Chaos Engine, The

The Chaos Engine is a top-down run-and-gun co-op shooter set in steampunk Victorian England. Players choose two of six mercenaries (Navvie with bazooka, Thug with shotgun, Brigand with rifle, Mercenary with Gatling gun, Gentleman with flame pistol, Preacher/Scientist with lightning gun) to battle hordes of mutated monsters, automata, and prehistoric beasts created by Baron Fortesque's sentient Chaos Engine. Gameplay features 16 levels across four worlds with power-ups, coin collection for upgrades, weapon specials, and puzzle-solving via nodes; modes include single-player (AI ally) and two-player co-op. Story follows the mercenaries infiltrating the quarantined Britain to shut down the machine that has assimilated its inventor and destroyed the land. It stands out for its excellent two-player teamwork, varied character classes with unique weapons and abilities, tight controls, and humor in its Victorian setting.