When Electronic Arts launched the EA Originals initiative to empower independent developers, few anticipated the meteoric rise of Hazelight Studios. Under Josef Fares' visionary direction, the studio revolutionized cooperative gameplay with 2018's A Way Out. Their 2021 masterpiece It Takes Two elevated this legacy, delivering an emotionally resonant journey about Cody and May—a couple magically transformed into dolls by their daughter's wish to save their crumbling marriage. Among its whimsical challenges, the "Realize Your Art" trophy stands out as both a delightful gameplay moment and symbolic representation of the game's themes, requiring partners to literally flatten themselves into artistic expressions. As players continue discovering this gem in 2025, mastering such achievements remains integral to the experience.
Step-by-Step: Securing the Trophy
Navigating to Rose's Room
The pursuit begins in Chapter 3: Rose's Room. Players must select the "Once Upon a Time" checkpoint via Chapter Select—an area resembling a storybook kingdom encircled by operational miniature railways. Pro tip: While here, consider earning the "On Rails Experience" trophy simultaneously by riding the train, optimizing your progress.
Locating the Art Station
Follow the railroad tracks until discovering the Art Station—a vibrant zone cluttered with paint tubes, blank canvases, and a conspicuously grimy industrial printer. This device serves as the trophy's centerpiece. Both players must climb atop it, emphasizing the game's core mechanic: no achievement is possible without synchronized effort.
Printer Activation Protocol
Once positioned on the machine, press its oversized button to power it on. The printer's function? Flattening objects into paper-thin artworks. Here’s the critical sequence:
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Both players leap into the loading bay together 🎮
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The mechanism compresses them into living paper art
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Hold position briefly while the trophy triggers
Should one partner miss the compression cycle, simply reactivate the printer. This forgiving design reflects Hazelight's player-friendly philosophy—a stark contrast to punitive trophy systems elsewhere.
People Also Ask: Trophy Insights
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can the trophy be earned solo? | Absolutely not! It Takes Two mandates co-op, reinforcing its central theme of interdependence. |
| Does difficulty affect trophy acquisition? | No, all trophies remain accessible regardless of gameplay challenge settings. |
| How long to reach this trophy? | Approximately 4-5 hours into the narrative, depending on exploration. |
| Are missable trophies common? | Most are obtainable via Chapter Select post-game, including "Realize Your Art". |
Beyond the Achievement: Cooperative Design Philosophy
This trophy exemplifies Hazelight's genius in marrying mechanics with metaphor. Just as Cody and May must physically merge into single artworks to progress, players learn collaboration through action—not dialogue. The printer sequence transforms abstract relationship concepts into tactile puzzles, demonstrating gaming’s unique capacity for experiential storytelling.
Four years post-launch, It Takes Two continues influencing co-op design. Its trophies avoid mundane tasks (e.g., "Kill 100 enemies") in favor of narrative-driven moments that enrich the journey. Yet broader questions linger: As studios replicate this model, can they maintain Hazelight's emotional authenticity? Do such achievements truly foster connection between players, or become checkbox exercises? Perhaps the greatest testament to "Realize Your Art" lies not in its platinum rarity, but in how it compels us to ponder: What other profound human experiences could games transmute into interactive art?
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