Summary
IfElectronic Artsknows one thing, it’s how to make a compelling multiplayer experience. Their rival series toCall of Duty,Battlefield, is ranked among the top multiplayer games consistently on various online networks like PSN or Steam. There is cooperation between players in those games, but they are more open-ended.
Then some games have multiplayer as an option, likeMass Effect 3. These examples are good multiplayer modes, but they’re nowhere near as compelling as true co-op experiences with integrated stories. From smaller indie titles to more robust AAA features, these co-op games would be great to play with family or friends.
Army of Twowas the first game in what would become a trilogy on consoles, with the gameplay revolving around co-op, as players could jump into the role of mercenary agents Salem or Rios. It was a typical cover shooter, but there was an aggro mechanic that allowed one player to attract the attention of enemies while another used the element of surprise.
Between levels, players could upgrade weaponry, including gold-plating guns to bling out the battlefield. It wasn’t highbrow storytelling, but it did have memorable couch co-op experiences for the Xbox 360 era.
Dead Space 3was the first mainline game to include co-op in the campaign. On this mission, story mainstay Isaac Clarke was joined by John Carver, a soldier who was tasked with escorting him. Multiplayer was online only, despite the era still supporting split-screen experiences.
Multiplayer aside, instead of focusing on another space adventure, most ofDead Space 3took place ona frozen planet. This gave the experience a new type of horror to deal with and thus made some situations more intense.
DeathSpankis a forgotten digital trilogy from this early HD era. This first game, and the others, were all top-downaction games akin toDiablo,as loot was emphasized. Comedy was another big feature as the story was wild.
DeathSpunkwas largely about magical underwear, which is not something a lot of games cover. For co-op, someone locally could jump into a campaign, although their contributions were limited, like not being able to get into the whole loot system.
A Way Outis a rare co-op-only game from EA. Players can play either locally with somegood old-fashioned couch co-opor online though, so at least it’s a bit more open. The game begins with two convicts trying to break out of jail and the ensuing adventure that follows.
Like the show24,A Way Outused a lot of split-screen storytelling, which felt innovative and cinematic at the time for a game. There’s a good balance between action and stealth segments, from hiding from police spotlights to gunning down an entire crime lord’s compound.
Wild Heartsis a clone of theMonster Hunterformulain that the game focuses on fighting boss-like creatures. Players could team up in parties of three online to takedown these ferocious beasts.
There are a few things that make it unique compared to theMonster Hunterseries. First, players could build contraptions during battle from walls to knock out monsters to windmills to help players glide around the battlefield. The other interesting thing was that monsters evolved through battle, going into fugue states of power.
The firstUnravelgame was single-player only, featuring a yarned-up character aptly named Yarny. The sequel,Unravel Two, added local co-op. It’s a platformer, but one that focuses on puzzles rather than hair-raising action akin toa 2DMariogame.
Players would have to work together to move forward, using yarn to often thwart obstacles like using thread to yank rocks around. It’s a short little adventure that looked great, given that it used the idea of crafting materials well in the real world.
EA has somegood games based on movies,but some of the best have to be their contribution toThe Lord of the Rings.The Two Towersdidn’t have co-op, but it did have multiple characters and a simple but effective leveling up system. That system carried forward into the sequel which also featured co-op.
It would be great to one day haveThe Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersandThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingin a modern-day collection. It seems impossible given the rights to the movies, but one never knows.
It Takes Twois from the same developers asA Way Out, Hazelight Studios, who seemingly love theidea of co-op-focused games. This one was a platformer technically, although the mini-games ran the gamut from platforming around segments to playing video games within video games.
It Takes Twowas about a couple on the edge of divorce and their child wished them into puppets, then the game goes through a trial to help solve their marital issues. Besides the rapid-fire gameplay ideas that kept every second fresh, players also clung to the realism of this couple. This combination is what led toIt Takes Twogetting good reviews and many awards in 2021.
