Two things we can say about Sega Genesis games: they were really hard by today's standards, and many of them were also great games. Sonic, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, all still worth playing (though many would prefer the arcade version of Golden Axe available on XBLA). PC gamers have lots of options for playing 16-bit Sega games, chief among them (illegal) emulation and legal emulation, i.e. paying for them. The latter crowd will appreciate the sale going on at a place caled DotEmu then. They've bundled 45 Sega Genesis games at the super-low price of $10 for the next few days. Head past the break for the full list.

For this edition of This Week in Co-Op, Nick and I decided to play something a little more old school. Luckily for us, Sega has been pumping out some classic vintage collections. Golden Axe is one of my all time favorite arcade titles, so we decided to dive into the sword an sorcery adventure. I don't know what's aged worse, me or the game. Thank god for unlimited continues.

We trekked through the Turtle Village, crossed the back of the Giant Eagle, and slayed dozens of savage foes while on our journey to battle Death Adder. Nick took control of the ax-wielding lightning dwarf, Gilius Thunderhead, and I played as the bikini-clad fire maiden, Tyris Flare.

I don't mean to brag, but I used my magic expertly, and masted the art of pit jumping. I may be the greatest Golden Axe player of all time. For some reason, Nick edited out all of my cool moves and left in the gnome sequences. If it looks like I'm playing left handed, or maybe even with my eyes closed, it's because the gnomes are short. I'm not good at fighting things smaller than me. Because I'm such a badass. Anyway, enjoy the video. We smash stuff and talk about it.

SEGA's other beat-em-series, Golden Axe, comes to XBLA in this three-game collection. Magic, mounts, and more make these fantasy brawlers memorable. But how's the co-op, and do the SEGA Vintage Collection extras warrant another purchase?

Attention Sega Genesis fans! I know you're out there. There's a new collection of Sega classics available on Steam right now, and the price is hard to beat. You can pick up some good ol' co-op titles like Golden Axe 3 or Streets of Rage 3. If you're in the mood for some old school single player RPGing, Phantasy Star II, III, and IV are available, as well.

Each game will cost you $2.99, or you can buy the whole collection of ten games for $7.50! That's a heck of a deal. How can you not buy it? Check out the full list of available titles after the break.

Last month we reported on a rumor that the Golden Axe and Streets of Rage series would be getting new Xbox Live Arcade releases. Those rumors have been all but officially confirmed by Xbox.com product pages for both collections, which showed up and then vanished yesterday. Thankfully a NeoGAF user captured the product descriptions and screenshots for both releases, which are titled SEGA Vintage Collection: Golden Axe and SEGA Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage.

They say that three is a magic number, but do you know what real magic is?  Playing as a boxing Kangaroo.  This dream is looking like a reality for XBLA users as PEGI have rated some titles under the banner SEGA Vintage Collections which include pugilistic marsupials in the form of Streets of Rage 3.  Also on offer are the co-op friendly titles Streets of Rage, Golden Axe and Golden Axe 3.

The SEGA Genesis was a great system for co-op gamers and SEGA has done a great job in keeping the accessiblity to its titles available.  Whether it's PC, XBLA, PSN or even iOS - there always seems to be a way to download a copy of a classic Genesis game.

Today Amazon is offering 48 Genesis games, bundled together for the PC, for just $7.49.  The normal price of this pack is $70.  You'll have access to the likes of Golden Axe, Toe Jam and Earl, and Streets of Rage along with many, many others.  Here's the full list with the co-op titles linked.

The titles are rolling on yet another episode of The Simpsons, but this time it is not one of the tired antics of the past few years, but a classic from the past; The Simpsons Arcade. Co-Optimus already dropped the news that The Simpsons Arcade was coming to PSN and XBLA, but Sony have thrown in an extra bonus. If you are a member of the Playstation Plus scheme you can download the game for free from the 7th February. As for owners of Microsoft's gaming behemoth - no news yet on a release or pricing.

Generally, when it's time for a Video Edition of Co-Op Classics, we feature games we've previously covered. As the collection grows, however, we can branch off into other games that haven't been given much coverage on their own. Today, we revisit two entries from classic co-op franchises: the deep space R-Type shmups and the swords and sorcery Golden Axe brawlers.

In one corner, we have a gritty, brutal sword and sorcery beat 'em up. In the other, two hyper-adorable reptilian grinners who use bubbles as weapons. The two games could hardly be more different, yet each was highly successful in arcades and has spawned many follow ups over time.

Sega has been very good at keeping their classic properties available throughout the years.  Whether it's a disc-based compilation, an Xbox Live or Playstation Network release, a Virtual Console download, or even a PC version, their best co-op classics are easy to obtain.  It's no surprise, then, that Sega is preparing versions of these games for eager iPhone and iPad players as well.

Streets of Rage 3 and Golden Axe 2 are both now available for iOS, joining their previously released predecessors.  The third games in the Golden Axe series has also been officially announced, and will likely be on iTunes very soon.  Each of these titles support co-op via Bluetooth.  The next time you are bored on the bus, in the doctor's office, or wherever, why not bust some street thugs or kick some gnomes to pass the time?

SEGA is having a sale this week no Xbox Live Arcade with their entire lineup of games discounted up to 50% off the normal price.  The sale runs today through April 25th and features no less than 18 SEGA games discounted.  It's pretty hard to pass up something like Streets of Rage 2 or Golden Axe for only $3.

Other co-op titles include:  Altered Beast, Gunstar Heroes, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.  Most titles feature both local and online co-op play. 

Old school gamers, prepare your PCs.  The Sega Genesis Classic Collection Gold Edition has 46 titles of pixelated awesome, and it's available today.  You can get your co-op on with titles like Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and more.  This collection has already been released digitally on Steam, but now you can pick up all four Volumes in on compact physical package.  For a full list of all the titles, read on.

SEGA's Genesis is one of the most beloved consoles in gaming history.  Many a gamer became a fan of co-op due to the Genesis' strong library of cooperative titles.  Now, via the power of Steam, several co-op classics are available with the click of a mouse.  The SEGA Genesis Classics Pack is available for PC gamers, and includes such co-op heavyweights as Golden Axe and Altered Beast.  There were even a few co-op games I'd never heard of: Gain Ground and Crack Down.  (Yes, Crack Down; we're just as surprised as you are!)  Each title will set you back a mere $2.99; as of yet, there is no discount for buying the whole package.  I know I'll be checking out Crack Down to determine if it's worthy to be called a Co-Op Classic...

Co-Op gaming may have its roots in the Arcade. To many the concept of an arcade is long gone, but there's a thriving industry there, though it's somewhat different. We take a look at the history of co-op gaming in the arcades, the present, and where it's going in our latest guest editorial.