Tethered together in True Ensemble

While checking out the student developed games at Tokyo Game Show I gave True Ensemble for the Playstation 2 a spin. The concept for True Ensemble is simple, yet brilliant for a multiplayer game. Both players are forcibly tied together by a glowing rope.

The rope doesn’t just link the two players together. It’s the main weapon too. When you and another player wrap an object inside the rope you can fling it by pressing the R1 button. However, if you want to do this you have to work together and communicate to get behind the right object.

After playing True Ensemble I thought about how little I talk to the other player during a co-op console game to coordinate on screen events. You don’t need to communicate during Dynasty Warriors or Tales of Symphonia. Each player plows through enemies individually. I had some co-op communication with We Love Katamari, but after I got the rhythm down with another player it was fairly automatic too. When I was playing True Ensemble I noticed myself saying, “we gotta grab that rock over there” and then working with the other player to sling it at a giant bee. Since you’re stuck together in the game, you’re stuck talking in real life too.