Every once and a while we get a nice surprise announcement.  Today that comes from this GamesRadar preview of Resident Evil 5.  So what's the surprise?  How about the fact that a franchise that has been traditionally single player and about lone survival will add full featured cooperative play!  Yup - drop-in/drop-out support, full integration of the 2nd character into the story and all playable online with the AI taking over if your buddy runs away from the game in terror.

The 2nd player will take control of a female mercenary character while the first player takes the role of Chris.  Even though the game is set in the dust washed villages of Africa, there will be playable flashbacks in a variety of locations of the past 10 years as you uncover the origin of the Umbrella Corporation's virus.  The game promises some pretty huge additions to the franchise: bigger and better weapons, open spaces, and a long overdue cover system.

Be on the lookout for this one early next year on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

Wow. Just when I had written the game off, deciding it wasn't my style, they go and drag me back in. Plus a cover system? Man, this could be good.

Wonderful news! I know it´s true, but the link is not working

wow, i have been waiting for ever for a resident evil co-op game..... i will make sure i have this one super resurved.... cant wait for this one.... thx

Just think, all you lucky Live account holders get to hear my girlish screams while co-oping with me.

Ditto

What makes me even happier is that it will be on the Xbox 360, Co-op is just the cherry on a tub of sunday ice cream.