For those of us who are Americans, today is Labor Day, marking the official end of summer.  However, here at Co-Optimus, such is our devotion to co-op gaming that we bring you news up a few recent announcements even when we are resting from our labor.  (Actually, I'm just putting off mowing the lawn.)

First up is the title DeathSmiles, which certainly is an interesting name.  DeathSmiles is a  horizontally scrolling shooter from developer Cave.  1Up has more information, and here's a nice little snippet:

Details are still short on the 360 version's new features, but one very big one has already been confirmed: full two-player co-op via Xbox Live. There'll be the usual online high-score lists and replay sharing, of course, but that co-op could be worth the price of admission all by itself to lonely shooter nuts.

Coming soon for the PlayStation Network and the PC is Sky Gods.  Little is known about the title yet, and I had google SOF HALO to figure out what this part of the announcement meant:

Using the Unreal Engine 3, BlackFoot Studios' Sky Gods will focus on a complete Co-Op game experience centering on SOF HALO and helicopter insertion operations. Once on the ground, you and your team mates will engage various targets and be presented with missions of ever expanding scope and complexity.

If you already knew what SOF HALO meant, this title is likely right up your alley.  Sky Gods will NOT be hitting XBLA due to the size restrictions on that platform.

Lastly, a sequel to "2007’s most realistic PC tactical shooter" is coming for the PC, XBLA, and PSN in Q1 2009.  ArmA (Armed Assault) II is being developed by Bohemia Interactive, and will feature "some of teh most realistic warfare ever".  The press release can be found at sister site Evil Avatar, and screens from the game are available at Shacknews.

Well, as we said not too long ago, the release of 1942: Joint Strike is fast approaching. And as the Gamerscore Blog says, 1942: Joint Strike is coming out this week. It is one of the XBLA releases of the week, but it will also find its way to the PlayStation Network. The WWII-themed co-op shooter is all nice and updated in hi-def 3D glory, which we've detailed in the past. The game will set you back 800 Microsoft Points (on XBLA), which translates to $9.99 for the PlayStation Network version. So, if you want a nice spiffy shooter (that still stays true to the 2D roots) this could be the game for you.

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!

"Elf needs food... badly."
"Elf is about to die!"

If you heard these words coming from an arcade machine back in the mid to late 80s, you knew someone was about out of quarters.  This warning told everyone around that another player was about to fall before the challenge of Gauntlet.  An undisputed masterpiece, featuring digitized speech, four player co-op, and endlessreplayability, Gauntlet is the focus of this week's Co-Op Classics, along with its sequel, Gauntlet II.

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We have our review of Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 for the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network.  What's more?  We're giving away two copies of the game for the XBLA - SFII: HD Remix beta included! 

In a mere 24 hours, give or take, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 will be released on Xbox Live Arcade (the Playstation Network version came out last week).  We previewed the game last week here at Co-Optimus.  Team up with up to three other friends, either locally or online, to blow stuff up and save the world from the bad guys.  It looks to be a fun little game, if you are into that sort of thing (which we know you are, being a reader of this site, after all).

Piggybacked onto the XBLA purchase of the game is an interesting bonus.  Players will be able to help test the highly anticipated Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix later this month.  It's not co-op, but it might make you take the plunge and get the game, so it deserves mentioning.  Likely, many will get Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 for the beta of SSS2THDR (whew!), but the co-op shooter looks to be worthwhile on its own.  A bit like Crackdown and the Halo 3 beta, perhaps?

The game in the running for "most complex game title ever," Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3, has created a bit of interest at Co-Optimus. So, it's not surprising that the game has sparked interest at other sites as well. Worthplaying has a nice preview about the game, focusing on the nostalgia factor, as well as the relatively simple gameplay.

The basic gameplay in Commando 3 is really quite simple. You and up to two friends take control of the Wolf force, an elite squadron of '80s movie homage super commandos, as they blow the living daylights out of everything in their path in an attempt to make the world safe once again. The Wolves advance upward through a stage packed to the brim with enemies, kicking ass and taking names.

Kotaku hands-on info after the break and release announcement.

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While there are no retail releases this week containing co-op, there are 2 downloadable games and add-ons available.

First up is Assault Heroes 2, the sequel to another Xbox Live Arcade title with a very similar name.   The game is a top down shooter similar to Smash TV, but with the ability to play on foot and in a vehicle.  The sequel promises enhanced co-op, with a new option for cooperative specific weapons that will "rain destruction down on enemies."  The game hits Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday for 800 MS Points.

Next up is an add-on pack to another top down shooter, Rocketmen: Axis of Evil.  The add-on is called Rocketmen: It Came from You Uranus and will be available on the PSN and Xbox Live Arcade. 

Well, it looks like Super Stardust HD isn't the only downloadable game have an expansion coming out soon. Looks like Rocketmen: Axis of Evil has an expansion coming out soon. Via Press Release:

The next chapter of Capcom’s Rocketmen: Axis of Evil is coming! Rocketmen: It Came from Your Uranus, an expansion to the original digitally-distributed title, will be available through Xbox LIVE Arcade and the PlayStation Network Store on Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15 respectively. For 400 points on Xbox LIVE or $4.95 on PlayStation Network, Rocketmen fans will have access to new maps, weapons, and enemies.

It seems that Capcom accidentally revealed the expansion, though this is far from common in our modern gaming world. However, accidentally revealed or not, the expansion, which adds three new weapons, two new secondary weapons, a few new levels, as well as many new enemies, is arriving shortly. For a quick recap on Rocketmen, check out our review for the original game.

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!