The first Army of Two was without a one of my favorite games of 2008, simply because it was good dumb fun and the perfect game to play after a long day of work when you just want to come home and run-n-gun. It was the epitome of cool, with two Rambo-ish dudes, Salem and Rios, wearing body armor and masks that would make Jason Vorhees jealous, traveled around as mercs for hire, killing baddies and collecting loot. Army of Two was a big hit for EA Montreal, so of course a sequel was a no-brainer, and for the start of the new decade comes the highly anticipated Army of Two: The 40th Day. Get ready to lock-and-load, because the boys are back to blow up the town.
gameplay
For fans of the first game, it’s good to know that no deal-breaking changes have been added to gameplay, so it’s pick up and play as soon as you insert the disc. For the newbies, Army of Two is a third person shooter featuring two mercenaries, Salem and Rios, who work together going into danger zones around the world to terminate anyone who is a potential threat. The game can be played solo with an AI partner, but the real way to play is with a real live person who’s got your back. Whereas the first game took place in various locations, The 40th day takes place completely in Shanghai, where Salem and Rios have been sent in to do a job, but get caught in the middle of a battle zone and have to gun their way out of the situation that keeps getting worse as every bullet shell hits the ground.
The plot is thin, and it’s not super clear why all this is happening, basically some military group calling themselves The 40th Day Initiative has attacked Shanghai, and guess who has to clean up the mess? But hey, you’re not going to get this game for the story, like a good popcorn film you’re here for the action; and on this level The 40th Day delivers. To quote the movie Robocop, “Guns! Guns! Guns!” is what this game is all about. You and your partner go from points A through Z shooting everything in sight, and there is plenty thrown your way, whether is be an army of rival troops or some badass with a giant barrel-gun or grenade popper strapped to their backs. The Aggro system introduced in the first game is still a key element, allowing either Salem or Rios to draw the enemy towards them while the other can sneak around and take down the targets from another position, catching them by surprise. You can also still pick up a shield allowing the duo to fire from cover as they advance, take on a ambush back-to-back, and of course fist bump your partner to show your love.
One of the newest features in The 40th Day is the option to do a fake surrender when the enemy surrounds you, which is something right out of a Hong Kong John Woo film. In a tight situation, either Salem, Rios, (or both) will throw their hands up to surrender to the enemy, then at the right moment do a slow motion quick draw with their side arm to take down the enemy. You are also put in situations where you must work together to rescue as many civilians as you can, and if you are successful they will reward you with money or ammo.
Because there is so much killing in this game, another new feature added is a morality option, which puts you in a scenario where you must make a decision at certain points of the game to do something really bad or do the right thing. Once you make your choice still animation is triggered showing what future events will occur based on your decision, a style that is taken directly from the film Run Lola, Run. Even though the comic book panels look crude and rushed, this is a welcomed feature because you will want to replay the game to see what would have occurred if you made the opposite choice.
The computer controlled AI is much better in this game than in the previous, so when your down and take your partner drags you away to be healed, he will move you away from the line of fire instead of towards it, as was the issue with the last game. There are some issues that become annoying at times such as the camera which at times has a mind of it’s own, making you have to get back in the right path. And there is a lot of glitches, particularly when the cutscenes transfer to gameplay and vice-versa.
This game plays out like a Michael Bay movie, so if you’re fans of films like The Rock or Bad Boys you will be satisfied and then some. Army of Two: The 40th Day is like a very expensive sequel with all the bells and whistles, just as long as you don’t take it seriously at all. EA can definitely milk this franchise for at least a third game, as well as other entertainment zones such as movies, comic book, etc. Salem and Rios are the Starsky and Hutch of the videogame world, and there’s nothing wrong with a little bromance between two buffed guys carrying super large guns.
graphics
The graphics for The 40th Day are good, but oddly not as good as the first game. The 40th Day is darker, both in story and look, so the graphics are attempting to fit that tone. Rios and Salem were big in the first game, but now they look like they need to be tested for steroids. Jeez, we get it, they’re supermen. The backgrounds displaying Shanghai in ruins with crumbled buildings and destroyed streets look good, and plenty of details have been highlighted on their weapons and of course the masks Salem and Rios wear. The one thing that took a big hit were the cutscenes, which were more photo-realistic in the first game, but now just blend in with the real time gameplay. The outcome comic book panels that are triggered when you make a moral decision look as if they were rushed, and more time should have been spent on the visual style, because it doesn’t match the rest of the game. There is also animation glitches such as characters getting stuck in structures and pop up, something that plagues both the Xbox 360 and PS3.
sound
This game is all about the gunfire and explosions, and The 40th Day sound effects will have you convinced your in the middle of a summer action flick. Dialogue sounds solid and the comedic delivery between the characters works, but many lines are constantly repeated so you will get tired of hearing “Nice shot” or “Have you been practicing?” over and over again during gun battles. Overall the sound design is done well to immerse you into the gameplay. And again, it’s all about “Guns! Guns! Guns!”
replay value
The solo campaign is very short; no matter what difficulty setting you play, with only seven chapters. Replaying them just to see how a different decision you make will affect a character’s future is worth it, but just consider this practice for the real meat and potatoes, which is the co-op play. The 40th Day can be played split-screen with a buddy next to you on the couch, or online with a stranger via X-Box Live or the PSN a zillion miles away. Teamwork with a live person makes the gameplay a whole lot more fun and you can strategize your attacks much better with a bigger payoff. Besides the story campaign, you can and a partner can also gun your way through three multiplayer modes, a co-op deathmatch against other dual teams, a Capture the Flag where you and your partner defend a post, and Warzone a mode that keeps alternating objectives as you and your partner advance for points. There is a forth mode called Extraction that is limited to those who pre-ordered the game, and then 30 days after the launch it will be available to everyone. This mode appears to be similar to the Horde in Gears of War 2, pitting four players against wave after wave of enemies through multiple rounds. The multiplayer options make replay value very high, because with the right partner you will be gunning for months.
Another nice touch for fans of the cool masks that Rios and Salem wear in the game, EA has enabled a feature that allows you to go beyond the preset options and create your own designs. Just go to www.armyoftwo.com and you get all the tools to make your own personalized masked that you can upload and have Rios and Salem wear in the game.
bottom line
If you loved the first Army of Two game, you should enjoy The 40th Day as well. What is lacks in story it definitely makes up for tenfold in action. Though the solo campaign is short, the co-op and multiplayer modes are where the real action is. Many elements have been improved such as the AI, but there are still camera and glitching issues that are present on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. There is no doubt going to be a third game in the series, but it has to be bigger with higher stakes and maybe a surprise element…Army of Three…maybe?
Review by: Johnny
Posted: 02/01/2010
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Gameplay:
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8.0 |
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Graphics:
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8.0 |
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Sound:
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8.0 |
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Replay Value:
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9.0 |
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Bottom Line:
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8.5 |
