Remembering Army Of Two, A Co-Op Gem That’s Due A Revival

Couch co-op used to be all the rage back in the days of the original Xbox and Xbox 360. Heck, couch co-op was one of the major factors that made Xbox a massive competitor in the console market back in the day.

Action-oriented shooters such as; Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Borderlands 2, and Left 4 Dead 2, took the most advantage of couch co-op. One such series that followed this formula was the criminally underrated Army of Two series.

The Games Truly Make You Feel Like An Army Of Two 

The 1st two games follow the many shenanigans of private military contractors: Tyson Rios & Elliot Salem. This duo cracked jokes & skulls alike while trying to keep afloat in the mercenary business. 

Let’s make this abundantly clear, the games aren’t innovative in a broad sense. It is your same boots-to-the-ground military third-person shooter. What set it apart from its peers (at the tie) were 2 main things: The aggro meter, and its focus on cooperative strategies.

Yes, you heard me right, the devs took inspiration from MMOs and implemented an Aggro mechanic into the game. The loudest player (or the player with the biggest gun) attracts the aggression of enemy AI, allowing their buddy to sneak around the battlefield and pick off important targets.

For bragging rights or strategic purposes, either player could fill the meter to get a 2x damage modifier turning you redder than an Elden Ring invader. Coincidentally the other player turns completely invisible. It’s an ambitiously janky system that allows for some funny gameplay.

The game’s cooperative elements even allowed players to utilize car doors as shields, hold each other above a ledge for scouting, and drag downed teammates to safety as the injured player lays down suppressing fire. My favorite is the “back-to-back mode” where time slows down in an action sequence while you cover each other’s backs.

So Why Did EA Shelf The Series?

Keen readers must’ve picked up why I only talked about the first 2 games and not the 3rd entry in the trilogy. Putting it in simple terms, the 3rd entry of the trilogy was forgettable. EA was more focused on capturing a better critic score and sales than making a better game. 

They handed the series over to Visceral Games (the geniuses behind Dead Space), and they ended up making the series grittier and less co-op-focused. Choosing to instead up the “Michael Bay” factor of the game with environmental destruction and replacing the beloved protagonists with new characters.

We need a new army of two
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Unsurprisingly, the series’ fans didn’t like EA taking this new direction, as they missed the quirky bros and comedic tones. Granted the previous games aren’t masterpieces but they were headed in the right direction. This lackluster 3rd entry was the nail in the coffin as EA killed the series due to it generating a lack of interest from the masses.

Where Can You Play The Series Now?

Just a heads up, both Army of two the 40th day and devils cartel games will have their servers shut in October, if you're looking to play with a buddy Online or need any online achievements now will be the time to do it!
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Unfortunately, none of the games were released on PC (unless you emulate), they’re only on PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. Also, you cannot access multiplayer or online co-op, making the games worthless. You can still play the game with a buddy on local split-screen co-op, but if you’re a completionist, I’m sorry there is no way to get 100% on these games.

Other co-op games from EA such as A Way Out and It Takes Two are a welcome substitute for modern platforms yet are a far cry from the mindlessly destructive and hilarious duo that are Tyson Rios & Elliot Salem. A colleague of mine remarks the 40th day as a title deserving of backwards compatibility. 

It’s a shame, as EA seems to have a track record of letting very promising IPs go to waste; Mirrors Edge, Dead Space, and Burnout are a few names that come to mind.