Sure the game is over a year old, but that doesn't mean PlayStation 3 owners should miss out on this frantic and beautiful shooter. It's a dash of Geometry Wars and a dash of Asteroids for the modern age. Of course we wouldn't talk about it if it wasn't for co-op...

Super Stardust HD is one of the premiere titles available on the Playstation Network.  Take the classic Asteroids gameplay from days of yore, add in genre staples like power ups and different weapons, and throw it all in a gorgeous high definition package, and you have SSHD in a nutshell.  However, for fans of co-op, there has been a nagging problem about the game: both players had to remain on the same screen, thus limiting their effectiveness.  The most recent content for the game, aptly titled the Team Expansion, addresses this problem.  Split-screen co-op is now supported.  From IGN's review:

Having split-screen co-op is really nice. Although I do enjoy the challenge of sharing a screen with someone during classic cooperative play, being able to boost away from them and split up is very handy. Otherwise, this is the exact same cooperative game Stardust players may have seen before, but now you're not restricted to flying close to your partner. The downside of split-screen co-op comes from the noticeable slowdown, made even more apparent during cluttered Phases. I wouldn't say the game slows to a "crawl," but the change is palpable and will be an annoyance to some. Also, having the screen split up does make it much harder to see your little ship and smaller (yet still entirely lethal) asteroid fragments.

Other features of the expansion include several competitive vs. modes, if you're into that sort of thing.  Additional soundtrack options and a ship editor round out the release.  The Super Stardust HD Team Expansion is available now for the low, low price of $5.  If you pick up the expansion, let us know what you think!

One game that was instantly a standout title for me on the Playstation 3 was Super Stardust HD.  It's a unique mix of Geometry Wars style action meets Asteroids boulder dodging.  The absolute best thing about the game was plugging in a second controller and blasting some baddies and rocks with a buddy.  One problem, it was sort of busted. 

You see, in SS:HD your ship moves around a sphere that represents a planet.  You'll continually dodge and shoot asteroid pieces as well as enemies.  In the cooperative mode both players are tied to the same section of the sphere, so while normally the sphere would turn as you reach the edge of the screen, in co-op both players needed to go the same direction creating at most times a virtual stalemate of movement. 

And now onto the point of this little post - the developers are fixing the problem.  In the upcoming "Team Pack" you'll a brand new versus mode as well as the updated co-op mode, plus a bunch of other goodies like improved graphics and an updated 5.1 surround sound soundtrack.  There will even be an included ship editor - all for the low low price of $5.   Now if they would only add an online mode!