On 2 Player Local Co-op

[hamstery]

Hello. This is my first time posting on these forums.
I bought and played the game on my Switch. I've tried the 2 player co-op with my brother. When people are telling someone to "just use the co-op", I don't think they've played it. The co-op is similar in function to the Pokémon Lets Go games, where a second player can join while being severely limited in gameplay. In the co-op, P2 joins as Trip. They get very simple attacks in combat with no health bar, and can pick up items and open chests. P2 can't do anything else. Not talk to NPCs, nor explore on their own. They can't start a life or do any of the main allures of playing Fantasy Life. This isn't inherently a bad way to do co-op, but definitely not fun for siblings playing together. The sibling playing P2 will almost always be unsatisfied with the game, possibly resulting in arguments between P1 and P2.
All in all, local co-op is fun, unless both players want to enjoy all the features.
(I've had arguments on this exact topic with my brother. Not fun.)

[Mazzle Dazzle]

Originally posted by hamstery:

Hello. This is my first time posting on these forums.
I bought and played the game on my Switch. I've tried the 2 player co-op with my brother. When people are telling someone to "just use the co-op", I don't think they've played it. The co-op is similar in function to the Pokémon Lets Go games, where a second player can join while being severely limited in gameplay. In the co-op, P2 joins as Trip. They get very simple attacks in combat with no health bar, and can pick up items and open chests. P2 can't do anything else. Not talk to NPCs, nor explore on their own. They can't start a life or do any of the main allures of playing Fantasy Life. This isn't inherently a bad way to do co-op, but definitely not fun for siblings playing together. The sibling playing P2 will almost always be unsatisfied with the game, possibly resulting in arguments between P1 and P2.
All in all, local co-op is fun, unless both players want to enjoy all the features.
(I've had arguments on this exact topic with my brother. Not fun.)

I definitely enjoyed local co op with my niece but I wouldn't buy specifically expecting local co op to be robust. This game flat out doesn't work in full co op without having online play. It wouldn't be fun being constrained on one screen or split screen in that way either so I definitely understand the design decision. I think of it like local co op in sonic 3 or in kirby super star. You exist as a helper but are gated out of the core experience.

[Eve]

Mario Odyssey too, for another example. It's just an option as a helper, not really both getting the same experience.