Comic-book games don't need multiplayer -- get over it!

While previewing the two upcoming Marvel superhero games from Activision recently, I was alarmed by another journalist’s repeated questions about whether the titles would feature multiplayer. We had just sat through two separate demos of X-Men: Destiny and Spider-Man: Edge of Time, both of which emphasize single-player gameplay adorned with rich comic-book storylines, and this guy still asked several times about alternate play modes (offline, co-op, online multiplayer, etc.). Dude, give it a rest. Not every comic book game needs to be a way for you and your buddies to relive your most glorious playground superhero recesses.

Reading comic books is a solitary experience, so why should games that reinterpret that process be any different? Fans can snuggle up with nice story from beginning to end and watch as the characters, including the hero, develop along the way. This could apply to reading or playing. And when the fan is done, perhaps he could pass the book or game along to a friend who he thinks would also enjoy it. Then, maybe the two of them can talk about their favorite parts or what they didn’t like.

Personally, that’s how I like my video games, and it’s part of why I’m interested in these new Spider-Man and X-Men titles instead of some kind of teamwork button-masher or a player-vs.-player pissing contest. Just because, these days, Activision is best known for the ubiquitous Call of Duty series and its addictive multiplayer doesn’t mean that every game they put out is going to fall into a similar mold.

Not every action title needs co-op missions, leaderboards, or downloadable maps, especially when it has an immersing story as the primary focus. Young mutants begin to discover their powers while their decisions at key moments determine whether they end up with the courageous X-Men or the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Spider-Man, in the year 2099, must work with the present-day web-slinger to stop a time-traveling mad scientist and the dismal alternate future he created. Those narratives might feature multiple good guys, but that doesn’t mean that a human player has to automatically assume each role. It’s OK for people to interact with non-playable characters, particularly if they advance the story in a meaningful way.

I find it funny that this guy is conditioned to associate new superhero titles with obligatory multiplayer components, even though the source material is entirely a solo thing. Obviously, single-player experiences like these aren’t unique to comic book games, so could you imagine if this was a preview for a new God of War and someone asked if it was going to feature online co-op? I mean, maybe people do ask those kinds of silly questions at demo events -- I’m not entirely sure. But if they do, I hope the other people in attendance snicker at their naiveté.

Tags: God of War, Call of Duty, X-Men: Destiny, Spider-Man: Edge of Time

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Layton Shumway

June 20, 2011

I was in that room, too -- what was that guy's deal? Being thorough in your coverage is one thing, but it just came off feeling awkward.

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Jay Henningsen

Many of the popular comic book series, X-Men included, are based off of teams of superheroes. The themes of these series generally focus on groups of heroes banding together to overcome challenges that they couldn't conquer alone. Why is naive or at all unreasonable for someone to ask if such a game features co-op gameplay?

I find the tone of this article to be a bit dismissive and condescending. Not everyone who thinks a co-op superhero game would be fun wants to "relive your most glorious playground superhero recesses." Early superhero arcade titles like X-Men and Captain America and the Avengers were enormously fun social experiences for me (and many other people my age, I bet.) Instead of calling out someone who annoyed you and sterotyping a group of people that you didn't agree with, I wish you had offered more reasons why these particular games didn't need co-op modes.

Also, just for the record, my two buddies and I used to go to the comic book store weekly, bring our spoils back to my house, and read them together for hours. Even though it might have been for you, reading comic books doesn't necessarily have to be a solo experience.

Alejandro Quan-Madrid

you bring up some great points, and I agree that my tone might have been a bitsassy when I didn't offer up more reasons as to why I found his questions to be annoying. It wasn't weird, per se, when he asked if X-Men would have online multiplayer, as for reasons you mentioned. But then he asked again after the Spider-Man demo when what we saw was very clearly a solo experience, and online co-op seemed like a stretch. When the guy told him no, he then asked if it would have offline co-op.

Jason Lomberg

I thought Resident Evil 5 was a good example of a story-driven title that featured excellent co-op gameplay. I don't think co-op should be shoehorned into a game where it doesn't belong (L.A. Noire, Heavy Rain, any GTA title, or Read Dead Redemption, for example), but if the title includes AI partners, why couldn't a second (or third) player jump in and out?

I agree, Jason. I'm reviewing Dungeon Siege 3, and though I'm not going to offer any opinions on the story right now, It does a great job of combining AI partners in single player with drop-in/drop-out co-op (even locally) where a human takes control of one of the characters. I personally think it's a great feature.

Joshua Corsen

I dont personally think the comic book is a solo experience. My friends and I talked/read comics in a group for hours

I agree that it's not entirely solo, and reading with friends is definitely an excellent passtime. When I say solo, I mean that typically people don't sit and read the same book at the same time.