It Takes Two – a co-op classic (pic: EA)
Readers name their favourite online and couch co-op games, from retro classics like Bubble Bobble to Gears Of War.
The subject for this week’s Hot Topic was suggested by reader Hammeriron, who asked who you were playing with, and did you choose them for the game or the game for them? How experienced was the other player and how did that factor into the experience?
Most people admitted to enjoying co-op and wished there was more local multiplayer in particular, since it’s often the best way to get a family member interested in gaming.
Separate screens
Love a decent co-op game, as I enjoy playing games with my wife from time to time. The game we always go back to is Civilization 6, playing on separate PC/laptops. We can team up and take our time so there is no stress.
We really enjoyed It Takes Two last year, with its constantly changing game mechanics on every level keeping it fresh. We played this on separate screens but were still able to talk to each other in the same room.
And we are still playing Hades together on the Switch, but we do a world and boss each.
So couch co-op is OK but only if you get the whole screen!
TommyFatFingers
Better with friends
Tricky question this week, as most games improve immensely with co-op. The two that stick out for me would be Borderlands and Gears Of War, oh and Army Of Two. OK, three. The addition of a sentient partner was a god send.
I almost forgot Resident Evil 5. Yes, no more AI moron getting stuck in furniture. No more being left to bleed out, most of the time. Coming up with tactics that actually were carried out. I love co-op games when the person at your shoulder, or at the other end of the fibre line, listens and reacts.
Out Of the list mentioned above, I’d say it was Gears was the best. You and your partner bonded over the love of chainsaw-ing locusts and booting those little tickers.
Bobwallett
Goofy fun
I’ve never been into co-op games, or multiplayer at all for that matter. Even something like Street Fighter, which I was obsessed with as a child, was mostly played versus the computer rather than with others (I had plenty of friends and family to play against, I just wasn’t bothered).
My girlfriend and I have played through* the first two Crash Bandicoots recently though, and it’s been a lot of fun.
We’re going to play Goof Troop on the SNES next, as she loves Disney and it seems like a really fun, laidback game without much combat skills or reflexes needed.
It’ll also give me the chance to tell her about director Shinji Mikami’s illustrious career in forensic detail over the course of several hours, which she will absolutely love!
ANON
*by played through I mean she has a couple of goes at a stage, gets frustrated, then gets me to do it.
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Helping hand
I don’t do co-op because I don’t play well with others. The only exceptions are Splatoon and Bloodborne, both online not local.
Splatoon because it was a shedload of fun when the purple squid god smiled down and it all came together, it was awesome.
There were a small handful of times when a team spawned without everyone using the same weapon of choice. Rollers *coff coff*.
The feeling of pinning the opposing side down in their respawn zone and hammering them with a team that knew what it was doing is up there with the best gaming memories I have.
Bloodborne was out of necessity in the chalice dungeons. I was lucky enough to summon two skilled players for both Headless Bloodletting Beast and the Loran Darkbeast. I beat Paarl solo first time but not this variant. As much as I dislike co-op I really did appreciate the help and skill on show from all four summons, I sent both pairs a thank you afterwards.
None of that changed my perspective about playing games online co-op or PvP if I can help it.
Mitchell
Dead and loving it
The best co-op game from what I have played has been Dead Space 3. As a co-op game, it excelled and that’s where it really delivered with some secret levels. I just wish more games would apply the idea of your co-op partner can see visions that you can’t.
The horror in these sections was also better with more backstory. And I really believe the co-op sections in this game were what Visceral was truly aiming for in this sequel. It was easy to play with randoms, as most players knew the sections.
It was a nice drop-in and drop-out co-op game. And after the superb remake of Dead Space a remake of 2 and 3, perhaps adding a surprise co-op to 2 along the lines of 3, might not be such a bad idea.
icelticghost
Bubble to Bobble
I love co-op games and always have done, from playing Bubble Bobble on the Amiga with my brother when we were kids in the ‘80s right up to playing Bubble Bobble on the PlayStation 4 with my two sons only last week.
There have been several notable titles in the years between however, with many more fond memories created.
Nintendo feature prominently, with Mario Kart, GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, and Street Fighter 2 Turbo all being great fun pre- or post-pub, and Secret Of Mana was incredible to play through with one of my friends whilst at university.
Taking up the gauntlet (no pun intended) after Perfect Dark was TimeSplitters 2, and around that era Mashed also provided ludicrous entertainment, with an inspired way to keep players entertained after they’d been eliminated by giving them a sniper mode for instant revenge.
Sadly, online gaming has dominated things in recent years, which doesn’t interest me at all, From titles notwithstanding. But Hidden In Plain Sight, which is now available on the Switch, is terrific fun and has such an inspired concept, so that’s heartily recommended. Lastly, I played through It Takes Two last year with my 10-year-old and is one of my best ever gaming (or otherwise) memories.
Andrew Wright
A rare pleasure
I really enjoyed playing Sackboy: A Big Adventure on the PlayStation 5 co-op play with my son. There were specific levels which required two players to work together to get to the goal and we both did pretty good. A little bit of frustration here and there and he wasn’t happy when I slapped him a few times (in game slap – please don’t call social services!).
I just wish there were more fun co-op games on the PlayStation 5. We tried the Star Wars co-op game but he didn’t like it.
Rave
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No longer together
I have two games (well, one is a series) that need mentioning. I’m probably not the first and unlikely to be the last to say them, but my favourite co-op experiences are Gunstar Heroes and Streets Of Rage 1-3, with my brother on our Mega Drive.
My younger brother and I owned Gunstar Heroes thanks to GamesMaster magazine’s review and we played it a lot. We only finished it together once, we tried again multiple times but the last boss gauntlet was punishing and maybe time wasn’t in abundance – it’s not a short game if you’re a kid. I remember Stu and I telling our mum of our achievement and the incredible conclusion, and her being slightly horrified by Green’s heroic act. We were quite young at the time, but we thought Green’s redemption was beautiful.
We borrowed Streets Of Rage 1 and 2 from friends, I would always request those two titles instead of other games my friends had acquired because, like Gunstar Heroes, Streets Of Rage 1 and 2 are endlessly replayable, even today (or maybe Digitiser or GamesMaster magazine reviewed the other games badly). Streets of Rage was always tough, but after a while Streets Of Rage 2 was finished every time we played it, and that never diminished our fun because like all of the games I’m discussing today, they are classics.
I was lucky enough to get a copy of Streets Of Rage 3 for my birthday, my brother and I were thrilled to fire it up and we weren’t disappointed, the new systems made the game feel fresh and played better than ever. However, we did find the experience slightly anti-climactic because we finished it on our first attempt, all of that practice on 1 and 2 must have helped.
Streets Of Rage 3 is sometimes criticised for its difficulty but we got to the final boss and our ‘A’ button super would take a little of our health but a lot of his, so we waited for him to spin towards us and just pressed ‘A’ and out lasted him. We got the good ending too. On subsequent playthroughs we unlocked the secret characters, saw all of the endings, and had a great time doing it.
Streets Of Rage 3 is seen by some as a bit of a misstep but I disagree. Yes, the soundtrack is the weakest and the character sprites are different just for the sake of it, but I still enjoy it today. Streets Of Rage 2 is better though. Sadly, I have yet to play Streets Of Rage 4 with my brother, I have thoroughly played and loved every minute of it, but life has got in the way of us playing it together.
Oh, nearly forgot, my friend Prawn and I co-oped Mario Kart: Double Dash!! All Cup Tour. Whoever won the first race had to win all of the races with the other player in support. We got to Rainbow Road a few times and I admit I bottled it, but we did eventually succeed. Very satisfying winning every race with one of my best friends and one of my favourite co-op moments.
Beastiebat (PSN ID)
Currently playing: BoxBoy! and just started Dead Cells, absolutely loving it.
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Readers name their favourite online and couch co-op games, from retro classics like Bubble Bobble to Gears Of War.