Action Games
Army of Two The 40th Day, a third-person shooter, was developed by EA Montreal and published by Electronic Arts in January 2010. The sequel to the 2008’s “Army of 2” places players back into the action of mercenaries Rios and Salem as they navigate a disastrous incident in Shanghai. This game is known for its fun focus on co-op play, so it lets you team with a friend or an AI partner to take on various missions amid explosive action.
Army of Two the 40th Day – Setting and Plot
The story takes place over a few days in Shanghai, China, as a mysterious wave of disasters ravages the city. Rios and Salem, employees of the private military corporation TransWorld Operations (T.W.O.), start with a basic enough contract. But as they finish their task, they suddenly notice that all hell has broken loose around them, as buildings crumble and planes plummet from the sky. The game revolves around uncovering who masterminded these orchestrated disasters while grappling with their actions’ moral implications.
The story covers a narrower range in time and space compared to its predecessor, which covered multiple years and locations. The tighter narrative structure adds to immersion as players witness the calamity unfolding in real time.
Gameplay Mechanics
Cooperative Play
At its heart, Army of Two the 40th Day is built for cooperative play. There are split-screen and online co-op modes that greatly add to the experience. The game features several mechanics to facilitate strategic teamwork:
- Aggro System: This system governs enemy focus based on player actions. Players can pull an enemy’s attack away from their partner and make tactical moves.
- Co-op Moments: These moments where players must pretend to surrender or perform a double attack. The moments feel much less scripted than they do in the first go-round, thanks to improvements in the AI.
Weapon Customization
One of the most interesting aspects of “The 40th Day” is weapon customization. Players can adjust their weapons from there, including swapping out attachments and paint schemes. This includes:
- Changing barrels and stocks.
- Attaching melee tools such as knives or screwdrivers.
- Purchasing performance upgrades for weapons with in-game currency gained through missions.
This time around, the customization system is more robust than in the first game, allowing for deeper strategic planning based on personal play styles.
Morality System
The game features a morality system that affects both gameplay and narrative results. The players must make decisions that can have different effects:
- Extreme Morality Moments: Janus faces key decisions that have dramatic consequences for both characters and the storyline as a whole.
- Good vs. Evil: Players decide whether to rescue civilians or kill enemies indiscriminately, impacting their rewards and future interactions.
In this system, you also need many ideas and time to consider what you will do.
Army of Two the 40th Day – AI Improvements
The game’s AI has received major upgrades since the previous game. Enemies behave more intelligently, coordinating attacks and trying to revive fallen comrades. However, some flaws remain:
- Occasionally, AI partners may not react optimally during critical moments.
- Enemy soldiers may hesitate to engage unless provoked.
Despite these issues, the overall improvement in AI behavior contributes positively to the game’s challenge and tactical depth.
Multiplayer Modes
In addition to its campaign mode, “The 40th Day” offers several multiplayer modes:
- Co-op Deathmatch: Teams of two compete against each other.
- Warzone: An objective-based mode with dynamically changing goals.
- Extraction: A survival mode exclusive to pre-orders where players face waves of enemies.
These modes enhance replayability and provide varied experiences beyond the single-player campaign.
Graphics and Presentation
The 40th Day is visually a marvel, an enticing playground of destructible objects; everything here is part of a cinematic process. The game’s graphics portray the chaos of the beleaguered city of Shanghai well. However, some players have reported occasional frame rate problems that spoil the experience.
Conclusion
Army of Two: The 40th Day is everything one could want from a sequel, expanding the cooperative gameplay mechanics and providing a more directed narrative while maintaining the explosive backdrop of the original. Though not exactly a masterclass in all aspects—especially with the shallow narrative—the focus on teamwork and strategy made easier through the tools you have at your disposal will surely keep action-shooter fans entertained for hours. The various customization options and multiplayer modes solidify its spot within the style.
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All images from ea.com
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