Co-Op Critics | new game releases

February 28, 2019 In News

Games We’re Excited About: March 2019

It already March! Where has the time gone? That question is for another blog to ponder, but right here, right now, we want to talk about video games. Specifically, the video games that are releasing this month. More specifically, the three games that we are most excited about for March 2019:

The Division 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 15
Both Nick and I poured quite a few hours into The Division when it came out three years ago. But as much as we loved the co-op campaign, we did not get into the Dark Zone multiplayer. It sounds like Ubisoft has made a lot of improvements to the multiplayer experience, and with the new setting of D.C., we are fired up to jump into this new installment.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 22
I am a From Software Games junkie. Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne–love them all. And I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I first learned that From’s new game wasn’t Bloodborne 2 or a new Souls game. But that passed quickly when I took one look at the game. Sekiro shares plenty of DNA with those other games, but looks be offering even more dynamic combat than any From game before it.

Yoshi’s Crafted World (Switch) – March 29
Nintendo is absolutely killing it with the Switch. And while it’s awesome that we have new Mario and Zelda games, I’m actually excited to dig into some of the secondary franchises on the new console, like the adorable Yoshi. And Yoshi has never been more adorable than he is in this new, paper craft-themed platformer.

Those are the games we’re excited about here at Co-Op Critics for the month of March. What’s on your list of “must buys” for this month’s games?

June 6, 2018 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: June 2018

With all the focus in June being on E3, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a pretty sparse month as far as game release. Not So. This month we’re getting expansions, new IP, returning franchises and megahit ports. Here are the games were excited about this month:

The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset (PS4, Xbox One, PC)–June 5
I first bought ESO when it launched on XBox One, and I probably pout four or five hours into my first character. But as a solo experience, it just didn’t match games like Oblivion or Skyrim for me. I finally got Nick and Jeff to get on board with Summerset though, so you can expect some co-op adventuring from us int he near future.

Vampyr (PS4, Xbox One, PC)–June 5
I know next to nothing about this game, except from what I’ve seen int he trailers. It has a very “The Order: 1886) feel to me so far, and that’s enough to make me interested in checking it out. I’m hoping the blood-craving system has some sort of sanity-like effect that is deep enough to make being a vampire interesting.

Flashback: 25th Anniversary Edition (Switch)–June 7
Flashback is still one of my favorite SEGA Genesis games of all time. It was mind-blowing when it came out, and I was such a fan that I actually tried several times to play its terrible sequel, Fade to Black. I didn’t pick up this remaster when it originally came out a few years ago, but i will gladly play through this again on the Switch.

Mario Tennis Aces (Switch)–June 22
I like my tennis arcade-y, and I like my characters Nintendo-y. Enuff said.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (Switch)–June 29
I still haven’t played the first Wolfenstein, despite having it on the hard drive of my PS4. But being able to take the sequel with me when i travel for work will definitely get me to play this one.

Those are the games piquing our interest this month. What’s on your list?

March 1, 2018 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: March 2018

March is pretty packed month for game releases, with a great mix of sequels, new exclusives and long-awaited remasters. Here’s what we’re looking forward to this month:

Kirby Star Allies (Switch) – March 16
Who doesn’t love Kirby?! No seriously, this game is actually about Kirby turning enemies into allies. I feel like Kirby is one of the most underrated franchises of all time, and I am stoked he’s coming to the Switch this month.

Burnout Paradise Remastered (PS4, Xbox One) – March 16
Easily my favorite racing game of the modern console era, Burnout paradise is back this month! Not only does the game look amazing, but its fantastic soundtrack is completely intact for this updated version.

Sea of Thieves (Xbox One, PC) – March 20
Rare’s multiplayer pirate adventure finally arrives this month, and I can’t wait to roucnd up the Co-Op crew and hit the high seas. I am also super tempted to get that exclusive Sea of Thieves Xbox One controller, as it is flat-out gorgeous.

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (PS4, PC) – March 23
I had Ni No Kuni for the PS3 and put around 20 hours or so into it before falling off. The sequel looks great, and I haven’t sunk my teeth into a good JRPG in a while, so I’m hoping this one really hooks me.

Far Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 27
Gotta be honest–I’m not the biggest Far cry fan. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is by far the most fun I’ve had with the franchise, but I’ve been following the development of Far Cry 5 with interest. This isn’t a day one purchase for me, but I’ll be p[aying cliose attention to how it’s being received, and I’m thinking it might be a summer game for me.

MLB The Show 18 (PS4) – March 27
While MLB’s RBI Baseball gets incrementally better each year, it’s not even in the same ballpark (see what I did there) as The Show. Sony’s exclusive franchise continues to set the bar, and this year’s entry will be no different. And since my San Diego Padres are looking like they’ll be competitive this year, I’m even more excited to get my hand on this one.

That’s our list for March–what games are you excited about?

December 27, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: January 2018

The New Year is here, and while January isn’t a smorgasbord of game releases that we’ve come to enjoy in the months leading up to the holidays, there are a couple of pretty bog releases this month. Here ate the ones we’re excited about:

Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition (PS4, PC)–January 16
I bought Street Fighter V for PS4 when it came out, and fell off of it pretty quickly. Capcom really screwed up the launch of SFV, and hopefully with this arcade edition, they can bring people back to it. This version will include all of the characters that have been previously released, a handful of new ones, as well as a new arcade mode and team battle mode.

Ni no Kuni: Revenant Kingdom (PC, PS4)–January 19
I put about 20 hours into the original Ni no Kuni, and while it was completely charming, I felt like it took a really long time to get going. I’m hoping its sequel–whch will no doubt be meant to appeal to those unfamiliar with the series as well–will bet better paced. But there is no denying that the visual style of Ni no Kuni is stunning, and that alone would have me checking this game out anyway.

Lost Sphear (Switch, PS4, PC)–January 23
From the studio behind I Am Setsuna comes as new JRPG that hearkens back to the glory days of the SNES and PSX. I am expecially excited about the fact that this is coming to Switch, as Nintendo’s hybrid console is quickly becoming my RPG machine. The story in Lost Sphear involves a hero trying to save reality by restoring memories (I think).

Monster Hunter: World (PS4, Xbox One)–January 26
Monster Hunter is another series I have tried to get into a handful of times, mostly because of the comparisons to the Souls series. All of the previous games have been too dense to hold my interest, but I’ll be lining up to try again when Monster Hunter: World arrives. From what I’ve read so far, the tutorial system is better than in previous games, which has me excited.

And those are the games we’re looking forward to this month. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments, or hit us up on Twitter @CoOpCritics!

November 27, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: December 2017

It’s hard to believe we’re almost at the end of 2017. This year has been one of the best years for game releases ever (something we’ll be talking about on the podcast soon). While most gamers have enough games to last them at least another year, we still have some releases to get to before we close out the year. Without further ado, here are the games we’re excited about for Decemeber 2017:

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Nintendo Switch)–Dec 1
I didn’t play the last Xenoblade Chronicles game, but after seeing Zelda and Skyrim on the Switch, I am totally stoked for Xenoblade Chronicles 2. A huge world to explore, an epic storyline, and dozens of hours of gameplay? Sign me up.

Destiny 2: Curse of Osiris (PS 4, PC, Xbox One)–December 5
The first major expansion for Destiny 2 arrives this month, and I’m hoping it will provide some variety to a game that I was not terribly impressed with at launch. It looks promising, as the storyline focuses on a renowned Warlock named Osiris and takes place primarily on Mercury. There’s a new social hub, a new patrol space, a new Crucible map and more.

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (Xbox One)–December 12
The battle royale-style game that has been tearing up the PC charts is coming to the Microsoft’s Xbox Game Preview program this month. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up against Fortnite: Battle Royale, which has been doing extremely well on Xbox One. In the game, players parachute into a giant island map and battle to see who’s the last one standing.

Resident Evil VII: End of Zoe/Not a Hero (PS 4, PC, Xbox One)–December 12
I absolutely loved Resident Evil VII (you can watch my playthrough on YouTube), and I’m particularly interested in these two episodes. End of Zoe is where we will learn about Zoe’s ultimate fate, and Not a Hero will feature series favorite Chris Redfield. The latter is free, while the former is $15. I’ll be grabbing both.

What games are you excited about for December? Let us know in the comments!

September 29, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: October 2017

October is just about here and were are all-in on the major games release season. This month is packed with releases, from highly-anticipated sequels to new entries featuring beloved characters. Here are the games we’re excited about for October:

Battle Chasers: Nightwar (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – October 3
Joe Madureira’s fan-favorite comic series is now an action JRPG by developer Airship Syndicate. The combat is turn-based and the dungeons of the aracnepunk world are randomly generated, which should make for a lot of replayability.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – October 10

The Nemesis system returns in the sequel to the very well-received Shadow of Mordor. For this new tale of Middle Earth see the return of Talion and Celebrimbor, as they head into Mordor to turn Sauron’s own minions against him.

The Evil Within 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – October 13
Detective Sebastian Castellanos barely survived the nightmare of The Evil Within, and in this second installment, he has to work with the group that destroyed his life in order to save his daughter. If you missed the original game when it came out (as I did), you can watch my let’s play series on our YouTube channel.

Road Rage (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – October 24
A mere 26 years after the motorcycle brawler Road Rash cosumed many hours of my SEGA Geneis playtime, its spiritual successor arrives on console and PC. Road Rage is an open-world race and vehicle combat game where you can customize your character and bike and then take to the streets of a huge city that has been ravaged by crime.

Wolfenstein: The New Colossus (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – October 27
Maybe the most exciting reveal of E3 this past spring, The New Colossus looks like it’s definitely a game of the year contender. I haven’t even played the first Woflenstein yet, and I am dying to get my hands on this one.

Super Mario Odyssey (Switch) – October 27
Every single thing I’ve seen from this game looks amazing. The Switch has been building a fantastic library of games since it launched, and now we get a Mario game to sit alongside Zelda. I cannot even put into words how happy this makes me. Nintendo is back, and this looks like it could be one of the best Mario games of all time.

Man! What a month! These are just a handful of October’s releases, so let us know in the comments what you’re excited about, or hit us up on Tiwtter at twitter.com/coopcritics!

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August 16, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: September 2017

Summer is over, but the season of games is just getting started. As we get ready to turn the page on August and head into the first big release month of the fall, we’ve got our first megaton release of the season in Destiny 2, as well as Metroid and the long-anticipated release of Cuphead. Without further ado:

Pokkén Tournament Deluxe (Switch) – September 22
I’ll be honest, I’m not even really that into Pokemon, but I am so in love with the Nintendo Switch, that the idea of a Pokemon fighting game on the Switch definitely interests me. The game features over 20 fighters, and the controls will be simple enough that you can play on an individual Joy-Con, so it seems like this could be a fantastic multiplayer game for the Switch.

Destiny 2 (PS4, Xbox One)–September 6

I played the heck out of the original Destiny when it first came out, but by the time the second expansion came along, I had completely lost interest. The story was so fragmented and thin that I didn’t care, and as soon as I fell behind my friends in levels, the group aspect of the game was gone for me. That said, Destiny 2 provides me a clean slate and a new chance to recapture that co-op magic with my friends, so I am definitely in.

Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS)–September 15
This was one of the biggest announcements of E3 in my humble opinion, and it may well be one the last great 3DS games we get. Not just a remaster of the 1991 Game Boy classic, Samus Returns features updated maps, gear and abilities, as well as additional content that can be unlocked with Amiibos. I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t rather have it on the switch, though.

Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – September 19
Despite the lack of X-Men characters, I still think MvC: I is looking good. As expected, the Marvel side of the roster is pretty much all MCU characters, from mainstays like Iron Man to newcomers like Captain Marvel. Of the MArvel characters revealed so far, I’m most excited about captain Marvel and Spider-Man (I really was hoping for Shuma-Gorath, though). On the Capcom side, I’m all about Arthur, Haggar and Frank West. I recently bought a fight stick for my PS4, so that’s where I’ll be picking this one up.

Cuphead (Xbox One, PC)– September 29
I will believe it when I see it, but Cuphead is fianlly set to release this month. When this 1930s cartoon-inspired shoot ’em up first showed up on the scene at E3 2014, I was immediately sold. And then it fell into the abyss for the apst few years. But it seems like we will finally, finally get our hands on this game this month. Can it even come close to living up to the hype? We’ll see.

Those are the games we’re most excited about for the month of September. What’s on your list of “must-have” games?

May 28, 2017 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: JUNE 2017

June isn’t as packed with big releases as some of the last few months have been, but it definitely still packs a punch (get it?), as we’re getting two hotly anticipated fighting games this month. June also sees a major expansion for an MMO and a remaster of a beloved PlayStation classic.

Tekken 7 (PS4, PC, Xbox One)–June 6
Our favorite fighting game series is back on console this month, as Heihachi and crew bring the pain. If you want to know why we’re so excited about this one, check out the Tekken 7 tournament finals from this past weekend’s Combo Breaker 17.

Our only complaint is that Armor King won’t be in this one, as he’s always been Brian’s favorite chracter. Guess he’ll have to start practicing with Kuma.

The Elder Scrolls Online Morrowind (Mac, PS4, PC, Xbox One)–June 6
Morrowind comes to ESO this month in a huge expansion for the MMO. Thirty hours of gameplay and a new character class are just some of what Morrorwind has to offer. If you loved Elder Scrolls 3, now’s the time to jump into ESO.

ARMS (Nintendo Switch)–June 16
ARMS feels like the next Splatoon–a game many dismissed when it was first announced but went on to become a huge fan favorite. ARMS is a fighter where characters use extendable arms with unique abilities to battle up close or across entire arenas. Characters can swap out different combinations of arms, so there is a ton of options for customization. Nintendo seems determined to push for this one to have a competitive scene as well, so it should be an interesting summer for ARMS.

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy (PS4)–June 30
There was a time when Crash was mentioned in the same breath as Mario and Sonic. Granted, that time was brief, but it existed nonetheless, and the early Crash games were a blast. The trilogy features the first three Crash games, and will feature updated sounds and individuals, controls and a new save system.

Those are the games we’re excited about for June 2017. What’s on your list of games to pick up for this month?

April 25, 2017 In Video

Co-Op Critics Party Chat: The Games of April 2017

In the latest edition of our weekly series, Brian and Nick run down the major game releases for April 2017 and discuss what they’re most excited about.

May 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: June 2016

June became a lot less of an interesting month with the announcement last week that No Man’s Sky was getting pushed back into August. but there are still a few games we’re excited to see this month. Without further ado:

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–June 7

The long-awaited next installment in the Mirror’s Edge series arrives in June, and it’s a prequel that shows us how Faith became the freedom fighter we saw in the 2008 game.

Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS)–June 10

Is it just us, or does Kirby get no respect among the most well-known platformer characters of the past several generations? Platforming, puzzles and the ability to copy enemies abilities have always made the Kirby games a blast, and this one looks to be no exception. Plus–it has a mech suit.

Resident Evil: Umbrella Corps (PS4, PC)–June 24

A third-person multiplayer shooter set in classic maps of the long-running horror series? Sounds good to us. We caught a few glimpses on RE: Umbrella Corps at New York Comic Con last year, but the lines to actually play it were insane. let’s hope that bodes well for the game’s release, because multiplayer-only games have to rely entirely on the community of layers that build up around the,m, and we just saw the launch of both Battleborn and Overwatch.

Of course, this list is just our personal picks, so please sound off in the comments and let us know what games you’re excited to see next month!