I'm in the need for a game type. I want something that feels and works like the 4 player coop of left 4 dead. This game is an excellent FPS yet fosters extensive cooperation in close quarters. FPS war games in general are great and when a well built coop game play is built in, it just makes the game replayability and value so much better.
COD games started coming out w/ the zombie gametype where up to 4 people work together to stay alive as long as possible. This game types was a lot of fun, and many people enjoyed that almost more than the standard online versus mode. GOW II, BC2 Onslaught, Halo Firefight and other similar 'stand off' games are excellent. However, these games start to lose a bit of fun through repetitive game play. Map packs that bring new content are usually snatched up by the hardcore fan base right away. Red Dead Redemption had a fun 4 player coop add on pack that was free and well made for adding bonus value to the game.
A game I played a while ago called Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising had a great 4 player cooperative gameplay to it. The game itself was not highly aesthetically appealing, but the concept and some of the gameplay were just awesome. A new Operation Flashpoint: Red River will be coming out in April and I really look forward to hearing about its 4 player coop. I believe the game is built like left 4 dead where its built around 4 players working together simultaneously.
I really really hope Battlefield 3 has a strong coop game play to it. Whether its built into the campaign naturally or if they possibly build a side coop campaign like Splinter Cell Conviction did that would be sweet. If they create an add on game type like MW2 Spec Ops, then that is acceptable as well and I hope it poses a great challenge.
Now that I think of it actually, I believe I can say I really prefer 4 player coop or any coop type that is more than 2 people. There is some deeper satisfaction knowing you're working a group towards your objective or goals in game. The best part of the 4 player split is that you can choose to only try the 2 man tactic and it should provide an almost new challenge for you to overcome in the same game.
It seems like most of the arcade games that are coming out for PSN and XBLA are built around 4 player coop functionality. They can work 4 player local or online gaming and most of these are simple but really fun games. Some of them like Zombie Apocalypse are cheesy, but quite satisfying when 4 people are mowing zombies down relentlessly.
Are there any coop games that are really popular I have not yet tried? I'm sure I'm not even remember the names of other games I played in the past, but I can say I crave more and more. I'm really only playing games at all these days that are online capable and I can join up with many friends at a time. My motivation to play games just doesn't find any satisfaction playing single player campaigns anymore. I've got a small backlog of games I'm just neglecting and hating it. I can't bring myself to play them and I instantly will jump in to a game a friend is playing.
Well, I skipped on Homefront for now b/c its almost like another BC2, so I hope Operation Flashpoint: Red River is a strong game that is received well. I hope the game is good and helps me suppress my itch for more quality coop.
Edit 3/26/2011: Ha, awesome timing. I happened to find this article posted today as well! Very good stuff. http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/711264/the-future-of-co-op-why-gameplay-needs-to-evolve/
