Book of Love: Hardcover Notebook

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It’s not the worst possible way to end things, but it still comes across as anticlimactic and wishy-washy. At the very least, I’m relieved the game sets the positive example of the “we both love you” phrase, which, although a bit cliché, is genuinely helpful to hear and something I wish I would have heard more often than the not-so-subtle jabs at the other parent I’d become more acquainted to. Dr. Hakim’s Three Lessons to Save a Broken Relationship Give each other enough time! Let passion light the path to the purpose of life! Rediscover your lost attraction! That’s also what It Takes Two is all about! And to really understand the true power of love, you will have to experience the whole shabang with a friend. You know, either buy it or have your friend buy it to play for free* (yes, amigos play for FREE, what could possibly be a stronger testament of love?!)

Although the ending portion is a sweet moment, there's the reveal of how a little girl like Rose got her hands on Dr. Hakim's self-help "Book of Love": she found at school, in a trash can. This paints a picture that somewhere out there, a teacher bought the book and then threw it out, either because they thought it was too raunchy, too hammy, or both.

Lesson numero uno: Time!

It surprised me, then, to find that It Takes Two, the latest co-op game from film and game director Josef Fares ( Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, A Way Out), which centers on the divorce of the couple May (Annabelle Dowler) and Cody (Joseph Balderrama), was not only bearable but delightful most of the way through. Puzzles will regularly ask you and your partner to work in sync, using individual abilities in tandem to advance through the various worlds you explore. Because communication is vital to your success, it's absolutely crucial it is to play It Takes Two alongside someone you know well. This veers sharply into being Harsher in Hindsight when you (plus Cody and May) realize that Rose legitimately believed she was responsible, to the point of trying to run away so her parents could become friends again. Leaving that aside, let’s dive into why Dr Hakim is so memorable. His ultimate goal is to help you fix your relationship, or as he says it “feeeeeeeeex your relationsheeeeep!” Everything is so gloriously hammy with Dr Hakim. He’s part Willy Wonka, part Puss in Boots, and part Timon. There’s no off switch. There’s not even an option to turn it down a little. Partially because May and Cody are going through a divorce, and partially because they just feel like quite dull characters, there’s a bit of a miserable tone to parts of It Takes Two. The activities are relentlessly inventive and bursting with joy, but whenever things slow down for our protagonists to chat, it all feels rather bitter and petty. They get along more as the game goes on, but in the first half especially, Dr Hakim’s enthusiasm is crucial in making sure the narrative hits the same tone as the whimsical, fight a squirrel on a plane made of boxer shorts gameplay. You know, love is like a mountain and you are the river that flows through it. You are like flowers growing on a lush hillside. However! It’s not always sunshine, sweet strawberries and pretty little butterflies out there. I will let you soak up all of that eye-opening wisdom for a bit, but you can already see what I’m getting at, eh?

When I decided to watch through Breaking Bad for the first time last year, it wasn’t the violence, drug abuse or anxiety-inducing scenes that forced me to take a break from it. After having been the child of three divorces—the first being in infancy, the latest being last year—I couldn’t handle watching another marriage deteriorate, especially in the dramatic way the show is known for.On the other hand, it’s not as if the concepts introduced by Dr. Hakim aren’t worthwhile. Making time for each other, rekindling attraction and encouraging passions are all healthy and important things for people in any type of relationship to maintain. It’s not unrealistic to think that a failing relationship could benefit or even recover if both people in that relationship make genuine efforts to fix whatever problems are causing it to fail. They’re pretty surface-level observations, but valid ones nonetheless. Once you start actually playing It Takes Two (and Dr. Hakim mercifully stops talking), that’s when the game really starts to shine. Dear mom and dad, I'm sorry I did this to you, I know how to make everything good again. All you have to do is stop fighting. I know I’m not a perfect daughter. I’m sorry I don’t like to brush my teeth. I’m sorry I read books after bedtime. I’m sorry I don’t put toys up where I should. I know it’s my fault you want a divorce. However, on the positive side, 61% of US respondents said that playing video games together has a positive effect on their relationship. Chloe Dubini, EA Originals Brand Manager and Marketing Lead, highlighted that ‘compared to passive pastimes like watching TV or streaming services, playing a co-op game like It Takes Two cannot be done without fully engaging in the moment. This creates a dynamic where couples can truly enjoy their time together while unknowingly working on their collaboration and communication skills.’

Throughout production I got the chance to work on one of the games most extraordinary characters - Dr. Hakim The Book of Love. It was a pleasure to be a part of this project and to be entrusted with creating Hakim as he is one of the most important characters in the game. Being two means that there can be friction. Friction can lead to trouble. And trouble can grow out of control in any paradise. If you’re not careful and leave it unattended, paradise can ultimately get infected. Simple! I will give one of you the ability to clone yourself. The other, I will grant the power to control time. Then all you need to do is to use your powers and work together to come together! Lesson number two: Passion!With the architecture of It Takes Two being so heavily ingrained in co-op gameplay, and the themes striking a chord so close to home for many couples, the Better Together Experience saw couples truly put their ability to listen to each other and work together to the test. As one participant stated, ‘it’s definitely been a positive experience. It’s quite rare and special to have a game where you do work together. There are lots of times when you can’t do anything unless you listen to the other person.’ One of the reasons why the co-op works so well is due to the way the levels have been designed. In every chapter Cody and May will be granted some sort of weapon or power that are different from one another. This means that each player has to figure out how to use their special ability to get past puzzles while aiding the other to do the same. The level design has been so masterfully mapped out that each player has an equal role in solving puzzles and having tasks to perform at the same time. Having new weapons or powers in each section keeps you eager to see what’s next as well. In It Takes Two, the plot matches the gameplay. As you and your co-op partner solve puzzles, Cody and May start to solve the broken aspects of their relationship. It’s a cute idea, and there’s a lot of whimsy in the tale, but it also rings rather hollow in places. Cody and May’s daughter, Rose, grew up as a happy and carefree child. Since her parents started to drift apart and argue a lot, Rose feels that she can’t share her worries with them. So she opens her heart to the 'Book of Love' and two dolls created out of scrap material instead. The Daughter Join our characters on the craziest co-op adventure of your life! of respondents are regularly or always using their smartphone when spending time with their partner/spouse

I’m not expecting a game in which a bumblebee controls a giant robot wasp queen to be realistic, but I had hoped that it would have a more genuine perspective on marriage and divorce than it ultimately did. I’ve seen firsthand that there can still be affection and love in between the fighting in relationships, but if the fighting, neglect, and other issues still cause unnecessary pain for anyone in that relationship, or especially the couple’s children, biting the bullet on divorce will often cause less long-term pain than the alternative of staying in an unhealthy family environment. May is a sharp-thinking perfectionist. An engineer. The family breadwinner. Used to be a talented singer, but she quit and buried her love for music forever. May claims she is fine without the music, but deep inside she feels as if she has lost a part of herself. Currently trying to break the spell that transformed her into a wooden doll. The Family Breadwinner Cody Let me introduce myself. I’m Dr. Hakim – world-famous expert on love. My renowned couples therapy sessions have helped millions of struggling love-birds out there. You heard me right, MILLIONS. That’s the awesome power of the Book of Love, baby! About Characters Nintendo Switch™ PC System Requirements Friend's Pass Media News Merch About Characters Nintendo Switch™ PC System Requirements Friend's Pass Media News MerchWhat else, besides love, make couples stay together? Mortgage? Kids? No, it’s the attraction of course! It pulls people together. See, attraction is like a magnet. But you need both poles for it to work. North, south. Plus, minus. You, me! Although it's supposed to be a sobering moment, there's something amusing about Rose believing her inconsequential actions (such as not brushing her teeth, reading books after bedtime, and not putting away her toys) were enough to make her parents want to divorce.