Unravel Two Switch Review – The Power of Two

Following the success of Unravel in 2016, Coldwood Interactive and Electronic Arts teamed up to create another wonderful video game, Unravel Two. Released in June of 2018, the game has sold incredibly well and can now be enjoyed on PS4, Xbox One, Steam, and of course the Nintendo Switch. Sadly, Unravel can not be played on Nintendo Switch (yet), but that’s okay, as you don’t need to play Unravel to enjoy Unravel Two.

But is the second entry in this series worth your time and effort? Or is the power of one greater than two? Let’s find out!

One of the many amazing things about Unravel Two is that you can play solo or couch co-op. If you go down the intended multiplayer route, then player one will take control of the friendly red yarn based protagonist from the original Unravel, Yarny, while player two will take charge of a blue variation, Blarny. If you do choose to play alone, then you will switch between the two characters. I would definitely recommend playing with a friend, although you may have to wear masks considering the pandemic.

The game starts with Yarny on a ship at sea. A storm hits and he is thrown from said ship into the ocean, washing up on an unknown shore. Here you encounter Blarny, who’s origins are unknown. You connect your two broken ends of yarn and form a bond. From this bond, a spark flies and your goal is to catch it.

First off, I have to say, Unravel Two is an absolutely beautiful game. Not just in its life-like graphics and charming yarn-based characters, but in it’s absolutely stunning soundtrack. Unravel Two has a gorgeous score, composed by Frida Johansson and Henrik Oja, that really ties the game together (Ha! Yarn pun). I find that in a lot of games, the songs are so similar they sort of merge into one. However, in both Unravel games, each track is completely different and unique.

Everything about this game feels so alive, despite the fact the protagonists would be inanimate objects in the real world. You can spot wildlife like hedgehogs and moose in every chapter, and, unlike a lot of games, Coldwood Interactive have created a world where you feel life goes on even when your character isn’t in frame. By pressing the d-pad directions, your yarn character can clap, wave, shake their head, and sit down, giving them more personality than just jumping and walking. You can also customise the colour and shape of your Yarney to make it a character you enjoy playing as.

Another thing that really makes the game stand out from other releases are the incredibly unique mechanics that come with being made of yarn. As in Unravel, Yarney can swing from knots, drag objects and tie super bouncy bridges for reaching new heights and moving objects. With the multiplayer elements of the sequel, you can also merge with the other player and swing from one another’s yarn. Both games provide a really nice mix of twitch perfect platforming and puzzles that require your characters to interact with their environment in original and clever ways.

Unravel Two is also similar to the first installment in the series when it comes to the importance of the story. Throughout the game, the yarn-based pair follow two children trying to escape from some bad guys. The entire game follows this story, but the story isn’t what makes the game exciting. It gives each jump and swing a meaning, but you don’t really think about it when playing. In other words, Unravel Two is a story, but the story is not Unravel Two.

When you complete all seven of the amazing main story chapters, each containing gradually trickier puzzles and platforming, you are greeted with this message before the credits.

“Love forms bonds between us, but not to hold us back. They’re meant to save us if we fall, or help us all climb higher. Yes, things break beyond repair sometimes, but we can always build anew. If our fire ever fades, it just takes a single spark to set it off again. No matter how dark things get, we can all help light the way. We can make this life beautiful for ourselves and for each other. And we all deserve to be here, whatever shape or colour we come in.”

I love this quote, and I love how it is both a metaphor for every day existence and a reference to the literal yarn bond between the players. I love how the final part refers to how all humans are different, and so are all yarn people. With this in mind, I took away two things from the game:

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1) Just because something beautiful is gone forever, doesn’t mean something else beautiful can’t take It’s place.

2) Yarn is susceptible to crushing, suffocation, consumption, drowning and electrocution.

Overall, Unravel Two is a massively enjoyable experience that I would recommend to anyone. There are few video game experiences more satisfying than swinging across a marvelously crafted Swedish landscape with an adorable yarn friend. Overcoming an obstacle that seemed impossible to move past right up until the moment you succeed. There’s the occasional glitch and some players would argue that the game is too short, however there are bonus levels to play through as well. Perhaps the gameplay and story could have been a bit more intertwined (Ha! Last yarn pun), but that’s more of a design decision than an actual flaw.

Unravel Two is charming and beautiful and definitely worth a play!

Unravel Two Review provided by Nintendo Link
Developer: Coldwood Interactive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: March 22, 2019
Price: $29.99, £24.99, €29,99
Game Size: 2.9GB