THE (LACK OF) XBOX 360 CO-OP GAMES
As part of my lockdown this month, I’ve been playing a lot of Xbox 360. It’s nice because I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to play… and now I finally do have a bit of time! Oh, and I finally finished Gears of War 2. 
My Xbox 360 Gamercard
While I do play some single-player games, the majority of games that I play are for co-operative or multiplayer experiences.
Photo Credit: Xbox.com
It still surprises me that in 2009, video game developers still haven’t fully taken advantage of the huge untapped market that is co-op players. While many hardcore players do play by themselves, the vast and growing casual gamer market often prefers to play with friends or family. Whether it is their coworkers, fathers, brothers, boyfriends, girlfriends, or buddies… many gamers enjoy the feeling of playing video games with others. And while multiplayer gaming against one another is and always will be popular, I think many of us prefer a “chilled out” game session playing TOGETHER with a buddy instead of against him or her… to be a very attractive experience.
So where are the co-op games?
It’s not like the game companies haven’t been trying.
Photo Credit: http://consoleupdates.com/2008/05/22/gears-of-war-2-no-squad-ordering/
Gears of War 2 (and even Gears of War 1) has been the best co-op game to date in my opinion. Full online co-op, drop-in, drop-out, gameplay made for 2 players, a good storyline involving two players, and achievement points for finishing the game regardless of if you are solo or co-op (not to mention some co-op only achievements!). Halo 3, Left 4 Dead (which I’m going to pick up this weekend) and Army of Two had comprehensive co-op, but 4 major game titles is not enough!
Fable 2 recently game out with co-op support but it’s pretty miserable. No co-op achievement points, and not really able to fully interact or play the game as you would if you were solo. The same pretty much goes for Grand Theft Auto IV. Call of Duty: World at War has co-op, but if you finish the game on co-op you don’t get the achievement points. So lame! The same goes for many of the popular games that have come out in 2008.
Will it get any better for 2009? We’ll have to see.
Photo Credit: http://www.co-optimus.com
Titles I am looking for to in 2009/2010 for co-op include Resident Evil 5, of course the next Gears of War installment, any new Tom Clancy installment,
I’d like to see more game companies focus on making a much better co-operative experience. There’s a reason why Gears of War 2 and Left 4 Dead became such huge hits… great co-op and multiplayer! I think being able to drop in and out, being able to share the FULL story experience with your partner(s), and being able to earn the same achievement points that you would be able to in single-player mode is extremely important.
Bring it on!
Tags: 2009, achievement points, Buggo, Call of Duty, Co-Op, co-operative, Gears of War, Halo, Left 4 Dead, my gamer card, Resident Evil 5, Xbox 360
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January 12th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I agree, co-op games are the way forward. I’m enjoying Left 4 Dead and Gears 2. Halo 3 suffered because you couldn’t split the screen vertically (or at least I couldn’t figure out how to).
January 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
So true! I always enjoy a story driven game with a co-op partner. Unless of course it involves rail carts and crazy creatures that crawl on the ceilings attacking us!!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Well put, I was so excited to play Fable 2 co-op, it would have been one of the first good adventure RPG games that was able to be played cooperatively on a console.. but to no big surprise, they failed miserably
Im looking forward to Skate 2. While there isn’t really a “co-op” mode, it definitely is focused on multiplayer and the ability to skate and share your vid’s with friends.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I couldn’t agree more. I’ll never play Fable 2 co-op again, unless they manage to fix it in a big way.
Nothing like spending a couple hours with a friend playing co-op online. It’s great if you have friends spaced out all over the country/world too keeps you in touch without the expensive phone bill.
Mvern78
January 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I can’t wait for Resident Evil 5. RE4 was probably one of the best games I played in the last generation of systems!
January 12th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I agree, developers should spend more time on co-op. I’m not sure if it’s technically possible, but 3 or 4 player co-op should be focused on as well. Of course this depends upon the nature of the game. I know my little cousins are bored of watching me play and want to get in on the story mode.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Hard to play these games when you don’t own any gaming consoles. Sometimes I’m surprised that I call myself a geek!
January 12th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
nice! lets geek out xbox online style
January 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
I’m a Call of Duty 4 guy myself but just had to ship it out to get the red ring of death fixed.
At least I have my Whistler trip to take it off my mind!
–adam
January 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hey Allie,
I agree, co-op is great. My favorite format even – I play video games very infrequently. When I do play, it is usually with someone far better than me and it’s no fun to play against someone who has trained themselves for a fair while when I am just over for some fun and to hang out with my friend, or whatever. Sorry for the run on sentence there.
The other thing that comes to mind is that over the holidays, there is a lot of time spent with family. It would be great to be able to play video games WITH each other rather than against each other, which can lead to tension and just is not as much fun as playing together against something else. Co-op bonds, and with family that is important!
January 12th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I totally heart the co-op action I get on the PS3, so much so that I don’t really pick up a title that doesn’t have the option. Add in the fact I’m not too attached to the trophy system that Sony recently launched and I’m pretty much a-ok with the selection I have – R6V, R6V2, COD: WaW (although I’m addicted to killing Nazi Zombies now), R2 and more.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:28 am
A shout out to Left 4 Dead; so freaking addictive and fun. It’s even gotten the ‘noob’ of our zombie-slaying team into quite the skilled veteran, as it’s her first real go at an FPS game (normally a RPG player), and as of tonight we are only ONE expert campaign away from unlocking the “What are you trying to prove?” achievement.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:09 am
There are a few co-op XBLA games that come to mind.
- N+
- Geometry Wars 2
- Castle Crashers
- Aegis Wing (totally free)
Also, I had great fun with Mercs 2 with my roommate.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:56 am
Left 4 Dead is real fun; apart from Gears, it’s the only co-op 360 game I’ve played. I think it’s contributed to a developing bad back since christmas…
We need one more human player ‘cos carrying Bill, and listening to him complain when you shoot him in the back sucks!
Gav
PS: adam, what’s your gamertag? you still play a lot of COD4? I might see you on there when the old red ring is fixed…
January 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I’m going to pick up Left 4 Dead soon I hope. Just beat Gears 2 co-op and I like the CoD World at War co-op since achievment points are not a concern for me. Also, Nazi Zombie mode is addictive (why, I will never know!).
Great post, Allie!
January 15th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
David, yeah I always play online and never split screen. I’m surprised to hear that Halo 3 didn’t allow that though! Why do you like vertical vs. horizontal split?
Keith, hello co-op buddy
I agree, rail carts should be banned from all games for all time! Especially in Gears of War titles! 
lol. Can’t wait for L4D action.
Dan, what can you do in the multiplayer for Skate 2?
Matt, that’s true. I actually find it’s one of the best ways to stay in touch cheaply.
UD, I know, RE5 is gonna be SICK!!!!!!!
MJS, 3 and 4 player co-op would be great. A lot of games don’t support this at all. I think it would be harder to implement technically and story wise, but the payoff (Left for Dead styles) would be huge.
Tawcan, get a 360 so we can play!
JP, sure thing. My gamertag is Buggo, add me!
Adam, oooh sorry to hear about your RROD. Hopefully you get it back soon! Have fun at Whistler you, lucky!
Davin, it’s true.. it’s much more fun especially when there’s a big imbalance in playing skills.
Chris, I’m not a big Sony fan so I can’t relate
Do you have a 360?
Mike, yes I can’t wait to play it. Are you talking about christine?
Herbert, I don’t like co-op arcade games as much. I find they lack too much in the story and achievement point aspects
Gavin, what’s your gamertag?
josh, sounds good. I definitely want to play Nazi Zombie mode
January 15th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I’d like to get a 360 (got the PS3 as most of my family went that route), but the boss (Marnie) says no.
January 16th, 2009 at 6:19 am
The reason I prefer a vertical split is that I have a wide screen TV so on Halo 3 you get 2 very short and wide screens which is really tricky to play on. With L4D you have the choice to have two sqaure screens which works much better on a wide screen TV
January 16th, 2009 at 11:13 am
gamer tag is: afterbangUk
