Friday, August 10, 2012

2013 PC Coop Game List

Coop Gaming 2013:


Coop list for 2014

Coop list for a different year

Rules for the following list:
  • Online or LAN, no split screens
  • Involve 2 or more human players
  • Players work along a progressive storyline, campaign, or various goals
  • Does not have to be the same as single player campaign
  • Generic RTS Skirmishes and Team based game types like CTF and Deathmatch are not included.
  • No MMOs (game must have a conclusion or set goal)
  • Greenlight games are generally not listed
  • I'll be subjective with Survival/Horde modes as the genera has matured a bit. However, most are slapped-on after thoughts and not list worthy. 

Shooters:


Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist - TPS/Stealth - 2 player - August
Video | Metacritic - 83 ]
Series continues, but with a new Sam makeover. Coop options consist of: horde mode, stealth missions, and 4 mini-campaigns.  They stick to the same formula as before, a good thing.


Dead Space 3 - FPS - 2 player
Video | Metacritic - 79 ]
Follows a modified version of the campaign. No revive system, now that's scary.  Does have elements where partner will see different aspects, then yourself.


PAYDAY 2 - FPS - 4 player
Metacritic - 79 ]
The follow to the Left 4 Dead gameplay inspired featuring cops & dealers instead of zombies. The sequel lists a continuous story line, economy, rpg level ups, and gun modifications.


ArmA 3  - FPS
Video | Metacritic - 73 ]
In the past, its been one of the most inaccessible, confusing games ever. Can this tactical shooter polish the gameplay without loosing its authentic elements that the series is known for?  Does not support Windows XP, nor video cards that can not support DX10.  DayZ not included.


Resident Evil 6 - FPS - 2 player
Video | Metacritic - 71 ]
Covers multiple characters.  Coop play feels tacked on, more then part of the story.


Dead Island: Riptide - FPS/RPG - 4 player
Video | Metacritic - 64 ]
Added a new player type (class).  Story takes off right after the originals ending.


Sniper Elite: Nazi Zombie Army - 4 player
Metacritic - 62 ]
So it would seem Hitler was doing these experiments, and created zombies.  Oops.  So now the Humies have to join together to take them down in this very original idea for a coop video game.


Zeno Clash 2  - FPS - 2 player
Metacritic - 59 ]
Ghat got sister. Rimat. Rimat got game.


Aliens: Colonial Marines - FPS - 4 player
[ Video | Metacritic - 43 ]
Its not Zombies, its Aliens. Same game play really.  Actually, based on reviews, the aliens are actually dumber then zombies.


Star Trek  - FPS - 2 player
Video | Metacritic - 40 ]
Builds from the J.J. Adams reboot of the franchise. Looks like a generic action title in the Trek Universe.


TAKEDOWN: Red Sabre - FPS - 6 player
Metacritic - 33 ]
Originally pitched as a kickstarter, the developer contributed to the original Ghost Recon Series.  Game will have old school Rainbow Six gameplay, without all the CoD fluff we see today.  Graphics look a bit dated, but on par with indie development.

Free to Play (F2P) shooters:

Warface - shooter - 5 player
[ Video | [ Metacritic - 69 ]]
Crytek's free-to-play shooter.  Promises Co-op (PvE) missions that "reward teamwork and individual skill."


Warframe - shooter
F2P.  Its a sci-fi space ninja super power shooter thing.  Its been compared to Mass Effect 3 multiplayer without the EA overhead.  Might end up MMO, but devs calling it a MMO-lite.



Blacklight: Retribution: Onslaught Mode
Metacritic - 75 ]
This F2P Futuristic MMO shooter that released last year, adds a campaign oriented zombie horde mode.  Has some Serious Sam moments.

Hawken
This mech-like-game has recently added a coop horde mode of 25 waves.  Hawken mechs are a bit too agile, resembling a bit too much like people running about, but its the closest I've seen to modern mech coop.

RPGs:

Path of Exile - ARPG - 6 player 
Metacritic - 82 ]
Free to play Diablo 2 clone.  Like original Guild Wars, cities are open to all network, while the campaign is an isolated sandbox of just your party.  Micro-transaction are mostly cosmetic.  With 6 classes and huge skill tree adds to replay-ability.


The Incredible Adventures Of Van Helsing - aRPG - 4 player
[ Video | Metacritic - 75 ]
Single player covers Van Helsing, so the coop will be a separate campaign.


Legends of Aethereus - ARPG - 4 player
[ Video | Metacritic - 45]
This game will have player city states, much like AoE:Online, however its an Action RPG, instead of a RTS.  Its not clear if this game will be a monthly fee or F2P.  Funded by the Kickstarter model.


Blood Knights - ARPG - 2 player - November
[ Metacritic - 48 ]
Campaign has jump in/out coop.  Low budget.  Storyline focus on humans vs vampires.  Gameplay looks a bit like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

Strategy:

Leviathan: Warships - Turn Based - 3 player
Metacritic - 73 ]
Paradox is trying to tap into the lost market of ship warfare.  Much like the classic The Lost Admiral.  9 missions in campaign, cross OS gameplay including mobile devices.


SimCity - Strategy
Video | Metacritic - 67 ]
Neighboring city on fire? Send your fire trucks.


Space HulkTurn Based - 2 player
Metacritic - 58 ]
Based on the board game within the 40K Warhammer Universe. Its turn-based, with many similarities to recent X-com game.  Players will each get one squad (5 pieces) to manage.


Action/Other: 


Monaco: What's Yours is Mine - arcade/strategy - 4 player
Metacritic - 83 ]
A bit of an action strategy game, This unique indie has a stealthy plan ahead stratagy, where you plan your heists, but in the end fall apart leading to a chaotic victory.  There are 8 classes to choose from, creating a diverse way to collect all the loot.


Sanctum 2  - Tower Defense, Shooter - 4 player
Video | Metacritic - 82 ]
Phase 1: You setup the Towers.  Phase 2: You fight FPS.


Saints Row IV - Action Adventure - 2 player
Metacritic - 86 ]
The series that gives you the sandbox of a GTA game, while the delivering the seriousness of a adolescence.  Not all games have to be serious.  Now with superpowers.


Ace Combat: Assault Horizon  - Arcade - 3 player
Metacritic - 77 ]
Its a arcade aerial (mostly jet) fighter game.  Allows only select campaign missions to be re-played for coop.  Meaning host must unlock them in single player. 8 missions total.


Dungeonland  - Action - 3 player 
Metacritic - 67 ]
No relation to the AD&D module.  A cartoon Gauntlet hack & slash style game that mimics boredom.  0 RPG elements.




God Mode - Action/Arcade - 4 player
Metacritic - 60 ]
Pure action 3rd person shooter, upgrade component, "humor", little story.  Based around ancient Greek Gods.  How original.


Sacred Citadel - Platformer - 3 player
[ Video | Metacritic - 61 ]
Old school action side-scroller.  Good for people that dropped way to many quarters when these were popular in the arcade days.


Narco Terror - arcade - 2 player
Metacritic - 50 ]
A top down shooter, to tap into your nostalgia.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows - 4 player
Metacritic - 38 ]
"skill-based combat system built around combo-driven action" based on the current TMNT animation series.


2013 Summary:
10 Titles delayed
5 Titles cancelled
11 Shooters averaging a score of 62
4 F2P Shooters
4 RPG averaging a score of 63
 All RPGs were Action button smasher RPGs.
3 Strategy averaging 66

Highest Meta Rating: Saints Row IV
Lowest Meta Rating: TAKEDOWN: Red Sabre

The Losers:
Apparently games based on Tv/Movies don't work...uh-huh.  F2P games tack on Coop modes, in attempt to rake in a new audience to nickel and dime.  


Biggest Let Down: Aliens: Colonial Marines
Other Let Downs:  Space Hulk

The Meh:
Shooters, still unable to deliver a 90+ Metacritic score coop experience. The newest Splinter Cell gets a good rating, but falls short in delivering a very long coop component, a far cry from what it had been for the series.  


As for RPG, Path of Exile get a lot of love too, but mostly because the RPGs of 2013 were nonexistent.  At its roots, its still a mindless button masher with a forgettable story. Path of Exile

The Winners:
Non-Traditional /Indie funded Games get much of the Coop attention this year. In fact, many indies are ranking in Game of the Year Awards from online review sites.  No big surprise (and no complaints), that this bleeds over to coop.  Hybrid tower-defense/shooters are here to stay.  

Surprise of the Year: Monaco: What's Yours is Mine

Highest MC Rating: Saints Row IV

Coop list for 2014


Last update: December 2013

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