Chip-Dale-RR.gifIt’s the year 2006 and the next generation of video game goodness is here (Yeah Sony I said it). With that being said, I think its time that Co-Op becomes a standard in almost every game. I remember back in the NES days, there were so many Co-Op games. One of my favorites, Chip and Dale’s Rescue Rangers, allowed you and a buddy to tackle Fat Cat and his homies. Even though it did make it more difficult to play (2D side scrollers allow for limited movement), and the fact that my brother used to throw boxes at me and throw me off ledges, the choice was there and we had a blast. So why is it that so many developers omit that cherished feature. Last Gen showed brilliant but few flashes of Co-Op gameplay mostly in shooters, and when it showed up, it was a beautiful sight to behold.

The most notable Co-Op game of last gen for most has to be Halo. I remember working at Gamestop when the first XBOX came out and of course putting in Halo, just to see what all the fuss was about. I
played through the first few levels alone realizing that it was a great game, definitely a great launch title. However (and this is just my opinion), I thought it was still just a standard shooter. I didn’t even realize there was a Co-Op mode until I stumbled across 2 of my co-workers playing through the second level. I saw the excitement that they were having and knew that I hadn’t given the game enough credit. I took over one of the controllers, jumped onto the back of a Warthog and got on the turret, my co-worker got in the driver’s seat an we were off running down and killing aliens.

From that time forward, I expected at the very least, every shooter to have Co-Op. I didn’t even care if the game sucked, I wanted my Co-Op. Unfortunately my prayers weren’t answered. I mean why wouldn’t developers want to reward gamers wth the option of playing with their friends and not just against them? Especially after seeing the contra1.gifenjoyment on the faces of the millions of gamers that had played both of the Halo games. From Killzone, to Area 51, to even the over-hyped Black. Last gen offered too little in the way of cooperative gameplay. Some shooters have even gone as far as to cut multiplayer completly out. Most people would agree with me that Co-Op, in this day and age, will only add more life to a game.

One developer must have heard the cries of the gamers. It stepped up to the plate and delivered, in my opinion, the greatest Co-Op formula of all time in one of my favorite games of all time. That game was Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory , and that developer was Ubisoft. I remember being over my friend’s house playing the single player portion while he watched, then I imediately reset the game, remebering that it offered the Co-Op experience. We began to play and all we could say was wow. Helping each other over walls and setting up unsuspecting guards, I wondered how why I had never experienced this in a game sooner. After only four levels of gaming heaven, I pondered. How could Ubisoft tease me with only four levels! Four levels that they knew would cause an addiction! At least they gave me a taste, and they better give me more in Splinter Cell: Double Agent.

So that leads me to my question for the day. Next Gen, can Co-Op come out and play? We need it to survive. I for one am excited for the Co-Op experience in Gears of War. Epic Games is doing it right.
Streets_of_Rage.gif They’re allowing gamers to enjoy the ENTIRE game with a friend next to you or on Xbox Live. This is what it’s all about. I know Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter has Co-Op but I wish I could play the
single player game Co-Op as well (If I’m wrong on that correct me). Games like Medal of Honor: Airborne, SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Combined Assault, and Halo 3, show me that the developers are listening. Have you seen Rainbow Six: Vegas yet? You need to see it in action. If this is any indication of how good the Co-Op portion of the game will be, I don’t think I’ll ever stop playing. If anyone from Ubisoft is reading this, please, please, give me more than 4 levels. Developers, the power to give us this experience is here. There’s no excuse, send on the Co-Op experience like never before. We welcome it with open arms. Let us know what Co-Op games you like!