Few games bear their name so well. In Unravel Two, nothing is left to chance, from the first English term to the textualization of the number. Indeed, where the character of Yarny, a living rag doll born from the imagination of a child, unraveled over his steps in the first episode, our new friend is here directly linked to another solitary avatar. After having unfortunately washed up on a dark beach, the two heroes find themselves united by the same thread of wool, the primary element of their constitution and a refined representation of Friendship. This is above all a great opportunity to include cooperation, Unravel Two based almost exclusively on mutual aid, we can say in advance, particularly well thought out.
UNBREAKABLE
This time, Yarny no longer loosens up as it progresses: this original concept, however original, has been set aside in favor of a close-knit coop that is totally adapted to level-design. Thus, two players can try Unravel Two and it is even recommended since all of its mechanisms are based on multiplayer bases. It will then be possible to extract ropes from his body in order to use it as a trampoline, to abseil, to swing or to climb up an obstacle. The great particularity of the game design consists in the fact that these links cannot be cut and will therefore have to be rewound. Understand by this that all object diversions then become a bit more complex than if you acted independently of each other, especially when a lever must be activated on one side while the other character will dodge a barrier. Overall, we can salute the intelligence of the levels, with increasing difficulty and mainly composed of puzzles to solve while a minor part will be devoted to (nice) phases of runs and reflexes, caused by the rare appearances mortal enemies.
WELDED UP TO THE BALL
Luckily, Unravel Two can also be played solo, and here Coldwood Interactive has been able to invent an efficient system that is quite workable. Thus, by means of a simple key, it will be possible to change character, which will maintain the action started by one and will allow to resume that of the other. With this same button, the two Yarnys can also become one, simplifying the task for the player during more traditional phases: although it is solid and perfectly fluid, this gameplay does not detract from all the cooperative flavor thought out by its developers; sometimes forcing to think for two and to juggle between the characters a little awkwardly. It is ultimately only at the end of the adventure – seven levels for about five or six hours of play – that the gameplay will be fully understood. We can therefore only encourage you to play it as a couple, the game being fully thought out for. And if the pleasure of play is very present, with a sacred influence of LittleBigPlanet for the appearance and the physics engine as well as a small touch of Rayman, we still criticize Unravel Two for being a little short and not not diversify much in its workings, causing a certain repetitiveness. No doubt a little extra difficulty would not have hurt: there are fortunately some optional levels which then require a certain dexterity.
YOU WILL TAKE UP A LITTLE ROSE WATER
We had reproached the first Unravel for carrying out a too forced staging: it is clear that this sequel is more in keeping with simplicity, without putting aside its slightly cutesy poetry either. However, it is impossible not to emphasize the care given to the entire decor: if the first opus was magnificent, this one does not dislodge the rule with a photo-realistic rendering of its environments. Teeming with details, sometimes enchanting, dark or metallic, the miniature world displays a breathtaking rendering and this without having recourse to a 4K which nevertheless renders it marvelously. Certain panoramas and light effects turn out to be sumptuous and support some pretty scenes – a trip on the back of a swan, the platform between the water lilies or a few gentle and fraternal interactions – which mark the spirit. That said, the game quickly reaches its limits when it has to get out of its comfort zone, for example with animals (we are sometimes chased by chickens or fish) whose animations are very rigid. It is the same for humans, present here only in the form of specters retracing somewhat difficult childhoods. Here too, we regret that the story is not more consistent, the obvious message of friendship and love not carrying the player for hours either. The soundtrack, meanwhile, is rather repetitive although more discreet than before, whimsical atmosphere and traveling violins in support. Nevertheless, the result is a frankly friendly, colorful adventure with an ingenious level-design despite a certain lightness which sometimes causes it harm.
