There are few games that strictly require playing with a partner. A great example is the work done by Hazelight Studios, which has strongly embraced this approach, taking us back to childhood days when many afternoons were spent playing in front of the TV with friends and family. River Tails: Stronger Together can be played solo, but let’s be honest—playing a platformer designed for two characters, where overcoming puzzles and platforming challenges requires the interaction of both, using only one controller, is a Herculean task. Less muscle, more dexterity.
The adventure begins when Furple, a curious little purple kitten, strays from his family and ends up tumbling down a snow-covered mountain. His main goal is to find his way back home, but doing so alone proves to be quite the challenge. That’s when he crosses paths with Finn, an independent and cheerful fish who carries in his mouth a very special straw, almost like a token, that was stolen by the region’s inhabitants. Furple decides to help Finn recover his precious possession while making his way up the mountain in search of his family.
As a game designed for cooperative play, River Tails: Stronger Together requires two players to work together to control the characters, each with abilities suited to their environment. Furple moves swiftly on land, while Finn glides effortlessly through aquatic settings. Despite its simple mechanics—where both protagonists can jump and pull levers—the gameplay relies on cooperation to solve challenges and overcome obstacles.
In single-player mode, the lack of AI assistance can make the experience frustrating, as both characters must be controlled manually, even in the most demanding situations.
Another drawback is the camera angles. While they don’t make the game unplayable, they can make it harder to judge platform distances, making some jumps more difficult than they should be. In a game where precision and platforming are key, this limitation artificially increases the difficulty, sometimes making success feel like a matter of luck. Fortunately, the generous placement of checkpoints acts as a reassuring embrace, reducing the frustration of failed jumps.
Visually, the game is charming with its simple aesthetic, vibrant colors, and charismatic characters, making the experience engaging. While the environments may sometimes lack variety, they are still visually appealing and well-crafted.
Each level introduces new mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh and avoid monotony. Whether it’s enemies that require different strategies—like using a helmet-attached light to scare them away with a flash—or a slingshot to create platforms for Furple to jump onto and reach higher ledges, there’s always something new to discover. These elements ensure that the gameplay remains dynamic and stimulating throughout the adventure.
River Tails: Stronger Together delivers a visually appealing and emotionally engaging cooperative experience (you had no right to leave me with a tearing eye by the end of it). Despite the challenges of single-player mode, those seeking a shared adventure will likely find it a rewarding experience.
Video Gameplay:
[Note: Review based on the final PC version of the game, kindly provided by Gravity Game Arise.]
