Koei, developers of the moderately fun and forever-ongoing series Dynasty Warriors, is once again bringing third-person hack'n'slash co-op action to the Playstation Portable with Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce.

Says Koei:
 

Step out and step into a portable Dynasty Warriors® experience unlike any other. Up to four friends can team‐up for a wide range of heroic action‐packed quests. Become one of history’s greatest warriors and work as a team to conquer heavily‐armed fortresses, infiltrate enemy strongholds and more. Spectacular battles await!

Hit the "Read More" link for more info and the world's shortest game trailer ever...

Read More...

I'll admit it: I've owned a PSP - a launch model. For the most part, it was fun and had a decent library of games; and this was well before the Playstation Store was live. I sold it before Christmas last year as half of a deal that ultimately landed me an Xbox 360 Pro.

Unfortunately, this means that I've missed out on some impressive games, such as Patapon, and for that reason, I've been mulling over whether or not to buy a PSP-3000 when it releases this November. Sony must know this, because they've added a co-op mode to Patapon 2, currently in development. As if I wasn't already inticed by the PSP-3000's screen glare fix and built-in microphone, now they have to make more triple-A titles for it...sheesh.

Patapon designer Hiroyuki Kotani explained to 1up.com how the 4-player co-op mode works in his sequel. You can read the interview at the source link below or by clicking here.

PSP owners have probably heard of the quirky rhythm/RTS/puzzler/whatever Patapon.  As you can tell from the above screenshot, it's a rather... unique game.  Gameplay is rhythm based, and by giving your little dudes different orders with your drums, they act differently.  It's hard to explain, for sure.  In any event, a sequel to Patapon has just been announced, as you can read at 1Up.  Of note to Co-Optimus readers is the inclusion of co-op multiplayer!

The idea behind the co-op multiplayer mode is simple. In Patapon 2's single-player story mode, you'll occasionally come across giant eggs -- some of which contain helpful items, some of which hold smaller eggs inside. In order to hatch these suckers, you'll have to team up with other players and navigate a special enemy-laden multiplayer battleground, using the traditional pata-pata-pata-pon drumbeat to heft the egg forward and defending it whenever monsters loom nearby. Once you arrive at the special egg-hatching altar at the end of the field, all four players will perform a hatching ceremony, a sort of tribal drumline where everyone has to match their rhythms together to crack open the egg.

If that quote made little or no sense to you, don't feel bad.  I watched my son play the game and still don't have much of a clue, myself.  However, co-op is always good, and the first game was well reviewed.  Patapon 2 hits Japan this winter, and though no actual release date for other areas has been announced, we'll keep you posted!

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is one of the best co-op experiences of this generation, in my humble opinion.  The combination of action RPG gameplay and spandex-clad superhumans makes for a whole lot of over the top fun.  A sequel was announced recently, and it is set to arrive later this year.  A few details about the sequel have been revealed, and though there isn't too much information, it still is worth looking at.

We already knew it was coming, but amongst yesterday's MS/Acti marketing leaks were some further details on the upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance II. The game will be set during Marvel's recent "Civil War" story arc, with players forced to choose sides in the conflict. There'll supposedly be "over 20" playable Marvel characters, including the Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom and the Human Torch, and players will be able to "fuse" two character's powers together to give one character hybrid abilities. The release mentions the game will be appearing on 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP & DS.

The Civil War storyline was quite controversial amongst the comic geek community, but it will be a natural fit for a video game.  Fusing characters sounds odd, but the prospects will fill our daydreams for quite some time.  The Iron Surfer sounds like a winner to me!