Gears of War 2 for Xbox 360

When I first played Gears of War 1, my mind was blown away. I was amazed by the graphics and the unique gameplay. Sure it borrowed elements from other games, but the way it combined everything was definitely unlike any other game before it. I consider the first game to be one of my all time favorite games (which says alot because I’ve been gaming for a while).

When Gears 2 was set to come out, the hype machine was in full effect. Not since GTA IV had I been so excited about a new game. Did it live up to the hype? read on….

The graphics are even more gorgeous than the first game. Somehow EPIC managed to add even more details to the characters and their environments. The textures are all very detailed and the settings and environments are varied from stage to stage. Occasionally textures may take a few extra seconds to load, which can be distracting. Once they do load, you automatically forget about the distraction because the game looks so damn good.

GAMEPLAY 10/10

The gameplay is similar to the first game, with a few new additions that make the gameplay even deeper. New execution moves have been added, giving gameplay a new dimension. It is hard to resist running up to a downed enemy to execute them, even with tons of gunfire directed at you. The executions are that much fun that it almost makes it worth the risk of dying. Also new is the ability to plant grenades like proximity mines. This in itself adds another dimension to play as you need to be more cautious in pursuit of your prey. You can’t just run in guns blazing anymore. As with any sequel, Gears 2 features loads of new enemies requiring different strategies to defeat.

 Fans of the first game may be a bit disappointed with the subtle changes to the mechanics of the game. Unlike the first one, when you take cover, it doesn’t feel as sticky. Meaning once you’re in cover you can accidentally slip out of cover where in the first game it felt like you were glued to the cover until you actively decided to leave. Little nuances like this may not be apparent to players new to the franchise, but for old vets it is definitely something that requires a bit of adjusting.

SOUND 9/10

The sound is still top notch. The sound effects of someone’s head popping off is still one of the most enjoyable sounds in all of gaming. The chainsaws rev fiercely, grenades have their distinct rattle as they hit the ground next to you, and the boom of the shotgun is almost enough to make you feel the recoil. Enemies growl with blood lust as they prepare to attack. The overall sound effects do a great job of maintaining the intensity of the combat. The only gripe I had is that the sound doesn’t seem to be quite as loud as it was in the previous game. I know this is a minor difference, but I hate having to crank my tv up even more just to be able to have the same volume as the previous game had.

MULTIPLAYER 8/10

The multiplayer in Gears2 has been improved in almost every single way. The weapons are more balanced. The new gameplay changes manifest themselves in the multiplayer modes and also serve to balance the gameplay out. The game has been tweaked to require that players rely more on cover, as the lancer has been made more powerful, allowing for players to target enemies from a distance and break them down with bullets. The shotgun has been toned down a bit, not necessarily in terms of power but in how fast it takes to reload and get another shot off. Also blindfiring, or shooting from the hip, with the shotgun is nearly useless. Accuracy requires using the L trigger to target before busting caps. This requires a ton of adjustment in how the game is played as it is no longer the shotty fest the first game was. This can be good or bad depending on your play style. I actually like it and I can appreciate the balance it brings to the game. However, I can see tons of people hating on this aspect and wanting it to go back to being like the first game.

 Like the first game, there are tons of glitches that are abused to gain an unfair advantage on the other team. As of this time there has been no patch yet to resolve these issues, but hopefully soon.

As far as the actual game itself, it is damn near perfect. The problem arise in the multiplayer system itself. Gears 2 adopted the Halo style true skill matchmaking, which, while intended to be a good thing, actually hurts the game. For some reason, especially if searching alone, it can take upwards of 20-30 minutes to find a multiplayer match. This is enough to turn off all but the most hardcore Gears fans, and admittedly, it is even pushing it with them. The other major gripe is the playlist set up. Rather than just choosing what you want to play, you are given options to vote on, for example what gametype and map type to play. The majority of the time these votes result in a tie, which then results in the computer randomly picking an unknown choice that everyone is stuck with whether they like it or not. Its hard enough to get into a game, then once you find one having an undesired game mode or map shoved down your throat. While the actual gameplay is solid, the multiplayer system itself is extremely flawed to the point it could be a possible deal breaker. Not being able to find games is extremely frustrating. Like sitting in a ferrari with no gas.

Despite the flawed system, the change in mechanics, and all the glitches, Gears 2 remains one of the most fun and fulfilling multiplayer experiences on any system. While the game is not perfect by any means, there is just something so rewarding with having an opponent rush up to you only for you to sashimi their body into a million pieces with the shotgun. 

Here is another co-op multiplayer mode new to this game. It is called Horde mode and basically pits a party of 5 players against waves and waves of enemies. The enemies come in waves progressively up to level 50. The enemies get more and more difficult with each wave, making communication and strategy a definite must. This mode is insanely fun, but it is crucial to have good communication and teammates that are on the same page. All too often someone strays from the group to go solo and winds up getting gang banged by a group of enemies across the map.

REPLAY ABILITY 10/10

This is one of those rare games in which the campaign is just as fun to play as the multiplayer (when it works). After the first time I beat the campaign, my immediate thought was to play through it again immediately….it’s that good. The story elements leave far too many questions unresolved. They actually raise more questions than they answer. However, the fun of the experience is so great, like playing a huge summer blockbuster, that it looks to keep gamers busy for the long haul. In fact, the game reminds me of the movie RAMBO. While not exactly an Oscar winning script, the movie featured enough quality action and intensity that more than made up for the rest. That is Gears 2’s campaign in a nutshell. The multiplayer is also an addicting trap and one can easily kill a day just playing it. Also the addition of horde mode is insanely fun and should keep people glued to this for quite a while.

OVERALL 9/10

This game definitely deserves all the hype surrounding it. The gameplay is addicting and fun with tons of replayability. While Gears may not appeal to everyone since the style of gaming is so unique to the franchise and has a relatively high learning curve compared to other games, everyone owes it to themselves to try it out at least once. This game probably would have gotten a perfect review had it not been for the numerous hiccups with the multiplayer system. Also, veterans of the series who are set in the old ways may not appreciate the need to adapt to the changes in Gears 2. Overall this is an excellent game that I would highly recommend.