GDC 2009: Gears of War 2 - Snowblind Map Pack Hands-On
By
Chris Watters, Editor
We grab our lancers and shoot up the frosty new multiplayer map pack for Gears of War 2.
The four months since the release of Gears of War 2 have been busy for the folks over at Epic Games. This week they released the third title update for the game, which adds a new experience system along with a number of other refinements that you can read all about in our Q&A with executive producer Rod Fergusson. Earlier tonight, Mr. Fergusson stopped by the GameSpot offices with Epic's third multiplayer map pack, and we got to run through the three new (and one not-so-new) levels, lancers a-blazin'. Designed to resonate with Gears of War 2's wintery theme, the Snowblind Map Pack offers a great new set of battlegrounds for COG and Locust alike.
First up is Courtyard, an appropriately named arena set in an urban locale surrounded by tall buildings. The whole map looks like a big rectangle, with teams spawning on the two longer sides. As they pour down into the Courtyard, players can get a glimpse of their opponents across the way doing the same. Low cover is plentiful, but the snowy-white color palette and long sight lines mean long shots and mortar wielders can be particularly deadly. At one end of the rectangle, you can climb stairs to a landing that, while exposed, offers a commanding view of the level. Underneath this landing is an enclosed space where close combat rules the day. At the other end of the rectangle lies some more substantial cover that should shield you from elevated snipers, but lurkers should be wary of enemies sprinting out of their spawn points. A light snowfall and some delightfully healthy foliage give Courtyard an almost mellow feel, but the action contained herein is about as far from mellow as you can get.
Next we took a spin around Under Hill. This map is dominated by a large enclosed garage that contrasts plenty of places to duck your head down with deceptively long sight lines. Leading out of the garage are two roads that extend onto an open suspension bridge. Once again, you can risk exposing yourself for a power weapon like the mortar, but the slight arc of the bridge all but ensures you'll be spotted by the enemy. The roads and parking areas that separate the bridge and the garage are dotted by cars--perfect places for players fresh out of their spawn points to take cover. We played a particularly tough match of Submission, where the always obstinate Franklin took a tough position on the top of the bridge, forcing everyone to run through the exposed area to grab him. Dragging him to safety was no easy task, as the route took us right past the enemy spawn point. Even when we reached the relative safety of the garage, we still weren't safe from the vicious lancer fire our enemies poured on until the bitter end.
The third map needs no introduction, as most players will recognize it from Gears of War. Fuel Depot is back by popular demand, with a light dusting of snow to fit the occasion. The sniper is still a hot item, the central warehouse is still a shotgun-heavy slaughterhouse, and the gas pumps still explode with deadly force. Fuel Depot veterans and newcomers alike will be happy to know that this blast from the past is still a blast.
Rounding out the package is Grind Yard, a long industrial corridor jam-packed with cover and lined with elevated walkways. Coming at each other from opposite ends of the long rectangle, teams can pick their way through ruined cars and steel scrap to vie for center control. In the middle of the map is a large structure that butts into the battlefield, offering a ramp up to an elevated lookout tower and some powerful weapons. Players making a bid for this position will have to watch out, because the ramp is pinched between two lower platforms that are easily accessible by either team. Opposite the lookout tower is a high balcony that lines one long side of the map. You can be just as commanding from both elevated positions, as we found out when we played Grind Yard in Horde mode. Initially we staked out the lookout tower, but when fierce fire from below kept us pinned down, we took to the streets to clear 'em out. This worked well until a Boomer took up residence on the long elevated walkway and rained down fiery death from on high. Despite appearances, there really are no safe spots in Grind Yard.
It is clear to us from our time with Snowblind that Epic has put a lot of thought into making these maps fun for a variety of game types. They all offer slightly different flavors of the fierce action Gears of War 2 is famous for, and fans are likely to be pleased with these offerings (and the new achievements that accompany them). The Snowblind Map Pack will be available for download on Tuesday, March 31.
By
Chris Watters, Editor
With his Apple IIGS as the spark and his neighbor's NES the fuel, Chris Watters' passion for gaming caught fire early. Years later, you can find him aiming down virtual sights, traipsing through fantastical lands, and striving to be grossly incandescent while desperately avoiding sunburns.
75 comments
I can't wait to play "Fuel Depot" again i loved that map from the first game. The map pack as a whole looks pretty sweet so im looking forward to playing them especially since the new ranking system makes sense unlike the old one. One more Thing what about the level "War Machine" redone that would be nasty!!
Yeah, that's just what this game needs: More maps for the broken multiplayer they refuse to fix. NERF THE SHOTGUN ALREADY!
I don't want to sound like a fanboy or anything but, this looks like one the best DLC maps released on the 360 yet...
Ive won alot of games on gears of war 2 and im still a private.. i got pissed and rarely play it anymore.
@DefHalan yea your right... they should have given us 4 new maps, but i dont really care because i didnt play gears one or the pc verion:P:)
they are ripping us off only 2 of the 4 maps r new. Fuel Depot (Gears of War, Xbox 360 and PC) and Courtyard (Gears of War, PC) your paying 10 bucks for 2 maps that sucks. dont support this. what ever happened to epic being good at giving us free DLC
is the ranking system update coming out at the same time as the maps or does anyone even know for sure?
Fuel Depot? Finally! This Map Pack will be awesome, can't wait to play "Under Hill" and the other maps as well.
Hmm... these new maps could make for some deliciously visceral winter action! However, I'm still waiting for a patch to improve the lag in multiplayer. Regardless, I will be buying this map pack.
Hopefully the other two map packs will be free (Combustible and Flashback). @chrgit2dagame These maps aren't part of the update. If you put your gears 2 disc in right now you'll automatically get the update for this, the maps will be out March 31st I believe.
the update made me enjoy the game much more, but it's still needs atleast one more update to make the multiplayer near perfection. i'll pick this map pack up right after april, i gotta get mythic for halo.
ok the update was so great!! and i love the level system more than the ranking system... they fixed a lot of stuff.... the only thing that its still anoying me is that u can still mantle through the walls of pavilion with the shield... if they fix that the game will be perfect!!(thats pretty much the only issue the only remaining:P) I like the new maps to shame that i can't download them... cuz it will show me the damn error mesages "this item isn't avaliable in your current location" :S but thats not EPIC affault... GoW 2 kickasses!!
The new patch fixed allot of issues. The matchmaking and online play is so much better now. These new maps look great and are a must have for fans.
They look sick and the TU 3 fixed the lagswicht and the probability of getting a laggy host, but getting rid of the classic 2 piece? I miss it , i got admit it tho without the shotgun rushing the game is more strategic.
They look pretty sweet. I will no doubt pick them up at some point. I also need to try the new update and ranking system. Looking forward to seeing if things have improved.
Yes I will be getting this but only to play private matches with friends. As Gear's has far too many cheats who bridge there connection to force host. And or doctor there ethernet cable with a light switch to make a lag switch, in public games.
LOL, I don't know if this made anyone else luagh but I like how the video clip ended. It show the guy dragging the dead body down the road.
Hmmm...seems cool. I am currently borrowing GOW2 (since I went into a stupid blind rage when I beat the campaign and went to play the online multiplayer and it was matchmaking....and sold it....). I borrowed the game again and with the update the multiplayer is better. Might get this pack when I get the game again....(when I find it for a cheaper price)....
I cant wait too get my hands all over these new maps they look beautiful. I'm excited that their coming out soon after the new update which was fantastic! :D
@Darth_Cola It was the meat flag saying that. That must be the most annoying one. I like the speech for the old guy (Chaps?) better. "I'm too old to die!" XD
The maps look great, I love the wintery theme. However Gears 2 online itself could definitely be better...
After TU3 the game seems to be good. But i think i should give some time and see what will happen later on. Those maps looks great... the falling snow is nice additional.
lol i dunno if that was Cole speakin in the end of that vid but he sure as hell sounded Like Bender from futurama
@ Mr_Tweedy, osrry if i tried to over judge you, i though you were a ps3 fanboy. i do think the violence is realistic though =].
@StarlightHunter I love Gears! I play online every week. It's a Saturday night ritual. No, the gore is not realistic. Gamespot even had an interview with one the artists before Gears 2 came out where he said the gore was unrealistic. Have you played Gears? You can shoot somebody in the face, chunky blood sprays out of their face like their head is water baloon that popped... and they're fine. Not even a cut. You snipe somebody in the head and it EXPLODES like a firecracker and the neck spews blood like a fire hydrant. You think either of those thing is remotely realistic? It's silly. It's ridiculous. It's LOL funny. It's like a Monty Python sketch. Is that bad?
Mr_Tweedy, over the top gore?.ok if thats so... if you cut someone in half with a freakin saw, blood wouldnt spray everywhere?. and we do have lives, we just like playing games. i take it you dont like gears either, if thats the case, what the hell are you doing here?.
i bought the mas that are out just now and haven't even played them yet lol , the lag is too bad man :(
Lookin good but the lag and connection issues have still not been fixed. Plus has torque bow had an increase in power??
Until the lag is fixed, then i consider this game broken. A game with only ten people on screen should not have bullet lag as bad as this.
@TripSe7en @RecklessUltima Do you guys have, like, no sense of humor whatsoever? Wow. Also what up with all you who thumbed down my previous comment? You don't think the over-the-top gore is funny? You take your gore seriously, huh? "Yes, Mr. Tweedy, video game gore is a very serious and important topic and you shouldn't take it so lightly. 'LOL' is unacceptable." Get lives.
Wow, Mr Tweedy, A human body contains 1000 gallons of blood? You must be the size of an elephant if thats true! LOL The average male weighing 160 lbs only has about 6 liters of blood... A far cry from your much overstated and ignorant blurb of 1000 gallons...
slap-shot fest? I don't understand if you do good then no complains. but as soon as things go sour one's quick to blame lag or game mechanics. I'm sure if you won every match no one would be complaining. Now with the new updates I think Gears 2 is worse off. How it first ran when it came out I adored. I never had to wait 10 minutes for a match. Yes I've had to sit and wait a little bit but read a mag or play piano or do something in that time while waiting. I don't see that being that big of a problem.
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Gears of War 2
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- Publisher(s): Microsoft Game Studios
- Developer(s): Epic Games
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- ESRB: M
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