Army of Two: The Fortieth Day Final Post

This first person shooter game has been fun to play throughout the semester and is a somewhat different kind of game than I am used to. I enjoy playing sports games in my free time but have taken interest in first person shooters ever since starting to play Army of Two. The unique layout of having two players cooperate through a series of missions while relying on each other to complete their individual tasks creates fun and interactive gamin environment. I enjoyed seeing how my decisions in the game affected how hard the game was as well as the path my character took. As technology progresses, games implement more variables as seen through the morality scale in this particular game. I think the most educational aspect of this game is the cooperation detail because each user truly has to communicate with his/her partner to get the job done. I am glad I picked Army of Two: The Fortieth Day to play this semester, since I was able to broden my horizon of videogames and was able to compare the aspects of this game to the topics covered in lectures and readings.

Weapon and Apparel Customization

Weapon Customization is also a huge part of this game. You can add loads of parts to your weapons and make them totally customized. For example, you can customize an AK-47, giving it a G36c barrel, M16 Stock, and a Screwdriver bayonet and top it off with a golden weapon skin. To customize your weapons, all you need to do is hold down the Y button when you are near your partner, and move the directional pad down to begin customizing your weapons. Players should be careful to make sure they have enough money to buy the parts desired. To get money, all you need to do is kill people and do some little side-missions, like saving civilians.

Another form of customization is the Mask Creator, which can be found online at the TFD website. This allows a player to design a mask on this website, and transfer the mask design into their own game and use it for the Campaign, and Multiplayer and basically show off their designs. For example, there are so many mask ideas and completed that you can basically find anything, from a Spider-Man mask to a Gene Simmons mask from KISS. Very entertaining and fun, I highly recommend taking advantage of the customization options in this game.

Online Play Review

Army of Two: The 40th Day features an online multiplayer game mode, something new to the series, but for a game that is focused on co-op teamwork this component seems unusually out of place. Sure, the two-on-two deathmatches are fun and trying to flank the opposing team can get interesting at times, but there are never enough fun moments to outweigh the amounts of boredom. The online gameplay really adds another level of focus and strategy needed to accommodate for human vs. human interaction. Also, the levels are stripped down making them smaller and more confined than in the single player and the weapon customization is completely gone as well. What are left are four players shooting it out in an area no bigger than an average sized office building with generic weapon sets that both teams have to use. What makes things worse is that online play is hampered by slowdowns and lag, which make it frustrating when your ready to destroy your friends via the web. The online experience is a welcome change for those players looking to take a break from the single player, but don’t go into it looking for solid gameplay equivalent to that of the campaign.

Cheating in Army of Two

This weeks reading reaction relates to cheating so I thought I would share the opportunities to cheat in my game. Here are a few cheats that I have tried to accomplish. Cheating can be fun because it advances you through the game more quickly, but at the same time ruins the true experience that is meant to be had by gamers. I found these cheat ideas at IGN and have been able to use most of them, however I do not have the original Army of Two so I am unable to get the bonus weapon AS-KRI.

Cheat: Start with Fully Upgraded Weapons

At the very outset of the game you'll be given money to upgrade your weapons. You can exploit this. Spend the money and then play to the cutscene with the first morality choice. Quit out to the main menu during the following cutscene. Return to this campaign again and you'll have all of your upgraded weapons plus the boost in cash to upgrade again! You can repeat this indefinitely.
Logan Callahan

Unlockable: Costumes

Perform the actions below to unlock additional costumes:

Civilian costume - Beat the game on any difficulty
End costume - Beat the game on any difficulty
Mall costume - Beat the game on any difficulty
Medium Armor costume - Beat the game on any difficulty
Old school costume - Beat the game on any difficulty


Unlockable: Cheats

Complete the game to unlock Big Heads and Infinite Ammo cheats (check the Options screen afterwards). While cheats are on, you cannot earn trophies or achievements, you loser.

Unlockable: Bonus Weapons

Have a saved game from Army of Two (the first game) under the same profile or gamer tag to unlock permission to buy the AS-KRI and Grand Pinger.

Loving Battle

Moving forward with my game play I have reached the third mission. To activate the tram again, I hit the control panel. Enemies immediately appeared across the way and before I could get close, I had to clear out the enemies from the control panel building. Enemies were finite until I activated the tram, so I returned fire and took the weapon part Chepznaz Redstar for the sniper rifles. Then I equiped it on my SVD, since from experience of playing this level more than once, I knew I would need it in about five minutes. Then I restarted the tram, neutralized the Shotgun Heavy above and moved to the next section.

The animal pit with the crashed PMC chopper is tricky business. I ordered the computer ally to hold position. After the cut-scene revealed the enemies, I headed to the ground and moved right at the rock arch. It is pretty easy to sneak up on the enemy officer and take him hostage. I grabbed the officer and then proceeded to detain the rest of the unit. After taking the whole enemy unit, I took the PCG Delta EX sniper scope from the enemy strongbox.

Once I shut off the automated S.O.S. in the crashed chopper, I was attacked by the second type of Super-Heavy soldier, the Grenadier. I had to get on top of the rocks near where I dropped into the animal exhibit and used a sniper rifle and scope to pick apart the three bags of grenades the Super-Heavy soldier had on his sides and back. A few good shots and he died, clearing the way forward.

Continuing The War

I continue to take down enemies and complete missions by working with my partner. When we approach a large group of bad guys, only one of can make large moves at a time while the other sprays cover fire. This is very similar to how soldiers actually operate in the field and is something that can't be taught through reading a book, but rather only by experiencing it. Its impossible to describe a how enemies will react to different movements or actions that you must make in the field. Army of Two: The Fortieth Day acts as a simulation of real world battle in some aspects. I have learned how important it is to keep in mind where your partner is at all times during battle so you do not accidentally cross fire with him. Also, I have learned how to conserve ammo and how to take out the highest enemies first when approaching a large group of them. There are plenty of real world battle tactics that can be learned simply by play a lot of this game. There are definitely a few flaws that make the game somewhat of an inaccurate experience of war, but there are definitely some things you can learn from this type of simulation that you could never take from reading about battle.

Saving Lives

At this point I have acquired a comfortable feel for the game-play and controls. As I continued to destroy enemies and save lives, I began to think about how this game has kept my interest. The idea that I am killing bad guys keeps me motivated since I feel like I'm not only accomplishing something but enforcing justice at the same time. Furthermore, the intense graphics allow the massive explosions to actually surprise me and increase my heart rate. I feel like I am watching an action movie and controlling the plot at the same time. This is true to some extent since the user's actions in this game actually affect the path that must be taken in order to complete a level. If I continue to do positive moral actions, such as give my partner a high five, spare the lives of innocent hostages, or even the lives of innocent animals, then my path to victory in this game becomes easier and more fun! It is interesting that my moral decisions affect my outcome in this game and proves to be an educational aspect of what first appears to be a brainless slaughter frenzy.

The War Begins

After fleeing the rooftop, both players must cooperative open a garage door that leads into a room full of enemies. Once I destroyed the roaming terrorists, my partner and I had to cooperatively take out a gunner. The use of real life army tactics are implemented into this game, which makes it very interesting to see how distractions and flanking really works. After taking out a second gunner it was time to save some hostages. By crouching I am able to walk with stealth and sneak up behind the enemy in order to choke him and then tie him up. Once I freed the hostages, I proceeded outside where my partner and I took out multiple enemies. I then had to toss my partner over a fence so that he could open the gate from the other side for me. I had to cover my partner while he tried to open the gate. Teamwork is essential in this game and is vital when taking on the toughest of enemies which I was presented with on the other side of the gate. After about ten to fifteen minutes of battling my partner and I took down the bad guy and completed the mission.

The Beginning

Army of Two: The Fortieth Day starts out exciting. The game opens with an explanation of the storyline, which follows a terrorist attack on Shanghai. I was then dropped right into the action with your partner as an army of two American soldiers who plan to save Shanghai by personally taking down all of the terrorist militia. The first few tasks of the game introduce the controls and give the player a feel for how to control the characters as well as how to use different weapons and stances. The first thing I had to do was plant a locater beacon, then I used a gun for the first time to shoot some alarm boxes, and then planted a second locater beacon. After planting the second beacon I was bombarded with terrorists, which I naturally destroyed. I was then given my first moral choice of the game: kill the informant who taught me all of the controls or spare him. Sparing him nets me little but the knowledge I'm a better person, but capping him will reward me a cool $7,500. I will have to play the game multiple times to tell which is the best longterm decision. It will be interesting to see what other moral decisions I'm presented with as I save Shanghai from complete ruin.

Game Selection

I chose to do some research on a videogame for PlayStation 3, Army of Two: The Fortieth Day, and as a result have decided to play this game throughout the semester. I will blog about my experiences each week as they relate to the readings and teachings of EDUC 222. This week I did some background research on The Fortieth Day before I even opened the box. This third-person shooter game was designed for two players to cooperatively take down terrorists in Shanghai. As I begin to play the game next week I will have a more detailed description of the game's plot. The online gameplay seems intense and allows up to ten players to battle via the internet accross the globe. Though playing online will probably be more entertaining, the cooperative play will probably be more educational. In co-op mode, the game allows the player to make decisions that will affect the future gameplay for that player and his/her partner. For example, one may choose to eliminate the hostages once they have beend saved, but this will subtract from that players "morality" in the game. I am excited to begin saving Shanghai and see how my decisions affect my experience of The Fortieth Day.