Operation: Tango takes an innovative approach to the co-op game genre, requiring two players to truly collaborate closely, with one in the role of "Agent" and the other in the role of "Hacker". Constantly linked via voice communications and an augmented, fully connected world, each has a different play experience, leveraging each other's skills to infiltrate, investigate, and eradicate the forces threatening the free world.

Set in a high tech near-future world, two players work together, each with their unique perspectives, to solve missions in exotic locations around the globe. Those playing as the agent find themselves physically within each location, while those playing as the hacker have access to the far reaches of digital infrastructure, unique to the network of each location. Both roles are critical to complete each mission.

While there are plenty of cutting-edge "toys" and technologies for sleuthing, verbal communication is the center of the experience, with dialog between players being key to the progression of the game. Only by sharing the vantage points of each role can they overcome the many challenges that stand between them and completing each mission.

"We set out to create a deep, shared, and bonding experience," said Mattieu Bégin, co-founder and game designer at Clever Plays. "When designing, my goal was to keep each player engaged, challenged, and communicating in a meaningful way at all times, so we really had to think through how people interact. It was really more like designing two games in tandem."

Operation: Tango- related activities throughout the PAX Online show (September 12th through the 20th) include developer AMA, a free downloadable PC demo (available on Steam), scheduled gameplay streams, and interview opportunities. All of the PAX Online activities can be viewed at the Clever Plays digital booth on the Indies Show floor.

Clever Plays recently  kicked off its “It Takes Two to Save the World” charity campaign benefitting Oxfam’s global fight against poverty. For each person that downloads the Operation: Tango demo, recruits a friend, records their play experience, and shares it with Clever Plays, a donation of $5.00 USD will be made in each player’s name, up to $3,000. Details of the campaign can be found at www.operation-tango.com/charity/.

The end result is a feel-good spy-thriller adventure that keeps the focus solely on the two players, connecting them whether they are in the same room or across the globe.

The exotic locations, near-future augmented world, and thrilling scenarios combine to create moments that pay homage to classic Hollywood espionage adventures while breaking out of tired tropes. Operation: Tango has intensely hued, stylized 3D graphics and an original soundtrack by Vibe Avenue that oozes retro spy cool.

Operation: Tango is slated for release in Q1 2021 for PC (Steam), PS4, and Xbox One, with additional platforms to possibly follow.