Tick Tock: A Tale for Two – A Cooperative Clockwork Conundrum

“Time in itself, absolutely, does not exist; it is always relative to some observer or some object. Without a clock, I say ‘I do not know the time’. Without matter time itself is unknowable. Time is a function of matter, and matter therefore is the clock that makes infinity real.” – John Fowle

Overview

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is a short cooperative puzzle game in which two players get trapped in different time zones within an eerie world constructed by a skilled clockmaker. The players must communicate and work together in order to escape and solve the mysteries within.

Narrative

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two centres on Amalie and Lærke Ravn, two sisters who come from a family of master clockmakers. The players find themselves trapped within an unsettling clockwork world created by Amalie, her sister having gone missing years before. The mission is to escape, but also uncover the mysteries that surround the area and the two sisters. Time and clocks are prominent themes throughout the game, and tie into the gameplay in a natural way that enhances the narrative design.

Gameplay

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two must be played as a cooperative game, and, as suggested by the title, cannot be enjoyed with just a single player. However, the game does not require an online connection and the two players launch their games separately, selecting either player one or player two. The only requirement is a voice connection, such as via Discord or in person. This means the game can be played cross-platform or locally.

The players will find themselves transported to different times within a clockwork world, ranging from the early to mid twentieth century and at each point must communicate to solve the various puzzles and progress. It is imperative for players to inform their partner of what they can see, provide instructions and collaborate in order to get an overall sense of what is happening and what is required of the pair. The puzzles are varied and use time, riddles, and music, amongst other things to confound the players. The focus is on cognitive and logical solutions rather than any environmental puzzles, or more physical or mechanics. The game uses simple mouse-only controls that are very intuitive, and the game as a whole is quite accessible.

Styling

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two has a hand-drawn, illustrative, 2D art style that makes use of muted and cool colours offset by atmospheric lighting to depict an eerie forest and a handful of locations nestled within. The artwork includes a nice amount of detail, with no bold outlines, and also utilises a variety of textures to add interest.

The music is quite placid for the most part, consisting of gentle piano, often brimming with sinister undertones. It works well with the visuals to create a foreboding atmosphere. The sound effects are subtle but well-rounded, and the ticking clocks, and sounds of trains running really add to the overall immersion and sense of mystery.

Summary

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two will take around 2-2.5 hours to complete and is a reasonable price for the amount of content, of course, it is worth noting that two copies of the game will be required. The game provides engaging gameplay, with well-designed co-op puzzles that are challenging without being frustrating or too abstract. The story despite being short, presents an intriguing mystery and an interesting yet believable pair of characters. It concludes in a satisfying way that adds to the sense of achievement for the players. The visuals are well-suited to the gameplay and the narrative, with its moody colour palette and hand-drawn aesthetic and the sound design helps increase immersion without being overbearing.

Overall, this is a great example of a cooperative puzzle game and I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for something casual to play with a friend.

Looking for more co-op puzzle games? You may enjoy these reviews:
In Sink – Top Quality Co-Operative Conundrums! – A Way Out – Co-operative Prison Escape Game – Together in Between – A Monochromatic Co-Op Puzzle Adventure

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