Gears of War 2

10/10


***SPOILERS***
***I will try to keep the review as spoiler free as possible, but do not read if you do not want some things spoiled***

Sequel to 2006's Gears of War, Gears of War 2 will give you everything you want if you are expecting an action packed 3rd person shooter that will keep you hooked until the very end. The plot in this game is much larger in scope than the original, and they have packed a lot into the game, but the single-player story clocks in at around the same length as the originals, maybe a bit longer. It has 5 act's, just like the originals, and the style is the same, but everything else has been made better so if you loved the first Gears you will definitely love this one.

There is so much to say about the story and gameplay I don't even know where to start. There is not much new for movement and controls, but there are lots of new gameplay elements, with one of the most noticeable difference being that when you and an enemy use your chainsaws at the same time and you are locked in a chainsaw battle you must rapidly press B to win, with the faster button masher winning the dual and sinking his chainsaw into the enemy. Another new feature is that when you down an enemy like a grub, and his is on his knee's about to die you are able to grab him and use him as a meat shield, and shoot your pistol at the enemy and they will not shoot at you, and then kill him when you are done with him. Another great addition is that whenever you die, unless you are chainsawed or damaged to that extent you go into a downed state, like in the multiplayer in the first, and your teammate are able to revive you. The A.I. is great in this game, and your teammates are very competent and are a big help.

There is a much larger variety in enemies in this game, and the Kryll from the first Gears have been removed. There are flamethrower equipped Grub's, along with small exploding enemies similar to the wretches, and tall, skinny enemies that are similar to grubs, but stronger. These are not all the new enemies but I do not want to spoil everything for you. There is a vehicle sequence in this game, just like in the first game, but with one major difference; this time it is fun. There are not many new weapons, which is disappointing, but the one noticeable one they do add, the flamethrower, is a great weapon and lots of fun to use.

*lots of spoilers starting here*
The story of Gears 2 is great, and so many unexpected elements that keep you at the edge of your seat, including a giant worm that has teeth the size of a 3 story building, and a research facility where some horrible truths are uncovered. In the first Gears of War Dom mentions his wife, Maria, a few times, but she is not a major plot device. That is changed in this game and she is a large proponent of the storyline, and makes the game much more emotional than the first. The greatest new character in this game, however, is Skorge, a locust who bears a striking resemblance to a Predator who wields a double ended staff that has a chainsaw on each which are able to cut through tanks like they are butter.
*lots of spoilers ending here*

MULTIPLAYER:

The multiplayer in this game is great, and there are lots of modes and options. You can co-op the storyline with a friend over Xbox live, splitscreen, or system link, or you can test your skills against other players in lots of different game modes. The game has the same modes as the first, and now includes a Territories mode, and a Horde mode. In Horde mode you and up to 5 others fight wave after wave of locust soldiers, with each wave being harder than the last. There are around 6 waves in all, and you get points for each locust you kill, so you can see how you compare to the other players. The new maps are great, and the multiplayer is now 5vs5 instead of 4vs4, which makes the games even funner, and longer lasting.

CLOSING COMMENTS:
Gears of War 2 is a great game, and even though the single player is only about 10 hours long the game is an action packed ride from the second it starts, to the second it ends and there is never a dull moment. The atmosphere is great, and if you liked the storyline of the first game you will love how much new stuff there is in this one, and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves shooters.

to Epic:
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