Co-Op Critics | new releases

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?

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!

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?

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November 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: December 2016

December is usually a month that is either barren, or a month in which games are sent out to die. This year, it’s neither of those things. in fact, December is shaping up to be a pretty great month for game releases, including some platform exclusives and one of the most anticipated games of the decade. Here are the games we’re excited about for December:

Super Mario Maker 3DS (3DS) – December 2
A handheld version of the WiiU masterpiece that won several game of the year awards last year? Yes, please. Super Mario Maker lets you create your own Mario levels using assets from several of the franchise’s most popular games. The only drawback of the 3DS version of Super Mario Maker is that you won’t be able to upload created levels and share them online. You will however be able to share them through StreetPass, which certainly fits within the 3DS approach to playing locally together.

Dead Rising 4 (PC, XBox One) – December 6
Frank West returns as the main character for the latest entry into the zombie-killing franchise. Dead Rising 4 is ditching the time restrictions of previous games in order to allow players to explore the world more. More time for picture taking, we guess? Selfies are a big part of the game, and we all know how long it can take to get one just right.

The Last Guardian (PS4) – December 6
Yes, it’s really happening. One week after getting a new final Fantasy, we are getting the game that has been in development for almost ten years. But troubled development aside, we can’t wait to dive into a fantastical world and experience the latest story by the geniuses who brought us Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.

Super Mario Run (iOS) – December 15
Mario. On a phone.
Announced during an Apple press conference, this runner will have Mario blazing through at least six worlds and three game modes, including one in which you compete against friends.
Brian is a little bummed this isn’t coming to Android devices just yet, but he’ll get over it when he’s playing on his iPad.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (All Platforms)–December 20
The third season of Telltale’s series will once again start Clementine, but it’s a few years later and she’s a teenager now, although it will be told through the eyes of Javier, a new character. The season will consist of five episodes, but release dates for the reamining four have yet to be revealed.

So, there’s a little something for everyone this month, and some great stocking stuffers to go with new consoles this holiday. We’re still about five months behind on our backlog, so we’ll be playing 2016 releases well into the New Year.

November 13, 2016 In Opinion

GAMES WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT: NOVEMBER 2016

It’s here, it’s here! November is here!
That’s right kiddies, the big month for game releases is upon us, and there are some blockbusters coming this month. There’s also some smaller games we’re pumped about too, so without further ado, here’s our list of games we’re excited about this month:

Owlboy (PC) – November 1st
After being in development for nine-plus, the gorgeous retro metroidvania game by D-Pad Studio is finally arriving this month.The story involved a young boy names Otus who must save his village from pirates. The game’s mechanics are inspired by Super Mario 3 and Kid Icarus.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – November 4
SPAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCEEE! That is where infinite warfare happens–at least for this year’s installment of the CoD franchise. Ship combat and a new zombie mode will accompany all the usual bells and whistles. No matter how tired you think the franchise might be, CoD’s multiplayer is always top-notch, and this year shouldn’t be any different.

Dishonored 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC) – November 11
I’ll be honest, I missed out on Dishonored the first time around, but I’ve since picked it up and have been enjoying it. I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll finish the first one before diving into the sequel, so I will probably wait ta bit before picking up Dishonored 2. But I’m still excited for it.

Killing Floor 2 (PS4, PC) – November 18
I’ve watched the Killing Floor series from afar over he past few years as it continued to gain popularity on the PC. The horde-based cooperative shooter began as a mod and ended up as a full-fledged retail release in 2009. Killing Floor 2 Now it’s coming to consoles, and I can’t wait to get my hand my hands on it.

Final Fantasy XV (Xbox One, PS4) – November 29
Early word on the latest installment of this legendary franchise has been good. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t spent much time with the last couple Final Fantasy games. But I started with the series on NES and have so many memories of playing Final Fantasy VII on my original PlayStation that I will always have a soft spot for FF. Will this be the one that brings me back? We’ll see.

That’s our list of November releases we’re looking forward to. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

August 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: September 2016

September is weird this year.

Usually we anticipate September as the beginning of the big games release season. But September 2016 will be known more for hardware news than game releases, as we expect concrete news on both the PlayStation Neo and the Nintendo NX. On the game release front, there are more remasters we’re looking forward to than new releases, but one collection in particular is more than enough to carry us through to October. Here’s what we’re excited about:

BioShock: The Collection (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–September 13th

The Bioshock series is easily one of the greatest trilogies of all time, and I can’t wait to jump into this remastered collection. And it’s great to see Bioshock 2 included, because it’s a fantastic game, even if it wasn’t developed by Irrational. In some ways, I think it’s even better than its predecessor. Now I’m just waiting on Dead Space to get the same treatment and our desert island game collection will be complete.

Dead Rising Triple Pack (Xbox one, PS4, PC)–September 13th/September 27th

As much as I tried to get into the Dead Rising games in the past, it was their clunky control schemes that put me off. But this bundle with Dead Rising, Dead Rising 2 and DR2: Off the Record has me wanting to give the series another go. As a huge Romero fan, the mall setting of the first one is a real draw for me.

ReCore (Xbox one, PC)–September 13th

An adventure game made by the creators behind the Metroid Prime and Mega Man? Yes, please. ReCore centers around Joule, a girl who wakes up from cryosleep to find the Earth is a wasteland.

Adr1ft (Xbox one)–September 16th

In this game you take on the role of an astronaut marooned in space after the destruction of a space station. You have to try and repair an escape ship while finding clues about what happened to the station, as you have no memory of what occurred. This game feels like it could have a SOMA vibe to it, and that alone makes it worth checking out for me.

Destiny: Rise of Iron (Xbox one, PS4)–September 20th

To be honest, I fell out of love with Destiny a while ago. Once my friends had gotten many levels ahead of me, the game became a lot less fun, and the gameplay loop had long since lost its luster for me. But I had a lot of fun with Destiny originally, and anytime new content is released, it’s something I’m going to check out.

So, that’s our list of September releases we’re looking forward to. What’s on your list? Let us know in the comments.

May 3, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: May 2016

May has arrived, and with it comes not flowers, but some of the biggest game releases of the year so far. Here’s our list of games we’re excited about for May:

Battleborn (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–May 3

We’re big Borderlands fans here at Co-Op Critics, and Gearbox’s new first-person shooter with MOBA elements is interesting, for sure. An opening roster of 25 characters, a five-player co-op campaign and MOBA-focused competitive multiplayer certainly give Battleborn the ingredients to stand out against other shooters–at least until May 24th.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (PS4)–May 10

The final chapter in Nathan Drake’s sage arrives this month and is sure to be one of the crown jewels of the Playstation 4’s library. We’re excited for this one as much for the story as we are for the gameplay. We just hope that Nate and Elena get their happily ever after…or we riot.

Doom (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–May 13

Maybe the most exciting game for us here at Co-Op Critics this month. We loved DOOM 3, but this is a rebooot of the franchise, not a sequel, and it appears to be going back to its roots. Fast-paced, brutal gameplay, and you can ratchet up the difficulty to soul-crushing levels. The only major disappointment is there’s no campaign co-op.

Homefront: The Revolution (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–May 17
We’re interested in this one if for no other reason than just to see what came out the other end of this long, weird development process. An open world shooter, the game takes place in 2029 and players take on the role of a rebellion leader after the US has been taken over by North Korea.

Overwatch (Xbox One, PS4, PC)–May 24

Blizzard’s entry in the “first-person shooter with MOBA elements” genre releases on May 24th, and it will be very interesting to see who comes out of this scrum. Overwatch will launch with a roster of 21 playable heroes, and one big difference is that it won’t have a single-player or co-op campaign.

On the flipside, you will have access to all of a hero’s abilities from the get go, as opposed to unlocking them throughout the course of a match like with Battleborn. With Overwatch, you’ll be unlocking skins, emotes, etc.

So, whether or not a campaign is important to you, and how you like your character progression should tell you which one of these games is a better fit for you.

Dead Island: Definitive Edition (Xbox One, PS4)–May 31

Yes, this is a re-release, but we loved the original Dead Island so much, we’re excited for this. After playing the excellent Dying Light, it will be fun to go back to Dead Island and examine the early DNA of what Techland has built.

Not to mention, this game is ridiculously fun to play with friends. We never finished Dead Island 2, so that’s another good reason to jump in, especially since this collection carries a $40 price tag.

So, those are the games we’re looking forward to this month, but the complete list of releases is exponentially larger. What are you exited about?

February 29, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: March 2016

As we head into March, the game release floodgates are really starting to open for the year. This month features some heavy-hitters, a slew of great indie games and at least something for everyone on all platforms. Here are some games that we here at Co-Op Critics are excited for in March:READ MORE

February 8, 2016 In Opinion

Games We’re Excited About: February 2016

February is here, and there are plenty of great games arriving this month, including one of our most anticipated games of the year (and not the one you’re probably thinking).

Here are the games we’re excited about in February:READ MORE