Gaming is more fun with friends

[Jedi2016]

Even single-player games. Especially with folks who are generally non-gamers.

I had some friends over the other day, and we played around a bit with the PS3. Granted, I have only one full game, Oblivion, so for that one, all they did was sit and watch me ride a horse for half an hour. Although we got a laugh when I pitched the camera up to show them the pretty night sky, and when I pitched the camera back down to see where I was going, I found myself about to drive my horse right off a cliff.

Then my friend wanted to try the demo for Lemmings, as he's a long-time fan of the game. We both ended up having a great time, because while he was playing, I'd make snarky remarks whenever he did something that sent his various lemmings to their dark demise. It was funny because, by the design of the game, even an accidental death looks intentional.

Then I showed them the demo for Motorstorm. His wife joined us for this one, too. She was literally squealing with laughter at the complete mayhem of each lap, especially after I jammed my truck into a ledge, stripping away various components (doors, hood, tailgate, spare tires, etc) and literally just leaving them there while my truck continued on. Even I was laughing out loud at the wobbly rear tire, especially comical when I'd launch the truck into the air. And we were all roaring at the very notion that I'd won the race by crossing the finish line in the air. With no tires. And on fire.

I'd played the demo a dozen times before then, but I had so much more fun yesterday than I ever have before. In a sense, I had an audience.. hehe.

Anyone else experience this? Where games are just plain more enjoyable when there's folks there to share the experience, even if it's not a multiplayer game? I can't wait to see what happens when I start getting some MP games. I showed them the trailer for Little Big Planet, and we all agreed that it's a must-buy and that we're all going to enjoy the hell out of it.

 

[XGT Taipan]

Yeh, it's more of a generalisation that games are more fun when you are able to physically react.

That is the reason why gaming has evolved to ONLINE. Meaning that even though the game gets old and played through, you can always jump on to have a laugh with your mates years after the release date (take HOA for example - Sony's online test game - as old as SCEE has been online and still with 200+ Euro's playing every night), and most of the time it's as good as the first time you put it in your console.

👍

 

[Touring Mars]

Even single-player games. Especially with folks who are generally non-gamers.

I'm not sure I'd say it was more fun - but it is a different experience altogether and a very enjoyable one that people should take the time to do from time to time, otherwise you are really missing out...

Although I've had some great fun playing games on my own (and that makes up the majority of time I have spent playing games), I'd say some of my most memorable experiences have been with other people. A great example is the UKGTP meetings - even though I've played GT extensively alone, I can't say I've had a more realistic, intense and exciting experience as going toe-to-toe with real drivers, share a beer with them (even as we're racing down the long straight of the Nurburgring) or just watch some great driving from the sidelines.

I get your point about single-player games too - I used to play GTA: San Andreas with my mate Tim and his wife, and we also played our own solo games 'in tandem' (so we were always roughly at the same stage)... when we played together, we'd simply take a turn each at trying to do a mission. I have to say, this game in particular is so much better played like that. As a matter of fact, since Tim and his wife went back to Australia, I haven't really played the game again...

we got a laugh when I pitched the camera up to show them the pretty night sky, and when I pitched the camera back down to see where I was going, I found myself about to drive my horse right off a cliff.

Classic.

I showed them the trailer for Little Big Planet, and we all agreed that it's a must-buy and that we're all going to enjoy the hell out of it.

I saw in Digital-Nitrate's thread that LittleBigPlanet is going to be available via download (on the PS Network)... I agree it looks great, and would be an ideal multi-player experience.

Let's just hope that a few more games for the PS3 have multi-player options, rather than simply online options - like Motorstorm for example. Even though I have enjoyed some tight races online on Motorstorm, I can't help feeling that the whole online experience (in this game, atleast) is slightly hollow and impersonal - although I expect it is much more fun if you are playing against folk you actually know.

 

[Wolfe]

I know what you mean with the single-player games thing. All through the years growing up with my NES and SNES, I found that I enjoyed it more when others were around to watch me play. I also found myself content to watch my older cousin play RPGs and such on his SNES or PlayStation.

I've always been the one to push additional controllers towards others in multiplayer games, though. Even if the multiplayer mode really sucks. This has proven to be particularly frustrating at times, because my best friend hates the idea of split-screen multiplayer, and will only play over a network or over the internet.

And we were all roaring at the very notion that I'd won the race by crossing the finish line in the air. With no tires. And on fire.

My friends and I get a kick out of the same kind of thing.

 

[a6m5]

GameCube I used to have was great for that. Most of my friends are non-gamers, but they did enjoy Mario Kart Double Dash. We almost played weekly over pizza, beer(coke for me) and chips.

I always thought that PS2 needed 2 more controller ports.

 

[Dead_Poetic]

Personally, i could not agree with you more. One of my buddies bought all of the silent hill games, and we would always take it to my house, and play it in my room, with the lights off. He would literally stay the night, multiple nights, until we beat the game. I was always the one who read the walkthrough, and he always did all of the playing. Which, at the time, was fine with me. Now, we have grown some, and he is on the other side of the country with the marines. Hes a good friend, and we did a lot of fun stuff together, but most of the best memories i have with him consist of us playing video games.

 

[V1P3R]

I think so but what would make it ideal is a big HDtv where the view could be split down the middle.

 

[Metar]

Gaming with friends really does seem more fun.

As an example, I've got two buddies which aren't really gamers. One has an old PS2, so after getting one of the Mortal Kombat games, we started going home during school-brakes to get another fight done, and worked through almost all of them. Now, after finishing God of War, we're doing the second part. It's really fun being able to take a break, chat with people meanwhile, or slap them when they do something incredibly stupid...

 

[Evo7GTA]

Yeah gaming with friends is always fun. Whenever my cousin comes by we continue through the co op mode of 007 Everything or Nothing. Although when he's not here it sits on the shelf cuz I beat the story mode long ago.

Nintendo 64 emulator plus Super Smash Brothers and 3 other friends never gets old.

Also a steering wheel controller, Colin Mcrae 3, Gran Turismo 3/4, some beers and a couple friends is always garuanteed fun.

My friends cousin has a PS3, but since his cousin lives overseas and the PS3 is here we took advantage of it. Popped in Resistance: Fall of Man one afternoon. Played through co op mode on Hard difficulty in about 5 afternoons. It was excellent and difficult as hell. It's a great 2 player game, everything is just so much better with a friend. Pulling off your first slow motion sniper rifle headshot, watching your friend fire a rocket, miss the enemy but freeze it in mid air and hit him, trying to do squad tactics and covering fire and what not but still get mowed down by Chimera, having a shooter for the driving segments. I could go on and on, it was good fun (well except for that fact that I want a PS3 now )

So what other games out there are good 2 player games or have good co op modes?