Rock_On's Full Review: Gears of War 2 for Xbox 360
Gears of War 2 had a hell of a lot of hype leading up to it's release. Ever since the first Gears made waves in 2006 with multiple Game of the Year awards, XBOX 360 owners have slobbered over the inevitable sequel, and here we are. After reading a bunch of previews for Gears 2 and hyping the hell out of it myself, it dawned on me that I hadn't even played the original myself yet. Meh, just a minor detail. So I beat it, loved it, and went out and bought Gears 2. It was a relatively easy process, though I can see how the two year wait could have tortured some eager gamers.
Gears 2 picks up shortly after the original, back in Jacinto where you start out by training a rookie soldier which is basically just a refresher tutorial in disguise. Not to spoil what actually happened at the end of Gears, let's just say that your efforts to destroy the Locusts were burned down. Now the Locusts have found ways to sink entire cities, and there's one thing left that the Gears can do to prevent the end of mankind: stick it to the man (or in this case the queen). Fighting back is no longer an option, you now have to descend to the Locust stronghold and assassinate the queen (if you've played Bioshock you may find her to resemble a certain someone. While you were just thrown into the fight without much backstory to go on, Gears 2 has a much more focused plotline with some fill ins on the backstory being much more prominent.
The ending in the original Gears left things wide open for Epic to play around with, and with that they crafted a massive sequel with an "epic" scope. There aren't any options left for mankind, and so the do or die premise really sets the urgency in every aspect of the game. Even while you're underground, which you are through most of the game, the feeling of complete obliteration works it's way in your mind as you make your way through huge caverns. There is even a boss towards the end of the game that while it's obvious what it's going to be, the circumstances of the fight and the size of the boss keep it interesting to fight. There are also a number of scenarios that give you a real sense of triumph and pride with the exception of a few stinkers .
Expectedly, the core "cover and shoot" style of gameplay returns. Even with some quirks in the cover control, gameplay was not something that Gears fell short in and they improve on it here. Your character still moves like an old train, but the controls feel more responsive, and taking cover and dodging during firefights are far less problematic. There weren't a whole lot of weapons in the first Gears and that wasn't a big deal, but that didn't stop them from adding a few more weapons to your arsenal. The first is the semi-automatic Gorgon pistol, which comes in handy for quick kills. Then there's the gatling gun and the mulcher which are excellent ways of taking out multiple enemies at once. Finally there is now a flamethrower to heat things up, as well as my personal favorite the boomshield. You can only use a pistol as you hide behind it like a SWAT shield, but when fights begin to get heavy you can plant it in the ground and use it to cover behind.
Also, while not technically a weapon, the "meatshield" adds a Metal Gear Solid element into the mix. When you injure a locust without killing them and they fall to the floor crawling, walk up to them and pick them up to use them as a "meatshield." Much of the game takes place over some pretty expansive areas and so you're rarely able to utilize the ability, but when you're in tight enough quarters it becomes an excellent strategy. There are also a handful of new execution moves that will tickle the sadistic curb stompers in all of us. There are around 11 or so different executions that depend on the button you push and what weapon you have equipped.
So the single player was good as expected, but the major value in the game remains in multiplayer, whether it be cooperative play, deathmatch, or the new addictive Horde mode. I haven't really messed with a lot of online cooperative play before Gears 2, but as I make my way through on the insane difficulty I can see why lot of people like it. The new Horde mode is where most players will spend their Live time in Gears 2. You have to survive fifty waves of Locusts with the difficulty getting harder and harder every ten waves. I've made it to the twentieth wave and already felt like throwing my controller through the television, so I can only imagine the kind of frustration to come.
So far I've had great things to say about Gears 2, but the thing that brings my rating down to three stars is the fact that I cannot connect to a multiplayer match whatsoever. I can connect to coop and play Horde with friends that start a private match, but matchmaking does not connect me to a match. I've tried multiple times almost every day to connect to a match and I've waited upwards to 45 minutes to find a match and still have not been put in a game. I connected no problem in the first Gears, and the main reason I got Gears 2 was for multiplayer, but I have yet to find a single match. When I can connect to every other Live game I have with no problem, this is clearly the developers fault. Regardless, the gametypes are interesting with most of them throwing in new twists on tried and true multiplayer variants (if you can find a match).
Going back to the epic scale of the game, the visuals are just that. Unfortunately most of the game takes place underground, but the parts that are above ground are pretty breathtaking. When you make your way to Jacinto's final push... Well it's definitely one of those holy sh*t moments in gaming. The sound also helps bring you into the moment. Well, hell, the sound creates an unforgettable atmosphere. I may be running "epic" into the ground, but I feel that the word fits the emotion of the game perfectly.
Overall Despite the fact that I have yet to find a multiplayer match, Gears of War 2 is an excellent game. You have the constant feeling of complete annihilation biting at your heels that keeps you on your toes and completely engaged in the gameplay. The single player is good, but the multiplayer is a huge letdown and I know I'm not the only one with those problems.
Jaw-dropping visuals Engaging story New gameplay features New and updated weapons Co-op campaign, Platforms: Xbox 360, ESRB Rating: MatureMore at Amazon
ESRB Rating: M - MatureGenre: ActionFeatures: Jaw-dropping visuals Engaging story New gameplay features New and updated weapons Co-op campaignMore at Newegg.com
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