Release Date: AVAILABLE NOW in stores on Xbox 360 and PS3

The world is at a point where privatized military is the most suitable option. The idea: send a few highly trained highly paid individuals in to the belly of the best and let ’er rip. This is what we’ve been reduced too; well, maybe not in reality, but certainly in EA’s newest co-op shooter, Army of Two.

This game is made for co-op. Before I even go any further, I’m going to say that unless you can find someone to play this with, the experience is going to be much less than anticipated.

Army of Two places you in the shoes of one of two military rangers, Tyson Rios and Elliot Salem. You’re a part of a private military organization, Security Strategy Corporation (SSC). The story’s timeline is spread over 16 years of war which Salam and Rios both have had a hand in as soldiers. Our two protagonists are sent out to, for the most part, “take care of things” when wars may be getting out of hand. They’re both well-trained and highly paid mercenaries for hire, but along the way you’ll start to realize the story is knee deep in conspiracy and betrayal in which the gruesome twosome are very much not in the know.

As I said earlier, this is a co-op game, but there are single player options where the AI will control your partner, whichever character you choose not to be, and in my opinion, slow you down. The game itself is built on co-operative play and doesn’t concentrate that much on the arsenal you’re given, though it’s still a satisfying one. A lot of the gameplay is based on the Agro Meter, which for the most part simply displays how aggressive you’re being in battle. You may be wondering what the upside to being an overly aggressive player is; besides the obvious fact that it’s fun, it directs attention to you and not your partner. While glowing red, demonstrating that you have the attention of enemies in range, your partner turns semi-transparent and is able to sneak around and flank the unwitting foes you’re so helpfully pissing off. If you are able to hold on to the agro long enough, you become supercharged with more effective attacks and unlimited ammunition, lasting for about 15 seconds.

The game prides itself on the co-op gameplay and implements a “Partner Order Wheel”, which you can use to send commands to your partner with the d-pad. In some cases there is no way to defeat enemies without flanking them from behind, and knowing when or where to use which tactic takes some getting used to. Back to back, constant lifting of one another and giving medical attention are some of the other ways in which players will interact.

I said earlier that there weren’t all that many different weapons in the game, and that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The reason? Two words: Pimped out. You’re obviously going to be able to upgrade your weapons just as you have in previous shooters, but the difference this time around has to do with the agro concept. Players will be given the ability to spice up their guns with gold or platinum plates, and can even add diamonds. As cool as this sounds, it may also seem rather pointless; trust me, it isn’t. The more pimped out your weapons are, the more attention you’re going to get, which drives your agro up.

I can’t drive home enough – and I’m sure EA will agree with me on this - that this is a game meant to be played with a friend. Yes, there is single player, and yes, the AI can be helpful, but for the most part you’re going to want to play with a buddy. A clear indication of this that I personally came across on numerous occasion, being wounded and dragged across an indefinite death trap of oncoming grenades because my AI partner thought a good idea of a safe haven was being blown up. Now even with an actual partner to play the game with, most co-operative actions aren’t as necessary as the game would have liked them to be. Sometimes, certain tactics are not really necessary and involve too much co-operation on both parties to be worth it.

The single player mission can be finished in about 6 hours and the only real reason for any replay is the unlockables; mind you, there’s not that many. You’ll unlock armor and weapons as you go through the game, but most of them on the first time around. The game makes up for its shortcomings in single player with the option for online play. There are three online types: Extraction, Bounties and Warzones. All of these are pretty self explanatory; Extraction has you extracting a VIP to a certain location, Bounties will get you to assassinate targets and Warzone is exactly what it sounds like: a warzone. It combines the other two gameplay types with a few more options and was the favorite around the office.

Army of Two stands out as a great co-op experience and an okay single player game. The graphics are stunning, and the characters make the perfect team. This, combined with some pretty impressive innovations for co-op, makes for a decent title. EA has a lot of work to do if they want to become known for shooters, but this is most definitely a good start (it’s helpful when you have enough money to purchase other gaming companies as well). If you have a friend with the game, or someone who will play it along with you, I’d say definitely pick this up. If you don’t plan on playing this with anybody, I’d say rent it and give it a shot or convince a friend to buy it.

Simons Says: Get it (as long as you have someone to play it with)

Let me know your thoughts, leave a comment or email me at Andrews@team.beer.com