You may not think kicking someone in the back of the head is very cooperative, but on this episode we discuss just how co-op a friendly boot to the noggin can be.

Co-Optimus has been on a bit of a Phantasy Star mood recently. What with more info about the new DS game, Phantasy Star Zero, we were itching for more Phantasy Star info. Fortunately, we discovered more info about another portable version of Phantasy Star. 1UP has word that Phantasy Star Portable will be headed stateside this coming March. The game is coming out for the PSP, and takes place after Phantasy Star Universe. It will have a single-player storyline, as well as a multiplayer component.

The zombie genre co-op titles just keep on coming, folks.  The latest news is about the latest in the highly celebrated Resident Evil series from Capcom, Resident Evil 5.  The biggest change to the RE formula is co-op, and at TGS 08, the folks over at Joystiq had a chance to check out the co-op.  The article is written in a very interesting co-op style, which it certainly appropriate given how tightly integrated the co-op experience is.  Check out this choice quote:

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!  It's a battle royale between two major co-op releases!  These titans are bringing it all to the table in a no holds barred cage match!  Two games will enter... only one will prevail!  You paid for the whole seat, but you'll only need the edge! 

    Fable 2 has a serious problem on its hand.  There is no way to talk about everything you can do in this game in a meaningful way without leaving the article's length something just shy of a novella.  Even after putting somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-12 hours of game time, I feel like I haven't even scratched the surfa...

Fable 2 gets it's own release alert, because frankly it's that's friggin good.  Plus, I don't think Crash, Spyro and Rock Band 2 mind.  

   Wow, what a week.  Not only are there something in the ballpark of 70+ regular games coming out, but we have a slew of co-op titles, including Rock Band 2 which was released yesterday for the PlayStation 3. First up is a brand new Crash Bandicoot game called Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant.  I know w...

A feature we are quite fond of has been missing from many games over the past few years: split screen mode.  Just last month, we posted a news item lamenting the apparent demise of couch co-op via split screen.  It seems others have noticed this trend as well, including the MTV multiplayer blog.  Thankfully, not all titles have abandoned split screen, including the highly anticipated co-op lovefest, Left 4 Dead.  In a recent inetrview with Left 4 Dead's lead designer, Michael Booth, split screen was discussed. 

The stories for this week:

Some good news out of the Sony camp today.  One of the more requested features we've been seeing lately is to have split screen co-op play combined with online play.  What does that mean?  That means you and a friend could be playing split screen with other people online as well.  Very few games seem to support this, Halo 3 being the biggest that comes to my mind.

This week's HUD we are joined by special guest Charles Husemann from Gaming Nexus.  As usual the questions are varied, and our panel of 10 get right down to it.  So what's on tap?

Not too long ago, we discussed the fact that Phantasy Star Zero would have online (and local wireless) co-op. However, details of the game have been scarce for a while. Fortunately, the crew at Siliconera got some hands-on time at TGS and walked away with some details. Some of the information is just confirmation of old news. The game is very much like PSO, and features the same action-RPG gameplay. Likewise, the game's messaging system is akin to Pictochat, though apparently it features a few chat bubbles that likely deal with common statements, like "resurrect me."