Couch Co-Op
				by KSI Nick Wilde

It's a difficult thing for players nowadays to imagine a gaming world that didn't span beyond their living room or bedroom. Today's consoles demand an internet connection, and the top games today are those that we play with a multitude of people around the world - we enjoy the company, the competition, and of course showing off our skills.

But not too long ago multiplayer, even on systems, was very different. It was a world of multi-tap extentions, link cables, and the now endangered split-screen. A time before achievements that went beyond tall tales spun to your friends at the lunch table of your latest conquest.

There were many games there were - and still are - quite iconic. Obviously different people will have different experiences, but for the most part a lot of the games that brought people together during sleepovers and rainy days.

So for those nostalgic feels, here's a few of the games that at the very least shaped much of my childhood.

007 GoldenEye for the N64
If you didn't grow up fist fighting the one player that always chose the golden gun, you may not recognize this title for the Nintendo 64. It was the very first FPS game I ever got my paws on, and more than likely was about half my childhood. Sporting a 4 player split screen, at the time it was incredibly fun to play with your friends. It was rage inducing, competitive, and just an all-round great experience with some of your closest friends.

Mario Kart 64
You may be noticing a trend here, but yes I grew up with mainly the N64. In terms of racing, this game was the best you were gonna get while playing with your friends. For the N64, the graphics were incredible and the fast-paced gameplay mixed with your most beloved Mario characters, it was hard not to love the game. The Mario Kart franchise is still well known today, and still continues to be one of the biggest game bringing together living rooms with Nintendo consoles now.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
This game was absolute rage fuel. Never have I ever both loved and hated a game at the same time. Sure, it wasn't as futuristic as the COD games have gotten nowadays, but the gameplay was solid, the guns were fantastic, and the levels were absolutely unforgettable. Even today at the risk of being in a lobby full of hackers, I'd say this game is absolutely worth a try for those that love a competitive, fast paced FPS game that holds nothing back. Not only is it great to play split screen with a few of your friends over, they even had a cooperative mission mode where you could complete missions together that ranged from covering your partner in a helicopter to being a two-man sniper squad making your way through tall grass and tons of enemies. The gameplay is incredibly varied, the missions are fun, and COD has yet to top this one in my book.

Mario Party
Now, I will admit that I haven't played this game or any of the other in the series in a very long time. Despite that, I remember playing Mario Party for the first time on the N64 and having an absolute blast. Me and my friends would play this for hours and never once did we get tired of the huge array of mini-games or trying to screw eachother over to be the last one standing. It was a great bit of fun, simple to pick up, and made the prospect of an afternoon playing monopoly seem absurd.

Twisted Metal III
For those that love cars, but not necessarily racing them, there was always Twisted Metal. A blood-pumping mix of violence, speed, and a Rob Zombie soundtrack, this was the pinnacle of excitement between me and my brother back on the Playstation 1. The characters were awesome and sported an array of devious and varied abilities. To this day I will still pick this game up for a few rounds.

I know your list of games that shaped your childhood multi-player experiences, but these are mine. Remember that online is fun, but now and then it's fun to change it up and get one of your close friends to come over, grab some snacks, and waste a few hours of friendly competition. To me, at least, it's always had a certain charm to it that you just can't get online.