Video games usually try to make you feel like a god. You fly, you shoot fireballs, or you save the world from an ancient evil. But It Takes Two does something way weirder. It forces you to fix a marriage. And at the center of that chaotic, colorful, and occasionally frustrating journey is Dr. Hakim—the sentient, hip-thrusting book of love it takes two fans either love or absolutely want to throw into a woodchipper.
Honestly, he’s a lot. If you’ve played the game, you know the vibe. He’s a talking self-help book with a thick accent, a penchant for Latin dance moves, and a borderline sadistic desire to see Cody and May suffer through "collaboration" exercises. But here’s the thing: without that book, the game is just another platformer.
Hazelight Studios, led by the perpetually energetic Josef Fares, didn't just put a mascot in the game. They created a narrative engine. Dr. Hakim represents the "Book of Love," a literal manifestation of the work required to keep two people together. It’s messy. It’s annoying. It’s loud. Just like real relationships.
The polarizing magic of Dr. Hakim
Let's get real for a second. Most players spend the first hour of the game asking, "Can we skip this guy?" Dr. Hakim interrupts the flow. He shouts. He forces you to pause when all you want to do is jump on some giant mushrooms or shoot nails into a wall.
But that’s the point.
The book of love it takes two introduces is meant to be an agitator. Cody and May are checked out. They’ve given up. They are literally looking for the quickest exit out of their doll bodies and their marriage. By being a constant, un-skippable presence, Dr. Hakim forces the characters—and the players—to confront the friction of their partnership.
✨ Don't miss: Appropriate for All Gamers NYT: The Real Story Behind the Most Famous Crossword Clue
There is a psychological layer here that people often miss. In game design, "friction" is usually seen as a bad thing. You want smooth controls and intuitive UI. However, the Book of Love uses narrative friction to mirror the emotional state of the protagonists. You feel annoyed because they are annoyed. It’s meta-commentary at its finest, even if it comes wrapped in a mustache and some questionable dance steps.
Breaking down the Book of Love's philosophy
Dr. Hakim isn't just shouting nonsense. He actually follows a structured (if eccentric) approach to relationship counseling. Throughout the game, he focuses on specific "chapters" of their relationship that have fallen apart.
The concept of "Attraction"
Early on, the book focuses on the literal pull between the two. He gives them magnets. It’s a literalization of the spark they lost. If you look at the work of real-world relationship experts like Esther Perel, she often talks about the "space" between partners being where desire lives. The book of love it takes two turns this abstract concept into a mechanic where one player is North and the other is South. You physically cannot progress unless you pull toward or push away from each other at the right moments.
Rekindling "Passion"
Then there’s the garden. The Book of Love pushes May to find her passion for singing and Cody to find his love for gardening. This is crucial. A common mistake in failing relationships is losing the individual "self" in the "we." Dr. Hakim forces them to be individuals again so they can actually have something to bring back to the table.
Time and coordination
The clockwork stage is a nightmare for some, but it’s the Book of Love’s masterpiece. It’s all about synchronization. If you aren't talking to your co-op partner in real life, you aren't beating that level. The book isn't just teaching Cody and May; it’s training the two people on the couch.
🔗 Read more: Stuck on the Connections hint June 13? Here is how to solve it without losing your mind
Why the "Book of Love" works better than a human NPC
Imagine if the guide in this game was just a regular human therapist. It would be boring. It would feel like a lecture. By making the guide a literal book—the book of love it takes two relies on—Hazelight leaned into the "Magic Realism" genre.
Think about films like Toy Story or The Secret Life of Pets. There is a specific kind of freedom in using an inanimate object to tell a human story. Dr. Hakim can be squashed, torn, and tossed around, which allows for physical comedy that a human character couldn't survive. This slapstick element keeps the tone from getting too dark. Cody and May are going through a divorce, which is heavy stuff. You need a dancing book to lighten the mood so the player doesn't end up feeling depressed by the end of the first act.
What most players get wrong about the ending
People often complain that the ending feels a bit rushed or that Cody and May didn't "solve" everything. But if you look closely at the Book of Love’s final messages, he never says they are "fixed."
He says they have the tools.
The book of love it takes two concludes its arc by basically telling them to keep working. It’s not a "happily ever after" in the Disney sense. It’s a "happily ever after... if you keep trying." That is a surprisingly mature take for a game that features a war between squirrels and wasps.
💡 You might also like: GTA Vice City Cheat Switch: How to Make the Definitive Edition Actually Fun
Real-world takeaways from a fictional book
Believe it or not, therapists have actually reacted to this game. Many point out that the Book of Love’s insistence on "collaboration" is the bedrock of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for couples.
- Communication is a mechanic: In the game, you can't see what the other player sees sometimes. You have to describe it. In real life, your partner isn't a mind reader.
- Shared goals: The book gives them one goal: get back to Rose. Having a shared "North Star" is often what keeps real couples together during the hard years.
- The "Work" is the point: The book is physically heavy and hard to carry in some scenes. That’s not an accident.
Actionable steps for your next playthrough
If you’re planning to dive back into It Takes Two, or if you’re recommending it to a friend who is going through a rough patch (yes, people actually do this), keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience.
Don't skip the cutscenes.
It’s tempting to mash the button to get back to the platforming, but the dialogue between Dr. Hakim and the couple actually contains the hints for the mechanics of the upcoming level. If you listen to what the Book of Love is complaining about, you’ll usually figure out the puzzle logic faster.
Swap characters halfway through.
The experience of being Cody is fundamentally different from being May. Cody’s tools are often about setup, while May’s are about execution (or vice-versa). To truly understand the "collaboration" the Book of Love is preaching, you need to see the world from the other perspective.
Look at the environment.
The Book of Love’s influence is everywhere. The levels are built out of the discarded remnants of their life together. Look at the post-it notes, the broken toys, and the neglected hobbies. It adds a layer of depth to the "therapy" that Dr. Hakim is trying to conduct.
The book of love it takes two presents isn't just a character. It’s a mirror. It reflects the frustration, the effort, and ultimately the joy of trying to build something with another person. Whether you find him hilarious or annoying, he’s the reason the game works. He turns a series of mini-games into a cohesive story about the hardest mission of all: staying together.