X'08 Canada: Gears of War 2 Impressions

Andrew Sztein of GamingExcellence writes: "Joining the ranks of the Halo franchise as one of Microsoft's golden Xbox eggs, Gears of War 2 is easily one of the most anticipated games of the year."

Hit the link to read on.

[Immaculate]

A very positive preview.

[Blip Blip]

I think the chainsaw duels will be nerve wracking. If you get shot by another enemy while dueling, you automatically lose the duel. I'll bet "Help Me!" will replace "Headshot!" as the most used phrase in Gears. lol

[TheColbertinator]

lol Good one

[thor]

Before you say anything, I'm not bashing this game. I just wonder why Killzone 2, perhaps the PS3's main shooter, gets a lot of criticism for being "just another FPS that doesn't innovate", whereas this game, perhaps the 360's main shooter, gets praise for being pretty much the same gameplay as the original, i.e. "just another TPS that doesn't innovate".

[mintaro]

Tps perhaps? Im not too sure.

[Blip Blip]

Probably because Killzone has never been a very good I.P. to begin with. Killzone needs to prove it's worth with Killzone 2. Gears 2 is an improvment on an already proven I.P. Comparing Gears to KZ2 or Resistance 2 is lame anyways, because they aren't even in the same perspective.

[Lord Vader]

Maybe because it looks very similar to COD4 in the gameplay vids, there are SO many fps's out there = the genre is constantly oversaturated, & the first game was not very good. I'd say it's pretty tough to innovate the FPS nowadays, but Bioshock did for me. Also, the 3rd person perspective & mainly the cover system in Gears is so cool & I consider it innovative even though the didn't invent it, Epic just about perfected it. I still think Gears of War 1 is the best MP shooter ever invented IMHO, but I'm also not big on fps's unless they are very, very good like COD4 & Halo 3.

All that said though, the visuals look great, I hope the story & the gameplay live up to the hype... Next to the next gen God of War, KZ2 is still the game I want most for my PS3 though.

[thor]

You're probably right there, but if gears 2 is just more of the same, should I really care about it? I passed on Gears 1 (got crysis instead) but I don't know if I should pick it up... I'm assuming gears 2 will come out on PC around this time next year? (Got crysis warhead, LBP, wipeout HD, resistance 2, possibly motorstorm 2, mirror's edge, fallout 3, killzone 2, GoW 3, Infamous + others to keep me occupied until then lol)

[Lord Vader]

Thats a tough call seeing as how it sounds like u havent played the game. I've never played the pc version myself. "They say" Gears 2 isn't coming out for the pc though, but I find it hard to believe.

If you have a 360, I'd say rent the first game, if not, I'm not sure what you can do unless u have a friend with a 360 that will let u play it.

Although nothing is garunteed, I would be very surprized if KZ2 wasn't a very good shooter. Lol, hard to advise you though, since Gears of War is my favorite MP game of all time = lol

[Blip Blip]

Well you know it's up to you what you want to do. Th 360 is at a very good price now, there are several good games not on PC that are worth owning as well.

I've got to say though, if you are buying the sequels to the quality of games like Resistance and Motorstorm, you should play through Gears (1 or 2)and play some multiplayer. It is a really good game. The production values are high, but it has a "B-movie" type feel. Kind of like Starship Troopers, or Mars Attacks! (no relation in story though).

[TheColbertinator]

Interesting question.Well if you never owned Gears 1,then Gears 2 should feel good for you.Its kinda like buying Rainbow Six Vegas 2 instead of R6V1.You get the improved graphics,better online,and problems of the past are fixed.

However,I do think Gears 2 is pretty much the same thing but your getting more of what the series does well and I feel some things will feel new in Gears 2 like a longer campaign.

[NO_PUDding]

I think that was a fair point.

FPS' are getting dogged on quite a bit.

Here's my critisism of this game though. It's seems so schizophrenic. It's like they want it to be a joke, but then Cliff is also sayign this game has an emotional story and it doesn't make sense.

"I love my wife so 'huggy mugyy much' that I'll chainsaw throguh every bad guy".

Seriously? What is it? A funny slapstick gore game, or a Hollywood quality story?

[Blip Blip]

Gears isn't slapstick, but it has alot of personality. It's blockbuster quality. It reminds me of a good B-movie with high production values. The same ingredients that usually make a film a cult classic.

Just a guess, but I would almost bet my right nut that Cliff Blezinski is a Quinton Tarantino fan.

[ChrisGTR1]

people are skeptical on kilzone 2 only because the first one suckd bawls, which is a pretty good reason to be worried about with the second one as its the same developer. and why do you say gears isnt innovative? it spawned a TON of cheap immitator games, uncharted,dark sector, army of two. gears 1 is still the pinacle of graphics on console and is still unbeaten by anything on ps3 honestly. i still remember killzone 1 being the "halo killer" up until it was released and was a major flop.

[TheColbertinator]

@ChrisGTR

You have been arguing with PS3 fanboys too much man.Using words like Flop and PS3 this has made you too angry.Just relax.You are'nt dealing with Infinite Unfloppery here.

[OOG]

I dont see how KZ got even brought into this.....they really have nothing in common.......

Anyways Gears 2 look like it is gonna be hella fun cant wait to play online Co oP again since I thought that was the best part of the original :)

[ChrisGTR1]

@ steven, true , sometimes i read these ps3 fanboys comments and i just get angry at how ignorant the person that typed it is. i should just start ignoring them.

[Lord Vader]

On topic, Gears 2 cannot come soon enough !!!! Can't wait !!!

[Omega4]

Certainly looks to be Shooter GOTY 08 and with the new pricecut the sales could possibly eve top Halo 3 current record

[Michael Jackson]

Gears was the reason why I got a 360. Amazing graphics. Intense in your face action. I just hope the sequel will give me that wow factor all over again.
Kill Zone 2 was the reason I started wanting a PS3. Then I bought one and fell in love with Uncharted and MGS 4.

Regardless of console, it's a great time to be a GAMER.

[GameOn]

I got my 360 for Gears but it wasn't for the graphics. I loved the game-play, it felt fresh and new and the multi-player is highly tactical.

[wray77]

I'm not a hater, but I felt gears was just pretty violence for pretty violence sake. I barely played it. It's the game that made me get off the hype train.

[Blip Blip]

I got a very deep sense of satisfaction the first time an enemy stuck me with a grenade, and I dove into him and blew us both up. Gathering around the last person while they are bleeding out, and sticking them with smoke grenades is always good for a laugh too (unless of course, you're the poor sap bleeding out).

The gameplay is just as good as the graphics.

[BLUR111]

Can't wait to see all the awards coming this time around for gears.

like best graphics
(best shooter)
(best gameplay)
(10x better than ps3 shooters )
(game of the year 08)

can not wait for this masterpiece. good review before release to ;)

[Sena Kobayashi]

I get your way of thinking pretty well. Your a PS3 Fanboy and you cant stand a X360 game getting GOTY and getting nice reviews. how old are you ? your way of acting is really childish.Its like your expecting the 360 to only have bad games

[BLUR111]

what? ps3/bluray fanboy?! dont label me as one of the robots. wtf..

[kewlkat007]

You bet I'm getting part 2.

Still people, KZ2 has more to prove then Gears of War 2 based on KZ1 and is looking good. I don't put them in the same boat, as far was what will do or what has already done, to stimulate it's base.

To me the most anticipated PS3 is KZ2,. I think R:FOM is just a pit stop till FEB. The 360 doesn't have that type of competition around those months so Gears 2 with a 360 price cut, will sell. Don't be surprised if it moved units.

[arakouftaian]

You guys make me sick please don't talk about a game that u don't know noting about I'm sure GEOW 1 n 2 is a good action fun game to play (that why I buy DSector a verry similar game, yeah it has a lot of glichs but the game is fun n good) but please don't say KZ1 sucks or that it was a flop don't say KZ2 is copyng COD4 game play if someone is copying someone it will be COD4 copy a lot of thing from the original KZ n maybe that why I like COD4 n don't say. That U or AOTow r copys of GEOW they r not. Maybe DS is but that's becuz the same team that just to work whit epic were working on that game n is verry similar n they all copy Recident Evil 4 the best TPS action game . n KZ1 is a great game do urself a favor go buy it play it n enjoy it.

[Filet of Children]

Ok, two points I'd like to make.

1) The original Killzone wasn't very good. It wasn't terrible, but it was far from a must-buy. This is relevant for two reasons. First, it means that people aren't entirely wrong to have their trepidations about KZ2. Second, it means that KZ2, since it is looking to be shaping up so nicely, seems like it will be a fantastic improvement over the first. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, so we'll have to wait and see for ourselves.

2) When you're finished performing hate-crimes against the English language and you start actually using spelling and grammar as they're intended, people will probably take you more seriously.

Well, maybe...

[OOG]

I'll tell you what killed the first KZ and made people judge the second so harshly......

When GG and sony come out saying that KZ1 would be the "Halo Killer" etc etc....and then the game not even live up to half of what Halo was offering online or off.....

Most companies bring on the heat and if they dont deliver then they deserve the harsh criticism the get......

Now KZ2 looks to be a good game and they dont seem to be tryn to compare it as mucht o other games and this seems to help it and I personally will be excited to get a chance to play it in a few months

[Kyur4ThePain]

I'm curious...got a link for that?
I know the fanboys and the media called it that, but I don't recall either GG or Sony doing so.

[KiddyBrownTurd]

"Dom is looking for his wife Maria. He goes around asking for her and showing this picture. There is a strong sense of loss and desperation to the game"

--DON'T CARE. just want more amazing gameplay.

"If two enemies come at each other with chainsaws at the same time, a “chainsaw duel” will ensue, with the winner being the one who can slam the A button the fastest."

--WRONG. B button. not A.

"Despite its popularity, the first game didn’t exactly have a fully featured suite of multiplayer goodness."

--What do ya know? WRONG again. best MP in existence. period.

"First of all, there is more than black, grey, and red in the colour palette this time around,"

--only 3 colors? um, no. pooor n00b obviously couldn't even get passed the first level on EASY mode. what a shame. BTW, it's COLOR, stupid brit.

"Gears of War 2 is looking like a fantastic addition to a game that was already a masterpiece to begin with"

--THERE U GO.

"...but considering how ahead of its time the first game was, it’s more about the rest of the industry catching up to what Bleszinski and his talented team have accomplished. Epic will set the bar a little higher this holiday season, exclusively on the Xbox 360."

--POOR DROIDS.

[iconic blade]

gow2 is shaping up to surpass gow in every aspect,from what i have seen it will have a more intense single player/co op,much better multiplayer and a bit better graphics on a even wider scale.

gow is my favourite game this gen and still play online more than any other game.

it goes to show just how fun it is online when it is still one of the most played games on live even after 2 years,its a great social game where you can have loads of laughs with your mates.

just hope that there wont be too many glitches where idiots join a game and spoil it..cant wait to use all them finishers on everyone

love playing as carmine as he gets excited when he gets a headshot.host advantage never bothered me as you get more satisfaction beating him and his team.

when gow2 comes out i have no reason to play another game until gow3 comes out

[pumpkinpunker]

This game will own all.

Why are people bringing up KZ2? It's a different type of game on a different console.

[steck67]

This is the only reason I would purchase a 360. I played Gears of War 1 and it was amazing. Graphics, gameplay, animation, cover system, they were all well made. Although the environment kind of felt dull IMO, it was too closed-spaced, but Gears of War 2 will change that.

And people above, I dont know why your bringing up Killzone, a 2004 game FPS on the PS2, into a Gears of War 2 article.