Gears of War, It Takes Two, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and so many games are remembered today for their co-op integration. For some players, the addition of co-op means everything to them, as that’s how they like to enjoy their games. With every passing day, there is assuredly an older game about to be forgotten.
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Sometimes that’s because it is hard to play them due to hardware issues, and other times it’s because the game never got its proper dues. The idea of perfection is hyperbolic, as no game is perfect. The following forgotten co-op games did a lot right to make them fun experiences for two or more players, and they deserve to be remembered, perfect or not.
Champions Of Norrath: Realms Of EverQuest
A Dark Alliance Rival
Champions of Norrath
- Released
- February 10, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen Due To Blood & Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Co-Op Options: Four Local/Online
Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest is a PS2 classic that has remained on the console since 2004. Like a Diablo game, players can choose their character and assigned class to them and then embark on a top-down action RPG adventure.
Because this is a loot-heavy game with a basic quest structure, it can be easier with a friend along for the ride. They can help take care of the enemy mobs that pop up, and being able to trade or swap gear can also be beneficial, whether players are with one or three other players.
Darksiders Genesis
The Horsemen Ride On
Darksiders Genesis
- Released
- December 5, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Co-Op Options: Two Local/Online
Darksiders Genesis is a top-down spinoff that stars War and Strife, two Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War was more melee-focused, and Strife has a long-ranged Gunner, and alone, players could choose who they wanted to be. Both gameplay types had their advantages, but when combined, these advantages became more strategic.
In co-op, one player could do close-range damage and take all the hits while the other could hang back as support, safer from enemy strikes, which was the overall smartest way to play.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2
An Homage To An RPG Juggernaut
Dragon Quest Heroes 2
- Released
- April 25, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Co-Op Options: Two-Four Online
Dragon Quest Heroes 2 was a big improvement over the original Musou-style spinoff, with stronger characters and tighter gameplay that felt more like a real Dragon Quest game, just with more action. Players can then switch between new heroes or old favorites from across the series, like Torneko from Dragon Quest 4: Chapters of the Chosen, to keep things lively as they explore the semi-open-world environments.
There is two-player co-op for the story missions to help get through maps quicker, as there are many and the goals are varied, as Musou fans will know. It’s not a matter of difficulty so much as another player can often reduce the time spent on missions by half. Plus, there is a four-player online mode with separate missions.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes Of Time
An Echo No One Can Hear
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes Of Time
- Released
- March 24, 2009
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii
- Co-Op Options: Four Online (Crossplay Between DS And Wii)
Most Final Fantasy fans remember Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles as a GameCube classic, and because it got a remaster in 2020, making it easy to play today. The same cannot be said for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time because it has not left the DS or Wii since 2009.
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Players can create their character and then eventually unlock the ability to go on co-op missions as they try and find crystal shards to restore the world’s balance. Co-op dungeons are easier with real players, as the AI party members aren’t as bright. Combat is not too difficult alone, but the ability to solve puzzles faster with teammates is one boon, along with getting to check out shortcuts that only two or more players can discover.
Full Metal Furies
Born To Be Wild
Full Metal Furies
- Released
- January 17, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Co-Op Options: Four Local/Online
Full Metal Furies is a modern beat ‘em up classic that spins the genre on its head. All four femme fatales have a different class that level up, get new weapons, and skills as they fight baddies. With all four operating at the same time, players can get a huge advantage in co-op, more so than melee-focused brawlers.
Triss has a shield for group defense, Alex has a big hammer to be the strong arm, Erin can use a pistol and send out gadgets, and Meg is the long-range sniper. Even just a combo of a melee and ranged character would be beneficial in co-op, but a four-player session is truly game-changing.
Goof Troop
We Always Stick Together
Goof Troop
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Co-Op Options: Two Local
Goof Troop is an SNES game, and one of the later Disney titles that Capcom worked on. Based on the cartoon of the same name, players can either be Goofy or his son Max, who gets trapped on a pirate island. It’s a block puzzle game wherein gadgets can help solve mysteries and get around, along with taking care of enemies.
Dealing with enemies solo is not that hard, but figuring out puzzles can be. That’s why a co-op partner can be beneficial, as two brains are better than one, and puzzles can typically be solved faster with more hands.
Killzone: Liberation
Cover-Based Tactics
Killzone: Liberation
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Co-Op Options: Two Local (Ad Hoc)
Killzone: Liberation is not like the first-person shooters of the mainline Killzone games. Instead, this is a top-down cover-based shooter, released first for the PSP, but it can now be played on the PS5.
On the PSP, players could connect their two devices together to go on missions. The enemy AI was aggressive, making cover essential. So, with an extra hand, players could take soldiers down quicker and with better precision without having to think about Game Over. Unfortunately, the PS5 port does not support co-op.
The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North
The Other Fellowship
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North
- Released
- November 1, 2011
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Snowblind Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
- Co-Op Options: Two Local/Three Online
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North is not a co-op-only game, but it almost should be because the balance is off in single-player, as the AI of the companions is not reliable. Taking place within The Lord of the Rings books, this game follows a new fellowship working in parallel to the main force of Aragorn, Frodo, and so on.
Players can play as a ranged and stealth character, Eradan, a born fighter, Farin, or a mage, Andriel. There are sections of the game that get too intense alone, leading to some tearful defeats. Even just one other player can help, especially in a later section inside a haunted forest. The best combo requires Andriel, and either Farin or Eradan would work as a second, unless players can get a third.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
And One For All
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- Co-Op Options: Four Local/Online
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One gives players the option to play as Ratchet, Clank, Captain Qwark, and Doctor Nefarious. It’s a game about heroes and villains working together in a top-down version of the gameplay most Ratchet & Clank fans will be familiar with. It’s not the hardest action platformer out there, and single-player fans should be able to get through it.
That said, this is another case wherein the enemy count always outnumbers what one player can handle without sweating, and boss battles can be more intense alone. It’s also good to play in a full party to hear the banter between all four characters.
Resident Evil Outbreak
Ahead Of Its Time
Resident Evil Outbreak
- Released
- March 31, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Co-Op Options: Four Online
Resident Evil Outbreak was a PS2 exclusive that took place between the second and third mainline games. A group of survivors had to band together in Raccoon City to make it out alive, and each playable character had a specialty or item that made them unique. While playing as a cop with a gun, Kevin seemed tempting; players were lost without support.
David is a handyman who can create and fix weapons, and Alyssa is a reporter who can pick locks, as two other examples. In an intense survival horror game where zombies are constant, and supplies are low, it’s almost impossible to get out alive alone. Resident Evil Outbreak and its sequel could have been bigger had it released on a more capable system with online connectivity than what the PS2 could offer at the time.
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