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Good Co-op single screen games

milehighmilehigh Registered User regular
edited June 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
So my girlfriend has recently expressed interest in co-op multiplayer games. Stuff we can play at the same time and not be fighting each other (on the couch type stuff) I've tried to get her into Animal Crossing, but she really doesn't like the idea of playing something by herself.

My first thought was Baldur's Gate 2 Dark Alliance for the PS2 or FF: Crystal Chronciles. It seems that the former is now quite hard to get ahold of minus Ebay and the latter still requires more hardware than I like to play. Fantasy games (and not super twitch based) are preferred, but I suppose party type games would be acceptable. Consoles are wide open as I have a backwards compatible PS3, 360 and a Wii.

Thanks in advance!

milehigh on

Posts

  • jclastjclast Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    LEGO games are good coop platformers. X-Men Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance are good coop brawler RPGs. Fable 2 has coop, but one of you will be a henchman instead of a hero. And there is always GH/Rock Band if you don't mind buying plastic guitars.

    Oh, and it is competitive, but Scene It is a good party game, too.

    jclast on
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu PIGEON Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    You could team up in Worms against AI teams.

    TychoCelchuuu on
  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Gears of War has pretty good split screen co-op.

    Darkewolfe on
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  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    If you like shmups, Wii has a few solid ones, and they're all co-op. Castle Shikigami 3 is a bit on the hardcore side though.

    There's also light gun shooters like Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles and Ghost Squad.

    cj iwakura on
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  • OrogogusOrogogus San DiegoRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    I think Viva Pinata has some kind of kiddy co-op mode where both players can control the same cursor, nd that they put in a more normal two player co-op mode in the sequel. I'm not sure.

    The Dynasty Warriors games might be okay? They're fantasy-ish, anyway.

    Fable 2? One player would be the sidekick and the sidekick can't get items and is generally gimped compared to the main, but maybe she doesn't care.

    www.co-optimus.com also suggests the following possibilities on the 360, but I don't know much about them:

    Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
    Spiderwick Chronicles
    Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
    Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
    Samurai Warriors 1 & 2
    Tales of Vesperia
    Kameo: Elements of Power
    Kung Fu Panda (which I hear was actually pretty good)
    Hellboy: The Science of Evil
    Eragon
    Eternal Sonata
    Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
    Avatar: The Last Air Bender The Burning Earth

    ===

    I know even less about the other platforms, but Co-Optimus has lists for them, too.

    Orogogus on
  • The Black HunterThe Black Hunter The key is a minimum of compromise, and a simple, unimpeachable reason to existRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Dynasty warriors?

    The Black Hunter on
  • jclastjclast Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bols does not have split screen coop.

    jclast on
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  • DjiemDjiem Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    On the virtual console, Bubble Bobble (NES) has very solid co-op.

    Djiem on
  • pogo mudderpogo mudder Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    me and my friend often hook up a lan connection or use hamatchi if we're in different houses to play BG2 co-op, oh good god there is no better game out there!

    starwars battle front 1 and 2 are kind of fun and cool, but can be a bit aggrivating using the joypad
    and as jclast said the lego star wars games are cool
    and if you happen to access to a game called jediknight power battles, that has amazingly good co op, i played it on the dreamcast but im sure they made a PS2 version.

    wow i had no idea i liked starwars that much

    pogo mudder on
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  • JHunzJHunz Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Earth Defense Force 2017 has amazing co-op.

    JHunz on
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  • RazielRaziel Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    I like playing Metal Slug Anthology (wii) in co-op mode. Throw it on unlimited continues and you're basically good for some mindless fun.

    Raziel on
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  • solsovlysolsovly Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Cookies and Cream for the PS2. It should be dirt cheap. I probably wouldn't want to actually finish it as the end gets annoying. It's designed to be played two players. Light puzzle solving and some platforming required.

    solsovly on
  • DHS OdiumDHS Odium Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    You mentioned Baldur's Gate II for PS2. Keep in mind the first one is also co-op, and dirt cheap at GameStop. There's also the two Champions of Norrath games, on the same engine and made by the same devs as BG1 (console version), and much better. I played through with my girl and she loved it.

    Other games I've played with my fiance:
    PixelJunk Monsters
    PixelJunk Eden
    Gears of War 1+2
    Resident Evil 5
    Halo series

    For fantasy though, definitely check out Champions of Norrath. I've been unable to find its sequel though.

    DHS Odium on
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  • Hahnsoo1Hahnsoo1 Make Ready. We Hunt.Registered User, Moderator, Administrator admin
    edited May 2009
    Sacred 2 is going to be released soon for consoles (360 and PS3, I believe), and it has same screen 2-player co-op (and 4-player online co-op). It has pretty wonky mechanics, but it's graphically gorgeous. And you get mounts. Generic Hack-and-slash, fun for two people.

    Hahnsoo1 on
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  • DeathPrawnDeathPrawn Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    The XBLA version of N+ has co-op. It ruins relationships, however.

    DeathPrawn on
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  • Gilbert0Gilbert0 North of SeattleRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    For some PS3 games, my g/f and I have played all the Lego games they are good fun. The Star Wars and Batman ones are the best. Also LittleBigPlanet is good too. Next on our list is probably Mario Galaxy for Wii and any other decent platformers we can get.

    Gilbert0 on
  • bsjezzbsjezz Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    you will play pixeljunk monsters together for hours

    bsjezz on
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  • Brodo FagginsBrodo Faggins Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    How has no one said Castle Crashers? Two of my housemates' girlfriends are absolutely in love with it.

    Brodo Faggins on
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  • happy cabbagehappy cabbage Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Age of Empires(1-3) are a good choice. You might also consider the halo series. Fable 2 while not the best, is decent.

    happy cabbage on
  • shadydentistshadydentist Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Loooode runnnerrrr
    (lode runner)

    shadydentist on
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  • necroSYSnecroSYS Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2009
    All of the later Gauntlet games would be a good choice (Dark Legacy, Seven Sorrows), as well as the Dungeons and Dragons game.

    Really, I'd try to eBay the first BG2: Dark Alliance, though. It's the best of breed for that kind of game.

    Someone also said Castle Crashers, which is a good choice.

    Resident Evil 5's a new entry into the same-screen co-op, but they really did an amazing job integrating it from the ground up.

    If you don't mind buying the peripherals, Rock Band (2), and the Guitar Hero titles offer hours and hours of replayable co-op fun (and are good party games too).

    necroSYS on
  • SanguineAngelSanguineAngel Lord Centre of the UniverseRegistered User regular
    edited May 2009
    Okay, speaking from experience here, as my girlfriend and I like to play the old co-op quite a lot (plus she likes to hand me my ass in Street Fighter!!!) I would recommend:

    Wii:

    Mario Kart - racing is fun online and you can do team races.
    Trauma Center is a ton of fun, i think this is one of our new favourites
    Smash Bros. co-op story is fun

    - Mario galaxy is not, in my opinion, not great co-op. basically a second person can have a "pointer" on screen and collect more gems.

    PS3:

    Sega Megadrive Ultimate Collection: Has a ton of awsome games on there, lots of co-op including streets of rage and golden axe and BONANZA BROS!!! (that's our fave on there)
    As previously stated, the legos are a lot of fun. Indy is the best, then star wars and I think batman is probably not quite as good as either.
    Some of the older PS2 games are good! The PS3 doesn't like to do mp on the same console so much! bit of a shame cos some of these games are awsome.

    You have a 360 - I don't but I know left4dead is on there. Can you do split screen? Or does it need two consoles?


    Thems is my thoughts.

    SanguineAngel on
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  • necroSYSnecroSYS Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited May 2009
    You have a 360 - I don't but I know left4dead is on there. Can you do split screen? Or does it need two consoles?

    That wouldn't really work for the OP, since he's looking for single-screen co-op games.

    necroSYS on
  • TrentusTrentus Registered User regular
    edited May 2009
    jclast wrote: »
    LEGO games are good coop platformers.

    Be wary though. The minute you try to move slightly too far out of the field of view, drag the camera with you and accidentally knock your friend off of a bottomless ledge, it is so ON! Eventually you'll be knocking each other to pieces because when one of you died, the other decided to pick up all the dropped studs, and even though they're all thrown into the pot at the end of the level, they still want them back.

    With that said, I can't stress how much fun I had playing through the lego games with friends.

    Trentus on
  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User, Transition Team regular
    edited June 2009
    Raziel wrote: »
    I like playing Metal Slug Anthology (wii) in co-op mode. Throw it on unlimited continues and you're basically good for some mindless fun.

    Sorry for the necropost, but which Metal Slug games on Anthology are considered "the good ones"? I seem to remember the gaming community at large thinking that some of them are great while others are not.

    Delzhand on
  • cj iwakuracj iwakura The Rhythm Regent Bears The Name FreedomRegistered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Delzhand wrote: »
    Raziel wrote: »
    I like playing Metal Slug Anthology (wii) in co-op mode. Throw it on unlimited continues and you're basically good for some mindless fun.

    Sorry for the necropost, but which Metal Slug games on Anthology are considered "the good ones"? I seem to remember the gaming community at large thinking that some of them are great while others are not.

    I believe 3's considered the best, while 5 is also enjoyable.

    cj iwakura on
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  • I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell UpI'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    ooh my god you can play gamecube games get tales of symphonia

    I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up on
  • TofystedethTofystedeth Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Okay, speaking from experience here, as my girlfriend and I like to play the old co-op quite a lot (plus she likes to hand me my ass in Street Fighter!!!) I would recommend:

    Wii:

    Mario Kart - racing is fun online and you can do team races.
    Trauma Center is a ton of fun, i think this is one of our new favourites
    Smash Bros. co-op story is fun

    - Mario galaxy is not, in my opinion, not great co-op. basically a second person can have a "pointer" on screen and collect more gems.


    You have a 360 - I don't but I know left4dead is on there. Can you do split screen? Or does it need two consoles?


    Thems is my thoughts.
    360- Halo 1/2/3 Co-Op?

    Wii- Smash Bros as said above. Either GC or Wii version. Beatin up on the computer is fun!
    Mariokart DoubleDash Driver and gunner action! You can also just have unwritten codes of conduct wherein you don't attack each other during races and just keep the comps out of 1st and 2nd place. That's how I always played with my friends.

    Tofystedeth on
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  • HyperAquaBlastHyperAquaBlast Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Wii- House of the Dead: Overkill. Its fucking delicious. Critics say it fucking good. Other critics say its motherfucking good.

    Seriously its a fun light gun game with co-op and you shoot zombies. Just beware it drops f-bombs to the point where it stops being funny and just stupid. But its fun co-op and the music is awesome.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAicftg5U7E

    HyperAquaBlast on
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  • SandersSanders Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    necroSYS wrote: »
    You have a 360 - I don't but I know left4dead is on there. Can you do split screen? Or does it need two consoles?

    That wouldn't really work for the OP, since he's looking for single-screen co-op games.


    I doubt the OP literally meant that, unless his GF is amazingly picky, as just about everyone else took it as no system link or online play, just one console and one TV.

    This generation has been severely lacking in this department due to online gaming, but I have to second Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise. Allows for two people to work on a garden together and the game is severely under appreciated due to the cartoon tie-in, but the game play and requirements for certain pinatas get very deep.

    Sanders on
  • ErandusErandus Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    X-Men and/or Marvel Ultimate Alliance games are all single screen. Plus she'll probably recognize some of the superheroes and there's a few lady supers she can choose to play as. Also, they're fun as fuck.

    Edit: totally missed that they were both mentioned in the 1st reply. :D Consider this a 2nd vote for those games.

    Mario Party 8 is really fun on the Wii, and there is a co-op 2v2 mode.

    Erandus on
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  • TDawgTDawg Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    ooh my god you can play gamecube games get tales of symphonia

    I found that the camera in co-op mode for this game was obnoxious and prevented the game from being seriously played. However, the idea is a good one, and in its place I would recommend either Tales of Vesperia (360) or Tales of the Abyss (PS2) (if both are an option, I recommend starting with Vesperia). The combat system can get fast and frantic, but each character has a different way of controlling. Some characters are speedy and intense, but other magic or long-range characters can fight at a more leisurely pace, so simply finding one that works for either of you shouldn't be terribly hard.

    The largest problem I can see with either of these games is the long cutscenes and dungeons, which may not be terribly stimulating from a co-op perspective. As a redeeming factor for this, the games have a decent sense of humor, which could help the cutscenes go down a bit easier. Still, the only time you will both be able to play is in the battles, and because both games take a while to really get the plot moving, you won't have all of the characters for the first few hours of gameplay.


    tl;dr Tales of Vesperia (360) or Tales of the Abyss (PS2)

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  • SpamSpam Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Sanders wrote: »
    necroSYS wrote: »
    You have a 360 - I don't but I know left4dead is on there. Can you do split screen? Or does it need two consoles?

    That wouldn't really work for the OP, since he's looking for single-screen co-op games.


    I doubt the OP literally meant that, unless his GF is amazingly picky, as just about everyone else took it as no system link or online play, just one console and one TV.

    This generation has been severely lacking in this department due to online gaming, but I have to second Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise. Allows for two people to work on a garden together and the game is severely under appreciated due to the cartoon tie-in, but the game play and requirements for certain pinatas get very deep.

    You can do split screen co-op on left4dead on the 360. Only 2 players per console, though it still works with xbox live which is nice (one time I did the campaign with me and flatmate splitscreen on one console, friend and his gf splitscreen on another).

    Spam on
  • SammyFSammyF Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Mrs. SammyF replaced my broken XBox 360 last night so we could start in on Fable II together. Being able to play a female = super important to her. Who knew?

    added: castle crashers is hilarious and cute and available over XBLA

    SammyF on
  • RyeRye Registered User regular
    edited June 2009
    I was in the same position you're in.

    The following are good solutions:

    Phantasy Star Online (Gamecube Version) - up to 4 player split screen, co-op
    Baldures Gate 2, Dark Alliance - Mentioned already
    Gauntlet Games - Mentioned already
    Champions of Norrath and CoN, Return to Arms - Almost exactly the same as Baldure's Gate, only different story, characters, skills etc. Made on the same basic engine.
    Mario Strikers - Hard soccer game... Lotsa fun using co-op.
    Any of the Tales games - Mentioned already, although they're not my cup of tea.
    Dynasty Warriors - Mentioned already. Good old fashioned Carnage.
    Secret of Mana - On Wii virtual Console. Great RPG, simple and fun. Will take ~ 2 hours of playing before you get the second party member though, so keep that in mind.

    Heroes of Might and Magic 3 - Old pc game with hot seat action. High fantasy, lots of fun. Lots of maps and content to play.

    Rye on
  • DunxcoDunxco Should get a suit Never skips breakfastRegistered User regular
    edited June 2009
    Just about any 16-bit Sonic game can be found on virtual consoles, or compilation packs. Just get 2, 3, or 3 & Knuckles and you're good to go. There's so much more depth to it when working alongside a playable Tails.

    Dunxco on
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