Gears of War 2 – 360 – Review

The Xbox 360 is
home to a great number of exclusive titles that make gamers glad they picked
Microsoft’s console over Sony’s or Nintendo’s consoles. Among the unforgettable
exclusives, Gears of War was a game that was beautifully savage and loads
of fun to the point that its influence is felt in the new crop of third-person
shooters. If the first game was a real Must-Have for any Xbox 360 owner,
Gears of War 2: Limited Edition is the game that will make the Xbox 360 this
year’s real Must-Have console.

The first game
introduced us to a world that has seen a war that ravaged the beautiful cities
for years when, one fateful day, brutish creatures seem to rise from the ground
to wipe humanity off the face of the planet. Heroes were born on what is now
known as Emergence Day; among them is Marcus Fenix who was released from prison
to join the battle. In the end, Marcus and his men managed to infiltrate an
important underground point the Locust Horde called home.

Yet even after
securing a major victory, the Locust Horde mobilized in a manner the COG and
everyone in Sera weren’t expecting. Once again, Marcus and Dom find themselves
back in the frontlines to push back against the legion of Locust. This time the
human resistance means to take the fight to them as whispers of a Locust Queen
are heard and revelations are made about the origins of the Horde. In the
meantime, the battle is on and we follow Marcus to Jacinto where the fate of
humanity lies.

Much like the
first game, Gears of War 2 does not mess with the controls and many of
the weapons from the first game make a return. If it isn’t broken, why fix it?
This will be good news to returning Gears fans but also new gamers who
are experiencing the game for the first time. The pick-up-and-play mechanics
leaves room to concentrate on the battles and believe me you’ll be glad no real
changes are made. You can still rush to cover, digging in on a hard surface in
order to take cover from enemy gunfire. You can even swap weapons on the fly via
the D-pad as well as slam your weapon into your opponent’s face. Oh yeah, they
brought back all the cool weapons from the first game as well as introducing new
assault rifles.

Oh, but things
are also different from the first game as well. Creatures that had minor roles
are now part of the starring lineup and the Horde attack in large numbers as
well. New Locust also make an appearance, many of them will have you dropping
your jaw. I’d be spoiling things if I mentioned a few of the big surprises the
game throws at you but expect there to be more of everything and nasty new
threats that will have you glad there are frequent checkpoints. You’ll be glad
there’s enough firepower to help you push back the enemies that will – later in
the game – come in great numbers.

On top of that,
the chapters are longer and there’s no shortage of variety to keep the action
fresh and exciting. You’ll be manning a chain gun aboard a floating transport in
order to provide cover for other transports (including airships) and there are
some great moments that highlight many of the other new features, such as mobile
cover. Another new feature is introduced when the enemy manages to take you
down. Oftentimes, when you go down, it doesn’t often mean you’re dead but rather
wounded enough that you can crawl to safety to regain your health. You can also
grab your enemy, use them as cover, and then execute them in some interesting
new ways.

Part of what
makes Gears of War 2 such a rich experience that rivals the original is
that the action sequences is cleverly well paced. There’s also a far more
involving story that fleshes out the characters in a more meaningful way. Dom’s
desperation is heartfelt as he wonders about the fate of his missing wife and
the mystery that is Marcus unravels a bit in this game as well. There are a few
issues that do keep this game from being a perfect 10. For starters, the
framerate does tend to stutter but it’s nothing that is too bad. Also, the cover
system still isn’t quite as perfect at times but then again it’s not a major
flaw that will get you killed.

Speaking of
framerate issues, Gears of War 2 contains a rich and completely
satisfying multiplayer option that does suffer from a dip in the framerate.
Again, it’s nothing bad but it pops up now and then and it’s hard not to ignore.
Still, this is a minor gripe compared to the fact that the online and offline
multiplayer is a blast. Co-op play is back and you can play the game with a
friend using a single console or online. The online multiplayer game contains
eight game match types, each one unique and fun in its own way. Submission, for
instance, is the game’s Capture the Flag mode where you have to secure a
specific point in the map. Execution is a variation of Warzone where in order to
kill your enemy you have to disable them first and then fire a shot into their
skull before they revive themselves.

The Limited
Edition version of the game includes exclusives for the multiplayer game such as
the much-appreciated Flashback Map Pack that includes past favorite maps from
the first Gears game. It also includes a download for the gold-plated
Lancer assault rifle that, I must say, gives its user quite an advantage. Aside
from coming with a steel case, the Limited Edition also has a bonus disc filled
with behind-the-scenes extras and there’s a hardcover book with art. Is it worth
the extra money for the bonus features? My wallet will have to stay thin because
of my love for the online multiplayer extras that add more to the experience.

On the visual
front, Gears of War 2 will not fail to astonish. It’s hard not to fall
for a game that just pushes the limits of the Xbox 360 the way this game does
and if you’re playing the game with an HD setup then you are in for a visual
treat. Everything from the great character models, beautifully detailed
backgrounds and gorgeous visual effects, this game will definitely make your
retinas very happy.

Aside from the
great visuals, there are some great sound effects to go along with them. It’s
great to hear the wind howling through the remains of an old building and the
metallic clink of empty bullet castings as they drop on concrete. The
soundtrack, provided by Steve Jablonsky, is beautifully cinematic and will not
fail to get your heart pumping in all the right places. Then there’s the voice
acting that is still good.

Gears of War
2 will rock your
world in ways that will make it hard to want to put down your controller. Yes,
it’s bigger and yes, it’s better but isn’t that what a great sequel is suppose
to be? In its Limited Edition package, gamers will get enough goodies to bring
hardcore Gears fans tears and believe me when I say that I don’t often recommend
the more expensive Limited Edition packages too often. In the end, we are left
with a game that will be very hard to top but in the meantime, this is the game
that will be spinning in my Xbox 360 for a long time to come.

Gameplay: 9.6
Like the first game,
Gears of Wars 2 uses the familiar controller scheme that works
beautifully in this sequel as well. The game manages to tell a great story once
again while playing up the awesome action that often has you going up against
hundreds of enemies. Welcome to the suck, soldier, you’ll be very glad to be
back on these frontlines.

Graphics: 9.5
You know you’re
playing a game made for high-definition the minute you see the opening cinematic
and it’s hard not to be impressed with the game’s environments that are simply
stunning. The character models still look damn good in action and the visual
effects are downright impressive.

Sound: 9.5
Once again, the
voice acting is top-notch throughout the entire game and the music will keep
your adrenalin pumping. On top of that, the sound effects are wonderfully
detailed so make sure you play this game with a good sound system hooked up.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Fighting the Locust
Horde isn’t easy even in the game’s medium difficulty setting so you’ll be glad
the checkpoints are appropriately placed throughout. You’ll also find yourself
in moments where good tactics will make the difference … especially around the
Brumaks and the Skorge.

Concept: 9.5
Bigger and better in
just about every way, Gears of War 2 isn’t short on jaw-dropping moments
or great new features. The Limited Edition version of the game comes packed with
loads of goodies worth the extra dough such as the bonus DVD with interesting
features, a cool hardcover art book and a steel DVD case. There’s more … this
version also includes exclusive downloads for the online multiplayer mode such
as the gold-plated Lancer assault rifle and the awesome Flashback Map Pack.

Multiplayer: 9.2
Some framerate
issues blemish an otherwise smooth online multiplayer and co-op action. Up to 10
players can take each another on in eight different multiplayer game match
types. The maps make these great modes even better and thanks to the Flashback
Map Pack, you’ll also play through a few favorite maps from the first game.

Overall: 9.6
Gears of Wars 2
is what epic
masterpieces are made of and on top of that it raises the bar for all action
games on the Xbox 360. It’s an over-the-top, action junkie’s dream come true
that easily surpasses the much-loved original that still haunts the dreams of
all Xbox owners. In other words, Gears of War 2 definitely should be on
the very top of your Must Have list.