Co-op Spotlight #5 - Jet Force Gemini - N64

By Logan Hosoda

Jet Force Gemini is a sci-fi third person shooter/platformer that was published by Rare, and released on October 11, 1999 exclusively for the Nintendo 64. It’s about three heroes that get separated in the beginning, and individually are attempting to oppose the dark insectoid tyrant Mizar, and his giant bug/drone army. The heroes are Juno, Vela, and their dog, Lupus. They all work together by traveling across the galaxy to save the Tribals, push back the invasion, and defeat the army.

Aside from The Legend Of Zelda games available for the Nintendo 64, Jet Force Gemini is easily my favorite game for the console. It features giant open worlds, dark/scary themes (for a kid back in the day), loads of gore, suspenseful and intense boss fights, and it’s still rated T somehow! The best part is that they managed to sneak a fun little co-op mode into the main storyline. Even though it seemed like it wouldn’t have one.

As far as the co-op is concerned… It’s definitely not the best on the market, that much is certain. After you reach the 3rd planet as Juno (which can be done relatively quickly), there’s a small robot named Floyd that you’ll find, and he’s missing pieces. If you do the little side quest to grab all of the parts, you’ll put floyd back together, and congratulations, you unlocked co-op! Just plug a second controller in, hit start, and BAM, the second player can play as Floyd. Like I said, it’s not great, he’s just a crosshair on the screen that can shoot, but it’s actually pretty helpful, and plenty of fun to keep another player engaged in the game.

The best part about the game is that it is vast, and by vast, I mean SUPER VAST. There are so many planets to explore, so many weapons to acquire, and so many little mini games to do in the game. On top of that, each character has their own unique skill set that they have. Juno can walk on lava, Vela can breathe underwater, and Lupus can hover for a short amount of time. Since each character can navigate different environments, that means that you have to explore every single planet at least 3 times in order to discover all that they have to offer... Which is insane! Shamefully I have to admit, after about 16 years or so of playing the game, I still have yet to beat it completely. The spaceship parts mission seems near impossible to beat, but you’ll discover this later.

One thing that I really have to mention is that this game has a stellar soundtrack. Every single track in the game is just incredible. As a kid, I remember just aimlessly roaming around Mizar’s palace and the Water Ruins planet just so that I could listen to those songs as I played the game.  Needless to say, they really captivated me, and have stuck with me after all of these years. One of the major things that I look forward to whenever I return to this game is getting to hear those awesome tracks again!

In my opinion, Jet Force Gemini was a true hidden jewel of its time, and should be given the opportunity to be enjoyed by everyone. It was an incredible experience as a kid, and even though the controls and visuals are heavily outdated now, it still remains a great game. Whether you’re going to go at it solo or with a buddy, so long as you look passed the visuals, you will not be disappointed. Just don’t forget to build Floyd!

Co-op Spotlight #1 - Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

By Logan Hosoda

Without a doubt, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is the first game that I simply have to spotlight. This game features two different co-op modes depending upon which version of the game you have. This includes the primary Xbox version, and the two-disc Gamecube version. If you haven’t ever heard of the series before, Splinter Cell games are traditionally third-person, stealth action shooters. They feature in-depth stealth mechanics that were way ahead of their time, which allows for deep strategic approach to almost every situation in the games. The reason that I have chosen Chaos Theory specifically is because it features one of the best, in my opinion, co-op game modes ever made.

Most co-op games today seem to have a co-op mode that is never as satisfying as the main story, or feature an invisible husk in the main story that has zero relevance, and is simply there for another player to take control of (I’m looking at YOU Fable 2 and 3!). What I love about Chaos Theory is that it has an entirely separate co-op campaign, that’s entirely different from single player, and features two new agents that must work together to complete the missions. This brings me to the difference of the two versions of the game.

For the Xbox version, the co-op campaign is a complete standalone story, where both players must work together in order to progress, and complete longer missions, very similar to the main campaign. In the Gamecube version, however, it features smaller bite-sized missions to complete, with no save function. This means you have to complete the entire mission on your first try, or fail and restart the whole thing. On top of this, you need both discs if you want to get through every mission (most likely owing to the lack of memory on the small Gamecube discs). They both offer very different experiences, and are both amazing in their own aspects. If you’re looking for a longer binge session with a friend, then the Xbox version is more ideal. But if you just want to jump in and play some quick missions with a friend, then the Gamecube version is better because it’s less of a commitment.

Structure aside, both versions maintain the exact same gameplay elements, which is arguably the best part about the game! Earlier I mentioned that the game has some great strategic elements, and I wasn’t joking! If you want to approach the game without touching a single enemy, then you can ( unless the mission says you have to)! You just have to plan ahead big time, shoot out all of the lights, and figure out how you could possibly sneak across the whole level without being detected. Or you can simply pull out your assault rifle, and have a blast! The game supplies you with various tools that will help you get the job done, like explosive cameras that can incapacitate your targets, or grenades if you’re impatient. It’s set up to perfectly compliment your play style, even if the shooting itself is somewhat subpar.

Overall, if you haven’t already, pick up Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, grab a buddy, and have some fun. Even after 12 years, I still pick this game up from time to time, and I’m never disappointed! It definitely falls under the “timeless” category for me!