General Strategies (Single Player)
This game is, at its core, a cooperative experience. For those of us that prefer to go it alone, I’ve got some tips on how to use your AI buddy in the best way to not only keep you alive, but to blow through the levels.
First off, on casual and normal, your AI buddy is a beast. Set him on Aggro Advance by pushing up on the D pad twice, the AI will advance, take aggro and keep you invisible. The AI will also take out Heavies, and take so much Aggro that you will be able to run around the map and blast enemies from behind at will. Use this to push ahead in the map as fast as possible. On some maps, depending on how fast you push yourself forward, you can cut the amount of enemies you may face in half. Also, by using this tactic, you can get so far forward that you can camp enemy spawn points and decimate the enemy before they can take a shot at you.
In hostage situations, always have your AI partner take the enemy officer hostage. Not only will they not screw it up, but it will leave you free to quickly take down the other bad guys in any way you prefer.The AI is also a good sniper in Mock surrender situations.
General Strategies (Co-op)
Whatever any other website tells you, do not stick together. I’ve read in more than a few reviews that if you don’t stick together you’ll have a hard time in the game. Maybe on the baby causal setting that most reviewers play on, but not for any real player. Sticking together just means that you’re a huge target for an RPG to insta-kill you both, especially in the last three chapters.
So, always split up as far apart as you can. Switch off getting aggro and shoot your buddies enemies first. Shoot your buddies enemies first because a) they’ll be behind cover that you can flank for easy kills b) once you smoke all of them, you’ll acquire aggro and your partner can do the same for you. This is especially important for the gunner and grenade mini bosses. You can’t take these guys head on, so split up, flank and shoot. I know it sounds easy enough, but you’d be surprised.
Try and use complimentary weapons. If your buddy is using a sniper and a low aggro, high precision assault rifle, go with the shotgun and Grenade launcher. This will give you more options for dealing with enemies and boss situations. You won’t get the chance to sit and snipe, so you have to split up and switch off getting aggro. If you do this, you will be successful.
Extraction Strategies
While there are four missions with four levels each, for the most part they’re designed pretty uniformly. Each sub-level will have between 4 and 6 spawn areas for the waves of enemies. When you enter sub-level, immediately look for a corner or any cover that you can defend. The trick is basically to camp the enemy spawn areas and make sure your backside is covered. As they pour in, smoke them before they even get to the level and watch your buddies back.
Extraction Load Out Tip: The secondary weapon is the name of the game in Extraction. As you cannot switch out your secondary weapon, pick the load out with your favorite secondary weapon. Avoid pistols as a secondary as they’re useless in the later rounds. After downing an enemy, drop your crappy primary and pick up the enemies’ primary weapon. If you don’t like that gun, well, there’s good news, because there’s about a gazillion enemies behind that guy, eager to die and give you their gun. Once you find a primary that you like, you’ll have an awesome pair of death-dealing tools to, you know, deal death with.
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