Army of Two follows Salem and Rios, Army rangers turned for-hire mercenaries, over a 16 year time span during which the two uncover a conspiracy within their own company, Security and Strategy Corporation. The story itself helps drive the game and moves along fairly smooth as you progress through the game, although at times, cut away scenes do pop up at some unexpected points.
You can play as either Salem or Rios in the game and select the character you control at the beginning of the game, with the other character either being controlled by a friend or the computer AI. It is this two character setup that truly sets Army of Two apart, as the game focuses on co-op gameplay, which includes back-to-back shooting sequences, step jumps, among other co-op actions. Salem and Rios are a tag team in the purest sense in this game, as they use aggro to help accomplish their missions.
Aggro is the co-op strategy that you must utilize effectively if you intend on getting anywhere in this game. Aggro is based on your aggressive in battle and alters how the enemy responds to you and your partner. Pretty much doing anything to harm your enemy will help increase your aggro, which makes you draw all the fire so that you can have your partner swing around and flank your opponents from the other side. Aggro brings an element of strategy to the game and leaves you more options as to how you want to take care of the enemy.
Aggro, however, isn't the only co-op aspect of the game. There are plenty of other co-op maneuvers and strategies you will have to use in the game as well. One example is when you or your partner take one too many bullets and need a few seconds away from the action to recover. In situations like this the wounded character can take cover while the other goes out and takes a little bit of the fire, drawing attention away from the recovering soldier. Step jumps are also fairly common in the game and will have to be used throughout. While these are all useful in their own right, the truly amusing co-op maneuver is undoubtedly back to back firing. At times in the game, Salem and Rios will come back to back while surrounded by enemies and begin firing as the two turn in a circle, ensuring that everyone firing at them is taken care of. While back to back moments are quite entertaining, they are mostly out of your control. You are simply thrown into back to back situations and can't control when you utilize this technique yourself.
Screenshot of gameplay from Army of Two (Photo: EA)
While Army of Two takes co-op gameplay to new heights there are lows as well. Dialogue between Salem and Rios can seem rather forced and unnatural, with the two casually asking each other to "come over here buddy" in the middle of gunfights as if they just ran into each other at the mall. The ability to encourage your partner is also a little awkward at times and seems almost childishly employed; no matter how important it may be on the battlefield to encourage fellow soldiers, the concept is improperly implemented in gameplay.
While lots of attention was put on co-op gameplay when creating Army of Two, a lot of attention was also put on customization and variety. Salem and Rios are practically a human weapons cache, carrying multiple weapons, all which you can select and customize. Shields can be added to weapons, cartridges can be altered, and guns can even be pimped out (actually called that in the game) to make them look like guns from hell. But what good are guns from hell if the rest of the gear isn't just as imposing? Not good at all, and the game accounts for this. Masks and armor can be personalized as well, allowing you to make Salem and Rios look as monstrous as you want.
The levels and environments you will explore in this game are mostly unexplorable in the sense that you tend to be forced into going in one direction; you are not left with freedom to aimlessly wander around the map until you run into something or someone. You will, however, at times have to find objects scattered throughout the levels, but many will simply be stumbled upon rather than actively searched out.
Screenshot of gameplay from Army of Two (Photo: EA)
The graphics are well done and the characters are rendered nicely as are action scenes, making gameplay fluid and enjoyable. Another little detail that makes the game that much more entertaining is the effective use of the controller's vibration, which delivers your guns recoil to your hands in a much more realistic manner than other games today.
While there are a few hiccups with Army of Two, it proves to be an exciting game which also sets the standard for what co-op gameplay should consist of. Most of the co-op shortcomings, many of which are due to the AI, disappear when you play alongside a friend. In any case, if you're looking for a unique gaming experience and need to release some stress by shooting some baddies, this is the right game to pick up.
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