Disappointing Co-op

[Pirateguybrush]

To get this out of the way first, The Cave seems like a great game so far. But the co-op seems a little broken. Here's why.

There's no split screen. This means one camera, shared between two (or three) people. The player who controls the camera is the most recent player to have changed character (D-pad on controllers, 1-3 on keyboard). If a character goes off-screen, they are frozen. The only way for them to get back is for the player with the camera to go back to fetch them, or for them to change/re-select their character - taking the camera with them, and freezing the other one or two players until they catch up and/or steal the camera back.

This can get pretty frustrating, and doesn't make for fun gameplay. I'm sure split-screen as nice as LEGO Lord Of The Rings doesn't come easy, but basic splitscreen functionality would greatly enhance the playability of The Cave in co-op. At the moment, it just feels kinda broken.

[nulian]

They said they did it on purpose because with split screen people started to do their own thing instead of working together so they made it that everyone had to really work together or turns if its further to walk.

[Pirateguybrush]

I get that, but it's still pretty frustrating to know you're only *just* off-screen, but can't come back without interrupting everyone. There are ways to design co-op into the game that would discourage wandering off. Pressure pads/switches that require 2 or 3 characters to be on them to enter or exit an area, for example. I'm sure it's frustrating as a designer to see the people who are meant to be playing co-op go off on their own, but once you place limitations on how possible that is, (or once people realise they can't solve many puzzles on their own), players will learn not to try that.

As long as it doesn't fundamentally break the game engine/mechanics (and from what I've played so far it wouldn't), there's little reason not to have implemented split screen.

[KRAFTPANZER]

Originally posted by Pirateguybrush:

As long as it doesn't fundamentally break the game engine/mechanics (and from what I've played so far it wouldn't), there's little reason not to have implemented split screen.

I fully agree.

[szendroib]

Im a big Double Fine fan, but even I can't defend this choice. Its one of the worst coop I have seen in any game. Not even real co-op, more like hot seat mode most of the time:). I have finished the game today twice, so I probably got my moneys worth, but unfortunately I was expecting much more than I got :( .

[Indie P]

I think split screen would be really stupid, see less, and why the heck would you split up with your buddies? O_O stay together aye? I haven't even downloaded it, but I preordered it lol.

[offlinenolife]

Originally posted by Pirateguybrush:

As long as it doesn't fundamentally break the game engine/mechanics (and from what I've played so far it wouldn't), there's little reason not to have implemented split screen.

Then again, 3-player co-op is probably much better without splitscreen.

Also, I wouldn't call splitscreen in Lego LOTRO "nice", it's one of the worst Lego games to be played co-op. Looks sophisticated, but it's basically broken.

[Internet_Hero]

Yeah, playing with impatient friends and you'll end up smashing your controller in their face(s)

[Indie P]

LOL @ internet hero

[Pirateguybrush]

3 player would have been harder to do split screen, especially on a monitor. I'd at least like the option though.

I've played about 1/3rd of Lego LOTR so far, entirely in coop. While it can be a little fiddly on occasion, most of the time the split screen is absolutely perfect. It's not all that practical on a "small" monitor though, I've been hooking my PC to my TV - which looks and plays great. I could see it working very well for The Cave (though not for 3 players)

[Internet_Hero]

Originally posted by Pirateguybrush:

3 player would have been harder to do split screen, especially on a monitor. I'd at least like the option though.

I've played about 1/3rd of Lego LOTR so far, entirely in coop. While it can be a little fiddly on occasion, most of the time the split screen is absolutely perfect. It's not all that practical on a "small" monitor though, I've been hooking my PC to my TV - which looks and plays great. I could see it working very well for The Cave (though not for 3 players)

When you get to the battle scene when you fight those elephant thingie majigz, when your co-op partner jumps up on one, because he's so high the dynamic split screen doesn't know what to do so it goes full screen then splits it up and starts spinning round rapidly. It was quite annoying.

[offlinenolife]

This. And the fact that you're condemned to fixed vertical split in "open" areas.

I suppose the ideal thing for local co-op would be a well-balanced mix of both split-screen and shared camera. Or maybe there's just too many personal tastes and gaming habits involved to come up with something satisfying for everyone...

[LaminiLeader]

Originally posted by nulian:

They said they did it on purpose because with split screen people started to do their own thing instead of working together so they made it that everyone had to really work together or turns if its further to walk.

I agree with you! this game seems to be about a story a lession not just another mario. It is a puzzle to be shared with friends together, not to try and out do each other.

[Pirateguybrush]

"The fact that you're condemned to fixed vertical split in "open" areas"

Wait, you are? So there are areas later on where split screen happens?

[PickledToadMuffinBurger`]

Hmmm....if the local coop is no fun, then that's a deal breaker for me. Anyone having a positive experience with the coop?

[jujohnso]

@Pirateguybrush... they started talking about the split screen in LEGO Lord of the Rings--it has vertical split screen in the open world map.