Finding the right co-op game

A good 2010 to all. It’s been a busy start to the new year in our house. I decided to finish games that I started last year, and that list is embarrassingly longer than I expected!

My son has had a couple of playdates with friends, which includes some gaming. [One friend is very, very picky in what he plays--no Super Mario Brothers Wii, Mario Kart Wii, nothing with Turtles or Ghost Busters.]

Searching for co-op games that I might be unaware of and that are suitable, I came across co-optimus, a very good site that compiles a list and details for co-op games for multiple platforms. Want to see the list of Wiiware co-op games? Xbox Live Arcade?

The site has very nice breakdown of the gameplay–number of players, drop in play, offline, online, special co-op map, co-op on single player campaign. The one thing missing, which is more of a ‘problem’ on the Wii, is that some co-op games are nothing more than the second player collecting items or shooting, like Mario Galaxy and Dead Space – Extraction.

Their ratings seem to be their own, although sometimes you’re not sure the reasons for the ratings. I thought a couple were a little high, but they’re probably a good indication.

As for the picky friend, it still wasn’t a great help.