Army of Two

**DarkPenfold** · Mar 15th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Not a top-teir game, but good fun. However I am burdened with the awful CPU AI at the moment.

Need a second player on Live.

Volunteers?

**TylerDurden** · Mar 15th, 2008, 08:50 PM

when i saw the trailer for it i started to put my shoes on and was gonna go run out and buy it. I took a second look at the trailer, and noticed how there wasn't any game play showed.

i've seen people play this game, and the first thing i noticed was the AI. Not one of the games strong points.

Second was the game effects. The feel of guns reminds me of that game for n64 operation winback. Anyone remember that game ? Not saying the game effects were bad, just noticed they were different from cod4.

How do you like it so far pen ?

**DarkPenfold** · Mar 15th, 2008, 09:22 PM

AoT is a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest. The graphics vary from outstanding to "meh", and whilst the concept is sound, there are a few holes in the execution. The AI is questionable at points (most noticably the moments where you have an entire wave of enemies that run straight through the cross-fire created by you and your team-mate, only to try and take cover right next to your positions) and the less said about true single-player, the better. (Your CPU-controlled team-mate can't/won't drive a vehicle or use a riot shield, for example.)

The game has its moments - as all the reviews say, the one stand-out moment is the fight across, through and over an aircraft carrier - but the main sticking point for me is the game's central "aggro" mechanic. The idea is sound (he who has the firepower, draws the firepower) but the execution is ropey. Basically, the player who isn't shooting at the enemy is basically invisible unless they get within 6 feet of an enemy.

As such, in single-player mode you practically have no choice but to use your CPU partner to draw the enemy fire whilst you flank, as thier AI doesn't seem to stretch to situational awareness. The only strategy involved is watching their health bar and then telling them to keep their heads down to regenerate their health when it runs low. In co-op, seems to be a tit-for-tat "it's my turn to draw their fire now, so you flank them" exchange.

OK, so that's grossly oversimplified and it is actually a hell of a lot more fun than I've made it sound when you're playing with another person. If you were thinking of buying it but had no access/plans to play it co-op over Live or PSN (no local split-screen MP here), save your money.

Oh, and the automatic cover system is a good idea in theory but feels a lot less precise than Rainbow Six Vegas, which is kind of the high water-mark for that kind of thing.