Who Needs Co-Op in Golden Axe: Beast Rider? We Do!
Sometimes, when a game DOESN'T have co-op, it's news worthy. That's certainly the case for the remake/reimagining of one of our favorite co-op classics, Golden Axe. Released next month, Golden Axe: Beast Rider will offer only a single player campaign. That's right, no co-op mode, or any multiplayer features are available at all. To make things worse, you can't even choose among the original three heroes; instead, the player will take on the role of Tyris Flare, only. (To their credit, the developers promise that the other two heroes from the original will be featured in the story). Of course, Tyris is wearing her obviously marketable chain mail bikini, pushing the borders of appropriateness. This is, I suppose, reminiscient of the first Golden Axe. Screenshots and videos indicate that the game is meant to evoke feelings of nostalgia, including beast riding (duh), potion gnomes, and even Black Adder, the big baddie himself. It's too bad they missed the most important aspect: playing through with a friend. Check this quote from Sean Ratcliffe, VP of Marketing at Sega:
“Rightly or wrongly, we don’t have co-op multiplayer in the game,” he offered, a statement that was met with a short, yet uncomfortable pause. “I think as much as anything it’s taking inspiration from the original series but in terms of that multiplayer co-op the developer decided that they didn’t want to take the game in that direction.”
“If Golden Axe: Beast Rider is successful,” he added, “we can then come back with something else that maybe will have the co-op mode that everyone is wishing this game has.”
I have news for Mr. Ratcliffe. There are lots of excellent single player combat focused games, like God of War, Ninja Gaiden, etc. If you want Golden Axe: Beast Rider to stand out from the crowd, give players what these other titles don't: the same co-op play that made the original a classic. What say you, Co-Optimus readers? Would you pick this title up if it featured co-op?
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Like bapenguin, I'm not hardly interested right now. Add co-op, though, and it would have my attention.
Good article.
At this point, my game buying is primarily reserved for co-op games. I have a stack of unplayed and unfinished single player games, so its hard to justify buying any more until those are finished. Co-op games I justify buying because I play them with the girlfriend, and if they aren't too violent, the kids.
No Co-Op in GABR means I'll do what I usually do with games. Wait until the price drops, and then grab it up, or keep an eye on craigslist for a used copy.
There are only 3 games I'm planning on buying on release in the next 3 months.
Fable 2 (Offline Co-Op!!)
Left 4 Dead (Offline CO-Op!!)
And Fallout 3 (Ok, so no co-op, but I'm still getting it)
There is a 4th that might even be a 2nd system seller for me, being Saints Row 2. We've been debating getting a 2nd box, and this might be the scale tipper.
I won´t get this game. They are just using the franchise´s name to deliver a bad and uncomplete game to achieve money.
I refuse to buy this game.
Golden Axe is probably my favorite classic co-op game (along with Contra and Double Dragon).
I was very excited when I first saw the announcement of a new Golden Axe title. I was looking forward to reminisce with a friend all that made this series great. However, when I found out this game was not having co-op I started to hate this game for playing with my emotions! Not having co-op in a Golden Axe game is just plain wrong.
I hate how they say %u201CIf Golden Axe Beast Rider is successful,%u201D ... why don't they try to make it successful in the first attempt??
An analogy just dawned on me: leaving co-op out of this title is like making the new Dodge Chargers sedans.
Way to give them what for Djinni! And I agree with rafoca and seshat. I don't really care for purely single player games, especially when they're taking an established series from the past that ALWAYS HAD CO-OP and stripping it down to a basic hack n slash. I don't think I'll even rent this one.
I don't understand why it doesn't have co-op. Golden Axe is one of those titles I associate with co-op play that we all know and love. Before that, co-op meant playing after the other player died.
This might be worth a rent but I'm not gonna hold my breath.
I bet if you ask anyone to list the memories they have of this franchise everyone would reference a story of playing with a friend.
I would have a hard time enjoying this game even if someone GAVE me a copy.
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If it featured co-op? In a heartbeat. Now? Not so much.