Hype can be a double edged sword. Halo 3 was hyped beyond belief, and I, along with many others, was swept along by the media current. However, unlike numerous others, I was let down by Halo 3. I am a big fan of the first two, but the third just didn't do it for me. For the past few months, Gears of War 2 has been put in the spotlight by Microsoft and Epic Games. Luckily, the first Gears of War was a fantastic game and couldn't possibly be botched in a sequel. Here is my review for the next game in this shooter's saga.
Be forewarned, I tend to direct my attention more towards multiplayer rather than single player, so you can expect what to find in this article. All I will say is, play the campaign for yourself and enjoy it yourself, don't let me tell you how it is.
I'll start with the inclusion of bots. This feature was a surprise to me when I first put the game in my Xbox 360. I couldn't have been more pumped to know that I could sit at home on a rainy day and play gears multiplayer offline all by myself! Playing the first Gears with my friends was a pleasure, but 1 vs. 1 was the only local multiplayer offered. Now, with the inclusion of up to nine computer-controlled players in local multiplayer, you and your friend can play against each other in a 5 on 5 match.
There are more game modes than ever, including Submission (capture the flag), King of the hill, and Wingman. Wingman, my favorite, splits every player up into 5 groups of two. You really need to protect your teammate in order to succeed, because he will be the only one protecting your back.
Horde. Easily the most entertainment you will get out of this game. "Nuff said. You and up to four other friends are pitted against waves of enemies, getting progressively more powerful. Take my word for it, Horde mode is almost worth the $59.99 price tag alone.
New weapons have also been included in the campaign and multiplayer suites. There are two new heavy weapons, the Mulcher and the Mortar. The Mulcher is a large mini-gun with a high rate of fire. However, when using it, the player has limited mobility. The same goes for the Mortar, which is fired into the air and rains destruction down on the enemy. The flamethrower is also a welcome addition, functioning just as you might expect. The Gorgon pistol makes an appearance, shooting bursts of high-powered ammunition. There is one new grenade, the Ink grenade, which sprays poison. Pretty cool, huh! Well, that"s not all. This time around, grenades can be stuck into walls to function as proximity mines. This new feature is a great addition for all those snipers who need their backs covered. Another new addition to the cast of weapons is the shield. You can tote it about with you, or jam it into the ground to create instant cover. I found that it's a great tool for blocking off small passages during horde mode. All these newfangled guns aside, the familiar old weapons are back, and I gotta say, they feel and sound much more powerful.
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. The graphics are fantastic, of course!
In conclusion, I am going to give Gears of War 2 a 9.4 out of a possible 10. The only reason I don't give Gears a 10 is because no game is truly perfect, no matter how freaking awesome it is.
