Stop and Pop is Back on Top!
Gears of War 2 (GoW 2) is one of the most refined games I’ve ever played. The shiny visuals, varied game modes, load of multiplayer options, and near-perfect cover system make this title truly standout. That said, don’t expect the game to be significantly different than what was found in the first title; if you didn’t like Gears then, you won’t like Gears now. But for Gear-heads, Gears of War 2 is simply a smoother, tighter experience than the original. Plus, Epic Games has done a phenomenal job of adding serious replay value – this game would be a good deal at a $100 price tag! As such, I expect consumers to be playing this title well into next year!
GoW 2 takes place on the planet of Sera. Humans find themselves locked in a battle against the Locust Horde, which has survived and come back stronger than ever. Consequently, in the face of impossible odds, humans have decided to strike out against the Locust and take the battle to where the Grubs live and breed. The resulting pitched battles across varied environments in the Solo/Co-op campaign are awesome. Players will often be faced with overwhelming odds, but will come through like a true badass; Epic makes sure Fenix and Delta Squad are unstoppable and ruthless, not helpless or lucky. Of course, the ‘roided out characters of Gears are about as complex as a doormat, but who’s going to pick up the game for its story? Gears of War 2 is all about kicking ass. Humorously, Epic didn’t get that memo and actually tried to inject moments of emotion and morality into the story. The ensuing teary-eyed cutscenes of Dom searching for his lost love Maria will have you laughing at just how ridiculous it all is.
Story aside, GoW 2 plays like a dream. The shooter controls are very easy for anyone to get the hang of, and the cover mechanic is practically flawless. It is so easy to get into and out of cover that the Locust will never have a chance. Well, almost never. Sometimes you’ll get a boot in your eye from overconfidence or simply be overwhelmed the first time through a section. Luckily, players have access to a killer arsenal of weapons that literally leave their mark on the enemy. The Lancer Assault Rifle is one of the best weapons ever made for a video game, and the varied armaments such as the Scorcher Flamethrower, Torque Bow (crossbow with explosive-tipped arrows), and the Hammer of Dawn (high-powered energy beam that rains down from the sky) keep things fun and comically gruesome.
There are two minor gripes with gameplay I’ll have to bring up though. First, the massive, armor-laden heroes are painfully slow. Even utilizing the Roadie Run (the game’s crouched sprint mechanic), plodding through the levels can often get frustrating. I expect this is something Gears detractors instantly point to while futilely trying to debunk the game’s quality. Second, enemies are hulking hunks of meat. They simply won’t fall until you’ve unloaded an entire clip into their chests, sniped them with a headshot, or blasted or cut them in half from pointblank range. This makes for a somewhat sloppy shooter experience. These two complaints are rather easy to dismiss, however. Players simply need to change their expectations. This is a cinematic approach to the shooter; it’s not a simulation. As such, one has to play to the game’s strengths: use cover, methodically advance, plink their domes from close range or stick a chainsaw up their butt! Nevertheless, some players may never adjust and won’t get the full enjoyment out of the title.
Previously, I hinted at the game’s polish. This is by far its greatest strength. The team at Epic has gone out of their way to ensure a wonderful technical experience. For starters, the presentation is great. Other than a few framerate drops and the occasional freezing, the shiny visuals, thick spurts of blood, lifelike textures, and uber-realistic animations are fantastic. It really is a visual treat. It’s too bad the human characters look so dumb, because the enemies you’ll face throughout are some of the best ever created.
Also, sound effects and voice acting are spot on. Some examples include the muted thud of bullets striking a grub’s chest, the jangling of equipment during a Roadie Run, the satisfying crunch of a finishing move, and the visceral sawing sound of the chainsaw bayonette. All the effects are great! Plus, the voice acting is hilarious! The characters always have lowbrow one-liners that fit the game perfectly. Granted, sometimes during cutscenes, the content of the dialogue doesn’t match the characters’ personalities. But contrived writing aside, the voice work is admirable.
Finally, and most importantly, the game is incredibly user-friendly. Epic Games lets you play Gears anyway you want. You can start a Solo Campaign, play split-screen co-op locally (individual players can even set their own difficulty settings), invite players into your game through online request, etc. Players can drop in and out at any time. Plus, they can even practice competitive multiplayer modes by themselves on the Training Grounds by playing against A.I. Also, private multiplayer sessions can be rounded out by adding bots to the mix. I simply can’t overemphasize how cool all this flexibility is! Moreover, it all works to perfection; you’ll never have problem. In an era in gaming when split-screen co-op seems to be going the way of the dodo, Epic proves it’s just a matter of taking the time to get the coding right.
Outside of the enjoyable solo and co-op campaigns, the multiplayer modes are outstanding. All the modes you loved in GoW are back in GoW 2. They include variations on Team Deathmatch, War (Capture), King of the Hill, etc. Plus, there are a number of originals to the mix. Wingman pairs up players in up to five two-player teams. Teams duke it out in a series of rounds. The team with the most total points (awarded for kills and winning rounds) at the end, wins. Guardian selects one player from each team to be the leader. As long as the leader doesn’t die, team members can continually respawn. Once the leader is taken out of commission, the end is very near. Submission, much like Capture the Flag, has teams attempting to collect a flag (of sorts) and bring it back to a zone of control. However, this flag is actually an A.I.-controlled combatant that will attempt to evade capture. Players will have to immobilize the flag and carry him back to the zone as they would a meat-shield in the campaign mode. Finally, the aptly-named Horde mode allows up to five players to get together and blast through wave after wave of ever-more-difficult enemies. Players revive at the end of each wave, but if all players die during the same wave, you lose. Talk about addictive fun! All in all, there are eight multiplayer modes (Warzone, Guardian, Wingman, Submission, Execution, Annex, King of the Hill, and Horde) outside of the campaign that are all worthwhile and will keep you gaming for months, possibly years to come.
Gears of War was one of the very best games of 2006 and Gears of War 2 is one of the best titles in 2008. The combat is fun and accessible, the gore is over-the-top, and the story’s spiked with humor (though not always intended) and provides for a non-stop, action-packed thrill ride. Still, whereas the original title was groundbreaking, GoW 2 is simply a honed, rehashed sequel. As such, players who were unimpressed by the first entry will likely not enjoy this game either. Fortunately, Gear-Heads and those who just want to grind through some great environments packing heat and take out baddies in a font of gore are in for a treat!
RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.4 Graphics
The shiny visuals and fluid animations are outstanding. The game is only mildly marred by the dumb human character designs and occasional framerate drop and temporary freezing. 4.5 Control
The controls are accessible and engaging to all skill levels, and the cover mechanic is near-perfect. 4.3 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The sound effects are spot on. The voice work, while frequently unbelievable, is a hoot! 4.9 Play Value
There is a lot to love about this title! The Solo and Co-op campaign flexibility is unparalleled, and the nicely implemented and varied multiplayer modes will have you gaming for a long time. There are some who simply won’t “get” GoW 2 though. 4.5 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
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