Best Downloadable Co-Op Title: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
I think a lot of gamers were generally surprised by Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light - surprised in a good way. The isometric two player co-op game took Lara out of her traditional 3rd person platforming/puzzle elements and replaced it with an isometric action/puzzler where players had to work together as Lara and her spear-toting pal Totec. The puzzles were challenging and fun, the weapon and item system were addictive, and killing dinosaurs never gets old with a pal. After being patched to support online play - the game offered something for everyone.
Co-Optimus' own Tally Callahan had this to say about the game - "my co-op game of the year was surprisingly Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for the sheer amount of fun I had with it." After all - fun is why we play games, isn't it?
Despite over 50 downloadable co-op titles coming out this year, I think the entire staff mentioned Lara Croft as their choice with a few passing glances at Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In the end it was easy to see why Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light won our 2010 Downloadable Co-Op Game of the Year.
Best Portable Co-Op Title: SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3
It’s pretty surprising what Slant Six Games managed to cram into this portable version of SOCOM. The multiplayer options, customization and progression make it feel like a fully featured console title. With a four player co-op campaign and a myriad of custom mission options there’s a lot of meat here to keep you coming back with your buddies taking tangos down.
When Jim reviewed the game way back in February he was shocked not only by the visuals, but the sheer polish this handheld game possessed. In the day and age when Blu-Ray is required, this little 1.5GB game stood on its own.
This is the one category we had a hard time deciding a winner in - we had votes for Dragon Quest IX, Valkyria Chronicles II, and Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker. In the end it game down to the flexibility and impressiveness that SOCOM US Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 provided us - that and the really long title made it our 2010 Portable Co-Op Game of the Year.
