Best. Cooperative. Games. EVER.

We here at CivilizedGamers just recently dove into the Resident Evil 5 pool.

Yeah, we're a bit late... but better late than never, right?

In any case, we have been absolutely blown away with the sheer depth of the cooperative nature of the game - co-op isn't just tacked on as an extra, it's an essential part of the game.  The game style was refreshing and got us thinking about other excellent co-op games of our collective pasts.

---

Resident Evil 5 (PS3/XB360)

Why it made this list:  Following on the heels of the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4 - RE:5 takes all that was great about its predecessor and relocates us from rural Europe to rural Africa while adding a huge dose of cooperative multiplayer. It's not just the fact that it's Resident Evil + cooperative, but the way cooperative was incorporated into the core DNA of the game. The game would be near impossible to survive without the true cooperation between team members, and the gorgeous graphics and intriguing storyline put the game on a level few cooperative games have been.

Double Dragon (Multi)
Why it made this list: Double Dragon is the great grandaddy of cooperative fighters - it was one of the first beat-'em-ups to hit the arcade scene and spawned off a considerable number of knockoffs, including but not limited to Bad Dudes and Final Fight.

There was nothing quite like waiting in line at the arcade to get your shot at beating the crap out of a bunch of digital thugs, and while the first home version on the NES lacked the cooperative play of the arcade version, Sega stepped up to the plate and included coop in their Master System version - and the world hasn't looked back since.



Gears of War Series (XB360/PC)

Why it made this list: Gears of War was the first epic cooperative experience for the fledgling XB360 when it was released in 2006.  The expansiveness and immersion of the environments, helped by the realistic graphic textures and artwork, as well as the intense firefights with the Locust, lead to many "This is freaking awesome!" moments that thankfully could be shared with a buddy shooting by your side.  

Continuing down the same path, just bigger and badder, Gears of War 2 showed that this was no one-night stand bromance.

Battletoads (NES/SNES)
Why it makes this list: If you've ever played Battletoads, there's no doubt you've probably already shuddered a few times at the thought of the insane level of difficulty in this game. Battletoads may have been the first cooperative game where players would want to physically punch their buddy sitting next to them in the head for using their last life and causing them to restart from the beginning of the board.

Personally, I don't think I've ever made it past the Wind Tunnel level, but I've heard the rest of the game is just as fun. 


Secret of Mana (SNES)
Why it made this list: A cooperative RPG for up to 3 people? In the mold of Zelda? By Square-Enix (then SquareSoft)?

SOLD!

Secret of Mana is a finely polished jewel in the SNES's incredible library of games. Never before had there been an RPG where 3 players can take on quests simultaneously, with each character having their own set of characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. The game really is a hallmark moment in the SNES's legacy, and yet the formula that made Secret of Mana such a winner has yet to be recreated.  



Contra (NES)
 Why it made this list: Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Select Start. Without that neat little code, you and your buddy were dead meat.

But what glorious dead meat you'd be - Contra took the testosterone of Rambo, added a dash of Predator, and mixed in a ton of run-and-gun gameplay that guaranteed a good time with a buddy.






Toejam and Earl (Genesis)
Why it made this list: Revolutionary for its time, Toejam and Earl combined a funky-beat soundtrack, randomly-generated levels, zany humor, and a 2-player cooperative mode centered on exploration, all in one neat little package. While it may not look like much today, T&E oozed personality and became a mascot of sorts for Sega in the early 90's.

The cooperative play consisted of one player assuming the role of Toejam, the other Earl, and combining forces to piece together the duo's spaceship.  All the while, players could pick up various goodies to help (or prevent) them accomplish their mission. 




Gunstar Heroes (Genesis)
Why it made this list: Some would argue that Gunstar is the pinnacle of cooperative run-and-gun gaming.

I personally would not argue with those who would argue that point.

Gunstar is a colorful, hectic game that brought a ton of action to the Genesis, topped with a pretty cooperative-play bow.  The addition of multi-combination weapons (totalling 14 unique weapons types), as well as close-quarters combat in the form of tosses and slides, provided a unique twist on the well-tested run-and-gun formula.  The ability to play cooperatively with a buddy was just icing on the cake.



Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Xbox)
Why it made this list: As exemplified in the previously selected games, the action genre is well represented when it comes to cooperative play.

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory refreshingly broke from that mold and made sneaking around with a buddy ridiculously fun. Instead of charging into a room and trying to gun down every enemy, Chaos Theory required players to work together with a buddy in any number of ways to successfully complete the required objectives.

Oh, and sometimes it's kinda fun to knock your buddy out cold with a door-kick to the face (see 9:10 of the video).





Honorable Mentions: World of Warcraft (PC), Diablo (PC), Neverwinter Nights (PC), Duke Nukem 3D (PC), TMNT Arcade (Multi).

Did we miss anything? Of course we did - put your comments and/or rankings of these games below! Or are you interested in firing up some oldschool games but don't know anyone else who plays? Place a post in GameOn!