Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360 - 1st completion)
Last night I completed the single player campaign in Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360 on "Normal" difficulty. It was a huge action thrill ride that took over 10 hours of gametime to beat and I also found all 41 collectibles in the campaign. The campaign is 29 acts within 5 chapters all together. I never played the multiplayer campaign because the third game was released months ago and I think more people would be playing there. I may look at it someday but I'm more interested in replaying the single player campaign via online co-op (anyone interested?). I had the Limited Edition box which came with a steelbox case, a code for some free multiplayer maps, and a bonus disc containing behind-the-scenes extras, artwork, commentary, music, and some free gamer pictures for your 360 system.
Gears of War 2 takes place six months after Lightmass bombing at the end of the first game. The Locust Horde has survived and has renewed their war on Humanity on the planet Sera, and through unknown means begun to sink entire Human cities. Even Jacinto, humanity's last stronghold is at risk. With the Coalition of Ordered Governments (COG) army continuing to lose large numbers to Locust raids, the COG start the "Operation: Hollow Storm", a counter-attack against the Locust by sending gears in Grindlifts deep below the surface to kill the remaining Locust that survived the Lightmass Offensive. Sending a large assault force through the mountains to the settlement of Landown, the COG take heavy losses from Locust opposition but make it to their destination. As they prepare to use the lifts to enter the Hollow they are driven back by a counter attack led by the Locust armies' new leader Skorge. Undeterred, the human forces continue their plan. After their descent, Delta squad, consisting of protagonist Marcus Fenix, his main comrade Dominic Santiago, and Benjamin Carmine continue to search the Hollow and discover that the Locust are using a giant Riftworm to sink the human occupied cities. As they watch it sink Ilima City, they also realize that the Locust plan to have it eat away at the rock structures at the outskirts of Jacinto in hopes of sinking it into the ground. The objective of Delta squad becomes clear: go underground and stop the Locust Horde from sinking Jacinto city.
To watch the game's opening and first gameplay go here or below:
Click to viewPart two is here and Part three is here.
Graphics/Art-9
+ Great use of Unreal Engine 3. Lots of detail, beautiful environments, great textures and lighting, etc. Better and more colourful than the first game.
+ Terrific animation and in-game cinematics.
+ Awesome character models and enemies! Marcus Fenix and the rest of Delta squad look awesome.
- Sometimes the textures need time to load up but it doesn't happen often. Even the first game had this problem.
- While the game is very smooth, game saving doesn't transition well.
Sound/Music-10
+ Voice acting and dialogue is pretty much top notch again. The same voice actors from the first game return.
+ Awesome sound effects. Some sounds from the first game return.
+ Background music is good and fits the action. The theme song returns (on the main menu screen).
Music Sample:
Main Theme
Control-9
+ Controls are the same as the first game. Pretty much like a lot of FPS games.
+ New moves are easy to pull off.
Gameplay-9
+ The same revolutionary cover-based gameplay returns from the first game.
+ Comrade AI is pretty good and help kill the Locust Hordes.
+ If you are wounded in battle, there is a countdown and your comrades have to touch to revive you before the screen gets fully red. You can also save the lives of your comrades too if they get wounded. If you are blown up, impaled, etc. then you die immediately.
+ Checkpoint system works well for the most part.
+ Weapons from the first game return and a few new ones have surfaced. You still hold 4 types of weapons: 1 pistol, up to 4 grenades, and 2 large sized weapons.
+ Your Lancer - an assault rifle that has a chainsaw mounted at the front bottom, can still cut most small and regular sized Locusts to pieces. A new feature in this game: when you try to cut up an enemy who also has a Lancer, he will engage in a duel with you. You have to mash the "B" button repeatedly to win the duel and slice him dead.
+ Your life regenerates when you stop taking fire. The red "Crimson Omen" symbol (the series iconic red skull) starts to become clearer the closer you are to death and starts to fade when you are regenerating.
- Comrade AI can be dumb at times and when you are about to die, they don't prioritize and revive you. At times this can be frustrating.
- Where the hell is the kick-ass Hammer of Dawn? You practically don't get to use it in this game!
Fun/Story/Misc-10
+ A good story that continues off from the first game. Characters like Cole and Braid return. A new character, Dizzy (below) is woofy!
+ I had a lot of fun playing the single player campaign and I loved the environments.
+ Cutting up Locusts with the Lancer is just so satisfying and fun!
Total: 47/50 (Grade level: A)
To watch a few more gameplay videos go here, here, and here.
I'm afraid they took down the main Gears of War 2 website and instead dedicated themselves to the pretty recent third game it seems. The Wikipedia article is here and the Gametrailers.com video review is here.
Next game: Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom Ultimate All-Stars (Wii)
Currently playing: Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (DS)