It would seem that OrigamiKiller has been a little overzealous. Having one piece published this week hasn’t stopped him, in fact it’s spurred him on. This time he’s shifted from looking at Call of Duty to split screen gaming.
There is no denying that this generation we have seen a decline in split screen multiplayer. I remember a time when nearly every game that was released would have a split screen option. Sadly this isn’t the case anymore, in fact it seems fairly rare to now find a game with a really enjoyable split screen option. Why is this so?
Thinking back a few years to the PS2 I would only buy games which contained split screen. I find it so enjoyable to play with a friend by my side. It makes the game more competitive and gives you some great memories which you can discuss over and over again. In particular I have very fond memories of last generation’s Need for Speed titles; the fun that could be had playing with a friend was something not to be missed.
[drop]Moving on to this generation, EA have released plenty of Need for Speed titles, yet only one contained a split screen feature. The holder of this prestigious distinction is ProStreet, which can be best described as an average game that remained incomplete.Even though the feature has been missing from from quite a few games now, it still comes to mind when I spend time with a Need for Speed title. Whilst playing Hot Pursuit I ask myself “You know what could make this game better? If I was racing against my brother in split screen.” It’s true. As a result Need for Speed has sadly lost my interest.
There is only one reason which springs to mind when considering why split screen has slowly disappeared; online multiplayer. In the last few years online multiplayer has grown massively and in my opinion it has become the new split screen. I for one don’t believe playing with somebody over the internet can provide the same competitiveness and joy with a friend say by your side, although for some of you it might.
However, some online coop games provide a great experience. The way they allow you to complete games as a team arise to friendships forming with people you have never met before. It’s fantastic how this can happen.
One of the big issues with online play though is that not everyone can access the internet on their consoles or even in their home at all. When we see so many games released with online features and no offline multiplayer options it must be hard for many people with the lack of internet to get their worth from a game.
[drop2]It’s not all doom and gloom for split screen though. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered Black Ops contained online split screen. It was a smart choice to include it in the game and has in turn lead to me playing the online more than I would on my own. Before Black Ops I had never actually experienced online split screen, since then it has featured in Uncharted 3 and of course MW3. It has not only provided the fun with a friend sat by your side but also furnishes you with the unique experience that can be had online. It’s a perfect package for multiplayer gaming.In the future I would ideally like to see a rise in split screen multiplayer, although a better choice would be to roll it into the online multiplayer. Combining the two seems to bring about the best effect, and brings the best of both worlds. In my opinion it would bring more competiveness and joy to gaming.
Do you believe that split screen multiplayer should be included in more games or are you more open to online multiplayer features? And also what are the best split screen moments that you have experienced in gaming?
tantalus_blank
This is a topic I really used to moan about a lot. In the majority of cases when buying a game, lack of local play is a huge dealbreaker. Such a shame about bizarre creations of blur fame – they implemented it excellently and look what happened to them
I have to say what puzzles me the most is people saying they don’t want to share their screen when I used to happily play timesplitters on a 14″ crt and have the most fun gaming sessions of my life. I bet you the majority of those people have 32″+ tvs
gideon1451
I’ve managed to prestige in split screen Cod:MW3 with my flatmates at university.
There’s nothing like split screen with friends, it’s marvellous.
coruscant
For me lack of splitscreen can be a dealbreaker, especially in racing games and shooters. I made an exception for Killzone 2 & NFS: HP because I just love Killzone and HP looked like it would be good (it’s not really, especially without splitscreen). I didn’t really forgive Criterion for not including it in Burnout Paradise, but that was such a brilliant game that I could tolerate the lack of it. I didn’t buy F1 2010 simply because it didn’t have splitscreen. It’s simply required for racing really, racing isn’t anywhere near as competitive online than with a friend. I can’t believe how many racing games don’t include it these days, it’s almost criminal lol.
colmshan1990
I think Naughty Dog said once that coding for split-screen took a lot out of the graphics engine, and that’s why it wasn’t in Uncharted 2. Eventually, they managed to work around some of the limitations, but it probably did impact what the graphics could have been in Uncharted 3.
Now, that’s this gen’s top developers (arguably). Split-screen harms graphics (Bullshit says 700mph 1080p 60fps razor-sharp WipeOut HD).
So, are we as consumers to blame for attaching too much importance to graphical fidelity and frame-rate? Is this why so many AAA gmaes are leaving it out, so they’ll be able to stand up to the fanboys and the pixel-counters?
If it is, I want to return to the PS2 era, with my Burnout 3, Killzone, and Battlefront.
Origami Killer
The visuals of F1 2011 and Uncharted 3 do take a tumble in split screen, it doesn’t really matter to me, as long as the enjoyment is there a slight downgrade in visual performance shouldn’t matter. Come to think of it – There was split screen coop in Killzone 3 which looked great, same standard as single player.
colmshan1990
It doesn’t matter to me either- but you know who it does matter to?
Hit-hungry, fanboy ridden, flame-baiting sites, which seems to be half the Internet (why does my iPad keep capitalising internet (but not here!!!) )at this point.
Greek-BBQ
The James Bond 007 games…goldeneye, nightfire, the one after that :P I guess online gaming has taken over so there isn’t as huge a demand for split screen games. I think its one of those must have’s for when a few mates pop round or something though…thank God gran turismo 5 had split screen…brilliant stuff…
cam_manutd
Warhawk split screen and Resistance 2 split screen you could take online. Warhawk especially split screen is the best fun I have had on a split screen game. Killing your mate on the opposite team with a TOW missile chasing him really brings the spirit of gaming and fun as he would try to do the same.
My personal favourite though is bomberman world on the PS1 one of my first ever games which I still play with siblings and my gf. So so much fun. Split screen should always remain as not everyone can play online and plus can diminish the effects of fun on the same screen. Totally agree with the article ^^
MayContainEvil
Star Wars Battlefront 2 is the best coop game in existence, so many good times I remember having with that. So much fun :)
I wish more games still had coop, but I guess most people prefer playing online now…
JBoo
Nothing will ever beat ‘TimeSplitters 2’ on 4 player split-screen mode with Bots :P :P :P :P :P :P :P
+ Why can’t games like ‘COD:MW3’ have ‘Bots’ in it? ? ? I played it on 4 player split-screen mode with 3 mates & it just lacked something(i.e that something was ‘Bots’) :-/
+ The best ‘Bots’ in a game this Gen are in ‘KillZone 2’ :P But that is only erm 1 player with Bots. What a crying shame that game didn’t have 4 player split-screen mode with ‘Bots’ :-( Oh well, thank god i still have my PS2 & N64 to play those sort of games:D
Origami Killer
Black Ops has ‘bots’ in the combat training mode. In split screen a TDM with your mate against a few veteran ‘bots’ is fantastic. A good split screen game for bots is Red Faction (the first one) on the PS2 :)
cam_manutd
Red Faction 1 was amazing blowing up walls to build tunnels and snipe with the rail driver. You have a good sense of split screen in what it accomplishes ^^
hol
Whilst its not my favourite way to play games, I do understand the attraction. Used to spend hours on the GT games with my late father-in-law, the cursing that cames out of that room when we cut each other up! :) or timesplitters with 3 mates was a lot of fun too!
Looks like the next Twisted Metal game will be 2 player split screen online too!
MICKY17
Timesplitters with mates is one of the best gaming experiences I can remember. Also thought Resistance 1 campaign was great when played in splitscreen coop. However for more current games Warhawk is unbeatable for split screen shenanigans with mates. Good times.