If you read our hands on impressions of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the PSP from PAX this year, you'd know we were surprised with not only how polished the game looked, but how Rockstar managed to adapt the Nintendo DS stylus controls to the PSP's analog stick.  After playing the final build of the game for a few hours I'm happy to report everything still holds true...mostly.

Read More...

We posted some fairly favorable impressions of Chinatown Wars for the PSP back during PAX.  We were surprised at just how well the game cleaned up in terms of visuals, and we were impressed with how well it controlled despite the lack of touch screen input.

While there's still only one small two player co-op survival mode, the game overall is a great experience that shouldn't be missed.  We've got the a fresh batch of screens and a trailer show the game off, which hits store shelves on October 20th.

Read More...

A new batch of games has been given "Platinum Hits" status from Microsoft.  "Platinum Hits" are value priced editions of well reviewed, high selling titles.  Out of the five titles selected, three of them feature co-op: Grand Theft Auto IV, Left 4 Dead, and Saint's Row 2!  If you haven't picked up a copy of one of these yet, perhaps now is the time.

Grand Theft Auto IV - Co-Op Score 3.5

Left 4 Dead - Co-Op Score 5

Saint's Row 2 - Co-Op Score 4.5

Source: Link

Game Name: GTA: Chinatown Wars
Co-Op: Yes 
Co-Op Type: Scenario Mission
Publisher/Developer: Rockstar Games (Publisher)/Rockstar Leeds (Developer)
Release Date: October 19th, 2009

Earlier this year Rockstar Games released GTA: Chinatown Wars on the Nintendo DS.  Now several months later, they are bringing it back to the PSP, a system which housed to previous 3D GTAs.  Instead of changing things up, the game is more of a directors cut version of the game.  New hi-res graphics, additional missions, and a few other tweaks look to make this a solid port.

Read More...

So much for exclusives.  Rockstar Games and Sony have announced that the previously exclusive DS title, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, will be coming to the PlayStation Portable this fall.  We reviewed both the single player and co-op elements of this game, and as a whole package for the experience top notch.

The PSP version will include widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting, and brand new story missions.  There's no word yet on any other enhanced gameplay modes or additional modes...like...say...more co-op modes.   Ya know, just throwing that out there Rockstar.

There's also no detail on how the touch screen elements of the DS version are going to work on the PSP, as they played a pretty integral role in the gameplay.  We'll bring you more info on the new version as soon as we have it.

Read More...

There are many different types of games on the market for many different types of people. So, what designates which games can be played together, and which can not? We at Co-optimus.com tend to preach friendly co-op gaming, and notice many of the single player games out there feel somewhat cheated out of a quality co-op experience.

Some games had co-op left on the concept floor, cut out in the final stages, or some that seem to have missed the co-op boat completely. This is the co-optimus list of games that we feel could really use co-op for an improved gaming experience.

It's time for our monthly Single Player reviews. This month we look at a handful of great games. Up on the block is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Wolverine, Defense Grid, Devil Summoner 2, Defense Grid, Riddick and Lux-Pain!

If you've played Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the Nintendo DS, you know you can extend your experience to the Rockstar Social Club Website.  The portal site offers in game stats, unique items, and other various ways keep the handheld version of GTA fresh.

Now a new flash game in the Social Club can earn you free money for just a few arrow key strokes on your keyboard.  Mr Wong's Laundromat is a quirky little flash game where you need to avoid the falling clothes and instead pick up money, powerups and other items.  Once your cart is full it's time to deposit it in the truck and off to...well wherever laundered money goes.  It's a fun little distraction and one that can earn you up to $10k in in-game cash a pop. 

Read More...

Gamers are still waiting for the total co-op GTA experience, until that time though they'll have to contend with truly excellent Single Player titles with only a taste of co-op. Chinatown Wars continues the tradition, only in portable format. We give our take on the co-op modes.

Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the best games to come out this generation so far.  It's open world nature, tight story, and great characterization combined with tried and true game play make it a favorite of mature gamers.  If the sales numbers of the recent downloadable episode, The Lost and the Damned,  are any indication - no matter what format you put this game on people will eat it up.

One problem though with the game is it's lack of a true co-op mode, instead GTA came with three simple co-op missions with limited replay-ability.  The Lost and the Damned didn't add any new co-op content, which was very disappointing.  With one more exclusive episode on the way to the Xbox 360, IGN (and Us) hope to see some true co-op finally.  

Read More...