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Game Informer's Favorite Local Multiplayer Games
Everyone says that online multiplayer is the future of gaming, but that hasn't stopped our readers from sending us letters about games that feature split-screen modes. There's something about playing a game in the same room with your friends that simply can't be replaced by online gaming, and we hope it never is. So, the next time you plan on having a couple buddies over for a night of gaming, check out this handy list of titles made for a couch and a couple of friends.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
We don't see a lot of 4-player brawlers these days, but Scott Pilgrim vs. The World proves there's still plenty of entertainment to be had in the classic formula. The nonstop action and Paul Robertson's charming pixel art can be appreciated by everyone, but fans of the manga are in for a special treat, thanks to the heaping of fan service that has been paid to the source material. You'll be missing out if you don't invite a couple of your friends over to play through Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - especially since the game is inexplicably missing an online mode.
Other Brawlers For Big Groups: Castle Crashers, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time Re-Shelled.
Resident Evil 5
A lot of games feature co-op campaigns nowadays, but few are built from the ground up for them. The latest installment of the Resident Evil series made Chris Redfield teaming up with a partner necessary, but it also made playing the game with a friend a hell of a lot of fun. Managing your resources, strategizing for boss battles, and jumping at the game's plethora of scary moments are all made better with a buddy sitting next to you.
Other Titles For The Co-op Minded Crowd: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Gears of War, Kane & Lynch
Halo (Series)
The Halo series gets a lot of flak from gamers for being old-fashioned, but Bungie's traditional approach to FPSes works in our favor when it comes to the inclusion of awesome local multiplayer support. Even when other developers were dropping split-screen modes due to a perceived lack of interest amongst gamers, Bungie continued to offer us more local options, with split-screen campaign and Firefight modes.
Other Team-oriented Shooters: Borderlands, Left 4 Dead, Modern Warfare 2, Rainbow Six Vegas 2
Rock Band (Series)
Do we really need to explain this one? The music/rhythm genre was made for local multiplayer, and Rock Band has made playing tiny plastic instruments with your friends almost as much fun as the real thing. And now that Rock Band 3 is adding real instruments into the mix, we may not have to make the distinction between the two much longer.
Other Selections For Would-be Musicians: Guitar Hero, Lips, DJ Hero
LittleBigPlanet
The defining characteristic of Media Molecule's adorable platformer may be the ability to create and share your own levels, but LittleBigPlanet also packs an entertaining 4-player co-op mode as well. Not only can every player customize their own Sackboy, but some levels require an ingenious amount of teamwork to pass, proving that LBP is more than just a cutesy platformer.
Other Titles That Are Fun For The Whole Family: New Super Mario Bros., Lego Brand Games
Street Fighter IV
Playing with your friends is fun and all, but sometimes beating the crap out of them is even more entertaining. Street Fighter IV is the latest game in a long line of fighters that have kept us entertained at get-togethers. We love some of the online options fighting games have added over the years, but they pale in comparison to looking your friend in the face when you make fun of their momma.
Other Games For Fans Of Fighting: Tekken 6, Soulcalibur IV, Super Smash Bros Brawl
House Of The Dead: Overkill
Overkill was a pleasant anomaly for the Wii - the title's constant profanity and ludicrously over-the-top storyline are one of the few M-rated titles available to mature-minded players. The game is twice as much fun when you have another player to trade WTF looks with during the game's racier sequences.
Other Picks For Rowdy Crowds: Dead Space Extraction, Earth Defense Force 2017, WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010
Blur
Blur pleasantly surprised racing fans by taking Mario Kart's power-up-based gameplay and applying it to a realistic, next-gen racer. It also has 4-player split-screen, a feature often overlooked with modern racers. Blur's unique mods and robust leveling system made its multiplayer as complete an experience as its single-player. The fact that it's not restricted to online-only play is icing on the cake.
Other Recommendations For Racing Fans: ModNation Racers, Mario Kart Wii
Portal
Portal doesn't even have a 2-player mode, but that hasn't stopped countless players from tackling this game with a friend. Portal's pressure-free gameplay, witty writing, and emphasis on strategy and puzzle-solving make this mind-bending title a joy to play through collaboratively. We can't wait until February to try the sequel's legitimate co-op mode.
Other Single-player Games That Are Fun With A Friend: Zak & Wiki: Quest For Barbaros' Treasure, Braid, Limbo
Do you have another game that you love playing when your friends come over? Let us know in the comments section.
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