TrackZero
01-20-2010, 08:22 AM
Army of Two: The 40th Day Review
Title: Army of Two: The 40th Day
Platform: PS3/360
Developer: EA Montreal (http://www.eamontreal.com/)
Publisher: EA Games (http://www.ea.com/)
ESRB: M (Mature)
MSRP: $59.99 (PS3 (http://www.amazon.com/Army-Two-40th-Day-Playstation-3/dp/B001TOMQOY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1263986974&sr=8-3)/360 (http://www.amazon.com/Army-Two-40th-Day-Xbox-360/dp/B001TOQ8J8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1263986974&sr=8-1))
Editor: Andrew 'TrackZero' Hodder
What's Hot: Full co-op experience through the campaign; online custom Mask and Emblem editor; Fun morality choices
What's Not: Constant disconnects; Online matchmaking is a mess; Erratic difficultyArmy of Two: The 40th Day marks the return of our fist-bumping protagonists, Salem and Rios. This time the tag team find themselves in a Shanghai under siege, trying to get out of dodge. After mopping up a simple mission, the city comes under attack by a force known only as the 40th Day. Story is definitely not the driving force though, leaving the player feeling as if it was merely an excuse to get into some action. Action which is definitely delivered.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4287902368_9241e9c642_o.jpg
Gameplay centres around the same formula from Gears of War. Third person perspective, running between cover and taking down enemies with a mix of blind fire and popping up for aimed shots in a game of whack a mole. What sets it apart however is the use of team aggression, having you or your partner pull the attention on themselves so the other player can move into a more advantageous position getting clear shots or delivering more damage. This mechanic works quite well, highlighting your character in a red or blue aura depending on their status so you know what position to play without having to look up at the aggro meter.
The 40th day also uses the full co-op theme to its advantage, having a number of set ups that either require or give a significant reason to work together. Be it a back-to-back slow motion shootout, having one partner take the lead with a riot shield or work a turret so your partner can snipe without notice, the game definitely lends itself to coordinated tactics and planning.
Also of note is at various points in the game you are given some morality choices. While this in itself doesn't really change much of the narrative, the choices made play out and then transition into comic book panels showing the repercussions. Often to hilarious or heart wrenching effect. They also sometimes unlock extra bonuses, such as new weapons. Also at various points in each stage you'll have hostage situations where you can choose to rescue civilians either by taking out some soldiers or performing some hostage take downs of your own on the 40th day troops. The morality system wasn't something I wasn't expecting and found it a positive addition to the franchise.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4287159647_03a8be6e9f_o.jpg
Graphics wise, everything works to serve its purpose. The best shots in the game are the rampant destruction of the city as it falls down around you. The character models also work well; albeit everyone is quite ugly in this game, with the war torn mercenaries and all. There are also a lot of nice touches in the level design to give a "lived in" feeling to the city as you mad dash through it. That said there are times in the game where some of the city looks subpar, I'd suspect because they tried to cram in so much they had to make some minor sacrifices on polygon count, but it doesn't affect your overall experience.
Sound on the other hand is where the game does stand out. Excellent environmental effects goes a long way towards immersion, with everything coming through clear and sounding exactly as it's supposed to. From running water, the variety of specific gunfire or just hearing chatter from 40th day soldiers, the audio is nailed. On the flip side, the music score doesn't stand out at all, only being noticed as a signal between an action scene or one where you're not being shot at.
EA Montreal also managed to tie in extra functionality to the game via the website with the addition of custom masks and emblems. Effectively you're able to use a simple flash editor on their site (once tied to your EA account and game) to create your own mask designs or use others people have made and have them uploaded onto your console. While this may not seem like a big deal, we actually found a great amount of amusement running through the campaign having the CoG Logo, Deadpool or a variety of other mask designs on Salem and Rios. The weapon customization options available in the game are also second to none. At any time you and your partner can stop the game and spend a few minutes replacing nearly every part on your guns and giving them a spiffy paintjob as well. Once completed, every gun looks unique and stands out on your characters model. The modifications do make a noticeable impact on the gameplay from the aggression, damage, accuracy or ammo count.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4287159691_9e8d99f7e7_o.jpg
Now, all that aside, Army of Two: The 40th Day definitely has some problems. Jeremy and I encountered numerous disconnections all through the campaign (I'd say an average of twice for level), which was surprising for a game designed around co-op. This in itself wouldn't be too big of deal, except that the checkpoint system in the 40th day was simply horrible. Time and again we'd find ourselves pushed back approximately 10 to 15 minutes of game time upon death. Having to once again re-customize our weapons, do some chest bumping action to up our bro'-ness rating or slog through another long firefight only to be taken out at the end in what seemed like a bum rush of elite soldiers.
There's also your GPS interface which provides you with a directional path on the ground if you became lost (which happened more than you'd expect) and the ability to tag enemies so your partner can see them behind cover. A welcome addition to the game, however it seems to be on a very limited "battery" which quickly runs out of power and then recharges, causing you to constantly be reaching up to press your back button. Honestly I'm not sure why this design choice was made (as the battery meter does nothing except hassle your player).
Lastly, the matchmaking for Versus or the other multiplayer modes is a complete pain. Jeremy and I spent a full 45 minutes to finally find a game with decent ping where it was playable, which we were forced to do separately (even though we were tagged as a team going into it). While versus mode (which is a 2 on 2 on 2, etc. deathmatch) once going was a decent amount of fun, we were left flabbergasted at the number of hoops we had to figure out and run through to get to that stage. We still aren't even sure how to host our own public game.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4287159737_041d18d358_o.jpg
Ultimately Army of Two: The 40th Day is a mixed bag. If you're looking for a good co-op game to play with a friend through a campaign and get some laughs, the 40th Day will deliver. Provided you're willing to live through some disconnects and you're able to tolerate some extra difficult spots, the rest of the game is a totally fun ride. Definitely do not approach the title however if you're looking for the next online military shooter. Compared to the first game in this franchise, EA Montreal has done a good job upping the bar. That said, I can't help but feel if this game was given more QA time, most of these issues would have been ironed out and we'd have had a far better experience with the title.
*fist bump*
Second Stage:
Editor: Jeremy ‘Ghostbear’ Spurlock
*returns fist bump*
Do you like high fiving your friends as you slaughter nondescript terrorists? Do you like diamond encrusted grenades? Well my friends, you are in luck! I have just the game for you.
If you are looking for a game with a co-op experience built in from the ground up you’ll probably enjoy this game. There are some fun moments such as having to get back-to-back with your partner and shoot down waves of incoming baddies in semi-slow motion or having your partner pretend to surrender while you snipe all the enemies surrounding him. However, these moments happen too infrequently to make up for the lackluster story and connection troubles.
Speaking of the story, I wish I could give you a better summary than this: your team gets hired to plant beacons, terrorists (or something) start blowing up Shanghai and you shoot dudes in armor. That’s about it. If you're looking for an engaging story mixed with action look elsewhere. Now, if you are just looking for action, then you’ll probably be just fine with the story or lack thereof.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4287159811_67c55d856a_o.jpg
Oh Short Round, we'll never forget you.
Let’s talk about some of the uglier bits of the game. When Drew and I played this title we were disconnected probably about 6 or 7 times per game session, having to reload and invite the other back into the game each time. The versus multiplayer is a nightmare to get into, every time Drew or I would try to get into a ‘Quick Game’ it would lock up our console. When we did manage to get into a game it kept splitting us into opposite teams, despite having joined the game as partners. I struggle to think of why I should bother jumping through the hoops necessary to add someone as a partner only to split up in the end anyways. The versus games were exceptionally laggy, I am not sure if that’s the fault of the EA service, the people we were connecting to or another problem entirely, but it was pretty hard to kill people when they were blinking all over the place.
I cannot recommend this game at the full price, I would suggest that you either rent it or get it on sale. The game is solid enough, but the lack of enemy variety, the lack of story and connection issues make this one for the bargain bin.
Score: 3 out of 5 CoGs
http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/CoG3.png
Drew says, "A mixed bag, having both great ideas but tied down with a number of bugs and bad design decisions, Army of Two: The 40th Day is a game you should either rent or grab at a $20 price point. It definitely will help satisfy your co-op itch."
Jeremy says, “Army of Two: The 40th Day is a mediocre game that I would recommend if it is on sale and you have a buddy to hang with for about six hours. In the meantime you have other options available that are cheaper and don’t disconnect you all the time.”
*Note - Review based upon the 360 version of game.
Title: Army of Two: The 40th Day
Platform: PS3/360
Developer: EA Montreal (http://www.eamontreal.com/)
Publisher: EA Games (http://www.ea.com/)
ESRB: M (Mature)
MSRP: $59.99 (PS3 (http://www.amazon.com/Army-Two-40th-Day-Playstation-3/dp/B001TOMQOY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1263986974&sr=8-3)/360 (http://www.amazon.com/Army-Two-40th-Day-Xbox-360/dp/B001TOQ8J8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1263986974&sr=8-1))
Editor: Andrew 'TrackZero' Hodder
What's Hot: Full co-op experience through the campaign; online custom Mask and Emblem editor; Fun morality choices
What's Not: Constant disconnects; Online matchmaking is a mess; Erratic difficultyArmy of Two: The 40th Day marks the return of our fist-bumping protagonists, Salem and Rios. This time the tag team find themselves in a Shanghai under siege, trying to get out of dodge. After mopping up a simple mission, the city comes under attack by a force known only as the 40th Day. Story is definitely not the driving force though, leaving the player feeling as if it was merely an excuse to get into some action. Action which is definitely delivered.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4287902368_9241e9c642_o.jpg
Gameplay centres around the same formula from Gears of War. Third person perspective, running between cover and taking down enemies with a mix of blind fire and popping up for aimed shots in a game of whack a mole. What sets it apart however is the use of team aggression, having you or your partner pull the attention on themselves so the other player can move into a more advantageous position getting clear shots or delivering more damage. This mechanic works quite well, highlighting your character in a red or blue aura depending on their status so you know what position to play without having to look up at the aggro meter.
The 40th day also uses the full co-op theme to its advantage, having a number of set ups that either require or give a significant reason to work together. Be it a back-to-back slow motion shootout, having one partner take the lead with a riot shield or work a turret so your partner can snipe without notice, the game definitely lends itself to coordinated tactics and planning.
Also of note is at various points in the game you are given some morality choices. While this in itself doesn't really change much of the narrative, the choices made play out and then transition into comic book panels showing the repercussions. Often to hilarious or heart wrenching effect. They also sometimes unlock extra bonuses, such as new weapons. Also at various points in each stage you'll have hostage situations where you can choose to rescue civilians either by taking out some soldiers or performing some hostage take downs of your own on the 40th day troops. The morality system wasn't something I wasn't expecting and found it a positive addition to the franchise.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4287159647_03a8be6e9f_o.jpg
Graphics wise, everything works to serve its purpose. The best shots in the game are the rampant destruction of the city as it falls down around you. The character models also work well; albeit everyone is quite ugly in this game, with the war torn mercenaries and all. There are also a lot of nice touches in the level design to give a "lived in" feeling to the city as you mad dash through it. That said there are times in the game where some of the city looks subpar, I'd suspect because they tried to cram in so much they had to make some minor sacrifices on polygon count, but it doesn't affect your overall experience.
Sound on the other hand is where the game does stand out. Excellent environmental effects goes a long way towards immersion, with everything coming through clear and sounding exactly as it's supposed to. From running water, the variety of specific gunfire or just hearing chatter from 40th day soldiers, the audio is nailed. On the flip side, the music score doesn't stand out at all, only being noticed as a signal between an action scene or one where you're not being shot at.
EA Montreal also managed to tie in extra functionality to the game via the website with the addition of custom masks and emblems. Effectively you're able to use a simple flash editor on their site (once tied to your EA account and game) to create your own mask designs or use others people have made and have them uploaded onto your console. While this may not seem like a big deal, we actually found a great amount of amusement running through the campaign having the CoG Logo, Deadpool or a variety of other mask designs on Salem and Rios. The weapon customization options available in the game are also second to none. At any time you and your partner can stop the game and spend a few minutes replacing nearly every part on your guns and giving them a spiffy paintjob as well. Once completed, every gun looks unique and stands out on your characters model. The modifications do make a noticeable impact on the gameplay from the aggression, damage, accuracy or ammo count.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4287159691_9e8d99f7e7_o.jpg
Now, all that aside, Army of Two: The 40th Day definitely has some problems. Jeremy and I encountered numerous disconnections all through the campaign (I'd say an average of twice for level), which was surprising for a game designed around co-op. This in itself wouldn't be too big of deal, except that the checkpoint system in the 40th day was simply horrible. Time and again we'd find ourselves pushed back approximately 10 to 15 minutes of game time upon death. Having to once again re-customize our weapons, do some chest bumping action to up our bro'-ness rating or slog through another long firefight only to be taken out at the end in what seemed like a bum rush of elite soldiers.
There's also your GPS interface which provides you with a directional path on the ground if you became lost (which happened more than you'd expect) and the ability to tag enemies so your partner can see them behind cover. A welcome addition to the game, however it seems to be on a very limited "battery" which quickly runs out of power and then recharges, causing you to constantly be reaching up to press your back button. Honestly I'm not sure why this design choice was made (as the battery meter does nothing except hassle your player).
Lastly, the matchmaking for Versus or the other multiplayer modes is a complete pain. Jeremy and I spent a full 45 minutes to finally find a game with decent ping where it was playable, which we were forced to do separately (even though we were tagged as a team going into it). While versus mode (which is a 2 on 2 on 2, etc. deathmatch) once going was a decent amount of fun, we were left flabbergasted at the number of hoops we had to figure out and run through to get to that stage. We still aren't even sure how to host our own public game.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4287159737_041d18d358_o.jpg
Ultimately Army of Two: The 40th Day is a mixed bag. If you're looking for a good co-op game to play with a friend through a campaign and get some laughs, the 40th Day will deliver. Provided you're willing to live through some disconnects and you're able to tolerate some extra difficult spots, the rest of the game is a totally fun ride. Definitely do not approach the title however if you're looking for the next online military shooter. Compared to the first game in this franchise, EA Montreal has done a good job upping the bar. That said, I can't help but feel if this game was given more QA time, most of these issues would have been ironed out and we'd have had a far better experience with the title.
*fist bump*
Second Stage:
Editor: Jeremy ‘Ghostbear’ Spurlock
*returns fist bump*
Do you like high fiving your friends as you slaughter nondescript terrorists? Do you like diamond encrusted grenades? Well my friends, you are in luck! I have just the game for you.
If you are looking for a game with a co-op experience built in from the ground up you’ll probably enjoy this game. There are some fun moments such as having to get back-to-back with your partner and shoot down waves of incoming baddies in semi-slow motion or having your partner pretend to surrender while you snipe all the enemies surrounding him. However, these moments happen too infrequently to make up for the lackluster story and connection troubles.
Speaking of the story, I wish I could give you a better summary than this: your team gets hired to plant beacons, terrorists (or something) start blowing up Shanghai and you shoot dudes in armor. That’s about it. If you're looking for an engaging story mixed with action look elsewhere. Now, if you are just looking for action, then you’ll probably be just fine with the story or lack thereof.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4287159811_67c55d856a_o.jpg
Oh Short Round, we'll never forget you.
Let’s talk about some of the uglier bits of the game. When Drew and I played this title we were disconnected probably about 6 or 7 times per game session, having to reload and invite the other back into the game each time. The versus multiplayer is a nightmare to get into, every time Drew or I would try to get into a ‘Quick Game’ it would lock up our console. When we did manage to get into a game it kept splitting us into opposite teams, despite having joined the game as partners. I struggle to think of why I should bother jumping through the hoops necessary to add someone as a partner only to split up in the end anyways. The versus games were exceptionally laggy, I am not sure if that’s the fault of the EA service, the people we were connecting to or another problem entirely, but it was pretty hard to kill people when they were blinking all over the place.
I cannot recommend this game at the full price, I would suggest that you either rent it or get it on sale. The game is solid enough, but the lack of enemy variety, the lack of story and connection issues make this one for the bargain bin.
Score: 3 out of 5 CoGs
http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/CoG3.png
Drew says, "A mixed bag, having both great ideas but tied down with a number of bugs and bad design decisions, Army of Two: The 40th Day is a game you should either rent or grab at a $20 price point. It definitely will help satisfy your co-op itch."
Jeremy says, “Army of Two: The 40th Day is a mediocre game that I would recommend if it is on sale and you have a buddy to hang with for about six hours. In the meantime you have other options available that are cheaper and don’t disconnect you all the time.”
*Note - Review based upon the 360 version of game.