Game Review: Gears of War 2

After the success of the first Gears of War, there were high expectations for Gears of War 2. With new weapons, multiplayer maps, and gametypes, it looked like Gears of War 2 was going to be a little more than the typical sequel.

In Gears of War 2 you'll reprise the role of Marcus Fenix, in the continued struggle against the locust horde. The bulk of the plot is fairly average, and most of it can be summed up with “Isn't everything manly”. But there are some surprisingly potent moments, which are genuinely well done. Seeing these tragic moments in a game such as Gears of War 2, which is full of senseless violence and gore, makes them all the more effective, and you'll find yourself actually sympathising with the characters. It might be a little cliché, but it's genuinely well written and cinematic, and not many games are capable of this.

The campaign's single player, too, is a significant improvement on the first game. While it stays true to the “cover and shoot” gameplay, the variety of environments and scenarios makes it much more enjoyable, and constantly keeps the gameplay fresh. The vehicle sections – which were the weakest part of the original – have been tuned up, and have become some of the strongest, and most enjoyable, parts of the game. The best of these vehicle sections are saved until the ending, giving Gears of War 2 one of the most frantic, destructive and enjoyable climaxes in any game on the 360.

At a glance, Gears of War 2 could be dismissed as a typical sequel. The emphasis was definitely on giving the player more; whether it be more weapons, maps, or shades of grey. But, instead of just being thrown in for effect, everything new in Gears of War 2 adds a lot of depth and variety that the first game didn't really have. It's resulted in a gameplay experience that allows you to approach the game as you see fit, depending on personal preferences or the in-game scenario, as well as constantly keeping the game fresh.

Real men use chainsaws

I didn't have a lot of opportunity to play the online multiplayer, because if you aren't prepared to cobble a team together before going into versus matches, you'll find that you could be waiting around for a while for a game, almost as if the game is punishing you for not having enough friends. Still, at least there's the option to play with AI bots, which more than makes up for this.

The reason I didn't have much chance to try the online aspects of the game is because Gears of War 2's Horde mode seemed to be the most popular choice when it came to the multiplayer. The mode has a distinct arcade-y feel, as you and up to four others battle wave after wave of enemies on your way to victory. As you progress, the enemies become stronger, faster, and more numerous, and while it may sound repetitive, it's also frantic, addictive, and damn good fun. Think “Geometry Wars, but designed by Leatherface”.

You think these guys look tough? Wait for the next wave...

One of the best things about the first Gears of War was the excessive amounts of gore, and that makes a welcome return in this game. For the most part, it remains unchanged. Chainsaws will still slice opponents in half, sniping an enemy will cause his head to pop like a balloon, and if you're hit by an explosive expect to find your head in a drain on one side of the map and your arse in a tree on the other. All this is good, and you can't help but appreciate it, but it feels like some elements of the gore have been toned down a little bit. Bodies no longer explode majestically when you hit them point blank with a shotgun, and you can't mercilessly slice up the corpse of an enemy in a grotesque victory dance, both of which were always hilarious and satisfying in equal measure, and it's a shame that some of the gore has been left out. But, since you can now shove a chainsaw up a Locust's arse, who am I to complain?

Ooh, isn't it gloopy

While most of the game feels well polished, there are a couple of glitches to be found, involving the cover system. Most of the time it'll work fine, but occasionally you'll find yourself not skidding to the cover, instead rolling into it and standing back up again. And while vaulting over cover, you may find that, instead of simply vaulting over, your character will ping several metres into open ground, which is a nightmare if you're under fire. But, fortunately these are the kind of niggling details that can easily be fixed with a patch.

Overall though, Gears of War 2 is a big step up from the first game. Everything that could have been improved in the first game has been. It may seem like a typical sequel, but once you start playing, you'll realise that Gears of War 2 is much more than that.

9/10

I used the word "climax" for a reason. It is just that good.

Instead of using a chainsaw, cowered behind his shield like a girl - tomdoodle16@live.co.uk