As we look ahead to the co-op releases for the next few months, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate still firmly blips on our radar screens for the end of March. Previously, we've seen the some action straight from the game and even a little bit about connecting with other WiiU friends online or locally via the 3DS. Recently, Capcom's begun detailing some of the different weapons and weapon combos you'll have available through the Capcom-Unity blog. First up on the list is the basic weapon set with which all players will begin: the ever trusty Sword and Shield.

Believe it or not, we're only a few months away from a new Gears of War game.  Gears of War: Judgement is the trilogy's sequel and is set to release on the Xbox 360 in late March, and like any good release, there are pre-order bonuses that go along with it. 

The 12 Days of Christmas are done; stop crying, time to get over it.  Instead we welcome the 52 weeks of a new year and on the second week of 2013 my XBLA Sale gave to me - loads of 2K reductions including half price DLC on Borderlands 1 and 2.

There are only three things certain in the this world; death, taxes, and the constant release of LEGO games. The "LEGO" name has appeared on over 40 video game titles since 1997. It's true, at least according to Wikipedia, and you're not going to argue with Wikipedia, are you? At least two more are slated for 2013, and they both look promising.  

As we all know, new songs are the lifeblood of singing and dancing games, such as Dance Central 3, released back in October. Have the game, but you and your local co-op partner are lamenting the fact that you can't bust some moves to Nicki Minaj's "Whip It?" Don't worry, Dance Central 3 has heard your pleas. This month, tracks from Nicki Minaj, Pitbull, the Wanted, and Flo Rida are hitting the Xbox Live Marketplace and Dance Central 3 Music Store. Titles, dates, and difficulty levels are as follows:

Nintendo keeps cranking out New Super Mario Bros. games, and each time the co-op has been hit or miss. The platforming is as good as it's been since the old days, but is the third time the charm for a solid co-op Mario experience? Read on and find out.

We've been following DungeonLand since it was announced last March, and thankfully unlike some other games coming this year, this one is coming in under a year's time - as opposed to a 4 year wait.  The 3 player co-op hack and slash game is set to release on the PC on January 22nd.  With that Paradox is taking pre-orders for just $9.99 on the game, which will be available from GamersGate and a handful of other digital distribution services.

Only last week Co-Optimus suggested that Activision might be leakier than Senator Brian McLeaky, the representative for Leakyville, USA.  True to form more details of the 'Revolution' DLC for Call of Duty Black Ops 2 have been forthcoming and this time we get to learn a little more about what each map entails.  

We are sure we aren’t the only ones with co-op buddies that yell into their microphones to magically control their game better. For Dead Space 3, however, Kinect voice commands have been integrated into the game, giving angry gamers a legitimate reason to use their loud, vocal mouths to enhance their overall control and in-game experience.

After a slow holiday lull we have a variety of cooperative games coming out in early January. We've got brawling, shooting, dancing, and dogfighting (in space!). There's not much else dropping until February, so get your fill while you can.  

One of the fall's more anticipated AAA titles was the third, and final (for this story line, at least), entry in the Assassin's Creed series. At long last everything would be revealed/resolved. The whole sordid purpose behind the Templar's schemes. Why Desmond's ancestors were so important. Why Desmond has father issues. Why there was this whole futuristic doomsday plot in the first place. Ok, so not everything was clear. At least it ended, right? Even if you weren't all that into the game's story/premise, there was still plenty there to enjoy. Like the newly added "Wolfpack" co-op mode, which was one of the highlights for us. Good news arrives today as new maps and new playable characters will be available via the "Battle Hardened" DLC pack, slated to hit the Xbox tomorrow, Jan. 8. PS3 owner's can pick up the new content Wednesday, Jan. 9 and, last but not least, it will go up for PC players next Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Let's face it, space combat games are a tough genre to find anymore.  Thanks to the indie movement though, we're seeing a slight comeback in a genre which once features games like X-Wing vs Tie Fighter, Wing Commander and many, many more.  This week there's an indie release sneaking out from upstart developer Wraith Entertainment.  The game is called Dawnstar and it has a lot of potential.