History Main / DoublePlay

* In ''Bub & Bob'', a UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh clone of ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble'', the level layouts are the same but the gameplay is slightly different. One consequence is that on Level 99 (the last true level; Level 100 is a boss fight) the two halves are completely separated, so you ''must'' use both players. However, since you can call the other player into existence at any time, it's easy for a solo player to Double Play this level without having to Double Play the entire game.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'', it is possible to use a single [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube GameCube]] Wavebird controller with multiple receivers to control multiple characters, almost in the style of the Ice Climbers.

* The ''Fireboy and Watergirl'' series of flash games has you play as the two title characters with separate control sets, using their respective skills and powers to solve puzzles.

** Just trying someting different (Ystos and Golgotha).

* While there's no official mode for it, the loading screens in ''VideoGame/RockBand'' suggest playing an instrument while doing vocals, and the vocal harmony feature introduced in ''Music/TheBeatles: VideoGame/RockBand'' outright encourages as many players as possible to multitask at the same time. With the introduction of a keyboard peripheral, it's possible for players to play not only two instruments, but [[UpToEleven three (e.g. bass, vocals, and keyboard) at the same time]].

* Taken [[UpToEleven Up to Thirty-One]] by [[http://www.planetrea.com/reath/index.html Planet Reath,]] a ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' fan fiction / WorldBuilding exercise where the player is controlling all of the civilizations in the game himself.[[note]]And we do mean ''all'' of them. He even downloaded a fan-created patch that allows him to circumvent the normal player limit on hotseat games simply so he could have every faction in the game available.[[/note]]

** ''VideoGame/AudioSurf'' has the Double Vision (not to be confused with one of the [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd AVGN's]] 2-Part episode). It comes in three flavors: Casual, Pro, and Elite, which are Easy, Normal, and Hard, respectively. It was even intentional to be either Two Players or Double Play, as it says on the description: ''There are two cars to control. '''Play by yourself''' or with a partner.''

* ''WebVideo/GamesDoneQuick'' featured a few "one player two controllers" runs[[note]]not to be confused with the converse, which also happened[[/note]], such as ''Goof Troop'' or ''VideoGame/TheLostVikings''.

* ''Videogame/TetrisTheGrandMaster 2 PLUS'' has a Doubles mode that is intended for two players in which both sides share one field and must cooperate to reach level 300. Some players have completed it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4q1R99ybgs solo]].

* A very odd variant is a simultaneous tool-assisted speedrun of ''[[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]] [[http://tasvideos.org/871M.html 3, 4, 5 and 6]]'', or ''VideoGame/MegaManX [[http://tasvideos.org/1894M.html 1, 2 and 3]]''. The player is using the same controller inputs perfectly synced for all the games. If you pay attention to only one game, some moves will seem silly...
** There's now also one for ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros [[http://tasvideos.org/1778M.html 1, The Lost Levels, 2, and 3]]''.

* ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Gaiden'' has been double-played. On ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L50JxnHcIqI&feature=related Hardest]]''.

* Taken [[UpToEleven Up to Thirty-One]] by [[http://www.planetrea.com/reath/index.html Planet Reath]], a ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' fan fiction / WorldBuilding exercise where the player is controlling all of the civilizations in the game himself.[[note]]And we do mean ''all'' of them. He even downloaded a fan-created patch that allows him to circumvent the normal player limit on hotseat games simply so he could have every faction in the game available.[[/note]]
* Similar to the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' 2-Player Home Run Contest example above, certain ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'' speedrunners have been known to [[https://youtu.be/lDgdDq62p6o play with their hands and feet as well]], controlling Mario with their hands and Cappy with their toes.

* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaacAntibirth'' (a mod for ''[[VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac The Binding of Isaac Rebirth]]'') has Jacob and Esau, Double Play ''characters''. They're usually both controlled at the same time (you can hold a button to leave Esau in one place, and active items can be used separately), and if one of them dies, it counts as having lost a life.

** There's now also one for ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros [[http://tasvideos.org/1778M.html 1, 2-Japan, 2-USA, and 3]]''.

* A popular stunt on ''VideoGame/TaikoDrumMaster'' is to play both drums on the machine at the same time, using one drumstick on each drum. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-GaCUcIz2w Click here for an example.]]

* ''Raiden III'' and ''IV''. Interestingly, you can configure the controls to control both ships with one controller, or if you're feeling exceptionally coordinated, ''with separate controllers.''

* ''VideoGame/{{Contra}} 4'' contains ports of the NES versions of ''Contra'' and ''Super C''. Due to some limitations, if you choose their respective 2-player modes, you'll find that they aren't really 2-player modes so much as this trope.

* ''VideoGame/HouseOfTheDead: Overkill'' offers you a dual-wield mode after you've cleared the game's Director's Cut mode. Do an entire level in it and it opens the last few unlocks.

* ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni'' has the Trial of Friendship, a rare ''mandatory'' example of a Double Play challenge during a game's plotline. You control both Oliver and Esther (one with the left stick, one with the right) in a top-down maze of falling playforms over a pit. If either one of you falls, you have to start again. You're also under time pressure. If you don't think that's crazy enough, sometimes the characters' paths ''criss-cross''. [[DamnYouMuscleMemory Good luck remembering which stick goes to who when that happens.]] Later on the challenge becomes an optional minigame at the Casino.

** Also done in [=MMO=]s well prior to WoW [Everquest, for example], and even [[MultiUserDungeon [=MUD=]s]].

* ''NiNoKuni'' has the Trial of Friendship, a rare ''mandatory'' example of a Double Play challenge during a game's plotline. You control both Oliver and Esther (one with the left stick, one with the right) in a top-down maze of falling playforms over a pit. If either one of you falls, you have to start again. You're also under time pressure. If you don't think that's crazy enough, sometimes the characters' paths ''criss-cross''. [[DamnYouMuscleMemory Good luck remembering which stick goes to who when that happens.]] Later on the challenge becomes an optional minigame at the Casino.

* While there's no official mode for it, the loading screens in ''VideoGame/RockBand'' suggest playing an instrument while doing vocals, and the vocal harmony feature introduced in ''Music/TheBeatles: VideoGame/RockBand'' outright encourages as many players as possible to multitask at the same time.
** Performing bass and vocals simultaneously is generally referred to as [[{{Rush}} "Geddying"]] [[FanNickname in the fandom.]] Of course, now that a keyboard peripheral has been introduced, it's possible this term could be expanded to players who do [[UpToEleven bass, vocals, AND keyboard at the same time.]]

** ''VideoGame/AudioSurf'' has the Double Vision (not to be confused with one of the [[WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd AVGN's]] 2-Part episode). It comes in three flavors: Casual, Pro, and Elite, which are Easy, Normal, and Hard, respectively. It was even intentional to be either Two Players or DoublePlay, as it says on the description: ''There are two cars to control. '''Play by yourself''' or with a partner.''

* It is actually possible to double-play a co-op race in VideoGame/MarioKart Double Dash, due to the game having two people in carts rather than one; the process involves holding the driver's controller on top of the rear guy's and playing as if it is one huge, complex controller. While the nature of this setup makes getting mini-turbos and aiming items much more difficult; having the ability to punch rivals - spinning them out AND stealing their items, the ability to nudge yourself using said punch to avoid hazards, and a stronger starting boost when both controllers are timed correctly practically makes up for it.

* The Target Shooting game in ''WiiPlay'' lets you use two Wii Remotes simultaneously in single-player mode.

* ''NiNoKuni'' has the Trial of Friendship, a rare ''mandatory'' example of a DoublePlay challenge during a game's plotline. You control both Oliver and Esther (one with the left stick, one with the right) in a top-down maze of falling playforms over a pit. If either one of you falls, you have to start again. You're also under time pressure. If you don't think that's crazy enough, sometimes the characters' paths ''criss-cross''. [[DamnYouMuscleMemory Good luck remembering which stick goes to who when that happens.]]
** Later on the challenge becomes an optional minigame at the Casino, but [[ThatOnePuzzle most players would rather never having to do it again.]]

** Pictured above is an ''Ikaruga'' player doing a double-play run. What makes that one especially notable is that he does a no death, S++ rank game all the way up to partway through the ''final boss''. Watch it [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZEGyrEnXrk here]].

* In ''Bub & Bob'', a UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh clone of ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble'', the level layouts are the same but the gameplay is slightly different. One consequence is that on Level 99 (the last true level; Level 100 is a boss fight) the two halves are completely separated, so you ''must'' use both players. However, since you can call the other player into existence at any time, it's easy for a solo player to DoublePlay this level without having to DoublePlay the entire game.

* Most of the Bemani series as well as some other {{Rhythm Game}}s, though the double-play modes present in most of the games offer specialized charts. Examples include ''VideoGame/DanceDanceRevolution'', ''BeatmaniaIIDX'', and ''VideoGame/InTheGroove''.
** ''BeatmaniaIIDX'' allows you to play Double Battle mode, in which you can play the same single-player chart ''on both sides.''