When reflecting on this generation of consoles in the future, one of the standout developments will undoubtedly be the rise of cooperative gameplay. After years of competitive multiplayer dominating the scene, game developers like Epic Games and Valve brought us together to fight off hordes of enemies in games like Gears of War and Left 4 Dead. EA joined the cooperative revolution with Army of Two, a game that embraced over-the-top violence and humor with its portrayal of two mercenaries. While the first game had its issues, including juvenile humor and lackluster gunplay, it still sold well thanks to its cooperative gameplay. The sequel, Army of Two: The 40th Day, unfortunately fails to distinguish itself from its predecessor.
A More Serious Tone
In the second installment, our wisecracking protagonists, Salem and Rios, return with their trademark masks. However, EA has toned down the juvenile humor, opting for a more somber narrative. The story takes place in Shanghai, where our two mercenaries find themselves in the midst of an attack by an unknown private military contractor. As the city crumbles around them and its citizens flee in panic, their sole objective is to escape by any means necessary. While this setup has the potential for a gripping survival story, the plot takes a backseat to a series of standalone “save the civilian hostages” scenarios and ethical dilemmas. These moments, where players make arbitrary moral choices without proper context, feel shallow and fail to create a compelling narrative.
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Close Quarters Combat
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The gameplay of Army of Two: The 40th Day revolves around close-quarters battles. The Shanghai environments provide just enough room for players to utilize the game’s unique Aggro system. One player fires at enemies to draw their attention, allowing the other player to turn invisible and flank the enemies. While this mechanic makes flanking maneuvers easy to execute, be prepared to face shotgun-wielding enemies who spawn in areas you thought were already clear, resulting in unexpected flanking maneuvers against you.
The core combat mechanics of the game perform admirably, but there are some drawbacks. The contextual cover system can be unreliable at times, and the lack of button customization is frustrating. One particularly irksome issue is the poor control mapping. When your partner goes down, you must run up to them and hold the A button to revive them. Unfortunately, the A button also handles the running functionality, which can lead to accidental actions in intense situations when you’re trying to revive your partner quickly.
Flaws and Shortcomings
Army of Two: The 40th Day is not without its flaws. The checkpoint system saves too infrequently, forcing players to rewatch cutscenes and refight groups of enemies when they encounter challenging situations. Additionally, the game fails to save after exiting weapons customization, resulting in the need to repurchase all weapons and upgrades after each death. These issues detract from the overall experience and can be frustrating to players.
Multiplayer Experience
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The multiplayer aspect of the game fares better, offering four enjoyable game modes, including a Horde-like Extraction mode where four players must fend off waves of enemies. However, it is disappointing that EA Montreal did not integrate player rankings, a progression system, and weapons customization into the multiplayer experience. Considering the fantastic arsenal options available in the single-player campaign, this decision is puzzling. Instead, players are left with a limited selection of weapon presets.
Final Thoughts
With a multitude of excellent cooperative experiences available to gamers, it’s difficult to wholeheartedly recommend Army of Two: The 40th Day. The lack of a compelling story, solid controls, essential multiplayer features, and polish prevent this sequel from rising above mediocrity. While the game may still satisfy fans of the cooperative action genre, it fails to reach the standards set by its predecessors and other games in the genre.
FAQs
Q: Can I play Army of Two: The 40th Day solo?
A: Yes, the game can be played in single-player mode with an AI partner. However, it is designed to be played cooperatively.
Q: Are there any significant improvements over the first game?
A: While there are improvements in certain areas, such as a more serious tone and refined combat mechanics, the overall experience remains largely similar to the first game.
Q: Does the game support online multiplayer?
A: Yes, Army of Two: The 40th Day offers online multiplayer modes for cooperative play with friends or other players.
Conclusion
Army of Two: The 40th Day falls short of its potential by failing to address the shortcomings of its predecessor and lacking the necessary polish and innovation to stand out in the cooperative action genre. While it may still provide some enjoyment for fans of the series, there are better options available for those seeking a truly immersive and satisfying cooperative gaming experience.
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