History VideoGame / ItTakesTwo2021

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Dr. Hakim's accent seems to constantly fluctuate between French and Spanish. Somewhat justified as he was magically brought to life by Rose, a child who'd likely associate both accents with love while not exactly knowing the differences between them.

* LargeHam: You can bet your bottom dollar Dr. Hakim fits the bill.

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: In the music chapter, Cody uses his cymbal like a shield to protect himself and May from various hazards.

* TheRunaway: [[spoiler:Rose attempts to do this in a final bid to make her parents get along. Thankfully her parents pick her up before this comes into fruition.]]

* ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks: Cody can throw his cymbal-shield at enemies or destructible objects, and it will return to his hand like a boomerang. Captain America would be proud.
* TimeMaster: In the Cuckoo Clock level, Cody is given a stopwatch which lets him control the flow of time for specific objects.
* ToughLove: The entire game is Dr. Hakim forcing Cody and May to confront and fix their relationship as well as their deficiencies as individuals by having them literally fight the messes they've created through their negligence and bickering.

* MaleMightFemaleFinesse: May's animations have a greater degree of finesse and control then Cody's lackadaisical movements, for example May climbs up the elevators gears and kicks them downward while Cody slaps them. Justified in that May is a wooden doll with joints while Cody is a clay figure with more weight but no support.

* AnimateInanimateObject: A duo of living dolls and a talking book make up the main cast aside from Rose, then there are almost all the background characters. From living toys to talking tools to walking glow sticks.

* LighterAndSofter: The premise itself is this compared to the last two games, which were [[VideoGame/BrothersATaleOfTwoSons a somewhat harrowing journey to save a dying parent]] and a [[VideoGame/AWayOut gritty jailbreak drama]], respectively. [[spoiler: It's also the first game to have a [[SurprisinglyHappyEnding completely happy ending]].]]

* EldritchLocation: At first it looks like May and Cody may simply travel through locations around the house but they quickly find themselves in strange worlds heavily based on significant things around their home. Worlds that would clearly not fit within the confines of said house without serious remodeling.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Cody and May must have some level of ego when they decide changing back to their regular selves (namely making her cry by [[spoiler: destroying her beloved toy elephant]]) should take precedence over their daughter's personal happiness. [[spoiler:It nearly ends up biting them in the ass in the end when their negligence towards their daughter's feelings prompts her to run away from home, believing she's the cause of their problems]].
* KillTheCutie: Literally. [[spoiler:Cody and May kill Cutie, Rose's beloved toy elephant, in an attempt to return back to normal.]]

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: In the music chapter, Cody uses his cymbal like a shield to protect himself--and May--from various hazards.

* MoodWhiplash: The scene where May and Cody meet Cutie is adorable...and then it becomes dark within seconds after May states that [[spoiler:Cutie has to die.]]

* BandLand: [[spoiler: The final chapter of the game takes place in the attic and every level portion is based on some different genre of music while Cody and May try to put on a concert. Part 1 takes place in a rock-based environment with areas like a recording studio and the inside of a jukebox. Part 2 takes place largely in the game's version of heaven in which Cody and May have to find an orchestra. Part 3 sees the duo make their way through a neon-lit disco to find their audience.

* KillTheCutie: Literally. [[spoiler:Cody and May kill Rose's beloved elephant Cutie in an attempt to return back to normal.]]

** He also has May and Cody pegged when he accuses them of treating Rose like a possession, saying "Can you really own the people you ''love''?" [[spoiler: As we later see, they treat their daughter's crying again as a vehicle to making them human once more, rather than a troubling sign of [[MyGodWhatHaveWeDone how they've done Rose a great disservice]].]]

* ObliviousGuiltSlinging: Cutie the elephant warmly welcomes May and Cody into her home, even giving Cody a hug when she notices he's depressed - [[spoiler: part of that depression is caused by the fact that they're there to KillTheCutie - literally]].

* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption: A few moments stand out, especially the murder of Cutie the elephant. Yes, you literally KillTheCutie.

** [[spoiler: May and Cody destroying Rose's favorite toy elephant Cutie [[MakesSenseInContext in order to make their own daughter cry]] is supposed to represent that their wish to seperate goes ''[[ItsAllAboutMe beyond]]'' doing it for their own good or even Rose's well-being. Later in the end credits, we see Cutie has been mended, indicating they're now taking steps to mend their relationship and/or do what's best for Rose.]]

** When May [[spoiler: takes on the squirrel chief as she and Cody attempt to make a getaway using the squirrels' airplane]], the gameplay shifts to a beat-em-up format strongly resembling ''Videogame/StreetFighter'' and/or ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', right down to having health bars with names and thumbnails, moves such as a [[KamehameHadoken Hadouken attack]], and its own take on fatalities.

--> '''Cody:''' In space, no one can hear you scream!

--> '''Cody:''' It's a-me, Cody!

** [[spoiler: May and Cody destroying Rose's favorite toy elephant Cutie [[MakesSenseInContext in order to make their own daughter cry]] is supposed to represent that their wish to seperate goes ''beyond'' doing for their own good or even Rose's well-being. Later in the end credits, we see Cutie has been mended, indicating they're now taking steps to mend their relationship and/or do what's best for Rose.]]

* ItsAllAboutMe: Cody and May must have some level of ego when they decide changing back to their regular selves (namely making her cry by [[spoiler: destroying her beloved toy elephant]]) should take precedence over their daughter's personal happiness.