Co-Op Couples: Pass and Play
Editorial
Remember the TurboGrafx 16? The stupid console only had one controller slot! I learned how to "Pass and Play" very early on, thanks to a golf game that allowed up to four players to play against each other on a one-port machine.
Although I spent a lot of time sharing the controller, I never really got used to it. The worst part about Pass and Play co-op is the waiting. Holy cow, does it ever get boring. At some point, I decided to make better use of the time in between play sessions: while my brother took his turn, I'd go get some Pop Tarts. What started out as a quick snack run, however, turned into what is essentially the gamer's commercial break. I found myself coming back with full plates of barbecue, taking long-distance phone calls, and - on one occasion - running an errand.
Fifteen years later, my wife interrupts me while I'm browsing through the Nintendo Wii Virtual Arcade.
"Ooh! Super Mario World. Buy that!"
So I bought it. Now, before you bring out the whipped jokes, I'd like to see any of you refrain from buying a timelessly fun classic video game that your spouse would play with you. Yeah...that's what I thought.
For the most part, everything went fine. I downloaded Super Mario World...we booted it up...we played, one turn at a time. Until we got to that stupid secret 1up area.
So instead of just taking a turn playing a level, each player now has the opportunity to literally stack up more lives that anyone's probably ever used in a lifetime of playing. If you thought it was tedious getting fifty 1ups in a row...trying watching someone else do it.
Right around 1up number nineteen or so, my old habits kicked in; I made myself a sandwich. On my wife's next turn after that, I typed a news post on Co-Optimus. It wasn't very long before I was changing the oil in my truck, paying the bills, and planning world domination between turns.
Then:
"Ooooh! You got Yoshi!"
And with a roll of the eyes, I'm handing the controller away on my turn. So I took out the garbage. Then washed some dishes and grabbed a bag of Doritos. Coming back up the stairs, I heard that my wife was still playing her turn. I headed back down and changed the baby's diaper.
After my third trip up the stairs I was finally able to play, and of course: I blew it. One Bullet Bill got through. Crap.
Time to walk the dog!
Pass and Play co-op is unique in that you both only progress as fast as the best player. On one hand, it can be said that one person is carrying the team...on the other, each player's strengths will come out and can be used to push through what might be an otherwise torturous level.
At our house, stuff gets done when we swap 'Splosion Man for Super Mario World for one night. Vacuuming...cooking...you name it - we've probably done it during Pass and Play sessions at some point. And it's funny to see how things have progressed as we get older. Fifteen years ago, I'd be making popcorn while waiting; now, I'm rummaging through the attic for holiday decorations.
Uh-oh. If you'll excuse me, I think I hear the wife calling...it must be my turn to play!
Plus I'm always there to give a helpful nudge in the right direction.
One of my best memories was when I was around seven or so, playing Super Mario Bros on the NES with my Grandmother. We would take turn in between lives, well sometimes she would do what you did and go make a phone call or such.... well me being the little devil I am would kill her player if I should die so I could keep playing .
Ah memories!
way back in the day i remember playing various games on commodore 64 with my brothers. most of them were 2 player but there were some play/pass moments like mario games and such. the one memory that still somewhat haunts me was when my brother and i used to play/pass on a formula 1 racing game for PC. and i'm talking about a quasi-simulation type game too. it was not trying to be an arcade game at all. there were pit stops, rain, oil, severely accurate damage, and races that would literally take days to complete. we each got our own cars or teams and you'd have to tune the gear ratios, drag on the car, pick tires etc before the race so one bad choice could haunt you for days while you trudge through the race. what really sucked was that the AI that took over for you (while you're "passing") was so poor and conservative that you would NEVER make any gains while passing. if the two of us were in the lead at the end of the race, whoever wound up in control for the final few laps would always win.
my wife and i played tomb raider games for a while. we got pretty into the stories and puzzles so we never left the couch (except to grab a quick snack/drink or feed the baby). we haven't done anything like that in a while though. my wife is so hooked on shooters now so we only get split screen games
@Jim: so is this how you get your taxes done too?
Note I've played this game way to @#$% much.
I forgot to add that one!
I actually wrote this while hopped up on Benadryl last night, and fell asleep three times before actually posting it (note the post date/time). Glad you all like it.
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I have fond memories of pass and play co-op from my Sega Genesis days, when my sister had a few Disney games for my Sega. I remember in particular the Lion King game, where she would play a level, then the next level would be too challenging for her, so I would do it. Then the third level she could play up to a tricky part, and I would play to get her passed it, and then she would continue. Its funny...knowing how I was back then, in reflection Im amazed at how willing I was to share my video game time with her and put up with the pass and play.
While it is definitely not fun to watch someone else play video games, I think it can still be a nice way of getting two people into a single player game. I think you make a great point of using the time between games to get house work done!