Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

100 or More Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

If you loved Gears of War 1 this game is most certainly for you. picking up a few months after the first game continuing the struggles of Delta squad, now it's time to take the fight to the locust.

Gears of War 2 has to be one of the best games on the Xbox 360. It is almost like you are controlling a film, the voice acting is superb with a thrilling engaging story that's not just blood and guts but shows the feelings and hardship gears go through. Gears 2 expands the Gears universe with more characters being brought into the series, old friends of Marcus Fenix that you really pick up on the sense of history between these characters. The leader of the COG and more information on who the locust are and why they are hell bent on killing every human. With answers gained extra questioned are brought up, some that you'll really want to find out the answer for! The campaign is a good length with the same game play but better AI and locations. We also see a return of our favorite characters.

The Guns all the weapons from Gears 1 are present with a vastly improved hammer burst along with a new guns like heavy weapons and a flame thrower. A great new feature is weapon executions that you use on downed but no out enemies. Each a bloody as the next. Another added feature is meat shields where you can pick up a down locust and watch his buddies shoot him to shreds trying to get you. The locust army as also got some new creatures and classes to make you're life that bit more harder.But sadly some creatures from gears one are absent from this entry.

While on the subject of the locust a game mode called 'Horde' is not to be missed, this can be player multi player or alone either way it is great fun. The aim of the game is to survive fighting off waves and waves of grubs each time increasing more and tougher locust join the fight. As for other mutliplayer modes I haven't really played them, the servers are a little laggy sadly but it contains the rest of the normal games modes like team death match and such.

There isn't much bad I can think of this game, it being on of my favorites. One of the starting missions is quite boring as it involves standing on a moving truck which does feel a restrictive but it soon gets back on track. The locust boss is weak compared to RAAM from the first game. The is also a creepy plot twist that throws up a lot of questions but doesn't get answered at all and isn't mentioned again some context would have been good. (note answers for this part do not come in gears 3 but I think the books contain some answers im yet to reach that point though).

Gears 2 does contain great level design, from fighting in the locust tunnels, to humans cities and vehicle levels even if the tank level looks just like the snow tank level from halo 1! The locust use gears weapons against you, and you can do the same to them did anyone say riding a brumak? if they can use it so can you.

Gears of War 2, is bigger, better and darn right gorier! It is clear a lot of effort and love has gone into this game. It has robust game mechanics and a story that you'll be sad to see end. This is a must buy for all Xbox gamers.


(If you like this review check out my Gears of War 3 review)
http://uk.gamespot.com/gears-of-war-3/user-reviews/798326/