Publisher: EA

System: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3)

Cost: $60

ESRB rating: M

Review rating: 3 1/2 stars

One of the most enjoyable features introduced to video games this decade is the ability to team up with another player and tackle missions cooperatively. Developers at EA have taken this idea one step further by integrating co-op game play into both the single and multiplayer portion of their latest third-person shooter, "Army of Two."

Players assume the role of a war-hardened "oppor-tunist" who teams up with another former Army Ranger to perform shady assignments for cold hard cash. Only by working together can these two hope to survive the ruthless enemies they encounter.

Throughout each level, the player is free to give basic commands to his A.I. teammate such as regroup, take cover and attack. Too bad players can't tell their compadres exactly where to go beyond "advance," but this omission hardly affects the game. In co-op mode, the A.I. is replaced with a real player, so it isn't an issue.

What makes the game fun are the team-specific actions available to virtual soldiers. For example, one player can lift another player up to scale a wall, and the second player can shoot enemies from behind cover while in the air. Another cool co-op move places the mercenaries back to back and slows down time for a Hollywood movie-style shootout. Alas, this move is automatic and only happens in certain areas.

In addition to co-op, several online modes are available and vary from team vs. team combat to a competition to save injured allies. These different modes greatly extend the replay value, which is sorely needed since the single-player campaign is short.

There is no denying that "Army of Two" looks fantastic, plays well and offers a twist on the standard shooter. Despite all the praise, the game isn't worthy of a purchase unless you can play it online.

Game: "Super Smash Bros. Brawl"

Publisher: Nintendo

System: Nintendo Wii

Cost: $50

ESRB rating: T

Review rating: 3 stars

Fighting games used to be all the rage, and Nintendo answered this demand by assembling several famous gaming characters into "Super Smash Bros." While the genre has dwindled since then, Nintendo's alternative to standard fighting games attracts more and more gamers with each release. So it comes as no surprise that fans across the nation stayed up late to attend the midnight release of "Super Smash Bros. Brawl."

Unlike conventional fighting games, the object of Smash Bros. is to knock opponents off of a fighting platform into the abyss. Dozens of stages are included with the game, and each one has multiple levels on which to fight. In addition, players who tire of pre-made stages are free to create their own fighting arenas and share them with friends.

An adventure mode is included with the game, but its cut scenes are much more enjoyable than the actual game play. Mini-games, tournaments and a vast assortment of challenges and unlockables for one or two players round out the offline content.

Since "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" is the first in the series to offer online game play, I'm a bit disappointed that it is limited to four-player brawls and a home run mini-game. It would be nice to be able to create tournaments. As it stands, players can't even talk to each other or type messages in pre-game lobbies.

At first glance, and even after hours of game play, this title hardly looks any better than its GameCube predecessor. Sure the characters may be highly detailed, but the camera is so far away that most of it goes unnoticed. Fortunately, the frame rate is lighting fast, so the action never slows down.