A review of Army of Two that may get me banned...

[Tanthalos]

Well I doubt it will get me banned but it will definitely have people trolling me or flaming me for the next well....forever.

Let me start off by saying I was as geeked about this game as the next guy. Once I finally found a copy to rent I went home gleefully ignoring everything and everyone else sat down for what I thought would be a great experience.
(I know some of you will say I fail due to the fact that I wanted to play solo mode before co-op.)

But the game went downhill rather quickly due to the huge amount of glitches, programming faults and general annoyances that popped up rather quickly.
Entering the training area I hit two huge programming difficulties. First in the PS3 version at least when you have to use your GPS to advance, you actually have to turn it on and off while walking forward and backward from the fenced gate. Due to the fact that there is only one spot where it will register the activation and it seemed to be different for every person I talked to. Which makes me believe it was in the end just random luck the program registered what you were actually doing.

The second small programming error is the fact that while they found time and programming space to design 12 different masks that do nothing except make your main character look like a different type of ghetto rejected military pimp. They couldn't find the time or code space to have the tutorial pay attention to how the buttons were set up and as such by down they meant up and by left they meant right...some of the time.

Small problems but on the other hand the idea of death by a thousand paper cuts has a ring of truth in it.

Why is it that I can but the super platinum "pimp" design of every gun no matter what attachments I have on it, and 12 different multicolored bondage masks. (All for the low low cost of $10,000 per a pimping.) but something as trivial as say better armor is locked and not accessible to a player just starting out or mid-mission?

Also...the whole mess that is parachuting and parachute control is well a mess. This would be better on co-op because that way hopefully if your partner knows what he is doing you won't run into the problem I did in single player mode. When I was the gunner the AI couldn't guide the parachute to save his life.
When I was guiding the parachute my AI partner couldn't hit anything and basically stopped trying once we started getting shot.
I know this is suppose to be a co-op game but if you are going to even bother filling disc space with a single player mode at least have the decency to ensure that the AI isn't a brain tumored spider monkey who just fell out of a tree. If he is...then don't allow him to have control over things that directly effect how well I can play the game.

Also I don't need to say much about level design, at times you might as well be behind the Great Wall of China cause you have so much cover and at others a door opens when you have no cover and you get shot to pieces. By the time you run back to cover or try to enter Back to Back mode you are surrounded and dead. Unless the game feels kinda enough to let you go into back to back mode which seems to be only allowed when the game can psychically tell you are about to turn it off.

Mentioning Back to back mode made me realize there is something else I wanted to say. If you make me rely completely on the brain tumored spider monkey after he has fallen form the tree. Please don't have suicide bombers come from both directions at once. He can't hit anything and I can only shoot the gun so fast before it goes beyond the parameters of the program.

All of this being said if you have a friend to play with I would say this game is a "Rent it". With the second player you can ensure some of the above mentioned problems are covered and enjoy a monotonous Gears of War type shooter with worse dialog.

Yahtzee if you ever happen to read this by accident you will be happy to know that they do not try to rip off Aliens outside of dialog.
...yes one of the characters actually says the line "It's game over man! Game over!" and starts shooting like the spider monkey he is.

 

[Tanthalos]

I only experienced Aggro in single player mode. My partner and I (read as myself and the brain tumored spider monkey) stuck to machine guns and grenades. So I was still basically undecided on what to say.
The genernal idea of Aggro was good...but you are correct implementation was botched.

While the system was aggrivating I found a way to have him generate the aggro while I killed stuff off in the corner.
I didn't want to go on because it seemed to me that I would just end up re-harping on the AI. No matter what I told him to do once he had most of the aggro on him (not enough to allow me to overkill mind you) he would run up next to me. Though there was the benefit of having everyone running to chase him while he laid no covering fire and allowed them to get behind us. Not circle us of course because then there may have been the random chance to enter Back to back mode. Meaning I was shot to pieces and my brilliant plan for beating the AI was ruined.

 

[SomeCrazyGuy]

Sorry to say, I haven't played this, so I can't say anything very informative about the game itself, but I do hate the fact that almost every game possible now is trying to basically FORCE you to play in a co-op or internet mode. You should be able to enjoy the game with the basic, required items: You, a controller, the game, and the system... Co-op and Multiplayer are OPTIONAL, they are supposed to be extras to lengthen gameplay, not be the sole redeeming factors. I am not going to fork over extra money to play through the internet, and shouldn't have to call up friends when I decide (on a whim, as once we were allowed this horrible right) to fire up my system... All that should be required is that I am bored and that I have the previously stated requirements set up, after that, I should be in front of my television enjoying what I spent $60 on, if the Single Player adventure lacks a core gameplay mechanic (like a competent AI that measures greater than or equal to the enemies, smooth and consistent controls, reasonable/logical marketing algorithms, etc.), then it is the developers who have failed you, and it isn't right to be expected to accept a mediocre game because you had the gall to play using only the things you were required.

Sorry for the rant, but why should I have to pay $60 for a game that is supposed to be good (I'm looking at you, Halo), but be criticized when I don't like the game based on what is NECESSARY because I didn't pay a monthly plan to play online for a feature, Multiplayer, which should merely be a add-on? Even without the cost, it just shouldn't be necessary, Single Player should always be the focus of games of this genre (And considering this game is about Teamwork, I guess this holds less water, but it is still true that they should have put time into Single Player Cooperative AI), and Co-op and Multiplayer a fun diversion (After all, Co-op is Single Player with small changes here and there to accomidate for an extra player, and Multiplayer is just a collection of maps {sometimes from the Single-Player mode even} with weaponry taken straight from the Single Player mode... A developer wouldn't hear the end of it 5-8+ years ago if they tried to make a game that is basically just Multiplayer at a full $50!).

 

[stompy]

SomeCrazyGuy, it all comes back to money. That, and a shift in market focus.

Basically, you paying for online get people money. People like money. Therefore, people will continue asking you to pay for online. And my other point: with Xbox Live, and consoles getting decent online, developers see a market opportunity. While it means that people play games for longer, gamers such as you and I, who wish for good a good single-player game, get sunned. It's cruel, but that's business.

To the OP: Good review. I would suggest re-checking your punctuation, as you make quite a few errors. Just some advice.

 

[Sniper_Zegai]

Unfortunatly most games that are for both the PS3 and 360 are usually programmed on the 360 then ported over to the PS3 but I am amazed that it would have such major flaws as a result, with such a big title you think EA would have hammered the iron alot on this title.

On another note I do beleive multiplayer is becoming an excuse to have a sucky single-player campaign. Although I enjoyed the single player of Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3, there was no denying that the single-player experiences were far, far too short. But I think this may never change, console companies are finally grasping what MS and most PC users have known for years. People dont just want to shoot or slash or help an AI freind or opponent, they want other people to get in on the gameplay and now that console players who never really delved into PC games are getting a taste of true multiplayer for the first time I think its going to be awhile before people start demanding more from single-player, well not enough people to make game developers care.

Great Review; hope you dont get banned

 

[REDPill357]

Unfortunatly most games that are for both the PS3 and 360 are usually programmed on the 360 then ported over to the PS3 but I am amazed that it would have such major flaws as a result, with such a big title you think EA would have hammered the iron alot on this title.

Read the 45th word in that run-on sentence. EA. Of course they're not going to hammer out bugs. They're just going to release patches ex post facto.

 

[Sniper_Zegai]

EA

I guess you have a point, with the ability to just release patches I guess most developers wont think twice about releasing a half-baked game and just patching it.

 

[Drong]

Oh come on they even called it 'Army of 2'.....yeah '2', not 'Army of 1' or 'Gears of War 1.5' but 'Army of 2' and playing as co-op this game was great fun and like it says on the tin it was made for co-op and in my opinion that's not a bad thing, their are very few games that are or even have co-op modes (Rainbow 6 Vegas 2 & Gears of war did it well, Resistance personally I wasn't very impressed with) and it seems to be in vogue at the moment to make next gen games online only (why burnout why? and motorstorm i'm looking at you too) a real pain in the arse when some of my friends have PS3's and some have 360's

Anyway my brother and i tore through this game in a couple of days and laughed our arses off while doing it, i played sniper while he got a heavy machine gun and ripped it up close and we both used assault rifles when situation demanded it, we play alot of games together and know each others styles well and had no problems juggling aggro between us, my only grip was that like many games coming out at the moment it was quite short.

 

[AnGeL.SLayer]

This is one of those games that if you don't have a good friend you've been playing games with for a long time you will never get anywhere with. I personally love co-op games, hl mod sven co-op is so much funnnnn hehe. Though I can say I only enjoy them because my brother and I make a wonderful fighting team. We have played so much for so long together that we don't even need to talk to one another anymore during game play. We just know each other's moves enough to have everything just flow. That's the type of connection you need to play this game and really enjoy it. I was really excited when I hear about this game but sadly I haven't gotten around to it just yet. I shall though! Oh I shall.

The gaming industry just figured that since so many people love to play multi-player that this would be a hit. They failed to take into perspective that most of the people who play multi-player are doing it just to annoy everyone else by this point in time. You can only annoy the bots so much on solo until you get bored and wonder off to look for fresh meat. Perhaps some that responds when you jab it enough. I just feel that AI isn't advanced enough for this game to work on solo. Perhaps one day. Though that would kinda misplace the whole point of co-op. It's meant for you and your long time gaming buddy to tear apart. Not for someone who has no friends. hehe...wait, that's a sad thought.

Though as I said I haven't gotten around to it yet, so take this with a grain of salt. Just my personal point of view of what I figured the game was intended for in the first place.


^_^

 

[Tanthalos]

Assuming that this game is only meant to be played with "Your good gaming buddy you have gamed with for years" in order to be playable again I ask why do they bother putting a single player mode in at all?
Also how does the fact that I "seeing as I have no friends" wishing to play in solo mode excuse the poor level design, programming errors and poor choices by EA in regards to what becomes available when?

If you are right and this game is suppose to be "exclusively" co-op then doesn't the fact that this game have solo mode make this game crappier?
Why bother putting something in if you are not going to put effort into it nor have it have any point?

I mean honestly R6:V and R6:V2 are getting slashed apart cause of all the problems regarding multiplayer connectivity to the internet.
Yeah sure it is cool once you get to the online multiplayer (if you can stay there) therefore people shouldn't complain about it right? Once you get to play it as it was meant to be online without glitches then all should be forgiven?
Well it never is, and the game gets pegged to the wall and torn apart because "once you are able..." and "as long as you..." never excuse games.
If nothing else such "ifs", "ands" or "buts" make the game worse and cast it in a worst light.
Seeing as such things prove that the game company doesn't know what it is doing, doesn't care about making a good product or rides the business principle of "once we have the game players money they can go f**k themselves".

 

[tiredinnuendo]

I thought your review was not inaccurate, however I did think your "spider monkey" thing got really tiresome after the first time.

For all those saying, "What are you talking about? The game is great! By the way I haven't played it yet!"... you should play it first.

I'm here to say that the game is far from great even with co-op. If you want a decent co-op third person shooter experience, you should play Gears of War. This game is actively punishing, buggy as hell, and features the most unlikable characters ever. The most commonly heard word while playing is "Bro". There is, in fact, a button that will cause your characters to "have a bro-down". I was playing this with my brother, whom I've been playing games with for years, and while we were doing well at the game, it just wasn't fun.

One person blind fires wildly until they go Overkill so the other guy can run around at superspeed meleeing everyone. That's the whole game. Awesome, right?

- J

 

[Drong]

Assuming that this game is only meant to be played with "Your good gaming buddy you have gamed with for years" in order to be playable again I ask why do they bother putting a single player mode in at all?
Also how does the fact that I "seeing as I have no friends" wishing to play in solo mode excuse the poor level design, programming errors and poor choices by EA in regards to what becomes available when?

If you are right and this game is suppose to be "exclusively" co-op then doesn't the fact that this game have solo mode make this game crappier?
Why bother putting something in if you are not going to put effort into it nor have it have any point?

Fair point and you'll never find me jumping to the defence of EA but the game does play like it was made for co-op, that's what the developers had in mind and then they were forced to tack on single player at the end (probably due to publisher pressure but I'm merely speculating here) and as a co-op game it can be very enjoyable and it's the first game bar perhaps Kane and Lynch which was primarily developed for this, unfortunately that game was also flawed (even more so) though still entertaining.

I mean honestly R6:V and R6:V2 are getting slashed apart cause of all the problems regarding multiplayer connectivity to the internet.
Yeah sure it is cool once you get to the online multiplayer (if you can stay there) therefore people shouldn't complain about it right? Once you get to play it as it was meant to be online without glitches then all should be forgiven?
Well it never is, and the game gets pegged to the wall and torn apart because "once you are able..." and "as long as you..." never excuse games.
If nothing else such "ifs", "ands" or "buts" make the game worse and cast it in a worst light.
Seeing as such things prove that the game company doesn't know what it is doing, doesn't care about making a good product or rides the business principle of "once we have the game players money they can go f**k themselves".

I haven't tried R6:V2 online yet though again i found it very good co-op (though yes again pretty lousy single player) and it does seem that if it's designed as a multiplayer and it demands a intelligent human in the second role then ai just isn't up to filling in yet if instead your playing in single player.

 

[Sib]

huge quotes FTL

I play with my friend on AO2 who is the only one with the EU version, although after a few hours the game degenerates into us shooting each other getting pissed off and failing the mission. Or one of us gets bored and decides to run in like a spacktard (that word freshly invented by my playing of Army of Two), oddly enough on everything except the miami level, which has the difficulty curve of a brick wall compared to the rest of the game, spacktard charging works very well, especially if both partners have fully pimped shotguns.

 

[richasr]

I had a hard time enjoying this game. I played through the single player on the easiest difficulty and completed it, albeit with much annoyance from the dickhead AI (your partner) against the almighty AI (computer, of course) and I thought i might aswell try for the professional difficulty achievement.

It was 10 times worse, I would have thought being a higher difficulty would beef everyone up, not just the enemies. The team-mate was just as useless if not a lot worse than before. Despite this I managed to get to the final level where you fight your way through the headquarters building, but alas I couldnt even get past that area jsut inside the front doors as the other guy was so useless I couldnt get him to take any aggro or even kill enemies while I was taking it.

Dumb game with a dumb plot, rubbish gameplay mechanics, graphics that look like they were stolen from Need for Speed and radically hypocritical AI that all adds up to one badly made game. It is EA afterall.

 

[Tanthalos]

While I dislike this game and felt reassured that I was not crazy by the comments above and then again yesterday by Yahtzee's review I do not have a hatred of EA.
They have done a few games which I really enjoy and up until the newest generation of game systems I tended to look forward to their games.

This of course will change if they keep their current course of game design. The idea that EA will soon make me break out into a rash saddens me. A rash I only currently get when the word "Ubisoft" appears on my television...

 

[Dosed]

While I dislike this game and felt reassured that I was not crazy by the comments above and then again yesterday by Yahtzee's review I do not have a hatred of EA.
They have done a few games which I really enjoy and up until the newest generation of game systems I tended to look forward to their games.

Yeah he's right! They've made plenty of good sports games I mean there's FIFA 2769, NFL 34k, Medal of Honour: Attack on the Southern Half Of France 2- Attack of the Clones.

Nah man i'm kidding if you like EA that's up to you.

 

[nightmare_gorilla]

you know i must be the only one who got this game with a friend i know is good at games with the intent of playing it co-op. i had a very enjoyable experience with this game and my friend and i still play it alot even though we've beaten it like 6 times already. now granted the single player gets old after a while and yeah as i understand it we got about 2/3 of the game they intended to release but honestly once the sequel comes out it should be alot more stuff. my only real complaint with this game is there wasn't enough, more masks, more guns, more levels, i wanted more. i'm no fan of EA infact i don't really like most of their stuff given that 90% of their games are sports games, but this game i personally liked.

 

[Cougers]

I highly agreed with you! My first time playing this 'was' great, because I started co-op mode with a mate, and man did we own. Sure we had times when I would muck up, and he would get all furious but it was all for laughs. Now I haven't tried solo, but seeing from so many people saying it sucked, i'll stick with waiting till a friend comes over and plays this with me or play online!

P.S Since you and many other's complained about the AI of the other character, shouldn't the game company get some sort of complaint about 'false advertizing' about how on the back of the game cover it says 'AI is like playing with a real person' seems like it's not!