Skylanders was a game that surprised a lot of folks when it was unveiled at E3 two years ago. I can remember seeing the little figures come to life in a back room at the Activision booth and immediately thinking to myself, ok, this thing is going to catch on. We're now a few games and 50 some characters later and Skylanders is getting what might be the biggest change to the series yet. Skylanders Swap Force is the first game that looks, feels, and plays next-gen.

We got some quality hands-on time with a variety of the latest and greatest titles at E3. Some of the bigger games we saw have embraced co-op in the past, but for whatever reason they weren't showing, or even mentioning, co-op. I did manage to get some information (albeit unofficial) for two triple-A titles.

June has come, and that means the release of Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara is imminent. The upgraded classic that many of us have been oogling over since word of it's release will finally see the light of day this month in exactly a week. It will be released for all current platforms, including PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. A Wii U version is planned for sometime in the unknown future.

Yesterday, Nintendo announced at their E3 presentation that Bayonetta 2, the sequel to hit action game by Platinum Games, would feature a 2-player mode. While some sources claim that "co-op" was announced, other sources state that simply "two-player mode" was mentioned. So while it's looking promising for co-op, let's hope we don't find ourselves in the "co-op" versus "multiplayer" semantic confusion that a lot of other people throw around (but not us, never us!).

There is nothing more attractive in this world than watching a hardcore gamer dance around a tiny room vaguely in time to some music game emanating from their flat screen TV.  Prepare yourselves for more beauty as Just Dance 4 is coming to every motion control platform.  The game has modes that will allow up to 6 players to dance at once - imagine in your mind's eye such a wondrous image.

Resident Evil: Revelations was something of a mixed bag for RE fans. On the one hand, it was a "return to roots" in some ways as all the classic design mechanics of the original (like "tank" controls and tight corridors packed with foes) returned. On the other, it was still a modern RE game and that meant some weird plotting and bad voice acting. One of the best features of the game, however, was its Raid mode, which allowed you to team up with a friend and fight your way through missions in order to get money/points so you could upgrade and clear more missions. The mode included the ability to select from a few of the game's more memorable characters, along with some alternative outfits that can be unlocked.

Last time we talked about TT Games' next LEGO entry, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, we got to see a few of the characters getting prepared to face off against one of the Marvel universe's biggest threats: Galactus' head silhouette. Today, we've got some fresh screens that show off a few of those heroes in action, as well as some of the quite beautiful environments in which they'll be battling. Anyone fans of Asgard?

As probably everyone expected, Activision officially confirmed today that Skylanders SWAP Force is in development for the next-gen consoles (namely the PS4 and Xbox One). This is in addition to the already announced versions for the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS, and Wii U. Get ready to hide the wallet from the kids if you own pretty much any relatively modern console whatsoever.

What the Smurf?  Smurfette has gone missing and we need help to get her back; 4 player co-op help.  The Smurfs 2 is an upcoming co-op title linked to this summer's box office behemoth of the same name.  The game is Smurfing out on the 23rd of July across PS3, 360, Wii and Wii U.  As a special Wii U treat, these gamers will be able to have an additional 5th player on the GamePad - that Smurfs!   

Seeing brother against brother is never a pretty thing, be it the Double Dragon boys fighting over a less than fair maiden, or Mario and Luigi scoping the town for some Shroom.  I've always known that Luigi was the better of the Mario brothers; after all he is younger and taller.  Proof has finally been found in this new footage for New Super Luigi U that compares the Plumbers Two and shows how Luigi's unique abilities affect the game.

Batman and pals swooped in some time ago on most consoles, but Wii U owners had to wait for LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes to arrive.  Why is this?  Because, Wii U owners not only get the LEGO Batman 2 of the other consoles, but also the added ability to use their Wii U GamePad to play in 2 player co-op.

With all the excitement yesterday I forgot to mention Sniper Elite V2 is now available on the Nintendo Wii U. Okay, there wasn't really that much excitement -but someone may have left this fun little shooter off the Co-Op Release alert for this week because the same someone may have made a typo when entering the game into the database. What's the difference between 21 and 31? About ten days. Oh well. 

If you own Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, but have yet to get the first DLC map pack, Revolution, you'll have the opportunity to try it for free this weekend. From 10am PDT on May 24th through 10am PDT May 28th the Revolution DLC will be available to play for free. This DLC adds four maps to the multiplayer as well as one map to the Zombie mode. It also offers a new weapon: the Peacekeeper SMG.

Mario has had some classic levels throughout his games; some of them great fun, but some of them spooky.  I always found the underwater levels the most worrisome and in homage to these, the developer behind Rayman Legends has produced their own.  In this latest trailer for the 4/5 player co-op, out August 30th, Rayman and two friends go underwater for some fishy slaughter.

If you are more lover, than fighter; or pointy eared, buxom wench, than cleric - perhaps the latest character class for Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara is for you?  The new trailer introduces us to the Elf class, an intelligent, but slightly weaker option.  Use spells and distance weapons to help tackle undead minions in the upcoming 4 player co-op game.