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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?

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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:

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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

 

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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?

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New Nintendo Direct Mini Showcases Kirby, Dark Souls and More!

This morning Nintendo dropped a new Direct Mini to preview some of the games that coming to both Switch and 3DS in the coming months.

For me there were four highlights–The World Ends With You (2018 release TBA), Kirby Star Allies (coming on March 16), the new Mario Tennis Aces (Spring 2018) and the big one, Dark Souls on Switch!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am ridiculously excited about Dark Souls coming to Switch on May 25th. I can now take one of the greatest games of all time with me when I travel for work.

It was also really cool to see the continued support of already released titles, like Mario Odyssey, Pokken Tournament DX and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.

This Direct Mini was the perfect way to assure current and future Switch owners that there are plenty of games coming int he first half of 2018, and the best Switch games of last year are still being supported. Nintendo is absolutely killing it right now.

You can watch the whole Direct Mini (which runs about 15 minutes) right here!

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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:

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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).

 

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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!

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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:

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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?

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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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!

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!

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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?

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Co-Op Critics Podcast: Nintendo Switch Reveal

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In a special episode of the Co-Op Critics podcast, Brian and Nick give their initial reactions to the reveal of Nintendo’s next console, the Nintendo Switch. They discuss what they think of the hardware, what they hope to see from the console, and what price point they think it will launch at.

Here’s the reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch:

And you can listen to the podcast right here:

Listen to “Co-Op Critics 027–Nintendo Switch Reveal” on Spreaker.

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!