Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki said that the last game that impressed him was the cooperative platformer It Takes Two.
Speaking about Elden Ring on the Official PlayStation Blog, Miyazaki was asked if there were any games in recent memory that particularly caught his eye. The director said that while he hasn't had much time to play video games lately, Hazelight's cartoonish platformer was a particular highlight.
“A game that stuck with me recently was It Takes Two,” Miyazaki said.
“I managed to play it from start to finish with a friend online in three days over three sessions, and it was a great time. This match marked me a lot, so yes, it's the one I managed to finish, at least!
He went on to praise the game for its variety of gameplay and narrative, which he said resonated with him as a parent.
"He didn't let go of me at all times, and he never let me get bored," he said. "The art and gameplay are different in each stage, and the game encourages you to fully cooperate while maintaining that artistic element.
"It's still fun to play and felt extremely fresh right up to the end, which was impressive for me as a fellow creator."
He also said that he continues to enjoy "analogue" and board games, especially murder-mystery type titles.
Analysis: a man of many tastes
Fans of any designer love to learn about their influences. This often says a lot about his potential creations, direction, or interests. While Miyazaki may not be releasing a colorful co-op platformer any time soon, his feedback demonstrates the director's eclectic taste.
The Souls games are light years away from Takes Two, both in gameplay and theme. But we understand why Miyazaki would like the cooperative platform game. It was released to positive reviews across the board, with critics particularly praising its ability to introduce new mechanics to each new area-themed world.
Similarly, many were pleasantly surprised by the game's narrative depth, which follows a couple rekindling their broken marriage through the proven method of swapping bodies with two dolls and exploring a magical, realistic world.
However, Miyazaki's comment about never getting bored is particularly apt, because prior to the game's release, studio head Josef Fares promised to give €1,000 to anyone who honestly said they were bored with the game.
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