Gears of War 2 Limited Edition (Xbox 360) Review

Posted by Joe Roche on 11.17.2008

Exactly two years to the day that Epic Games released the original Gears of War, Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad return to the Xbox 360 to continue the fight against the Locust for the fate of humanity. This time around the Locust are sinking cities and the situation looks dire. Does Epic deliver with a game that is "bigger, better and more badass?" or does Gears of War 2 struggle to be more then simply Gears 1.5?



Title: Gears of War 2 Limited Edition
Publisher: Microsoft Games Studio
Developer: Epic Games
Genre: Third Person Shooter, Action
Players: 1-2 (online multiplayer 2-10)
Rated: M for Mature

The original Gears of War was great. It wasn’t perfect, and most people can probably rattle off a list of the games problems (poor A.I., bland dialogue, no story depth, questionable multiplayer) but even with all of those (valid) complaints it still remains one of the best titles in the Xbox 360 library. With that legacy in tow the crew at Epic Games had some big shoes to fill when exactly two years from the day the original launched they unleashed what they were calling the “bigger, better, more badass” Gears of War 2.

Gameplay & Story:

One thing that Epic tried hard to improve upon with Gears of War 2 was the games scale. In the first game even though you were told that this was a war for the fate of humanity you never really felt a part of the larger battle. This time around the scale, or size of the battle being fought seems very apparent and it adds an incredible amount of depth and feeling to the game as you move along. By now most people know that cities are sinking and as a last resort humanity sends the Gears (including Delta Company) into the Earth to bring the fight straight to the Locust. Not only do you feel like a tiny part of a larger operation, but there will be points throughout the stages where you run into other units fighting the Locust. I thought this was a brilliant addition to the game that seems insignificant on the surface but really adds a layer of depth that was missing from the first Gears game.

If you’ve played the original Gears then you are already prepared to jump right into Gears 2 and start fighting the Locust. If you’re new to the series, or it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time with Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad the game offers you a nice tutorial level to learn the basics in a training sequence with a new recruit. I appreciated the addition of the “training the rook” level (especially that you can skip it on a second play through) and would suggest that everyone take a minute to run through the basics of cover, aiming, and running if for no other reason then to pick up the achievement score and some pieces of information that you can add to our War Journal.

While I’m on the subject let me address the War Journal. In the first Gears game you could search the levels for COG tags which while nice to find never really added much to the game. This time around you’re able to pick up pieces of newspaper, journal entries and other debris which provide some tidbits of information. None of the information that you’ll find it integral to the main plot of the game but it does add further depth to the story, a nice addition by Epic to make this game just feel bigger and more detailed then the first installment.



So the core gameplay remains relatively unchanged in Gears 2, but the minor additions do not stop at the War Journal. One of the most highly talked about additions to the gameplay has been the ability to grab a downed but not dead opponent and use them as a meat shield. This seemingly minor addition is useful for two reasons, the first being that there are simply more enemies in Gears 2. There was one stage in particular where I began to feel overwhelmed with how many waves of enemies were around so it was nice to be able to grab a Locust trying to drag his bloody carcass to safety and protect myself from the onslaught of fire with him. The other reason that this is a nice addition is because it’s just plain fun to grab a meat shield and run into a firefight guns blazing while his body absorbs the bullets. After a few moments Marcus can snap the Locust’s neck and move on. Along with the meat shield Epic also added some new weapons, and new capabilities (including grenades now being set as traps in doorways) all of which come in handy at one point or another. Probably my favorite achievement to get was the “Variety Is the Spice of Death” achievement for killing at least one enemy with each weapon (try the flamethrower on the wretches, seriously.)

Along with weapons and meat shields the other major addition to Gears of War 2 is chapters that involve moving/vehicles. There are a few different ways that Epic introduces vehicles, there are times when you’ll be a passenger in a large transport vehicle fighting Locust on all sides and this level works pretty well even if it’s a big frantic. There is also a level where you’re going to be driving and fighting Locust on the ground. In my opinion this is the weakest of all the vehicle related chapters and the majority of my deaths came during this level, not from enemy fire but from driving off the side of a cliff. There is also a point where you’ll be riding a Reaver, an option that seems awesome as you start and quickly turns into a frenzy that becomes almost too difficult to wrap your head around. I don’t necessarily think this was a bad addition, as a matter of fact as a means of moving the story along it works perfectly and does actually make Marcus seem like a super badass, but as far as the handling and actual “fun-ness” of the level, I can’t say that it rates all that highly. Oh, and there is also a point where you will ride a Brumack…and yes it’s about as bad ass as you’d think.



Along with additional weapons the boys at Epic also added some new baddies to the mix. In their quest to make this game “bigger, better, and more badass” it is clear that Epic wanted some larger then life boss battles, which they deliver – in scale. For the most part you will come across some really big enemies, but when you fight them you’ll be let down. I can promise you that the most difficult boss battle won’t be the last one, and the most entertaining boss battle happens around the midway point. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it is just worth mentioning that while the enemies are bigger in scale, there were times when reaching the final battle was much more difficult then the actual battle. I will say that the Skorge is cool as hell even though he/she/it leads to a pretty depressing scene and the Locust Queen borders on sexy which does make me feel uncomfortable in all sorts of ways. But in a game that does so much right and improves on so many things from the original there is never a boss like RAAM in Gears 2.

All of the additions, and minor tweaks in Gears 2 would only work if the story was improved from the original. While I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the first Gears of War, it was admittedly light on story and dialogue. That has been addressed in Gears of War 2 through cut scenes and communications between Marcus and Anya/Hoffman, the later of which will be nice the first time around but every time you play after that seeing Marcus reach for his ear will drive you crazy. If I had one complaint about the emphasis on dialogue it would be that I don’t like how Marcus can’t even reload his Lancer while Anya is talking to him.

The emphasis on additional story and character development adds a lot of depth to Gears of War 2 that wasn’t there in the original. Not only does it allow you to grow more attached to the members of Delta Square, but it adds length to the game (something I’ll address momentarily). There are a few different story arcs in Gears of War 2. The “main” story revolves around the Locust resurgence after the lightmass bomb was detonated at the end of Gears 1, and their newfound ability to sink entire cities. However, you will also spent a great deal of time helping Dom search for his missing wife Maria, a story that has been building to a head for some time (especially if you read Aspho Fields) and pays off to a great degree near the end of Gears 2 in a satisfying and surprisingly heart wrenching moment. If you had gone back in time and told me while I played through Gears 1 that I would be speechless because of the story in Gears of War 2 I would have laughed at you, but that’s exactly what happened when the Dom/Maria storyline came to a head.

Now, here is the problem. From the moment you fire up Gears of War 2 you will have it in your head that there is a certain arc to this story. The entire game leads you in a particular direction, and spends a significant amount of time building you up for the story to be paid off. However, when you finally get to the point where the game feels as though it should end you get an admittedly interesting scene, pretty bad ass boss battle, and then more questions. What you do not get, is the end of the game. Instead the game continues in what feels like a tacked on manner. That is not to say that the final Act of Gears of War 2 is bad, because it’s not, as a matter of fact some of the most fun fights that I engaged in happened during the final Act. However, for storyline purposes it almost feels like Epic got to the point where the game should have ended, realized the game was a bit on the short side and then tacked on a final Act. It’s a fine Act, and it does pay off with a pretty spectacular end scenario, but it feels a bit out of place. Here is the thing about the end of Gears 2 which I will not give away (although you’ve probably already seen or heard it) but while the ending left me feeling a bit down, that was immediately changed when I heard a familiar voice at the end of the credits. If you only get one thing out of this review please let it be that you will want to watch the entire end credits roll bye, it is well worth it and will leave you wanting Gears of War 3 immediately.



On top of the changes made for the single player mode of Gears 2 there has also been quite an overhaul done to the multiplayer. Co-op makes its return, however you can now jump in and out of co-op gameplay, and if you’re an achievement whore now just playing cooperatively is enough to secure those achievements (where as in Gears 2 you had to play as Dom specifically). The multiplayer has seen some improvements as well including some new game modes; “Guardian” (an improved version of “Assassination” which allows you to continue fighting even after your leader has been killed just without the ability to respawn), “Wingman” (all 10 players are broken down into 5 teams of 2), and “Submission” (used to be called “Meat Flag” where the objective is to capture an AI gun wielding bot and drag him into a designated area). Epic took some significant steps to improve the online match making, although the result is that you’re going to wait a significant amount of time for a match to start as the computer tries to match you up with similarly skilled opponents.

The shining beacon of the Gears 2 multiplayer though comes in the form of the cooperative survival “Horde” mode. You jump into a map with four friends and must survive wave after wave of ever more powerful Locust. It might sound simple but there is a great deal of cooperation that is needed to survive, and you will not reach the 50th wave without having some sound strategy and some good partners (at least I assume this is true as I have yet to reach the 50th wave). Horde is a great deal of fun, and with the improved ability to ensure that you’re playing with friends this is where the most time will be spent with Gears 2 long after you’ve completed the campaign.

Graphics:

I don’t think it will come as a surprise to hear that Gears of War 2 is beautiful. The team at Epic knows how to exploit the full potential of the Unreal Engine and it shows throughout this game. The sheer volume of enemies on the screen at one time is staggering, and there are points where you will be overwhelmed by an unrelenting wave of Locust attacking your position. Also while a significant portion of this game takes place underground the setting does not feel dreary and bland like the first one had a tendency to do. As a matter of fact the amount of detail that Epic was able to put into the underground Locust Palace was really impressive, and you will probably be surprised at how beautiful a subterranean scene is able to look. Unlike the first game though there is also a good deal of this game that takes place above ground, and out doors. This allows the Epic team to work with things like lighting, and weather which they do, successfully I might add.

Sound:

I’ve heard people say that the effect used for the Lancer is much improved from the first game. It might just be that I haven’t played the original Gears in some time but if there is a difference I didn’t notice it to be substantial. This game sounds pretty good though. The echoes when you’re underground manage to give you a pretty good sense of the creeps, and the sound of an emergence hole opening somewhere ahead of you still manages to make my skin crawl. I also think that everyone involved in the voice work department did their jobs to perfection, especially Lester Speight who brings Cole from loveable character to show stealer. All of the characters are brought to life pretty well but there is a scene during the assault on the Locust Queen’s Palace where Cole gets on a PA like system that is so goddamn hilarious you will find yourself going back just to see it again.



Fun Factor:

Is through the roof a proper ratings term?

Even with my complaint about the final Act feeling tacked on, the main campaign of Gears 2 will bring you through a rollercoaster of emotions and leave you wanting more. Throughout the game you get to fight in massive battles, use bad guys as meat shields, curb stomp heads and smash faces in with your fists – oh and did I mention the chapter where you get to control the Brumack? As soon as you finish the game you’ll start thinking about going back and playing again, which you can do alone (still satisfying) or with a friend (even more so). Plus the game is loaded with online multiplayer potential including the addictive Horde mode which I imagine will keep this game in heavy rotation well into next year.

Lasting Appeal:

As I’ve said many times Horde gives this game a very long shelf life. If you’re a fan of playing cooperatively with other people then it is the perfect option for you, and even if you’re just an achievement whore there is one for finishing all 50 waves (a feat that is much more difficult then I thought). I also imagine that with the potential for DLC Horde mode could see an expanded wave cap which would give even more longevity to the title.

There is also of course the regular multiplayer which is to be expected, and expanded upon as we move on down the road with new maps and maybe some new game types. All of that will give you more bang for your buck if you’re the type of person who loves online multiplayer. I’m not convinced that the online component of this game will have the same type of impact that Halo 3 has had/continues to have but it’s still fun and if Epic can figure out a way to fix the process of actually starting a game that would be even better. Oh, lest I forget if you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to be yelled at by a fourteen year old over Xbox Live you can play the multiplayer modes with bots. It’s not exactly the same but it’s still pretty fun and can help you learn how to play the multiplayer before you actually jump into live combat.

Finally there is the co-op play which was a big selling point in the first Gears and returns just as well in the second installment. One improvement in the co-op now is that each player can use a different difficulty level. This should allow people who want to play with their brother/sister/significant other but knows that they’re just not as good at shooters to still be able to enjoy the game. You can play on INSANE while your wife plays on CASUAL and you’ll both be able to participate without sacrificing for the other.

All in all this game is well worth the money that you’ll spend on it because you’ll spend plenty of time with Delta Squad.

The 411:

Gears of War 2 came as close as any game that I’ve ever played to being given a perfect 100 score in this review. The original remains one of my favorite games and the second installment improved on all of the complaints that I had with the first one. The game is incredibly fun, beautiful to look at, engaging, compelling, and left me speechless at parts – it comes pretty close to being perfect.

However, I have a problem with sites that rate games perfectly even though they have complaints about the game. If the original Gears of War was a five out of five (or 100 rating), yet Gears of War 2 improved upon that then how can you rate Gears 2? I did feel like the final Act was a bit tacked on for the sake of extending the game, the boss battles were big in scope but not always on challenge and I do feel as though there should be something done about the matchmaking process for the multiplayer so I can’t claim that this game is perfect although it comes as close as any game that I’ve ever played. I don’t want to be doing a review of Gears of War 3 on November 7, 2010 and talk about how it has improved on what was provided in Gears 2 and then give the two games the same score.

However, if you can only buy one game this winter then I suggest it should be Gears of War 2. I have been spending a lot of time with some of the other big holiday releases and while they all bring something to the table, none of them have given me the entertainment and enjoyment of Gears 2. This game is the perfect second installment of a series providing answers to some lingering questions and creating even more compelling storylines that fans of the series will be craving answers to in the future. Sure it might not mean as much coming from the guy who has reviewed such luminaries as “Deadliest Catch” and “Gin Rummy” but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that Gears of War 2 is by far the best game I have ever reviewed for this site, and may very well be the best game of 2008.

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Limited Edition Features

For hardcore Gears fans, Epic and Microsoft have also pumped out the
Limited Edition set. The set comes in a snazzy steelbook DVD case
with an engraved image of the chainsaw gun. A keepsake photo of
Dominic and Maria is also include which threw me off for a moment,
thinking it was a pic of my girlfriend and me (I had some photos out).
It was pretty cool to have that in there though, hell maybe I'll put it on my fridge.

As expected, there's a bonus DVD inside as well that includes some
making-of-the-game footage as well as some design galleries with commentary
and promotion videos from E3 2008.

The coolest inclusion is the 48-page hardbound book which gives you some
background on the game's characters, some sick concept art and a foreword
from Cliff Blezinki himself. To top it all off, the limited edition set also includes
an exclusive Xbox Live code to unlock a sweet gold-plated Lancer Assault Rifle
which can be used to play online. It's fun to make others drool during multiplayer
when they stare at your gun (no, not that gun!).

All in all it's a sweet deal for $69.99 and also makes a great holiday gift for that
Gears of War nut in your family!

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Graphics	10.0	Each setting is beautifully done, and there is a particular blood covered Marcus scene that is eerily satisfying.
Gameplay	9.5	My only complaint is that some of the massive boss battles are somewhat of a let down
Sound	9.5	The voice acting is great, the soundtrack sets the perfect mood and sound of an emergence hole still makes me nervous.
Lasting Appeal	10.0	Between online multiplayer, co-op with individual difficulty levels, Horde, and the Seriously 2.0 achievement you will play this game for a very long time
Fun Factor	10.0	Very serious candidate for 2008 GOTY
Overall	9.8   [  Amazing ]

Screenshots
All 14 Gears of War 2 Screenshots