Co-Op Critics

March 21, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: April 2017

March was a huge month for games and games hardware, with the launch of the Switch and the arrival of tentpole releases like Zelda, Horizon and Mass Effect. And while April can’t possibly live up to last month, there are some great games in the queue, including some updated ports and one of the year’s biggest RPGs.

Persona 5 (PS4)–April 4
While I (Brian) did not play Persona 4, I have very fond memories of the over 100 hours I spent with Persona 3. Persona’s blend of story, combat and relationship management make it stand out from the rest of the pack. And Persona 5 looks super slick. The story for this latest installment takes place in Tokyo and involves students using their persona powers to travel to an alternate dimension here they must remove corruption from the hearts of adults.

Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)– April 7
When Bulletstorm came out in 2011, we had an absolute blast with its over the top action and low-brow humor. But it was the combat mechanics that made it great–a Scorpion-like energy leash that could pull enemies in for brutal kills, and a reward system that gave you points for creatively destroying enemies. It was like Gears of War on two pots of coffee. This remastered edition includes better visuals, new maps, DLC and gives players the ability to play as Duke Nukem. Bring it.

You can also hear Dan and Brian wax poetic about their love for Bulletstorm in an old episode of the Co-Op Critics podcast right here.

Stardew Valley: Collector’s Edition (PS4, Xbox One)–April 11
We’ve been playing Stardew Valley for a year now on PC, so we know what a treat console gamers are in for this month. This Harvest Moon-inspired gem has you managing a farm you inherited from your grandfather. Farming, fishing, crafting, cooking, fighting monsters and managing relationships are all part of what makes Stardew Valley so great. The soundtrack is amazing, too.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) – April 28
Mario Kart 8 was already amazing on the WiiU, and now it’s coming to Nintendo’s new console with a bevy of extra stuff. All the DLC from the WiiU version, new tracks, new tracks, new vehicles and more. Zelda may have carried the launch of the Switch, but Mario Kart 8 will keep people playing through the summer.

Those are the games we’re excited about for April. What’s on your “to buy” list? Let us know in the comments!

March 21, 2017 In Video

Co-Op Critics Party Chat: 7 Days to Die

In the latest edition of our weekly series, Brian and Nick give their impressions of the first few hours they’ve spent with 7 Days to Die.

7 Days to Die is a survival horror video game set in an open world developed by The Fun Pimps. The game’s events happen after a nuclear Third World War that destroyed an extremely large part of the world, except for some areas such as the fictional county of Navezgane, Arizona. The player is a survivor of the war who must survive by finding shelter, food and water, as well as scavenging supplies to fend off the numerous zombies (hinted to be the consequence of nuclear fallout) that populate Navezgane.

You can follow our ongoing 7 Days to Die series right here.

March 2, 2017 In Video

Co-Op Critics Party Chat: Getting Ready for the Nintendo Switch (EP 1)

In the very first episode of our new weekly series, Brian and Nick discuss the Nintendo Switch and why they’re both picking one up at launch.

The gameplay for this episode is The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Switch will be getting an edition shortly after launch called The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (it was originally supposed to be a launch title but was delayed).

If you want the audio version of this interview only, you can grab it and other episodes of the Co-Op critics podcast on iTunes and on our Spreaker page at spreaker.com/show/co-op-critics.

If you enjoy this series, please leave a LIKE or comment on the video. Don’t forget to subscribe!

February 23, 2017 In Interviews, News

Co-Op Conversations: Mitch Hallock Talks CT Gamer Con, TerrifiCon and More

In our latest Co-Op Conversation, Brian talks to Mitch Hallock, organizer and promoter of TerrifiCon and the upcoming CT Gamer Con. They discuss how Mitch got into the convention business, building TerrifiCon to what it is today, and putting together this first year of CT Gamer Con.

CT Gamer Con is happening April 1-2, 2017 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. You can learn more about CT GAmer Con, grab your tickets and register for events at www.ctgamercon.com.

You can also learn more about TerrifiCon and get updates about this year’s show at www.terrificon.com.

If you want the audio version of this interview only, you can grab it and other episodes of the Co-Op critics podcast on iTunes and on our Spreaker page at http://www.spreaker.com/show/co-op-critics.

February 15, 2017 In Opinion

I Pre-Ordered The Nintendo Switch–Did You?

Hey gang, Brian here. We are just over two weeks away from the launch of the Nintendo Switch. And the closer we get to launch the more I keep hearing people argue about whether or not it’s worth pre-ordering, or if people should wait until there are more games out for the system, or the price drops, or some bundles arrive.

I pre-ordered mine the day the went up. Why? Because there was never a doubt for me that I would be getting the new Nintendo console. I bought the WiiU, the Wii, the New 3DS Xl, the 3DS, the DS (a few times), and a slew of GameBoy models over the years. I got the NES for Christmas the year it came out, and the original GameBoy as well. In fact,the only time I wasn’t an avid Nintendo player was during the N64 and early GameCube eras (when I was mainly gaming on the Genesis, Dreamcast and Playstation).

I am a fan of Nintendo, and one of the things I love about them the most is how they don’t follow what Sony and Microsoft do. The Switch is nothing like the PS4 or Xbox One, and I love that. To me, it’s more an evolution of what they were trying to do with the Wii, and as a PS Vita owner, it seems like a better and more versatile version of the PS Vita.

So, it was a no-brainer for em to order the Switch. I’ll play Zelda at launch, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to pick up some classic games (or even more recent Wii or WiiU games I missed) through the eShop. The Switch isn’t my only console, so it doesn’t need to have everything for me.

Now don’t get me wrong–Nintendo has done plenty to screw up this launch, as they usually do. The launch lineup is weak, the accessories are way too expensive, the streaming features aren’t available at launch, and we still have little idea what the online service is actually going to look like. Nintendo has a way of shooting themselves in the foot and making things more complicated than they need to be. The launch of the Switch appears to be no different.

But that won’t stop me from enjoying the heck out of the Switch when I get it on March 3rd.

I hope the Switch is a huge success for Nintendo. A healthy Nintendo is good for the games industry. What I’d love to see more than anything is for them to phase out the 3DS and truly move forward with one platform. There are tons of 3DS games that never really used the second screen anyway and could become eShop games for the Switch. And of course, the DS and GameBoy libraries should be available for the Switch as well. The Switch could bring it all together.

It probably won’t, because this is Nintendo. But I will still love them, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the Switch.

So–did you pre-order the Switch?

February 15, 2017 In Video

Co-Op Craft S2E1 – New Hotness!

We’re kicking off a brand new season of our Minecraft series Co-Op Craft, and it’s a whole new world (cue music from Aladdin). It’s also a new platform, as we’re on PC now. In this first episode, Brian gets acclimated to the controls as he and Nick build a shelter and start to set up shop. Hilarity ensues.

If you enjoy this series, please leave a LIKE or comment on the video. Don’t forget to subscribe!

February 2, 2017 In Opinion

Resident Evil 7 Is Stuffed With Easter Eggs, And Not Just for Series Fans

I played through the the first hour of Resident Evil 7 smiling from ear to ear. Not because the game wasn’t scary–it’s constant sense of impending doom is nerve-fraying at times.

What had me downright giddy was the both the amount and quality of Easter eggs for horror fans from the very opening moment of Resident Evil 7. I’m not even talking about RE Easter eggs, I’m talking horror movies and games in general. Here are just a few of the ones I noticed:

-As the game opens we see MC Ethan Winters driving to Louisiana in a scene that evokes both Evil Dead and The Shining. The car is most definitely a nod to the Delta 88 from the Evil Dead movies, and the shot of him driving immediately reminded me of The Shining.

-While walking through the woods, Ethan gets his first glimpse of Jack Baker, in a scene that brings to mind the “monster at the end” scene from Episode 3 of True Detective. In fact, the whole opening area of the game feels very much inspired by True Detective, and I suspect that influence will be felt throughout the game.

-The entire guest house you start the game in looks like the sloth set from Se7en.

-Ethan watches a VHS tape of a couple paranormal investigators checking out the house, and there is a basement scene that features a note-perfect Blair Witch reference.

-The entire basement segment of the guest house features direct nods to Evil Dead, and the floating corpse Ethan encounters is designed exactly like a deadite (I think it looks just like Scotty).

-There are several hallway shots that are homages to P.T., and once scene with a ringing phone that is an almost direct shot for shot scene from P.T.

-In addition to the True Detective vibe, there is a distinct Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe in the design as well. Mia’s design feels very influenced by the 2003 remake. And the family of RE7 is a nod to the TCM franchise as well, in my opinion.

-And that’s just in the first hour. The game itself is super creepy and builds tension right from the outset, and the Easter eggs are just making me love it even more. I can’t wait to get further into it.

January 30, 2017 In Opinion

GAMES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT: FEBRUARY 2017

2017 has started off with a bang, as January already brought us one of the biggest releases of the year in Resident Evil 7. February is up to the challenge though, as it also has one of the most anticipated games of the year, which is one of a couple big PS4 exclusives.

Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World (3DS)–February 3
As if Woolly Yoshi wasn’t adorable enough on his own, Poochy came along to add even more cute to this updated port of the WiiU game. In addition to sporting a better framerate than Yoshi’s Woolly World on WiiU, the 3DS version has an additional runner mode called Poochy Gold Rush.

Nioh (PS4)–February 9

Dark Souls meets Onimusha. If that doesn’t get you excited to play this game, we don’t know what to tell you. After playing some of the beta over the past few months, this game feels like it has just enough Souls DNA to satisfy fans of that series, and the setting of a monster-infested 1600s Japan makes it feel different enough from the Souls series to stand on its own.

For Honor (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Knights versus Vikings versus Samurai–a medieval royal rumble. For Honor has been described as a shooter with swords, and features competitive multiplayer modes where the focus is on brutal melee combat as opposed to ranged battle.

Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4)–February 28
From the developers of Killzone comes the PS4’s most anticipated game of the year. Horizon: ZD is an action roleplaying game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world run by machines. Players take on the role of Aloy, a hunter who can use melee, ranged and stealth attacks to defeat the robotic enemies of the land and scavenge them for materials that can be used for craft, or even turn some of the machines into allies by hacking them.

So, February looks like a pretty good month to be a PS4 owner, although there is a little something for everyone in there. March is shaping up to be a monster month as well, as the Nintendo Switch will be launching alongside another huge game–The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. So far, 2017 is a great year for gaming.

January 25, 2017 In Video

The Forest: A NEW BASE!

In this Co-Op episode of The Forest, Nick and Brian decide to build a new cabin on the other side of the island.

If you enjoy this series, please leave a LIKE or comment on the video. Don’t forget to subscribe!

January 4, 2017 In Podcast

Co-Op Critics Podcast: The Forest

In the latest episode of the Co-Op Critics podcast, Brian and Nick talk about their favorite games of the year and what people can expect from Co-Op Critics in 2017. Then they get into a deeper discussion of the PC survival horror game The Forest.

You can listen to the podcast right here:

You can also listen to back episodes on our podcast page. And don’t forget to check out the YouTube page for tons of videos and games discussion!