![]() ![]() Playing co-operatively in a game specifically designed around co-op is an awesome experience. Which may sound irritating, but it's just fine and dandy by me. They all have single-player modes, but having an AI as your teammate isn't the optimal way to play, as more often than not the programmers see fit to have extra redundancy on the "stupid" factor for your partner, meaning their only job is to give your behind a slap when you get low on health, and resume doing all the work. But now, we've got titles like Gears of War, Left 4 Dead, and Killzone 3 which are tailor-made for co-op gaming. Capcom - so many of the AAA titles of those days focused on the versus aspect. I can also recall many evenings spent playing goldeneye and Mario Kart 64, along with many fighters on the playstation. Versus was easily as responsible for the creation of current console networking standards as co-op play. But in the in-between years, the big draw for multiplayer wasn't co-op gaming, it was the Versus mode. Having a partner to watch your back made it not only much easier to beat, it made it a lot more fun. Trying to clear Streets of Rage by yourself was an exercise in frustration, as the AI was programmed to punch you in the back whenever you started a combo up. These games were not only at their best when you played them co-operatively - they kind of sucked if you didn't. Back in the SNES/Genesis days, there was an abundance of games like Turtles in Time and Streets of Rage. ![]() It seems to me that the current generation contains a type of game that was in limbo for years : those designed specifically with co-op in mind. Much as I love my Wii, I don't turn it on when I'm planning on playing with other people. The Wii has online connectivity, but I think I can reasonably state that Microsoft and sony's online experience is far more robust. The stage was now set for the current generation of home consoles, and the networking behemoths we know as Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Phantasy Star Online even got remade for the Gamecube, which sold about as well as it had on the dreamcast. Granted, the Xbox had it built in, whereas the other two required use of a separately purchased modem, but the option was there. Not only does the game have surprising complexity, but it’ll take the same commitment and time to finish that you’d expect from a round of Risk.The big three saw the merit to online play, and so the Gamecube, PS2 and Xbox all came with internet connectivity options. It’s perfect for those who find stuff like Mario Party a tad childish or “too easy”. And others will follow suit on their turns, trying to undo your hard work until only one is victorious. Your goal is to make your way across the board capturing territory and defending it with magical beasts you acquire in the form of cards. On the surface, this 4-player board game seems pretty simple. I like bringing obscure high-quality games to the forefront when given the chance, so let’s start the list with Monopoly and Hearthstone’s secret love child – Culdcept. Go plug your dusty PS2 into your miraculously functional CRT TV and join me as we go through the most amazing multiplayer games on the console.įighters, shooters, puzzles… there’s something here for everyone, and their friends. Nothing beats having your friends in the same room, DualShocks in hand, duking it out on a fighter or trying to out-play each-other while practicing the subtle form of subterfuge that it peeking at your opponent’s screen. Huge 100-player battle arenas bringing in people from all corners of the world, all fighting to achieve the epic Victory Royale… and yet at times, it can feel as if you’re just shooting at a bunch of bots. Sure, we have some pretty amazing online multiplayer experiences nowadays. ![]() Including some of those unique and experimental ones that were so common in the sixth generation of consoles.Īmong them you can find some memorable couch-locked multiplayer experiences of the decade. Sony’s PlayStation 2 has a massive library of great games. ![]()
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