I guess when it comes to Co-op, the key is to learn not to have expectations. As we have seen most recently in games like Fable II co-op can be fun the way they give to us, but we also want more, and expect more. But maybe we shouldn't.

I just learned something about the co-op in Resident Evil 5 that I find to be somewhat disappointing. This may not actually disappoint some of you at all. It may be exactly what you preferred, but for me, it is something I did not expect. Co-op in resident evil (and when I say co-op I mean either with another human or with AI) occurs most of the game in the form of side by side combat. While this may be fine for a real time RPG or even a shooter, this is not what survival horror co-op is meant to be about (I am also beginning to think that I expect too much for "Left 4 Dead". I'll have to look into that). Almost the entire game you'll have either your real life or artificially intelligent virtual partner right next you.

There will be several occasions where you will need to separate (in somewhat close proximity) in order to assist the others progress, and that is good, but these times seem to be the exception when, in survival horror, they should be the rule .

The fun of side by side co-op is about relating to the other person and their skills. This is fine when the genre is also about relating to the other person and their skills, like an RPG or shooter, but in survival horror, the relationship is all about exploring the environment.

The last thing that I want to do is feel the security of knowing that I always someone with me, human or AI except in the occasional moments. It should be exactly the opposite. I should be separated much of the game, like the characters in Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 0, only occasionally coming together to battle, while frequently exploring alone but in radio contact with someone else WAY THE HELL on the on the side of the mansion (think also Alone in the Dark, The New Nightmare), coming together by 'accident' for a beautifully intense battle or when possible and necessary (based on the storyline) to help out the other.

I guess logistically this is very difficult to script and layout. So be it. But for now I will have to continue waiting for the real adventure co-op that I have been dreaming about since the text-graphic adventure days.

I honestly thought the co-op in RE 5 was going to be pretty much like the Rebecca/Billy sections of RE 0. And RE 4 you weren't alone a good deal of the time either being with Ashley or Luis. But from what I'm getting is that there's not going to be a time in which you aren't tandem to Sheva (I think that's her name). I guess it just depends...

Eeeevery game needs co-op now

Actually I don't like the idea of having to play co-op with AI in Resident Evil 5. If I'm going to play alone I want to play alone. But I bet the main reason there is such a thing in this game is because it was designed to be co-op with a human but they had to allow for when there is no human partner. Thus forcing every game to have co-op, if it results in this, is a bad idea to me.