What Happened to Couch Co-op?

Art by Torren Mitchell

   This is something that has been written about already, but if the world can have a million different articles on Ferguson that all depict a variation of the same event, then another piece on the death of local cooperative play in video games shouldn't be a problem.

   I love co-op. I play Call of Duty's Nazi Zombies all the time with my roommates. I've mentioned before my affection for Star Wars Battlefront and the memories of split screen with my brother. In fact, one of the first things I do when I look at a game to rent or buy is to check the back cover, hoping to see the fabled "1-4 players local" instead "2-963 players online."
 
   I'm sorry gaming community (I'm not though) but the majority of people who play online are fucking idiots. People play music through their headsets, hack the game mechanics, call each other various expletives, and are all around cunts to each other. And for what? Because Sn1perGhostSh0t took your kill? The overall atmosphere of online gaming is frankly embarrassing. So the lack of local play saddens me; I'd much rather play a game with a friend, in person, next to me, that way if he is being an asshole I can punch him.

   All jokes aside, the lack of modern and mainstream titles carrying local play is threatening the fiber of which gaming was formed. People no longer meet up at the arcade, they no longer see a high score to beat. All you get now is a leaderboard that someone hacked to be at the top of. While online multiplayer could be argued as an encouragement for gaming to be a social activity, I argue the opposite. Why else is there a mute option available on in-game chat? Couch co-op is a formation of friendship. I would not be friends with some of my dearest associates if not for co-op. When your buddy passes up a legendary item so you can have it, you know you can count on that guy. When you're willing to sacrifice your character's life and awesome weapons so your friend can keep playing, you've transcended petty competition and entered into what gaming is about: fun.

   When a game has a split screen mode, the graphics get dialed down and maybe the game play changes a bit. I'm here to tell developers to take the fucking hit in graphics, to delay the game a few months, and implement co-op. You will increase the replay value, the customer appeal, and people will forge memories over your game. YouTube is full of gamer highlights of people doing shit online; it's a dime a dozen. I don't remember the shit I did on Call of Duty's multiplayer. I do remember the time my friend and I beat the first Borderlands together, and the second. I recall playing the very first Nazi Zombie map on my friend's tiny TV, how we declared a part of the map "The Alamo" and fucking died there 87 times. I remember teaching my girlfriend to play a shooting game and her yelling at me not to shoot her, and then promptly lighting me up with an assault rifle. And who would have thought that the Resident Evil series would become a co-op staple? Now that's some good co-op, up until your partner puts down his controller because: "Naw man, I don't like spiders."

   Online multiplayer and co-op has the potential for those moments, and it is a great feature. My brother is a couple of states away, and I really appreciate online play because it gives me the ability to connect with him. But when games have online co-op and not couch co-op, it really bothers me. It's almost as if game companies just want more people to purchase the game (I said as if like that there's a possibility of it being untrue lol). This is a mistake. Because nothing beats being able to look over at a friend or loved one and say: "We did it! High five!" or "Holy shit!" or "Fuck this game let's drink instead." Friendship is more important than pwning some ten year old from Canada.

   Also, I really like killing my friends. It's really satisfying to hear a pal scream "OH COME ON!" as you do Sub Zeros spine rip fatality.

The Greatest Game Console of All Time

  Sony's PlayStation 2 is the greatest console ever made.

  I have to admit, I'm a little biased in the writing of this. The PlayStation 2 was my first major game console. My little brother and I received my uncle's when he upgraded to the PS3; before that we had no console. Before that gaming to us was something we did only occasionally and left us craving more; to the point where I made friendships simply to play video games. (seriously who hasn't been friends with someone only because they had a cool toy?)

   So when we hauled the original PlayStation 2 upstairs to our bedroom and plugged it in, we were hooked. I played Resident Evil 4 religiously, and it was my first experience beating a difficult game in its completion, and still holds high rank in my top games. We played Star Wars Battlefront like Dorito munchers play Call of Duty: constantly. My brother played NCAA football games, using the only play his young mind could comprehend, the Hail Mary. He always beat me, too.

   Nostalgia aside, why is the PS2 the best console? Two. Fucking. Words.

   Backwards compatibility. Yep, yep, and yep. My dad had the original Playstation, and he refused to lament that the PS2 was any better, so we already had a stack of games to play. Fighting Force, Mortal Kombat, a weird shooting game I can't remember but I died all the damn time, Road Rash; we had a library available to us from a past purchase and it was great. Modern systems lack this feature and it is painful. Spend $400 on a PS4 and can you play your library of PS3 games? No. Well, you can re-buy a remastered edition of a game you already own, or purchase it for download, but you can't play YOUR game unless you hook up the system. And while that in itself is not an issue, it is when the consoles are so expensive that normal people can't afford to buy a console AND a game at the same time.

   Some would say: "Shut up you "insert expletive", you bought a new system, play new games. Okay, I can understand that. But here I am, a new PS4 owner, and I'm asking... where are the games? In the rush to push the PS4 out for the holiday season, it seems Sony (and Xbox, this argument goes for both systems) forgot the games.

   There were a few launch titles, but nothing really catching, nothing that screamed MUST play. Since I've gotten my PS4 I've purchased games simply to have something to play on my super cool system. I can't be the only one who has felt this. Dying Light has been the only game to come out so far that isn't a remaster that sounds mildly enticing. The GTA V remaster was cool, but it's a game I beat almost a year ago. (Also, where are heists? Should I just get Battlefield Hardline for heist mode?)

   Backwards compatibility would've fixed this. I love Heavy Rain and the Mass Effect Series, and would've been ecstatic to play them on my PS4. I really think backwards compatibility is a big reason that the PS2 sold so well, so much better than the Xbox. It mitigated risk in the consumer eye; if you had games you still wanted to play, you could play them. If your current system was getting old, you could upgrade and still have your games.

   The PS2 also had a huge variety of titles. Go to any GameStop that still sells PS2 games and I guarantee you'll find a game or developer you've never heard of. The selection is huge; my brother and I use to by stacks at a time, beat them, and trade them in for more. GameStop robbed us blind with their trade in values, but we didn't care. A lot of those developers and studios have closed, and I think it is a shame. Gaming today is turning bland because of the lack of variety, although indie games are working to change that.

   Another thing; couch co-op. I could write an entire post (fuck it, I will) about this. Gaming for me has always been a social activity. Invite a buddy over, fatality his stupid face, and have a good time. Racing your friends, shooting your friends, choke slamming your friends, playing with your friend when he or she is right next to you is one of the things that makes gaming great. I played Dark Alliance with a buddy for twelve hours straight and it was the best day of my childhood.

   I understand that other consoles have or had great libraries, and backwards compatibility. But, in my opinion, nothing will top the PS2. I love that damn thing, all the way down to the jarring blast of sound when you turn the fucker on.

(2017 update: Heavy Rain did come out later for the PS4. And the games library did pick up steam. Kudos game developers.)