2 years after the first installment, and Gears of War 2 is revved-up and ready to rock! Those of you familiar with the first title will feel immediately at home with the basic control set, and the welcome return of all the weapons from the original game (one or two with a few modifications). Whilst I obviously haven't completed the game yet (having owned it a mere 5 hours), I thought the spectacle of the mission's I HAVE played through warranted very high praise, and a brief review for those umming and ahhing about buying this title. The action and excitement has been notched up 10 fold, as the first few missions see you defending a Hospital full of wounded COG soldiers, venturing into pitch-black tunnels whilst 'Tickers' scurry at you out of the darkness, and defending a giant vehicle known as a Derrick from Brumak, Drone and all manner of other Locust attacks! If you have played the 1st, this is a no-brainer. However, if you haven't, GoW2 is the most complete action game that has yet been created. Top-notch voice acting, character driven emotional storytelling, and most of all, an epic sense of scale all serve to draw the gamer into the world of Sera and the COG's struggle to survive....Epic games have done it again, GoW2 is a watershed in action gaming.
16 Reviews
Very good and epic military video game.
Aaron13755 February 2009
Yes, this sequel to the 2006 game is explosive and very good, a bit better than the original game. The characters are back and just as wise cracking as ever and the story that unfolds is better than that of a lot of movies. The game play for the most part remains the same. You engage in a lot of fire fights where you duck and cover and shoot from the cover. A few differences in this one is that the chainsaw bayonet from the first game is used more here as I carved up a lot more enemies with it this time around. Another difference is the ability to use your downed enemies as shields. There are also more vehicles to use as you have your standard tank like vehicle and a couple of more unique ones. This game features a rather climatic ending too as well as a hint of a sequel in the future. The story has Marcus and Dom joined by some new characters and returning ones fighting the locust horde from beneath the earth once again. They have a plan to attack the locust and try to end the war with them once and for all. Along the way you have some humor as Carmine a new recruit to the Gears has some problems at first and one scene with the gang in the dark after a vehicle jump. At first I thought I did something wrong, but hearing them chat in the dark was rather funny. You also have a sad scene or two as well. So for one hell of an explosive game that is fun to play give Gears of War 2 a try. Though you really should play the first one so you know the whole story.
An epic sequel that hands-down beats the original.
johnnymacbest12 May 2011
After a decisive victory over the vile General RAAM, Marcus and co are taking a breather. But the Locust Horde were not defeated and so they returned with a vengeance on humanity. However, there is an even greater threat from below.
I can't describe into words how enraptured and exhilarated I was when I played Gears of War 2. Twice the action, twice the suspense, twice the plot and character development with some fresh faces thrown into the mix and terrific voice acting to boot. This game is like a Hollywood action movie on steroids. GoW2 is simply MUCH BETTER than it's predecessor in every way, shape, and form. The story is much better and coherent than Gears of War, making you care more for the characters and the game. This was sorely absent in GoW, which despite having impressive game-play and graphics, never really made you emotionally invested in the game. Not so here.
More importantly is the length. While the first game was rather short, the second game really gives you more bang for your buck. This is evidenced by having a more thorough single-player campaign which can also be played Co-OP. For those that don't know, that's like two players tackling the single-player at the same time. Not the most convenient feature but if you got some buddies around, then it's a blast from there.
In addition to Co-Op, you can also play death-match online not just with buddies, but also online anytime, anywhere in the world. There's a new mode known as Horde. Similar to Firefight in the Halo series, this mode lets you mow down as much Locust Horde as you can and form teams to take them down.
Speaking of action, this game has it in spades with dozens of wonderful action set-pieces sprinkled impressively throughout. One moment you're defending a hospital of wounded soldiers from enemy forces, another has you defending a roving transport from not just ground enemies, but aerial threats as well. I'm not going to spoil anymore surprises but lets just say that as you progress in the middle and near the end of the campaign, things REALLY get a LOT crazier and crazier.
Visually, the game features even more detail than GoW1. Powered by the impressive Unreal Engine, the game is able to display more realistic physics and animation to unprecedented levels. Your jaw will drop more than once as creatures and characters come to life in painstaking detail the likes of which has never been seen before. And it helps to have a nice, big-screen HD TV to truly witness the marvel of Gears of War 2. The game's atmosphere, combined with fantastic sound, really gives you the feeling of being in an epic war against a brutal and savage enemy and you will feel rather emotional at a crucial part in the game.
I'd say Gears of War 2 is a much better sequel to the sleeper hit of 2006; a superbly made cinematic action game that has oodles of gravitas and raw blood-soaked carnage. If you're new to the franchise, I suggest you pick up GoW and Gears of War 2: Collector's Edition. Only a fool would miss out on one of the greatest sci-fi gaming epics of this generation of video games.
I can't describe into words how enraptured and exhilarated I was when I played Gears of War 2. Twice the action, twice the suspense, twice the plot and character development with some fresh faces thrown into the mix and terrific voice acting to boot. This game is like a Hollywood action movie on steroids. GoW2 is simply MUCH BETTER than it's predecessor in every way, shape, and form. The story is much better and coherent than Gears of War, making you care more for the characters and the game. This was sorely absent in GoW, which despite having impressive game-play and graphics, never really made you emotionally invested in the game. Not so here.
More importantly is the length. While the first game was rather short, the second game really gives you more bang for your buck. This is evidenced by having a more thorough single-player campaign which can also be played Co-OP. For those that don't know, that's like two players tackling the single-player at the same time. Not the most convenient feature but if you got some buddies around, then it's a blast from there.
In addition to Co-Op, you can also play death-match online not just with buddies, but also online anytime, anywhere in the world. There's a new mode known as Horde. Similar to Firefight in the Halo series, this mode lets you mow down as much Locust Horde as you can and form teams to take them down.
Speaking of action, this game has it in spades with dozens of wonderful action set-pieces sprinkled impressively throughout. One moment you're defending a hospital of wounded soldiers from enemy forces, another has you defending a roving transport from not just ground enemies, but aerial threats as well. I'm not going to spoil anymore surprises but lets just say that as you progress in the middle and near the end of the campaign, things REALLY get a LOT crazier and crazier.
Visually, the game features even more detail than GoW1. Powered by the impressive Unreal Engine, the game is able to display more realistic physics and animation to unprecedented levels. Your jaw will drop more than once as creatures and characters come to life in painstaking detail the likes of which has never been seen before. And it helps to have a nice, big-screen HD TV to truly witness the marvel of Gears of War 2. The game's atmosphere, combined with fantastic sound, really gives you the feeling of being in an epic war against a brutal and savage enemy and you will feel rather emotional at a crucial part in the game.
I'd say Gears of War 2 is a much better sequel to the sleeper hit of 2006; a superbly made cinematic action game that has oodles of gravitas and raw blood-soaked carnage. If you're new to the franchise, I suggest you pick up GoW and Gears of War 2: Collector's Edition. Only a fool would miss out on one of the greatest sci-fi gaming epics of this generation of video games.
Huge upgrade from its predecessor!
jullebull21 June 2019
I feel like this sequel is polished and upgraded in almost every scenario. GoW is absolutely better than the first one. It delivers a strong campaign and an entertaining multiplayer. This is the best Gears and one of the best campaigns I've experienced.
Gameplay: Not much have changed but gameplay is still awesome and runs smooth. The cover system, the shooting, the boss fights everything is professional made and made with so much love and passion. The game uses the covering a lot which is nice to see. The sequel to the invention of the cover based shooter keeps the style up. Well taking cover and move from place to place while tactical shooting your way through levels can both be challenging and fun. The gunplay runs smooth and feels awesome. I don't like bullet spoonges The level design is much better, it gives us a lot more variety is environments and gameplay. There's much more going on here which keeps me interesting and entertained throughout the entire campaign. Playing co-op with a friend feels epic. Sit down and experience a deep story with someone close to you is lovely, and then laugh and have fun while you shoot the heck outta da monstas. Boss fights are varied and we use different methods to kill them and they are fun and cool to face. This bigger battles are the best.
Story: The story is deep and immersive. The character telling here is interesting and every character got their own story and stuff going on around them. This campaign isn't just kick ass shooting like the first one, but also focuses on the personal struggles. Like Dom fighting for his wife which plays a huge role. The characters are more sympathetic. The story is a lot more developed with many more cutscenes that tells the tale of the bombing (sacrificing of million people), the Locust queen, the COG-army and everything. There's a lot memorable scenes and happenings going on in this five hours. It is a dark and tragic tale with a fitting bleak ending. This campaign pushed the story forward and I'm grateful and impressed. It's not often a shooter both has the gameplay and the story. Plot is interesting and well written. 10/10.
Graphics: Still the game looks very good for being such an old game. It's a mix and variety of places and the looks of them. Environments are beautiful and it's thrilling to play in this very well build up world we play in. Character models moves pretty realistic and well, their eyes also feels alive which is rare in animation. The graphics holds up and the look of the game is so brilliant! Cutscenes everything with them, the angels the cinematic touch and everything makes it look like a movie. Cutscenes look prominent as hell. Lighting in this game also caught my attention, a nice detail worth mentioning. Such a beautiful game that is nice to look at. 10/10.
Audio: I mean voice acting jump from good to mediocre. But most of the time the voices feels real and the empathy especially in deep/sad scenes are thrilling. The music and the soundtrack fits the story and the events. Early in the campaign as an army leader had an epic speech, both the voice acting and the music combined made me impressed. The sound of heavy weapons, explosives, the blood splattering, the vehicle engine, and the destruction of big and small obstacles feels so alive and overall the sound helps the game feel more alive.
Overall the game is improved. This is the Gears of War we needed, thank god we got it. Great immersive story with interesting and believable characters. Beautiful, detailed environments and thrilling sound effects that makes this game feel alive. A bleak and bitter tone that fits to the plot, and helps with provide a dark feeling which is nice. Best soundtrack and some memorable scenes I've always remember. One of the best campaigns I've experienced and when I talk about Gears of War this game is outstanding and the best!!
10/10.
Gameplay: Not much have changed but gameplay is still awesome and runs smooth. The cover system, the shooting, the boss fights everything is professional made and made with so much love and passion. The game uses the covering a lot which is nice to see. The sequel to the invention of the cover based shooter keeps the style up. Well taking cover and move from place to place while tactical shooting your way through levels can both be challenging and fun. The gunplay runs smooth and feels awesome. I don't like bullet spoonges The level design is much better, it gives us a lot more variety is environments and gameplay. There's much more going on here which keeps me interesting and entertained throughout the entire campaign. Playing co-op with a friend feels epic. Sit down and experience a deep story with someone close to you is lovely, and then laugh and have fun while you shoot the heck outta da monstas. Boss fights are varied and we use different methods to kill them and they are fun and cool to face. This bigger battles are the best.
Story: The story is deep and immersive. The character telling here is interesting and every character got their own story and stuff going on around them. This campaign isn't just kick ass shooting like the first one, but also focuses on the personal struggles. Like Dom fighting for his wife which plays a huge role. The characters are more sympathetic. The story is a lot more developed with many more cutscenes that tells the tale of the bombing (sacrificing of million people), the Locust queen, the COG-army and everything. There's a lot memorable scenes and happenings going on in this five hours. It is a dark and tragic tale with a fitting bleak ending. This campaign pushed the story forward and I'm grateful and impressed. It's not often a shooter both has the gameplay and the story. Plot is interesting and well written. 10/10.
Graphics: Still the game looks very good for being such an old game. It's a mix and variety of places and the looks of them. Environments are beautiful and it's thrilling to play in this very well build up world we play in. Character models moves pretty realistic and well, their eyes also feels alive which is rare in animation. The graphics holds up and the look of the game is so brilliant! Cutscenes everything with them, the angels the cinematic touch and everything makes it look like a movie. Cutscenes look prominent as hell. Lighting in this game also caught my attention, a nice detail worth mentioning. Such a beautiful game that is nice to look at. 10/10.
Audio: I mean voice acting jump from good to mediocre. But most of the time the voices feels real and the empathy especially in deep/sad scenes are thrilling. The music and the soundtrack fits the story and the events. Early in the campaign as an army leader had an epic speech, both the voice acting and the music combined made me impressed. The sound of heavy weapons, explosives, the blood splattering, the vehicle engine, and the destruction of big and small obstacles feels so alive and overall the sound helps the game feel more alive.
Overall the game is improved. This is the Gears of War we needed, thank god we got it. Great immersive story with interesting and believable characters. Beautiful, detailed environments and thrilling sound effects that makes this game feel alive. A bleak and bitter tone that fits to the plot, and helps with provide a dark feeling which is nice. Best soundtrack and some memorable scenes I've always remember. One of the best campaigns I've experienced and when I talk about Gears of War this game is outstanding and the best!!
10/10.
like a chainsaw to a locust gears 2 shreds expectations to pieces
tyranid_slayer8 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
i'm a big fan of the first gears of war game and i was incredibly excited when the sequel was announced.
and finally here we are gears 2 is out and i finished playing it after having an all nighter bash at it with a few friends.
we powered through gears 2 in a 6 hour marathon
and we waited for gears 2 for a 2 year slog.
and all the hype, expectations, action, violence etc has been upped or exceeded or broken.
marcus and delta squad are back and looking better than ever with some fantastic looking graphics. but where would humans be without locust and they're also back with a bunch of nice looking new grubs for your trusty to kill. The story has greatly improved from the first game because it actually has a good solid script with some good dialogue but hasn't strayed totally away from some cheesy action hero phrase. The story mostly focuses on Dom looking for his wife maria which is good because if you were like me quite angry about the exclusions of doms personal story in gears 1 then you get to hear about it now. The cut scenes are well directed and there are two particular cut scenes in the game that are particularly moving and one of the very few gaming moments that really touches the player. Epic games finally lives up to its name and makes an epic game. i lost count of how many times i said aloud "wow" "oh my god" in absolute awe as to what i was seeing on screen. but unfortunately this ain't perfect. there are hardly any new weapons to enjoy and if you do get them then they run out quickly or slow you down. the new weapons are the scorcher flamethrower which is pretty cool, the mulcher gattling gun, the mortar gun and my favourite the gorgon burst pistol. the most talked about sequences before the games release was the level where you can ride a reaver and a brumak. these levels aren't fantastic and slightly anti-climatic.
all-in-all: for fans of the series they will enjoy this as much as i did it's longer than the first game and a nice new bunch of achievements and game modes to keep you going. the graphics are excellent story is fantastic and deep and new game play mechanics have improved are add extra depth to the game play.
enjoy
and finally here we are gears 2 is out and i finished playing it after having an all nighter bash at it with a few friends.
we powered through gears 2 in a 6 hour marathon
and we waited for gears 2 for a 2 year slog.
and all the hype, expectations, action, violence etc has been upped or exceeded or broken.
marcus and delta squad are back and looking better than ever with some fantastic looking graphics. but where would humans be without locust and they're also back with a bunch of nice looking new grubs for your trusty to kill. The story has greatly improved from the first game because it actually has a good solid script with some good dialogue but hasn't strayed totally away from some cheesy action hero phrase. The story mostly focuses on Dom looking for his wife maria which is good because if you were like me quite angry about the exclusions of doms personal story in gears 1 then you get to hear about it now. The cut scenes are well directed and there are two particular cut scenes in the game that are particularly moving and one of the very few gaming moments that really touches the player. Epic games finally lives up to its name and makes an epic game. i lost count of how many times i said aloud "wow" "oh my god" in absolute awe as to what i was seeing on screen. but unfortunately this ain't perfect. there are hardly any new weapons to enjoy and if you do get them then they run out quickly or slow you down. the new weapons are the scorcher flamethrower which is pretty cool, the mulcher gattling gun, the mortar gun and my favourite the gorgon burst pistol. the most talked about sequences before the games release was the level where you can ride a reaver and a brumak. these levels aren't fantastic and slightly anti-climatic.
all-in-all: for fans of the series they will enjoy this as much as i did it's longer than the first game and a nice new bunch of achievements and game modes to keep you going. the graphics are excellent story is fantastic and deep and new game play mechanics have improved are add extra depth to the game play.
enjoy
My favourite gears of war game
umlaziking6 July 2022
This game is really brilliant, the main characters are back in an even bigger and far better storyline than the previous game. This in my own humble opinion is the best gears of war game with its really great storytelling, brilliant antagonists like skorge, the rift worm and more....they really gotta remake this game, they already remade the first one, why not this game.
Great shooter and more
85122224 August 2022
Greetings from Lithuania.
I played "Gears of War 2" (2008) for the first time in 2022. So my experience with the game isn't fresh so to speak. But considering that this is not 14 years old game, and games unlike movies do age in my opinion, this was a fantastic game. I loved the shooting mechanics, story was solid, and i like characters in this one. Great settings, interesting level design and one hellova blockbuster shooter game. Excellent in my opinion!
I played "Gears of War 2" (2008) for the first time in 2022. So my experience with the game isn't fresh so to speak. But considering that this is not 14 years old game, and games unlike movies do age in my opinion, this was a fantastic game. I loved the shooting mechanics, story was solid, and i like characters in this one. Great settings, interesting level design and one hellova blockbuster shooter game. Excellent in my opinion!
The best almost got better......
spydeewhydee7 October 2009
Graphics are outstanding, the sound is precise, the voice acting is top notch. The story is better than ever. The story jumped from bland to grand. You start to get a feel for each and every character. It's human survival at it's finest. I just wish that there was more effort on the co-op side. The multi player is very good in every way. The only thing that stinks is the multi player advantages and dis advantages. Someone with a weaker internet connection always gets trash talked by another player that had host advantage. Yes everyone, host advantage does in fact exist. Everything else is superb in each and every way. For some reason this thing keeps saying that I do not have enough lines but clearly I have more than enough lines.
put simply......the best!
davies-1320 January 2009
this is simply the best game you will ever play, if you have heard the hype thats been deservedly given to this game then you should buy it (if you haven't already) those of us familiar with the franchise of gears will fully appreciate the game as we know the storyline and characters, we were basically told that there would be a second one at the end of the first one (for those who don't know what I'm talking about, buy the first one), and needless to say this left us wondering, how it would all end and indeed if there was going to be more than 2, well i wont spoil that for those who have yet to complete it, but all thats needed to know is that gears 2 brings back and improves on the magic of the first, the weapons have been modified and the game play is easier making the result better! seriously buy this and the first one you wont get another game like it!
Best game of the Year
HowlingRabbit33419 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The 7th November 2008 brought forth one of the best games I've ever played, the graphics are awesome, the gameplay is almost flawless, and the campaign mode definitely beats the first one.
Campaign - I like the fact that you get to venture deep into Locust territory and get to finally face-off with their queen, although my greatest regrets is that you don't get to kill her personally. Anyway, i basically enjoyed the campaign. It's easy to understand, and pretty intriguing compared to the first Gears of War, where as you, for the first time, are able to fight Reavers on the ground, ride Reavers in the air, and even hop on massive lumbering giants called Brumaks. I pretty much enjoyed every aspect of it.
Multiplayer - I definitely prefer this multiplayer to the one in Gears of War. In the first installment, it's four vs. four for every playlist, but now, not only newer playlists have been added, but the number of players can vary from five vs. five to two vs. two vs. two vs. two vs. two. The new Horde mode in which you battle wave after wave of Locust forces, is an excellent feature of the game, I was completely hooked with trying to ascend the rounds and finally reach Wave 50.
Achievements - Now, this is something only Xbox 360 and Windows games have: game achievements. Achievements are accomplishments that you can complete in the game, each achievement gives you some gamerscore, which is added up to a total. The achievements in Gears of War 2 are pretty straight-forward. They include completing campaign on the difficulty levels and much more. They were pretty great, but some achievements, most notably Seriously 2.0 (kill 100,000 enemies) seem impossible to complete.
I'd give this game a 10/10 rating despite the drawbacks, simply because it is so compelling and breathtaking. Recommended for fans of Third-Person-Shooter and sci-fi. Congratulations, EPIC.
Campaign - I like the fact that you get to venture deep into Locust territory and get to finally face-off with their queen, although my greatest regrets is that you don't get to kill her personally. Anyway, i basically enjoyed the campaign. It's easy to understand, and pretty intriguing compared to the first Gears of War, where as you, for the first time, are able to fight Reavers on the ground, ride Reavers in the air, and even hop on massive lumbering giants called Brumaks. I pretty much enjoyed every aspect of it.
Multiplayer - I definitely prefer this multiplayer to the one in Gears of War. In the first installment, it's four vs. four for every playlist, but now, not only newer playlists have been added, but the number of players can vary from five vs. five to two vs. two vs. two vs. two vs. two. The new Horde mode in which you battle wave after wave of Locust forces, is an excellent feature of the game, I was completely hooked with trying to ascend the rounds and finally reach Wave 50.
Achievements - Now, this is something only Xbox 360 and Windows games have: game achievements. Achievements are accomplishments that you can complete in the game, each achievement gives you some gamerscore, which is added up to a total. The achievements in Gears of War 2 are pretty straight-forward. They include completing campaign on the difficulty levels and much more. They were pretty great, but some achievements, most notably Seriously 2.0 (kill 100,000 enemies) seem impossible to complete.
I'd give this game a 10/10 rating despite the drawbacks, simply because it is so compelling and breathtaking. Recommended for fans of Third-Person-Shooter and sci-fi. Congratulations, EPIC.
The Ultimate 360 Game And The Defining Current-Gen Shoot-Em-Up
azza88201021 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The first glimpse of a killer-app that most of us got from the current generation of consoles was the first Gears of War, a shooter set on an alien planet now inhabited by humans that are battling a subterranean alien species called the Locust, not doing too well either!
The concept of the series is "cover, shoot n run", you duck to cover when the locust pop up, shoot em as quick as you can (cos if you don't get them they WILL get you, get you BIG STYLE) and then run to the next cover to shoot again before the chunky gorilla's can flank you.
1st gears was good, it had good graphics, particularly towards the end, but the entire thing was quite narrow when you think back on it, you had corridor blasting and the occasional shoot-out in a courtyard but other than that the games mechanic was all about the gameplay rather than the graphics (beautiful at the time) or the WOW moment set-pieces, it's a meaty game no doubt but one that's been bettered in every single way by it's sequel.
More beauty, More freedom, More set-pieces, more weapons, more varied environments, increased fluidity in combat, better character development and as for the overall plot in comparison to the original, well forget about it! This game actually gives you an idea of what state the locust attacks have left humanity in, it's almost as if this should have been the first game, sure the orig' had that cutscene where humans blow up their own abandoned cities so the Locust can't steal their dressing gowns and cigars (what else could they get from library's and stately homes??? Seemingly that's all the humans built on Sera!!) anyway like i say, the game shows you some pretty f'ed up civvy's dying of a fatal illness called "rustlung" that's caused by that imulsion stuff vaporising from the heat of the bomb you personally blew up in the first game...yes that's right, the series' main character is now responsible for roughly as much human death and suffering as any given locust general...but back to the start, so the first level is a hospital for rustlung suffers that gets invaded by the 'cust before you and you're squad give them a molten lead smackdown.
Then it's off to the country where you ride big tractor platforms, HUGE set-piece follows, hundreds of locust, lots of shooting, lots of excellent vista's, lots of sadness as certain characters do or don't make it....
Then you're underground, i normally groan when a game makes you go underground when the surface seems so much nicer (fallout 3????) but in GOW2 not only does it make sense, it actually suits the game better. The things you see down there not only show how horrible the Locust really are but it also gives them an incredible layer of mystery, they have their own chapels and Gothic style cities teeming with life, all underneath the surface.
There's some funky and useful wildlife down there too, can't find cover? drag that big rocky worm over here and we'll let the lil' fella soak up the bullets. Easy!!!
The game would be incredibly grim and almost Killzone-esquire in it's seriousness were it not for the art direction and character design, although truly an adult's game there is lots of vibrant colour splashed around the environments and the characters always diffuse quiet situations with witty observations.
This game costs about £11 now, if you got a 360 you should got Gears of War 2, cos if you don't got Gears.....you don't got nothing.
The concept of the series is "cover, shoot n run", you duck to cover when the locust pop up, shoot em as quick as you can (cos if you don't get them they WILL get you, get you BIG STYLE) and then run to the next cover to shoot again before the chunky gorilla's can flank you.
1st gears was good, it had good graphics, particularly towards the end, but the entire thing was quite narrow when you think back on it, you had corridor blasting and the occasional shoot-out in a courtyard but other than that the games mechanic was all about the gameplay rather than the graphics (beautiful at the time) or the WOW moment set-pieces, it's a meaty game no doubt but one that's been bettered in every single way by it's sequel.
More beauty, More freedom, More set-pieces, more weapons, more varied environments, increased fluidity in combat, better character development and as for the overall plot in comparison to the original, well forget about it! This game actually gives you an idea of what state the locust attacks have left humanity in, it's almost as if this should have been the first game, sure the orig' had that cutscene where humans blow up their own abandoned cities so the Locust can't steal their dressing gowns and cigars (what else could they get from library's and stately homes??? Seemingly that's all the humans built on Sera!!) anyway like i say, the game shows you some pretty f'ed up civvy's dying of a fatal illness called "rustlung" that's caused by that imulsion stuff vaporising from the heat of the bomb you personally blew up in the first game...yes that's right, the series' main character is now responsible for roughly as much human death and suffering as any given locust general...but back to the start, so the first level is a hospital for rustlung suffers that gets invaded by the 'cust before you and you're squad give them a molten lead smackdown.
Then it's off to the country where you ride big tractor platforms, HUGE set-piece follows, hundreds of locust, lots of shooting, lots of excellent vista's, lots of sadness as certain characters do or don't make it....
Then you're underground, i normally groan when a game makes you go underground when the surface seems so much nicer (fallout 3????) but in GOW2 not only does it make sense, it actually suits the game better. The things you see down there not only show how horrible the Locust really are but it also gives them an incredible layer of mystery, they have their own chapels and Gothic style cities teeming with life, all underneath the surface.
There's some funky and useful wildlife down there too, can't find cover? drag that big rocky worm over here and we'll let the lil' fella soak up the bullets. Easy!!!
The game would be incredibly grim and almost Killzone-esquire in it's seriousness were it not for the art direction and character design, although truly an adult's game there is lots of vibrant colour splashed around the environments and the characters always diffuse quiet situations with witty observations.
This game costs about £11 now, if you got a 360 you should got Gears of War 2, cos if you don't got Gears.....you don't got nothing.
This is a fair sequel
filmismagic4 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I think you can see that judging by my rating that I don't share as much enthusiasm as for Gears of War 1, but that's not to say that Gears of War 2 is a bad game. It is actually really good and a great action game which is loads of fun to play. Nevertheless, there are some flaws that Epic Games should have looked into.
I have played some missions in the campaign, just enough to get the story. Clearly, the characters and dialogue have improved and the story itself has more depth and twists. You get to have a small sub-plot about Dom in this game. The cutscenes have improved and have a lot of depth. When Dom finds his wife, it was one of the most well-directed video game cutscenes I have ever seen. Seeing both their faces made me think that all this is real. Obviously, the story was a big improvement over the original game (and the originals story was not bad either) both emotionally and in structure.
Gameplay is very good. It has a few improvements to the first game like a chainsaw duel, execution moves, surviving while wounded by crawling, new weapons (like flamethrower) etc. Even though the improvements are there, I do not think there are as many as I hoped there would be for a sequel. It seemed more like an expansion to me. The campaign's story was good, but I don't think that most of the mission design was as good as it should have been. In co-operative duel, there has these features (chainsaw duel, execution moves) plus the environment is not safe either since in some maps, strong hailing rain will occasionally appear and if you stay outside too long you will ...well, die!! The gore has increased as well so the game is more fun (but makes it less suitable for a younger age). The most note-worthy improvement in co-operate versus mode is that you can add bots to the field so if you are a loner, you do just that to have all the fun.
The graphics have improved from the first game. This shows the capabilities of an Xbox 360 video game. The rendering and detail has made a great improvement. The blood is more colourful as in the first game, the blood was always dark, dark red. They are quite close to challenging Call of Duty 4 or Crysis graphics in terms of realistic-looking.
The music overall, is not much of an improvement over the previous game's intense songs, but the main menu theme for this game is better than for the first. All in all, Gears of War 2 is a very good game which fans of the first one will enjoy. I am just a little bit disappointed, because after playing Half Life 2, I thought that as a sequel, this would have more improvement then it does. Nevertheless, it is a great game and should still be bought even if you have the first game on an Xbox 360, just don't get it at full price.
I have played some missions in the campaign, just enough to get the story. Clearly, the characters and dialogue have improved and the story itself has more depth and twists. You get to have a small sub-plot about Dom in this game. The cutscenes have improved and have a lot of depth. When Dom finds his wife, it was one of the most well-directed video game cutscenes I have ever seen. Seeing both their faces made me think that all this is real. Obviously, the story was a big improvement over the original game (and the originals story was not bad either) both emotionally and in structure.
Gameplay is very good. It has a few improvements to the first game like a chainsaw duel, execution moves, surviving while wounded by crawling, new weapons (like flamethrower) etc. Even though the improvements are there, I do not think there are as many as I hoped there would be for a sequel. It seemed more like an expansion to me. The campaign's story was good, but I don't think that most of the mission design was as good as it should have been. In co-operative duel, there has these features (chainsaw duel, execution moves) plus the environment is not safe either since in some maps, strong hailing rain will occasionally appear and if you stay outside too long you will ...well, die!! The gore has increased as well so the game is more fun (but makes it less suitable for a younger age). The most note-worthy improvement in co-operate versus mode is that you can add bots to the field so if you are a loner, you do just that to have all the fun.
The graphics have improved from the first game. This shows the capabilities of an Xbox 360 video game. The rendering and detail has made a great improvement. The blood is more colourful as in the first game, the blood was always dark, dark red. They are quite close to challenging Call of Duty 4 or Crysis graphics in terms of realistic-looking.
The music overall, is not much of an improvement over the previous game's intense songs, but the main menu theme for this game is better than for the first. All in all, Gears of War 2 is a very good game which fans of the first one will enjoy. I am just a little bit disappointed, because after playing Half Life 2, I thought that as a sequel, this would have more improvement then it does. Nevertheless, it is a great game and should still be bought even if you have the first game on an Xbox 360, just don't get it at full price.
Beats The First by a Mile
h-rabbit9 July 2009
Gears of War 2 is a game that excels the first and continues the story of Delta Squad, a four-man team comprised of soldiers with their own pasts and specializations in combat. I'd say its pretty good and a well-made sequel to the first Gears of War.
Solo Campaign - This takes you to the story of Gears of War 2, which is quite good, but, as usual, short. The thing is, usually games go by level, going from level, to level, to level. Games like Fallout 3 or Fable II are RPGs, which mean their story can last forever as long as you like playing with your character and keep roaming, getting money and jobs or whatever. The story is progressive and quite complex, but with the same feeling and concept every single firefight; enemy appears, you take cover, kill them, move on. The story is nice and you get to receive new experiences, but just plainly the same again and again. 8/10.
Co-op Campaign - A nice feature, this is exactly the same as Solo Campaign except you can now play with a sentient player as a teammate instead of a computer. The co-op features limit to only two players, though, due to the amount of time its just two characters in the mission. 7/10.
Matchmaking - Could've been better, with few game modes and a third-person cover system which doesn't really fit in with player vs. player styled combat. There's not much to say except that Matchmaking is much better, but still quite amateur. 6/10.
Horde - Gears of War 2's Unique Feature is fun and exiting, with waves of enemies pressing in onto you team. This is a fun team-orientated feature which beats most with its adrenaline-filled moments. 10/10.
A game for tactical gamers who can deal with massive levels of blood and gore. But there is a filter for that sort of mature stuff.
Total Mark: 8/10
By HowlingRabbit334
Solo Campaign - This takes you to the story of Gears of War 2, which is quite good, but, as usual, short. The thing is, usually games go by level, going from level, to level, to level. Games like Fallout 3 or Fable II are RPGs, which mean their story can last forever as long as you like playing with your character and keep roaming, getting money and jobs or whatever. The story is progressive and quite complex, but with the same feeling and concept every single firefight; enemy appears, you take cover, kill them, move on. The story is nice and you get to receive new experiences, but just plainly the same again and again. 8/10.
Co-op Campaign - A nice feature, this is exactly the same as Solo Campaign except you can now play with a sentient player as a teammate instead of a computer. The co-op features limit to only two players, though, due to the amount of time its just two characters in the mission. 7/10.
Matchmaking - Could've been better, with few game modes and a third-person cover system which doesn't really fit in with player vs. player styled combat. There's not much to say except that Matchmaking is much better, but still quite amateur. 6/10.
Horde - Gears of War 2's Unique Feature is fun and exiting, with waves of enemies pressing in onto you team. This is a fun team-orientated feature which beats most with its adrenaline-filled moments. 10/10.
A game for tactical gamers who can deal with massive levels of blood and gore. But there is a filter for that sort of mature stuff.
Total Mark: 8/10
By HowlingRabbit334
Best Game Ever!!! Bar none.
kevinjr1612 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
When i first heard they were making another gears game i was naturally excited. But anything i had expected was far surpassed. I never expected an enthralling and emotionally gripping story from a game. Once i started playing i didn't stop. It has elements that will remind you of bioshock, dark sector, and halo. But it still manages to be a completely original and intense game. Everything that was annoying about gears 1 (sitting there like a goon when wounded) has been fixed and made way more interesting. You can execute a downed enemy many different and gory ways, you can create proximity mines by tagging grenades to the walls, or just stick it on an enemy and watch him helplessly suicide bomb himself. there are more kickass weapons and different types of grenades now. The only thing i didn't like about the game was that gears three isn't here yet. Anything you thot would be cool to do or see in the first gears you can do. (at one point you ride a brumak and a reaver) Basically if u could only have one game in the world, LET IT BE GEARS!!!!!!! GEARS 4EVR!!!
Tradução
leo-deep0622 December 2019
disappointment
lonewolfxxx9 March 2009
let me start by saying that I'm a huge fan of gears. have been long before its was cool to like gears. but gears 2 was really a disappointment.
the campaign was OK, and there was a few new things that i liked and was good for the game. but the thing that ruined the game is the online play. I'm being very kind when i say it SUCKS. You cant pick your maps or what type of game play you would like to play. but the worst thing is the LAG! it is so frustrating and just ridiculous. I get mad just thinking about how much lag there is in this game. sadly its a real disappointment.
the campaign was OK, and there was a few new things that i liked and was good for the game. but the thing that ruined the game is the online play. I'm being very kind when i say it SUCKS. You cant pick your maps or what type of game play you would like to play. but the worst thing is the LAG! it is so frustrating and just ridiculous. I get mad just thinking about how much lag there is in this game. sadly its a real disappointment.
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