Cooperative Play in COD: Ghosts
Company: Activision Product: Call of Duty: Ghosts
The two types of gameplay that typically get the most attention in Call of Duty games are Multiplayer and Single Player Campaign, in that order. In addition, however, there have been various cooperative modes in previous games, such as Spec Ops and Zombies. Ghosts has not one, but two different game types that offer some cooperative gameplay: Squads and Extinction. Extinction allows cooperative play of up to four players and has a lot of similarity to Zombies, but instead of a Zombie outbreak, you're dealing with the aftermath of an alien invasion. Squads allows cooperative play of up to six players.
Squads Squads actually offers an interesting variety of game types in addition to the cooperative, including solo play and an asynchronous competitive game type that lets players build up their squad and then play against squads designed by other players and controlled by Artificial Intelligence. This game type, Squad Assault, feels like Call of Duty's answer to a "Franchise Mode." Build the most deadly squad you can, tailor their layout how you want it and select the map your squad will deffend, then release them on the unsuspecting public. When others play against your squad, your soldiers will earn XP while you're not even playing. Squad Assault will also let you play against a squad that is online and playing, however - and in this mode, you can have six against six.
Another game type in Squads, simply named Squad vs. Squad, is competitive, pitting two players against each other. You select your squad of six soldiers and choose one of them to control, while the others are A.I.-controlled, with their play style responsive to the loadouts you've selected. Wargame is a more versatile version, acting as something between Squad Assault and Squad vs. Squad. You can play one on one, as in Squad vs. Squad, but you can also swap out an A.I.-controlled soldier from your squad for an incoming friend if you like. The last Squads game type, Safeguard, is perhaps the closest thing to Spec Ops Mode available in Ghosts. Up to four players can cooperatively take their stand against wave after wave of enemies.
Extinction The new alien-fightin' mode, Extinction, has you quickly planning out defensive strategies, then fending against hordes of various types of alien assailants as you defend your lone, irreplaceable drill from angry aliens. As you progress, you'll earn points that can be spent on upgrades to customize and level up your character, as well as money that can be spent on useful things such as additional ammo, defensive emplacements, use of existing chain guns as well as to activate environment hazard traps, such as oil drum traps and electric fences, etc. The key to survival in Extinction is to have a game plan and to play on a team that works well together. Your goal is to work your way through areas infested with aliens, destroying any hives you encounter on your way, then to arm a nuke and run back to where you were dropped off to get back on the helicopter. Piece o' cake, right? You'll need teamwork and communication to succeed... but I guess that goes without saying for cooperative modes, right? I have to admit that I was hoping for a newer version of Spec Ops' Cooperative Mode when I got my hands on Ghosts, but while it's not the same game mode that I was hoping for, the inclusion of two different cooperative modes is great.
-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins
Related Links: Buy Call of Duty: Ghosts on Amazon Your Aliens Are in My Ghosts on Game Vortex
Cross-Platform Compatibility in Ghosts Call of Duty Ghosts: Multiplayer In-Depth