Army of Two: The 40th Day Xbox 360

Released on 15/01/2010

• Army of Two: 40th Day Review

  Going, going . . . come back!

  Some years ago, the one-time masters of the gaming universe ID Software declared that single player games were dead and that multiplayer was the future. They soon discovered that the public utterly disagreed with them. Fast forward and ID has done a 'reverse ferret' (wiki it) and their up-and-coming game, Rage, has a decidedly single-player focus.

  In recent years, co-op has been made the new poster child for the future of gaming. While single-player games still need not fear their sudden and untimely demise, co-oping your way through a game with a buddy is a far more interesting prospect than being 'pwned' all on your lonesome by some faceless stranger during a deathmatch.

  Beefcakes Abroad

  Never one to miss an opportunity (and while surely looking in envy at the runaway success of Gears of War), Electronic Arts released Army of Two, a third person potty-mouthed rampage across modern war zones which allowed two players to team up on a quest to rip the Axis of Evil a new one. The game was met with lukewarm reviews mainly because of the samey nature of the gameplay, the sometimes superficial co-op mechanics and the inflammatory setting. So EA have set out to right such wrongs in the sequel.

  Army of Two: The 40th Day opens with a bang; well, several big ones in fact.

  Army of Two: The 40th Day opens with a bang; well, several big ones in fact as our mercenary heroes, Salem and Rios aka Beefcake 1 and Beefcake 2, turn up in Shanghai for a short busman's holiday. No sooner have they completed their mission to install some homing beacons (like a couple of gun-toting IT consultants), than Shanghai's skyline starts to light up with massive HD explosions, collapsing buildings and screaming citizens. In among the carnage, our knuckle-dragging heroes are plunged into a war against a mysterious quasi-religious militia who you can carve up with all manner of customised weaponry.

  As before, you and a buddy will find yourselves working together opening doors, giving the other a leg-up over a wall and going back-to-back to fend off waves of enemy; not exactly revolutionary stuff even when they appeared in the original – but the real core co-op gameplay is rock solid. It features one of you providing covering fire and drawing attention to yourself (increasing your 'Aggro' meter on the HUD) while the other creeps round the side and flanks the enemies' brains out all over the nearest wall. The gunplay works well, offering a satisfying fluidity when sliding into cover, popping up and then delivering headshots with your upgraded AK-SMG-UZI-Death-Fused-Uber-Glock. No fuss, no faff; just Michael Bay film-esque murderous mayhem.

  Jim Carrey & Bill Pullman Reunited?

  There are some interesting sideshows too; from moral decision-making moments that offer sometimes funny, sometimes gruelling outcomes that linger in the mind (if not having any real impact on the gameplay) through to opportunities to save hostages from the clutches of the militia in return for 'moral' plus-points – but mainly for gun parts and cash that grateful citizens hand over if rescued; we never knew that everyday Shanghai citizens carried so many gun accessories in their wallets. Must be a dangerous city.

  AOT is the perfect blast for late Friday and Saturday night gaming.

  And talking of the city, it's a grand place to behold even after it's been blitzed by a complete and utter mentalist. There are some genuine standout levels too as you traverse across the besieged city – running down what used to be the side of a skyscraper and witnessing the aftermath of an animal slaughter at the city zoo are particular highlights. Going online reveals a new Extraction mode where you and up to three team mates face-off wave after wave of enemy. The other modes are standard multiplayer fare but all the more fun because you've got your buddy riding alongside you – the co-op element again being brought to the fore as you battle against other armies of two.

  If you're not in the mood for co-oping (or simply have no mates), then the single player mode offers more than enough bite thanks to its simple, intelligently-implemented command system that lets you bark basic orders at your fellow AI-controlled beefcake. Almost inevitably, there are times when he dumbs up as he roundly ignores orders to advance but on the whole, you feel like he's got your back.

  Amputations R Us
  

  Alas, you can't always be quite so forgiving of the sometimes intellectually-challenged enemy AI. There are times when you're outflanking a scrum of scum, only for them to keep their sights firmly trained on your 'aggro-ed' up buddy even as you fire several rounds into their presumably empty noggins. And if an enemy spots you throwing a grenade, don't worry – they'll wait patiently for their legs to be amputated.

  But such AI fumbles don't detract too much from such an enjoyable romp – the run-and-gun nature of AOT is perfect for exorcising any pent-up frustration without overly exercising your brain. And with a friend either playing sat next to you (thanks to split-screen) or side-by-side online, AOT is the perfect blast for late Friday and Saturday night gaming. So get ready to slam chests, talk trash and bond over dead bodies – cooperating has never been so deadly.

  GAME's Verdict

  

  • Packs a satisfying punch when played with a buddy
  • Slick and simple combat with a cover system which is a pleasure to use instead of a chore
  • Any game that lets you take a headshot while crouched down for cover behind a dead hippo gets our vote

  

  • Gameplay can feel a little one-tracked and the campaign is on the short side
  • Some occasionally irritating checkpointing and long loading times
  • MENSA will not be receiving any applications from the game's bad guys anytime soon. If any of them manage to make it out of Shanghai alive, that is

  Review by: Adam 'Butcher' Phillips
  Version Tested: PlayStation 3
  Review Published: 28.01.10

  Published: 28/01/2010

• Army of Two: The 40th Day Review

  You and Two's Army?

  The original Army of Two offered dumb run and gun fun with some fairly unlikeable main characters. Can the sequel improve on things? Read on soldier!

  Reintroducing jigsaw faced man mountain Rios and wisecracking greaseball Salem, mercenary muscle-men for hire, Army of Two: The 40th Day drops the duo into a seemingly inoccuous sneak and deliver mission in Shanghai. Naturally, this being a post-24 game, there are double crosses and shady dealings going on, and our men on the ground quickly find themselves in the middle of a massive terror attack on the city. Luckily they're already armed to the teeth and body armoured to the max, so it's nothing they can't handle!
  

  So, thrust straight into battle against a mysterious mercenary army, the combat begins. Dashing from cover to cover, ducking behind low walls and vaulting obstacles, Army of Two: The 40th Day lifts its entire fighting mechanic from Gears of War. Blind fire, arcing grenade indicators and having to heal your partner when he's down complete the picture.

  With three weapons slots plus grenades, our anti-heroes are more than capable of taking on any situation. With machine guns and shotguns as your mainstay, a back up pistol for close encounters, and a special weapons slot for sniper rifles and grenade launchers, the weapons load out is fairly standard. There are plenty of choices for upgrading and customising weapons however, as well as new weapons to buy, so you're bound to find something you like.
  

  Flattering to conceive

  Salem and Rios also come equipped with battle masks, which act not only as intimidating featureless visages allowing them to kill with impunity, but as state of the art GPS systems with target recognition software. Basically, this means you've always got a map handy telling you where to go, and you can "tag" targets for the other player to take out. Oh, and they look rather cool, and you can design your own to download to the game at EA's website, which is a nice touch!

  They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but the recent spate of Gears copyists is getting a bit tired. 40th Day fails to match Gears visceral combat, with weapons that lack any real feel of physical impact, a damage indicator that doesn't really indicate damage very well, and endless identikit enemies who flop about like inflatable dolls when shot.

  Luckily, despite the lack of oomph, it's still fun using team up tactics to take on a group of foes, especially with another player involved. The "Aggro" system is a cool feature, allowing you or your team-mate to draw the enemies attention (with copious amounts of gunfire) so that the other player can move into flanking positions or snipe unwary targets. Teaming up is also the only surefire way to take down some of the game's larger enemies. Massive armoured mercs with ridiculously large weapons, they make the cast of Predator look like weekend warriors.

  You'll also find yourself in a civilian hostage situation more than once throughout the game. You can "tag" targets on your visor and instruct your partner to take them hostage or simply take them down. There's also a "morality" system at play, with various choices offered to you as you go, with seemingly obvious good or bad paths. The following cut-scenes often show you that things aren't quite as black and white as you'd think!

  While it's clearly designed as a two player co-op game, 40th Day's AI does a reasonably solid job of buddying up with you if you are playing it on your own. Orders you issue are followed (hold, move up, covering fire etc), and if you get downed in combat and call for help your partner will come running. Unfortunately, they'll even attempt this under a hail of machine gun fire, leading to quite a few restarts...

  Enter the Warzone

  You'll see a fair few of these, as your partner gets killed before you can reach him, or get ambushed by a walking tank with a flamethrower. Fair enough, the game wants to challenge you, but does it have to make you sit through the same unskippable cut-scene EVERY time you replay a section?

  Graphically, 40th Day is no great shakes, with plastic humans and oddly blocky environments. The script is great though, with some genuinely funny lines and good banter between Salem and Rios. It's certainly more likeable than the original game.

  There's also a fully featured multiplayer mode, with various game types including co-op Deathmatch, which lets you and your gun buddy take on other teams, as well as Extraction, Control and Warzone. The same niggles still apply, but the co-op aspect still manages to shine through.

  As a single player experience, Army of Two: The 40th Day is hard to recommend, as it's pretty rough round the edges compared with some other similar titles. As a co-op game with another real human player, however, it's a different story. The short game time makes it ideal for repeated team-ups with a friend, and the huge amount of weapons and customisable parts give you a reason to go back through again.

  It's not the most polished or original shooter out there, but as long as there's two of you, you'll get good value from Army of Two.

  

  Army of Two
  + Looks great.
  + Some of the events are quite well realised and prove a good laugh in multiplayer.
  + Challenges and online Leaderboards add a little longevity.

  Army of Poo
  - Weapons feel weedy.
  - Generic combat.
  - Irritating unskippable cut-scenes.

• New Army of Two sequel targets 2013

  Fist-bumping co-op shooter series Army of Two will spawn a fresh sequel, The Devil's Cartel, due for release next year, EA has announced.

  Once again, the game will find players in charge of imaginatively named mercenary operatives Alpha and Bravo, this time embroiled in a war against a Mexican drug ring. As always, you'll be able to work together with a friend - either online or using local split-screen - to flank the enemy and clear the way ahead.

  You'll have more customisation options for our heroes this time around, while the Frostbite 2 game engine - developed for Battlefield 3 - will take care of the breathtaking carnage. For this one, EA's Montreal studio is getting a helping hand from Visceral Games, the studio behind Dead Space and Dante's Inferno.

  "Our goal with Army of Two The Devil's Cartel is to apply our key design principles - immersive, challenging gameplay, intense narrative and focus on quality - to help improve a franchise we feel has always had a lot of potential," said Visceral's general manager Steve Papoutsis.

  "We wanted to refresh the Army of Two franchise for a new generation of action gamers, and at the same time, stay true to the core concept that really made the first two games fan favourites," added Julian Beak, the game's executive producer.

  Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel is set for release in March 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

• Army of Two: The 40th Day - Review

  
  

  

  You and Two's Army?

  The original Army of Two offered dumb run and gun fun with some fairly unlikeable main characters. Can the sequel improve on things? Read on soldier!

  Reintroducing jigsaw faced man mountain Rios and wisecracking greaseball Salem, mercenary muscle-men for hire, Army of Two: The 40th Day drops the duo into a seemingly inoccuous sneak and deliver mission in Shanghai. Naturally, this being a post-24 game, there are double crosses and shady dealings going on, and our men on the ground quickly find themselves in the middle of a massive terror attack on the city. Luckily they're already armed to the teeth and body armoured to the max, so it's nothing they can't handle!

  So, thrust straight into battle against a mysterious mercenary army, the combat begins. Dashing from cover to cover, ducking behind low walls and vaulting obstacles, Army of Two: The 40th Day lifts its entire fighting mechanic from Gears of War. Blind fire, arcing grenade indicators and having to heal your partner when he's down complete the picture.

  With three weapons slots plus grenades, our anti-heroes are more than capable of taking on any situation. With machine guns and shotguns as your mainstay, a back up pistol for close encounters, and a special weapons slot for sniper rifles and grenade launchers, the weapons load out is fairly standard. There are plenty of choices for upgrading and customising weapons however, as well as new weapons to buy, so you're bound to find something you like.

  

  Flattering to conceive

  Salem and Rios also come equipped with battle masks, which act not only as intimidating featureless visages allowing them to kill with impunity, but as state of the art GPS systems with target recognition software. Basically, this means you've always got a map handy telling you where to go, and you can "tag" targets for the other player to take out. Oh, and they look rather cool, and you can design your own to download to the game at EA's website, which is a nice touch!

  They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but the recent spate of Gears copyists is getting a bit tired. 40th Day fails to match Gears' visceral combat, with weapons that lack any real feel of physical impact, a damage indicator that doesn't really indicate damage very well, and endless identikit enemies who flop about like inflatable dolls when shot.

  Luckily, despite the lack of oomph, it's still fun using team up tactics to take on a group of foes, especially with another player involved. The "Aggro" system is a cool feature, allowing you or your team-mate to draw the enemies attention (with copious amounts of gunfire) so that the other player can move into flanking positions or snipe unwary targets. Teaming up is also the only surefire way to take down some of the game's larger enemies. Massive armoured mercs with ridiculously large weapons, they make the cast of Predator look like weekend warriors.

  You'll also find yourself in a civilian hostage situation more than once throughout the game. You can "tag" targets on your visor and instruct your partner to take them hostage or simply take them down. There's also a "morality" system at play, with various choices offered to you as you go, with seemingly obvious good or bad paths. The following cut-scenes often show you that things aren't quite as black and white as you'd think!

  While it's clearly designed as a two player co-op game, 40th Day's AI does a reasonably solid job of buddying up with you if you are playing it on your own. Orders you issue are followed (hold, move up, covering fire etc), and if you get downed in combat and call for help your partner will come running. Unfortunately, they'll even attempt this under a hail of machine gun fire, leading to quite a few restarts...

  

  Enter the Warzone

  You'll see a fair few of these, as your partner gets killed before you can reach him, or get ambushed by a walking tank with a flamethrower. Fair enough, the game wants to challenge you, but does it have to make you sit through the same unskippable cut-scene EVERY time you replay a section?

  Graphically, 40th Day is no great shakes, with plastic humans and oddly blocky environments. The script is great though, with some genuinely funny lines and good banter between Salem and Rios. It's certainly more likeable than the original game.

  There's also a fully featured multiplayer mode, with various game types including co-op Deathmatch, which lets you and your gun buddy take on other teams, as well as Extraction, Control and Warzone. The same niggles still apply, but the co-op aspect still manages to shine through.

  As a single player experience, Army of Two: The 40th Day is hard to recommend, as it's pretty rough round the edges compared with some other similar titles. As a co-op game with another real human player, however, it's a different story. The short game time makes it ideal for repeated team-ups with a friend, and the huge amount of weapons and customisable parts give you a reason to go back through again.

  It's not the most polished or original shooter out there, but as long as there's two of you, you'll get good value from Army of Two.

  The Good:

  • Looks great.
  • Some of the events are quite well realised and prove a good laugh in multiplayer.
  • Challenges and online Leaderboards add a little longevity.

  The Bad:

  • Weapons feel weedy.
  • Generic combat.
  • Irritating unskippable cut-scenes.

  Published: 27/01/2010

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