Co-op Campaigns

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I don't understand the immense love for co-op campaigns. My friend often plays a game and will go "This would be better with co-op" and I have to disagree with him.

Especially on games like Metro 2033 or Mass Effect... These have strong singleplayer storylines. Adding a second person to dick around wouldn't make it more fun in my opinion. In games like crackdown and mercenaries it's just added fun and I think a co-op really shines through when the co-op campaign has been specially made (like the splinter cell co-op campaign).

What are your opinions on co-op?
Should it be tacked on for endless madness or should it have some thought but into in?

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[Anah'ya]

Co-Op campaigns where Co-Op campaigning makes sense.

An example would be the Splinter Cell Conviction Co-Op. A separate campaign built around two unique characters. That, or a squad based game the likes of Gears of War / Left 4 Dead.

A heavily story driven game like Metro or Mass Effect would not work, as the games are just not designed for having another player d*ck around in your world. Not even if they would take over control of a squad member in ME. Actually, especially not when they do that. That would be just so wrong.

 

[Cabisco]

It's really game dependant, but I love co-op personally. Normally I think if a game has multiplayer it should normally have co-op also, I find it really fun beating the computer with friends.

 

[L4hlborg]

A game clearly designed for multiplayer, that has a singleplayer campaign with no story at all needs co-op. If the game doesn't have a story, it probably doesn't mind that a random person comes out of nowhere to join the fun. Modern Warfare 2, for instance, is a game that could have used full co-op campaign.

But who the hell would want Mass Effect with co-op? The combat is not exactly the main part in the game. And torturing the other player to death by choosing dialogue options he/she would never choose and is completely against they're moral code or something wouldn't make the game more fun.

 

[Johnny Cain]

I don't consider a game a complete product anymore without it.
So many games in the last two years have been crying out for an (offline) co-operative mode.
Those same games have withered to me and don't hold as much prestige as other titles. For example, I still play 'Left 4 Dead' (both iterations) and quickly abandoned Metro 2033.

Red Dead Redemption is a game I stopped playing without completing because it became dull to play alone. They've missed a perfect opportunity since every single mission has you alongside an NPC. Yes I am aware of the co-op DLC coming out but signs point to that being online only, so that's no good.

 

[SplashyAxis]

Yeah, I don't understand the love of co-op campaigns either. It works very well if you're doing nothing but running around and shooting things or blowing stuff up, like Left 4 Dead.

If you play a campaign by yourself, and then with someone else, it's just not the same, especially if the other person wants to do nothing but run through the levels as fast as possible and not explore or experience the story.

I just like playing games by myself anyway, so I can play it how I want to and not worry about anyone else, so I'm just against co-op on personal preference.

However the one exception is Resident Evil 5. It's worse playing without another person, because the AI for Sheva is just plain bad. You need another human controlling her, otherwise it's frustrating.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

I like a co-op campaign when it has the ability for local multiplayer. Games like Borderlands and Splinter Cell: Conviction are some of the few newer games that still support that.

However games that also specifically tailor towards co-op like Crackdown are also pretty fun.

I have heard all kinds of arguments about certain games being good with co-op. While I would love to see something like Oblivion or Fallout 3 with co-op, I can't help but know that it would effectively break the game most likely. Stuff like Mass Effect definitely wouldn't work. Mass Effect is a highly story oriented game and generally that seems to lack when you add in an extra section that would be co-op only, but I'd have faith in Bioware if anybody to do it right. After you get through that you'd have to deal with how combat works in the game and ultimately I just see it being more of a hassle than anything.

The option of co-op is nice, but not ultimately necessary. If you can hammer out an amazing single-player experience I will be content, but don't throw in a half-assed co-op mode for the hell of it.

 

[latenightapplepie]

Yeah, I have to agree with the OP. Co-op, for me at least, has mostly been a buddy (or a brother) and me screwing around having bucketloads of silly fun.

Yes I am aware of the co-op DLC coming out but signs point to that being online only, so that's no good.

Released late last month, actually. But yes, online only. It was free, though.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Co op is fine, as long as it's optional.

 

[Valkyrie101]

I love co-op. Obviously not for games like Mass Effect, but in some it works brilliantly.

 

[llew]

i like co-op if im with a friend, hate it with randomers tbh. but when with a friend we either dick about by sprinting head-first into the fray or play with our enemies before killing them or we get really tactical and rape

 

[Shockolate]

I don't mind, as long as it isn't split-screen.

I fucking HATE split-screen.

/flameshield

 

[hazabaza1]

I love Co-op splitscreen so long as it fits. In story based games, it's a no-no, in a game like Gears of War, yes please.

 

[Rayansaki]

Any game that has at least 1 more character present at all times should have co-op. It won't diminish the quality of the game if you want to go single player so it doesn't affect you, and those who like to play co-op with friends or even strangers, can do it.

Great example is Transformers: WFC, AI partners are immortal but retarded, playing co-op means more difficult to stay alive because you can't use them as shields as they also die, but adds for a (usually) smart partner that actually does more than stand and shoot blanks.

 

[tombman888]

i enjoy OFFLINE co-op. sitting with a friend on the the couch going around and solving puzzles and fighting enemies together is a great time. Last co-op game i played was TLOSOTD and the it was great fun to have to work together instead of having to switch between the two characters. i wouldn't let my friend be Cynder... I am ALWAYS Cynder.

 

[Anah'ya]

i enjoy OFFLINE co-op. sitting with a friend on the the couch going around and solving puzzles and fighting enemies together is a great time.

What he said.

Even though not applicable to every single game form out there, Co-Op is immensely fun. Especially when you're in the company of someone whose.. err.. fun too. On the other hand I don't think its such a good idea to end up with a game thats frustrating should you not be able to find an appropriate partner.

I rather like games I can still play alone without cursing the AI every few minutes.

 

[Rusty Bucket]

I can think of very few games that wouldn't be improved by including co-op. It's the best way to enjoy a game, in my opinion. Sure, I'll play through campaigns solo for the experience, but when I want to have fun, co-op is always the best way.

Some games I've played over the last year or so have been crying out for co-op. Things like Just Cause 2, Prototype and Red Faction Guerilla would have been so much fucking fun with a friend in the game along with you.

 

[Mr Thin]

As you say, it's all about the game.

RPG where personal choice changes the game (e.g. Mass Effect)? No.

FPS where flanking and combined maneuvers are of great help, and AI are next to useless in that regard (e.g. Modern Warfare)? Yes.

Gears of War? Yes.

Chaos Theory? Yes.

Assassin's Creed? Arguably no, but I would have a heart attack and die of love if they did it.

Playing games with friends is fun. Having them in the same room (when you're on the same side at least) is even funner.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

its not possible in every game

especially mass effect, OP, who the FUCK suggested that? i have never seen or heard that one before

but just about 90% of shooters could easily make a co op game if needed, if you wanna play single player you dont even need to have a shitty AI with you instead of a live person, but really Co-op is one of the few beauties about console

i haven't seen one in a long time, but i'd love if they'd implement a co op rpg (not fable's bullcrap, good that the are thinking that way but ti was still crap) because me and a few of my friends LOVE rpg's but we always end up having to play seperately