Co-Optimus

[txshurricane]

The original Army of Two was marketed to the fans of buddy co-op. In 2009 EA Vancouver promised to vastly improve on the original with Army of Two: The 40th Day. We were impressed with our PAX hands-on and community day visit - did the final game hold up?
Read The Full Article: Army of Two: The 40th Day Co-Op Review

[Syphous]

I really didn't like the first game and the demo for this one was, in my opinion, terrible. I'll pass on this bro-fest.

[Mrxknown_JG]

The original Army of Two was marketed to the fans of buddy co-op. In 2009 EA Vancouver promised to vastly improve on the original with Army of Two: The 40th Day. We were impressed with our PAX hands-on and community day visit - did the final game hold up?
Read The Full Article: Army of Two: The 40th Day Co-Op Review

About the splitting players up into different directions, the one (and only example I can use) example I look at the most from the demo is when you vault your buddy over a fence and they have to hit a button in a control room to open the fence for you.

Of the 2 playthroughs we had, I'd say we had to attempt that section 4 times. Why? Cause an enemy spawns at the same location to shoot a rocket that will kill the buddy that has to hit the button. Since the enemy is spawned on top of a roof and no matter where you hide you will get hit by the rocket, this is a very poor example of forcing trail & error by ensuring the first attempt by new players always results in death.

Because they don't know to look up and shoot the enemy within 10 seconds of jumping the fence.

That kind of design is annoying and just distasteful.

[roland]

Wow, you like Extraction more than Terrorist Hunt? That piques my interest some, as TH has been one of the few extra modes in a shooter that the lady absolutely loved and repeatedly asked if we could play again.

[txshurricane]

JG: I agree, the RPG guy shows up too quick in the demo. But he was slower in the final game. I had no problems with the AI, and Nick got hit once.

roland: I really do. So far. I've only played one of the four maps (each map has multiple sections that you progress through), and it rocked.

[MisterDeeth]

Nice write-up, Jim! I'll be picking this one up in a month or so when the funds allow. =)

[daribus]

Hey I have one question, can you change the split screen style to be like the original (one on top of the other), or is it just side by side?.

[QChronoD]

This is on my buy list... after me and my old roommate sink another 30 hours into borderlands. (I like the guns that set people on fire)

[Biohzrd451]

Very good review, was a very very fun game alot better than the first IMO.

Played a little bit of the multiplayer yesterday and had a very good time in the co-op deathmatch. Although I will say the servers are a tad too laggy for my liking.

[Deriaz]

I kind of like how they did the split-up parts; from the ones I can remember, like the fence or the split building, it left you a little bit alone, but not completely without help. I really appreciated that my buddy could call out, "Der, you've got 4 guys coming up your stairs; riot shield is in it!", and I could let him know that someone with a shotgun was coming in behind him. I found the split building section to be one of the most fun points in the game so far, though we haven't completed it yet.

Haven't touched the online/versus yet -- in Co-op Deathmatch, is it 2v2v2v2v2? Can the opponents hear you and your buddy? I'm still a bit shy, though it doesn't bother me too much anymore, but just out of curiosity I'll ask. I hope Extraction Mode isn't too expensive when it releases; I know my buddy Keith and I would really enjoy working on that. Sounds like fun, and a lot of teamwork involved.

[Biohzrd451]

I kind of like how they did the split-up parts; from the ones I can remember, like the fence or the split building, it left you a little bit alone, but not completely without help. I really appreciated that my buddy could call out, "Der, you've got 4 guys coming up your stairs; riot shield is in it!", and I could let him know that someone with a shotgun was coming in behind him. I found the split building section to be one of the most fun points in the game so far, though we haven't completed it yet.

Haven't touched the online/versus yet -- in Co-op Deathmatch, is it 2v2v2v2v2? Can the opponents hear you and your buddy? I'm still a bit shy, though it doesn't bother me too much anymore, but just out of curiosity I'll ask. I hope Extraction Mode isn't too expensive when it releases; I know my buddy Keith and I would really enjoy working on that. Sounds like fun, and a lot of teamwork involved.

I think extraction will be free at least I would hope so. For Co-op death match it is 2v2v2v2 and only your partner can hear you in game, when in the lobby everyone can hear you, its pretty funny and have different load outs is cool. My only beef with it is the lag.

[txshurricane]

Extraction will be unlocked for everyone sometime during the first week of Feb.

[Mrxknown_JG]

JG: I agree, the RPG guy shows up too quick in the demo. But he was slower in the final game. I had no problems with the AI, and Nick got hit once.

Good to know. May just give it a go in the summer, but now my gaming time is limited. Come February, I won't even be gaming at all until Spring Break or summer.

But Splinter Cell: Conviction is the big co-op game I'm looking at this year aside from Halo: Reach.

[kevinclough]

Is it worth it to buy this game just for Extraction? I am playing the campaign by renting the game but I can't try extraction yet because I didn't pre-order. I like Firefight and Horde and I play with three other guys. Thanks for your advice.

[txshurricane]

Extraction is my favorite part for sure, but being that there are only 4 maps, I can't say it alone makes the game worth full price. As an entire package, though: yes, I believe that Extraction adds enough to the campaign and the versus modes to make it all worth $60.