When it comes to war, or any deadly conflict for that matter, I find myself thinking it would be much easier if two mercenaries were hired and dropped into the heat of battle to blow up the bad guys and save the day.
Game developers at Electronic Arts Montreal must be psychic, because that is the general idea behind the third-person shooter game "Army of Two."
This shoot-'em-up game focuses on two marines-turned-mercenaries as they blast their way through several battlegrounds over the course of nearly two decades.
The plot involves conspiracies, betrayals and murder, which is nothing original. At best, the plot seems a little flimsy and predictable, which is not a major setback considering the game play.
As the title boasts, "Army of Two" is meant for you and a buddy. Playing this game alone is not recommended, especially since the enemy is elusive and accurate. That is one considerable drawback. Throughout the game, it feels as if a ghost is shooting at your mercenary. The damage meter goes off, yet after constant circling, there is no terrorist in sight.
In situations such as those, "Army of Two" provides a simple solution with the "Aggro" function. Simply put, if you and a friend are pinned down or facing a boss, one person draws the attention by constantly firing or throwing grenades, while the other player sneaks behind enemy lines and gets his hands dirty.
The game is centered on situations where teamwork is paramount. From "going Aggro" to giving your friend a boost up a wall, working together is the only way to win.
The game boasts other enjoyable cooperative features. You can "co-op snipe" from a distance, swap weapons, heal, even have your friend stand in front with a riot shield as you blast the enemy away.
The game also offers a nice amount of customization. Weapons can be altered for maximum damage and better control. Armor can be changed as well, and the "Jason"-themed hockey masks the mercenaries wear can be swapped for various other designs. Perhaps the best—and silliest—customization feature is the ability to "pimp out" a weapon, which basically makes it shiny and gold-plated. Nothing is deadlier than a gold-plated rocket launcher, apparently.
Overall, the game is fun, so long as you have at least one friend who enjoys carnage, blood and lots of F-bombs. The graphics are good and the cut-scenes are entertaining as well. That, and there are miraculously few control issues, which is a rarity in third-person shooters.
The game is definitely worth a rental, and an excuse to make a friend.
Reach the reporter at: adam.chaikin@asu.edu.
