Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel is the third and final game in this series. The first game was fantastic, the second was decent and this third one, well you can probably guess why EA has not made another once since. This game tried to make you the star and I get what they were going for, but the main characters of the first two games, Salem and Rios were two bros that I really liked.

Taking Down The Cartel

I think that the Army Of Two series has some fun stories and this one is no different. Many people will criticize the plot of Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel, but I think it is once again like a big-budget action movie. This time you are in Mexico and the T.W.O has been hired by a Mexican politician who wants you to take down a cartel. Of course, things go wrong and are not what they seem.

The setup and the idea of this are excellent and certainly, my idea of a cool, kickass action story. The problem is that we no longer play as Salem and Rios, this story is about two new characters called, Alpha and Bravo and the idea is that they have less personality so the player sees more of themselves in them. I get what they were going for, but they just do not nail it for me.

Are You Sure You Are My Bro?

I have to be honest and say that I had not played through the first two games with a friend, I would not have found them as good as I did and that rings true for Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel. This once again has you and a buddy teaming to mow down waves of enemies as you try and clear each mission/level as you fight your way to the head of the cartel to bring them down for good. The gunplay is solid, the controls feel fine and one thing that is improved over the second game is that there is a shop to get weapons from, rather than that annoying customization thing they added.

My main gripe is that they took away some of the bro stuff. Like playing rock, paper, scissors, and the other cool interactions you could have. You do get to do stuff, like one will take the gun and the other takes the wheel, but there is less “bro” stuff going on here than before which is a bit of a shame.

Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang

I do not think the visuals have changed much from the last game, but I am giving Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel a pass. This game still looks good and the Mexico setting gives it a different kind of vibe than we got in the previous game. I would wager that they have reused a lot of assets here, but for the most part, it looks like a Michael Bay action movie and that is cool in my book.

There is some customization here which is neat, the idea being you can change your mask so you are more of a unique T.W.O agent. In theory, I like the idea of this, but I would much prefer if we just got to play as the characters from the last game.

When Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel was released it got average reviews at best. I will admit that if I were to rank the three games, I would probably have this one in third place, but it is nowhere near as bad as people make out. If you have a friend to play through this with, you guys are still in for an ass-kicking and balls to the wall time that is a lot of fun.

Pros:

• I thought the idea of the story was cool
• I love big explosions!
• Once again, playing with a friend is a ton of fun
• The soundtrack is badass!

Cons:

• The characters you play as have no personality
• It feels more like a side-step than a proper sequel

Strap in for the third and final game in the chaotic co-op series, Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel. Following up its predecessors, this shooter takes two soldiers across the border, where they battle against a deadly drug cartel. Armed to the teeth, the pair of masked warriors show no fear in their mission, leading to massive destruction for the greater good. Full of explosive action and cool action sequences, this is an action game that's best played with a friend.

Main Game Features

• Intense, gritty third-person shooting
• Designed for two player co-op
• Customizable masks and weaponry

Story

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel is the final game in the franchise, with the first two titles being Army Of Two and Army of Two: The 40th Day. Just like in those games, Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel follows two heroic soldiers from the Tactical Worldwide Operations unit, who are sent to Mexico on a rescue mission. However, instead of franchise regulars Salem and Rios, The Devil's Cartel focuses on Alpha and Bravo, two new characters that are thrown into this dangerous world. That said, Salem and Rios are still along for the ride, though the adventure is far more focused on this new team.

The main villains of the story is La Guadana, a vicious drug cartel led by their notorious kingpin, Bautista. Five years after a troubling mission, Salem and Rios send Alpha and Bravo to confront La Guadana, end their reign of terror, and clean up the streets of Mexico. Unfortunately, things get out of hand very fast, and the team discovers some disturbing secrets. Altogether, this is a decent story that wraps up the franchise in an interesting way, although I wish the focus would've stayed on Salem and Rios.

Gameplay

Even though there's a change in the main characters, the gameplay in Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel is still familiar. Armed with your chosen weapon, you tackle almost 50 story chapters, spread across a series of intense missions. The game can be played either by yourself or with a friend, and if you choose to play solo, you are teamed up with an AI companion. No matter what, you'll be blazing through enemies across Mexico, feeling like a cross between Gears of War and Call of Duty. There are also bonus contract missions to complete, adding even more content to the package.

Unfortunately, some of the coolest parts of the previous games have been removed, including the unique co-op interactions. You can no longer go back-to-back with your partner, or any of the other special movements, with the game instead favoring fast-paced shooting with minimal breaks. To that effect, Overkill mode is still present, which lets you turn invincible and go on a killing rampage without worrying about losing health.

Conclusion

If you've got a friend to play with and you like crazy shooting action, Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel is a good choice. The main game should take you a few hours to complete, and the customization options add some flavor to your personal story.

Pros

• Fun to play with a friend
• Shooting feels exciting
• Thrilling end to the franchise

Cons

• Lacks co-op interactions of predecessor
• No competitive multiplayer
• New characters instead of Salem and Rios