What games offer a good co-op multiplayer experience?I am not really a big fan of playing anything that is not with at least one other human being. For this reason most of the games I've ever really loved are FPS that you can play online with/against others.
One thing that has always surprised me is how few games actually let you play their "story mode" with another player. The few games that do allow this are so ridiculously fun to play that I can't imagine why a game would be released without this feature.
Anyhow, to cut to the chase, what are some good "story mode" co-op multiplayer games that you know of? I'm particularly looking for Wii, PS3 and PC games as that is what I have, but any answers are welcome.
To illustrate some examples of what I mean:
Any other good ones?
I love Left 4 Dead 2 [1]; you really need to work as a team to succeed, if you get separated you will most likely die.
You can even play a mode called versus, where 2 teams play against each other, but each team has to co-op. Very entertaining.
[1] http://www.l4d.com/I play games almost exclusively for co-op modes. I usually play with 1-3 other people. Here's the list of all of my favorites sorted by genre:
Shooters
RPGs
RTS
Action
I'm sure there's plenty more (that's just off the top of my head), I'll add more when I get home tonight and look through my games.
Alien Swarm [1] is a co-op game provided freely through Steam.
These are the feature listed on the Store [2]:
Aside from the games already mentioned, if you are a fan of co-op gaming, I would recommend checking out Co-Optimus [1]. It's a gaming site whose main focus is on co-op gaming. Reviews of games are centered around co-op, it has a database of games with ratings based on co-op quality and handy filtering options (like online co-op, couch co-op, etc), and you can even sign in and make an account to find other players online to co-op with! Heck, it's even got a podcast. It's really a great resource if you're into co-op gaming, and its database isn't limited to current-gen games.
I am always looking for more fun couch co-op games to play with my significant other, so this is a really nice site for that. :)
[1] http://www.co-optimus.com/Diablo 2 remains one of the very few games that I enjoy playing more with friends than solo.
Not being a Star Wars fan, I was skeptical, but my wife and I have a lot of fun on Lego Star Wars for the Wii. (It's always nice to be able to Force-Choke her and pretend it was an accident.)
Clearly, without any doubt, way better than any other game... Gears of War [1]. Beside overall great game play (even in single player mode) I think it's the variety what makes this game good: There are passages where
Me and my friend played it shortly after release during our vacations every night for two weeks. That was a hell lot of fun.
[1] http://www.amazon.com/Gears-War-Xbox-360/dp/B000FRS9II/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1278560758&sr=8-2One of my favorite co-op experiences in college was the original Halo [1] (XBox) - my roommate and I almost put beating that sucker's "Legendary" difficulty on our resumes :)
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo%3a_Combat_EvolvedResident Evil 5 is effectively designed for co-op.
You're on a two person team and there are a number of places where decent teamwork (one person snipes from afar, while one gets in close with a shotgun) is important to progressing.
I'm surprised Halo 3 hasn't been mentioned yet. The co-op experience is very good and the only way to beat Legendary without pulling your hair out.
Halo: ODST is also good in co-op but you'll want to play through by yourself first. The game's ambiance is much better suited to solo play. Again, co-op is the best way to do Legendary without going insane.
Crackdown and Crackdown 2 are favorites among my friends. Even after the campaign is complete, the "Keys to the City" mode offers endless fun for up to four players.
When it comes out, Portal 2 will have a co-op mode [1], with separate characters and story.
It's not out yet of course, but it sounds really good (if you like Portal 1, anyway).
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_2#PlotI like co-op mode of Uncharted 2 [1], the levels and platforming aspects have you working together to get through them.
Borderlands [2] is pretty cool co-op multiplayer too, definitely makes the later levels/areas easier with a buddy or three to cause mayhem with. :)
[1] http://www.unchartedthegame.com/U2AT/Splosion Man is great for two players.
My brother and I had hours of fun playing through Bubble Bobble [1] for the NES together.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_BobbleThe Mario Kart [1] series. Fun to team up to try to get through the circuits (you could do that on the SNES, I don't know about more recent games in the series).
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_KartBorderlands
Playable as single player or multi-player co-op. The story isn't much chop but it is very fun to play. First-person RPG with randomised weapon, shields, power-ups etc.
Available on PS3, PC and Xbox.
I've played a lot of co-op games over the years and below is a list of the ones I've enjoyed (I'll add more as I remember them). The platform noted is the one that I played it on. The larger scale FPS games (such as Operation Flashpoint) play better with more players (4+) - I'll note those with an asterisk.
Adventure
RTS
RPG
FPS
To me its Castle Crashers on Xbox Live Arcade. Its a side scrolling adventure with up to 4 players. Its really well made and includes around 20 playable characters which you level up and can customize stats, around 40 different weapons, a pet system, buy-able items with in-game coins and tons of other features.
AI War [1] is one of the few games i know of designed primarily for co-op, and while i haven't played any co-op games with it, it's a brilliant strategy 4x/rts game.
[1] http://www.arcengames.com/aiwar_features.phpDungeon Siege and Dungeon Siege 2 both offer co-op with the main story as well as a special multiplayer map that has it's own massive story. In fact, I still play Dungeon Siege 1 with my friend!
Have you considered some Xbox Live Arcade games?
Perfect Dark (on Nintendo 64, not PDZero) features co-op I think. I played a lot of the original and the remake is really excellent. It might make an interesting retro choice. Also Gauntlet and Smash TV provide seriously retro co-op options.
If you and your compatriot are fans of cooperative challenge, there are some good ol' arcade style scrolling shooters that work well. Some of them give an interesting challenge with how the two players cooperate on both the offensive and defensive fronts. The length of these games tends to be short, but the inherent challenge allows for lots of interesting results just replaying them. And most of all, the satisfaction of actually clearing some of these games is best shared with another individual.
I'm not going to list a whole lot of them and just mention Ikaruga, a shooting game with a mechanic involving polarities. Everything is aligned to either a black polarity or a white polarity - bullets and enemies, even yourself.
It's a great game single player, but when you're working with another player, there are all kinds of different approaches to tackling the same issues. Considering the choices between doubling your firepower by matching your polarities, or having opposite polarities to allow double-ended defense.
The best multiplayer story game I've played is Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure [1]. Get 4 people in a room together and "work together" (in actuality, sabotage each other as much as possible) to quest to the very end. I have countless stories of a pyromaniac friend setting us all on fire, throwing bombs that bounce back and kill us all, and "throwing" allies across a gorge and watching them plummet to their doom.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Swords_AdventuresRecently I had a few good co-op games of Civilization IV. Research, territory, fog of war and wonder benefits are shared in team play. Simultaneous turn mode eliminates waiting (that applies for every multiplayer mode, not only co-op).
I don't know if you're looking for online or off, or are interested in the Spyro series, but Dawn of the Dragon [1] was extremely fun playing co-op. Two players can go through the entire story and each player has their own skill set.
It is a Spyro game and somewhat short, but still a good play nonetheless.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_Spyro_Dawn_of_the_DragonTransformice [1] is the most magnificent flash co-op game around. Instead of limiting players to merely one to three allies, you are paired up in a massive cooperative death match with up to around fifty other players.
With so many allies, it is clearly impossible for everyone to win. Indeed, frequently, everyone looses.
[1] http://transformice.com/en/Army of Two seems like a good fit.
Radiant Silvergun.
Sega Saturn required, but it's SO worth it :):):)
What it lacks in storyline, it makes up for by letting you kill literally hundreds of AI controlled soldiers...the Dynasty Warrior series has 2 player coop support. And what could be more fun than trying to beat your friend's kill count?
Any of the Lego games [1] are really fun to play together! Plus the replay value on those games is really great. The second/third time through is more fun than the first.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lego_video_gamesMarvel Ultimate Alliance 1 & 2 are by far our group's absolute favorite 4-player multiplayer co-op.
Extreme G III has a co-op story mode that works extremely well.
You and a friend try to work together and take both 1st and 2nd in the race so that the AI players get few winnings and therefore little to no upgrades for the next race.
It's not easy, an excellent challenge in an already great game.
For the Playstation 3 I'm playing Sacred 2 in co-op mode with my girlfriend.
Similar to Diablo regarding the gameplay.
The Double Dragon series [1] is nice, especially Double Dragon 2. I love the "knee kick" (Don't know the official term). The third one is fun too, but really difficult.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_DragonSince it isnt mentioned yet (wtf?), Splinter Cell Conviction [1] is a great game for coop play style (also the single player is great). Only allows for two players, but the different goals (can you complete a level without anyone being noticed, only h2h kills etc) makes for great replayability.
Also I must lend my support to Borderlands as a great coop game. Rpg meets Fps is the greatest invention since sliced bread!
[1] http://splintercell.us.ubi.com/conviction/Battlefield 2142 [1] on the PC absolutely rocks for a multi player experience. You can play in a number of different roles (Assault, Recon, Engineer, Support). You can control tanks, jeeps, personnel carriers, aircraft etc.
What I found really made it was that you'd join a squad and see what they were missing, then you'd fill that role. I never joined a clan so I just joined in!
I found it really cool to be a medic because a good medic could keep the squads health up and even revive shot down members with the defib! I managed to get into a few good squads and it was awesome either keeping them in good health as a medic, being a support guy (ammo resupplies) or even as an engineer making sure the transport was repaired after a heavy enemy encounter. The engineer could also get a kick ass anti-armour gun. So, the infantry guys would give me cover while I'd get into position to take a tank out.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_2142I'm an FPS fan, so I love Modern Warfare 2 on XBOX 360. The gameplay is fun and there is a wide range of weapons and game types. I like Ground War for the large team sizes.
A game which i really like is the 3rd person shooter Alien Swarm on Steam [1], it's for free and it is great fun. But you have to understand the game, if you don't you loose fast.
[1] http://store.steampowered.com/app/630/Also keep in mind many sports games allow you to play co-op or as a team. The EA NHL series (about to be NHL 11 in September) is the best example of this in my opinion.
You and your friend(s) can play coop against the computer. You can also play co-op on XBox Live in versus mode.
While you can't do it on one console, you and a friend with his own console can play together on the same team in online team play mode too. I play many, many games as part of a 6-man team. Great fun.
