Co-op Spotlight #11 - Blinx 2 (Xbox)

Blinx 2 is a game that was released exclusively to the original Xbox back in 2004, and put simply, is a great game. You play as either the Time Sweeper (the good guys, anthropomorphic cat thing), or a Tom Tom (bad guys, just a pig), basically on a mission to prevent the end of the world by finding eight fragments of this big all-powerful crystal.

Story wise, the game isn’t exactly the greatest in the world. While I haven’t played it since I was very little, what really stood out to me was the incredible gameplay. The entire game is co-op, where you start the game by creating your own Time Sweepers, and Tom Tom’s. What really makes the game unique is how different the gameplay is depending on who you’re playing as.

When you’re playing as a Time Sweeper, you literally have the power of time, and must use it to solve various puzzles. Your sweeper can suck up just about every object you come across, and you shoot the objects out to kill all of the enemies. As for time powers, you can pause time, rewind, fast forward, and even record time, where you create a double of yourself to repeat what you just did. I always remembered the water physics really impressed me as a kid, because you could pause time, walk through water, and it looked like some sort of jelly, which seemed really cool.

When you play as the Tom Tom’s though, the gameplay is very different. Instead of a platformer/puzzle game, you now play an action stealth game, like Splinter Cell. Again, you get plenty of fun little tools to play around with, because instead of having the power of time like their cat counterparts, they have the power of space instead. They use these powers to create portals to travel undetected, or turn invisible, as well as a ton of extra abilities. Arguably, the game is more fun when you play as the Tom Tom’s, especially when you have a friend, but that could be my bias for stealth games speaking.

One major downside to the game is that it is unfortunately quite clunky. The stealth portion of the game isn’t going to be the best stealth game you ever play, and the overall feel of the game isn’t going to be a revolutionary experience for you. With that said though, Blinx 2 is a very fun game overall. The Xbox didn’t have very many good co-op games, but this is definitely one of them. So if you want some fun action, team oriented gameplay, cringy voice acting, and an overall great experience, then go and pick it up!

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!