Army of TWO: The Devil’s Cartel

Army of TWO: The Devil's Cartel is a 2013 third-person co-operative shooter developed by Visceral Games and published by Electronic Arts for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The third entry in the Army of TWO series, it follows two new private-military operatives, Alpha and Bravo, of the T.W.O. organisation as they are drawn into a violent conflict against a Mexican drug cartel. Built on the Frostbite 2 engine, the game retains the franchise's signature emphasis on two-player partnership, rewarding coordinated tactics, mutual cover and the trademark 'Aggro' system in which one player draws enemy attention while the other flanks. A new 'Overkill' mode lets partners trigger temporary invincibility and massively boosted firepower when filled together, encouraging teamwork and spectacular set pieces. Heavy weapon and mask customisation returns, letting players personalise their loadouts and the series' iconic masks. The Devil's Cartel was designed as a more accessible, action-forward entry, and reception was middling: reviewers found the co-op shooting solid and the destruction satisfying, but criticised flat characters that lacked the banter of earlier games, a generic story and a lack of innovation. It proved to be the final installment in the series, which EA did not continue afterward. With its underwhelming reception, the game brought the partnership-focused Army of TWO series to a quiet close.