow players to synergize effectively, making challenging segments manageable:

Tim Gettys [11:10]: "The game does a really good job of giving you opportunities to cheese the system if you need to. If one of you dies, the other just has to stay alive to come back."

Story and Narrative

While the gameplay receives high praise, the story and character development invite mixed reviews from the hosts. Greg Miller expresses disappointment with the narrative and character chemistry:

Greg Miller [07:45]: "I'm so let down by the story and characters in this game. None of them worked on me. I didn't believe in the chemistry really between any of these characters."

Blessing Adeoye Jr. critiques the story’s execution and its alignment with the game’s whimsical elements:

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [12:20]: "The narrative did not hit for me in a world where we talk about video game writing being cheesy, being cringe, being all these different things... this feels like I'm playing a Disney Channel original movie."

Tim Gettys concurs, feeling that the story took a direction that did not complement the gameplay effectively:

Tim Gettys [22:05]: "I was very much let down by the story and the characters. The story was a major letdown for me, despite the quality of the gameplay."

Personal Experiences and Opinions

The discussion reveals varied perspectives among the hosts regarding Split Fiction. While Greg and Tim lean towards high praise with minor reservations, Blessing and Joey offer more critical viewpoints on specific aspects of the game.

• Greg Miller rates the game 9 out of 10, emphasizing its standout gameplay moments:

  Greg Miller [09:29]: "I'm giving it a 9 out of 10. There is a moment in this game that I think will go down as the best video game moment of the year."

• Blessing Adeoye Jr. assigns an 8 out of 10, balancing praise for the gameplay with critiques of the narrative:

  Blessing Adeoye Jr. [17:04]: "I give this an 8 out of 10. It is a great game, but the narrative pulls it down for me."

• Joey Noel rates it 8.5 out of 10, highlighting the game’s accessibility and fun cooperative experience:

  Joey Noel [11:10]: "I had an excellent weekend playing it with my friend Maria. It felt really accessible and enjoyable."

Blessing shares a personal anecdote that underscores the emotional disconnect caused by the story, contrasting it with the memorable cooperative gameplay:

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [24:45]: "But nobody does co-op gameplay better than Hazelight. They are the co-op studio and they are only getting better at it technically."

Boss Fights

The boss fights in Split Fiction emerge as a key discussion point. Tim Gettys and Greg Miller laud them for their creativity and integration of gameplay mechanics:

Tim Gettys [50:34]: "They make the boss fights so creative. It’s a perfect example of what I love most about this game: great gameplay gimmicks, fun music, cool setpiece moments."

However, Joey Noel offers a more critical take, expressing frustration with the difficulty spikes during boss encounters:

Joey Noel [50:45]: "I did not love the boss fights. Dying all the time doesn’t make it particularly fun."

Blessing adds that while she doesn’t hate the boss fights, they contribute to occasional frustrations:

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [51:14]: "I think of when I was annoyed by something like, ah, fucking. This guy was doing this... that was a good thing."

Replayability

The question of whether Split Fiction merits a replay similar to It Takes Two is addressed with mixed responses. Greg Miller suggests the gameplay's variety could encourage replaying:

Greg Miller [45:56]: "The different abilities encourage us to go back and play it again."

Conversely, Tim Gettys remains skeptical about replay value:

Tim Gettys [45:28]: "Is it worth a replay? I don't think so. I recommend it to everybody, but I’m not interested in doing that."

However, Joey Noel emphasizes the enjoyment derived from the cooperative experience, potentially making it a favorite despite not replaying:

Joey Noel [49:05]: "This will be on my list of favorite gaming experiences because we just had so much fun playing together."

Listener Interactions

The hosts engage with listener feedback throughout the episode, addressing questions about gameplay difficulty and suitability for younger players. For instance, a listener named Rival Knight inquires about the boss fights, to which the hosts respond with varied opinions reflecting their personal experiences.

Additionally, Blessing shares a testimonial from Patrick Kleppig, highlighting the game’s family-friendly prowess:

Blessing Adeoye Jr. [42:36]: "Playing this new co-op game with my 8-year-old has been a special experience... kids can play this game and have a great time."

Conclusion

Split Fiction receives a nuanced but generally positive review from the Kinda Funny Gamescast hosts. The gameplay's innovation and cooperative depth are celebrated, while the narrative and character development receive criticism for not matching the high expectations set by previous Hazelight titles. The hosts agree that, despite its flaws, Split Fiction stands as a commendable addition to the co-op genre, especially for players seeking a fun and engaging multiplayer experience.

Final Ratings:

• Greg Miller: 9/10
• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: 8/10
• Joey Noel: 8.5/10
• Tim Gettys: 8/10

Overall, Split Fiction is recommended for its standout gameplay mechanics and creative design, with the caveat that players seeking a deep and emotionally resonant story might find it lacking.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Miller [07:21]: "The gameplay side of Split Fiction, Hayes Light has it absolutely wild..."
• Blessing Adeoye Jr. [12:20]: "The narrative did not hit for me..."
• Joey Noel [11:10]: "I had an excellent weekend playing it..."
• Tim Gettys [50:34]: "They make the boss fights so creative..."

Overall Takeaway Split Fiction excels in delivering an inventive and enjoyable cooperative gameplay experience, making it a strong contender in the co-op platformer space. While its narrative may not satisfy all players, the game’s strengths in design and cooperative mechanics ensure it remains a worthwhile title for fans of multiplayer adventures.