Co-op is so close to being a great experience
I got this game because I was looking for a couch co-op game to play with my partner. I really like the game, but there are some things that really get in the way of having a great experience.
My big two gripes are:
When managing the cult, there are too many actions that, when initiated by one player, take full control away from the other player. If an action “stops the world” and really requires a full screen menu, like with doing a sermon, I get it. But blessing/inspiring a follower or choosing to queue up some items for consecration should be able to be done in unison with the other player’s actions. This would allow two players to feel like they are both contributing to the cult management simultaneously, speeding up the process by working in tandem, rather than just alternating actions.
The performance is often abysmal when doing crusades in co-op mode. I play on the PS5 (regular, not pro model) and the frame rate/lag is often so bad it becomes unplayable. We sometimes have to drop one person to do boss fights because poor performance makes it too difficult to continue in co-op mode. The result is that it feels like choosing co-op handicaps progression, rather than being balanced such that it’s just as difficult or even an advantage if you can coordinate fighting well.
It’s annoying to me because the game is so close to being an awesome co-op experience but ends up being frustrating due to these problems.