Army of Two: The 40th Day

XBox 360, PS3, PSP (Electronic Arts)

While the debate over excessive violence in computer games turning our pop kids into square-eyed psychopaths continues, what should march up, eyeballing all and sundry, but blood-soaked, third-person shooter, Army of Two: The 40th Day? But beyond the shock, awe and inevitable outrage, is it any good? Following on from a fairly dire original, in which you played as one of two masked mercenaries, Salem or Rios, the sequel takes place on a hazardous journey through a disintegrating Shanghai. Working for a private military firm, the excuse for all the killing is to mop up amid the chaos, face off against rival military contractors and make lots of money.

Buy it from

  1. PS3
  2. PSP
  3. XBox 360
  1. Army of Two: The 40th Day
  2. Electronic Arts

Despite a paper-thin plot, the much-improved graphics and pick-up-and-play controls keep your finger glued to the trigger, an option tempered by moral decision points, such as choosing whether to save innocent lives or execute captured enemies, which shape your path through the game.

Each combat scenario can be approached from two different angles, enabling your partner to cover your back while you dive through a hail of bullets. Alternatively, enemies can be distracted (creating "aggro" as the game has it) while you flank them and pick off targets undetected. Earning cash for missions, you can also build up a substantial arsenal of customisable weapons. Once you've worked your way through the single-player campaign, you can tackle the missions in co-operation with a friend. This is no intellectual exercise then, but terrific mindless fun at its best.

Today's best video

Today in pictures