Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 236-240 of 257
 Good Game November 10, 2008
THOMAS BRANDSTETTER (paducah, ky usa)
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
GEARS OF WAR 2 kicks it all up a notch. If you know the first game, the sequel is worth getting new. More action. More bad guys. New weapons. Some cool surprises. I caught myself thinking if they really do make a movie of this I will be in line.
 Nothing new November 10, 2008
Carlton L. Craddock (Atlanta, GA)
6 out of 12 found this review helpful
I had such high hopes for this game, particularly given the glowing reviews. Yet this game offered absolutely nothing new.
The campaign play was incredibly dull and linear, and most players could complete it in a day of gaming. Not even a long day at that. The storyline is somewhat lame, even for a video game. They attempted to spice things up by having more vehicular scenarios, but these really were not that exciting either.
Except for the ability to pick up an opponent off the ground and use him as a shield, there is no neat new functions or behaviors. There are a couple of new weapons, but again nothing exciting (a new pistol, a new type of grenade, and a flamethrower).
On-line play was incredibly disappointing. The only plus is that there are more types of scenarios than there used to be, but that again is the ONLY positive. The maps are tiny, not allowing for much room to maneuver. Joining a game can take forever. I was sometimes sitting there for five minutes while whatever algorithms Epic came up with tried to find a party and then a set of matching opponents. Once I (eventually) got in, the games were incredibly sensitive to any player that had a weak connection, to the point is screwed up gameplay for everyone else.
Epic could have saved everyone time, money, and dashed hopes by simply releasing a map-pack for the first game for a sixth of the price of GOW 2, and it would have provided the same amount of enjoyment.
Multiplayer not as good as Gears 1 November 10, 2008
gringote (Mid-Missouri)
20 out of 33 found this review helpful
Pros:
1) Better graphics
2) Some cool new weapons
Cons:
1) Shotgun sucks now. Blindfiring is very innacurate and shotgun battles are history.
2) Lancer is the only weapon you can use with success. It destroys everything in its path.
3) Chainsawing is way too easy. It is very difficult to disarm someone's chainsaw and about 80% of the kills I'm seeing today are chainsaw kills.
4) The game seems slower. In order to keep people from charging with shotgun, the game designers made it impossible to shoot your weapon while your a button is pressed down so you can't shoot immediately while running. You have to release the a button and then shoot. In the case of shotgun, you pretty much have to aim w/ left trigger to get it to kill anyone. Running also seems slower in general. To keep people from wall bouncing, they somehow made everything clunky and heavy feeling. If you felt like a cheetah in Gears 1, you feel like a gorilla in gears 2. Slow and lumbering.
5) Stopping power - lancer fire slows you down, which was also a way to stop shot gun charging, however the result is that the lancer is the only gun that is effective in most fights.
6) Stunning smoke grenades - smoke grenades now make you fall down if you are in the vicinity of the blast. Games are devolving into smoke grenade battles to knock someone down and then move in for an easy kill.
7) Proximity mines - you are now able to stick your grenades to walls so when someone walks by, they're either dead or on their butt. This prohibits you from running freely around the map looking for enemies and also encourages camping.
I would much rather play GoW 1 Online. Epic should have just done the following:
1) Improve graphics
2) Add new weapons
3) Add new maps
4) Add a few new characters
5) Keep everything else the same
The hype on this game was incredible. The end result was disappointing to anyone who played Geow1 faithfully. New players may like this one better because all they have to do is use the lancer and chainsaw and they can beat even the best GeoW1 players.
EPIC - FIX THIS GAME!!!
Refining The Elements That Made Gears of War a Modern Classic November 10, 2008
Corey Turner (Florida)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
Gears of War was received with a strong warm positive reception. Enough to make the game sell like hot cakes in 2006. With Gears of War 2 players will be finding a nice comfort zone between the original and enough new elements to make it a fully pledged sequel, and not just a simple rehash.
Gears of War two is a science fiction based third person shooter.
To begin with the game is more story driven, but still not enough to win any awards. Taking place ten months after we first took lead as Delta Squad leader SGT. Marcus Fenix, one can establish the locust have become relentless. You'll soon me familiarized with the rather bleak apocalyptic wastelands of Sera, the first title brought as the setting. The locust are an underground dwelling menacing foe, who have brought destruction to cataclysmic proportions, in a war where death knows no boundaries. As Marcus you'll encounter a variety of new enemies along with new allies, in an attempt to bring an end to over a decade of war.
New weapons, better AI, and a stronger lengthier campaign make replay value certain for offline goers. With the addition of bots for multiplayer, maybe even online vets will fine a reason to stray from online (or to confirm their seasoned 'skills'...). Online seems to be a bit rough right now, with players adjusting to some changes (shotgun has reduced range, chainsaw counters, and voting for what to play), but nothing a patch can't fix. The online though is still fierce, and still a blast to hack away at. Multiplayer also now gives way to 5vs5 matches, an additional player on each team, new tactics anyone?
Speaking of tactics, the all new horde mode is one that will require the uttermost attention. Five players can embark on a fight for survival, against wave after wave after wave after wave of locust. To do so, plot communicate and lastly have fun! Waves do have cycles after a while, but definitely a worthwhile addition. Seeking to lead in commands or not, their is a spot readily open to anyone willing to bring down a gore fest. Maybe you'll enjoy the new variety of heavy boomer like enemy ready to tear your face off!
Additional downloadable content (DLC), is already at the battle front. Five additional multiplayer maps are available free of charge with a redeemable code given inside (xbox live silver or gold is required). These maps are classic but altered restorations players have been having fire fights on for nearly two years. Famed 'Gridlock' makes an appearance, but in an aged 'nature has taken root' again look. 'Canals' has got a case of frostbite, and is available in every new copy of the game. While you may not of been an early bird, the limited edition featured gold plated weaponry. This will not change performance nor hinder it, this is merely for aesthetic value.
Some of the new weapons are a fire spewing flame thrower, some new grenades ( in addition to smoke grenades having become more critical), and heavy weaponry. Heavy weapons can be carried in excess to already having your four weapon slot full. They slow you down, but are powerful. These include, mortars, and turrets.Turrets were originally a mounted only weapon (still available in some instances), but now can be carried...,but need constant cooling with the right button (rb, shoulder button). Mortars add a nice touch to long range battles, when one runs out of sniper ammo. That will really stir them up. The lancer still provides us with the perfect blend of range, ammo capacity, and awesome gruesome chainsaw action. Chainsaw 'duals' are now added to spice up fights.
Boss battles aren't the most engaging, but get climactic. A variety of them will come your way, that a handful of acts to seclude them in. Five acts comprised of six or so chapters each give the option to insert yourself into favorable battles. The boss battles work in repetition, one you figure the plan of attack it's a cake walk. Having beat the game on two difficulties, it doesn't hold as too hard or too easy. Finding the sweet spot is crucial to avoid frustration. Achievements can be unlocked for lower difficulty completion upon beating the game on higher modes.
Overall the physics, graphics, and sound are stellar. The game features a more colorful environment, but still rather gray and blue. Certain objects can now be destroyed, but nothing to really change the gameplay. Controls are excellent, some may find vehicular based movement to be a little redundant. Players can still grapple behind cover and sprint, along with a new ability to take locust as a means of shielding.
What can I say, Gears two delivers. If you were looking into this title with high hopes, it has not let you down. When looking at the large catalog of games for this holiday season, rush to grab this title. One of the few worth the full price purchase. A title that has squeezed out every last drop of greatness, and turned it into a near flawless atmospheric shooter.
 Lots of fun and a solid sequel November 10, 2008
Jane Smith (killeen, tx United States)
15 out of 22 found this review helpful
I am a very casual gamer and could barely play the original Gears with a pal (though we did go on to beat it, eventually). That being said, I found Gears 2's casual setting almost too easy. I plan to try the solo game again on normal, but here is some info on the basics.
First, the graphics and gameplay are pretty good. There was only one part where it seemed to be moving in slow motion, and I'm not sure if it was a glitch or intended for dramatic purposes. There are a lot of places you can kind of explore, and you definitely should so you can find all the collectibles. I thought I had been doing really well until I finished the game and saw my war journal barely filled lol. The monsters are again very creepy and gross, and they have added a few new ones that made me yell "what the f@#$??!!" from my couch. Good times :)
This time around I was able to actually read the manual, making using the controls much easier. They ARE pretty intuitive though, except for the new items. Usually when you encounter a new item, you get a little help on using it on the top of the screen. Maybe this was because I was on casual mode? I have to say, I really enjoyed the flamethrower and grinder almost as much as my favorite, the lancer. Nothing beats the lancer, but having a few more options makes it more fun.
Now since I dont play tons of FPS games, I dont know if its me or if the AI in this game was just utterly retarded but I found myself yelling at my team mates almost as much as the cheating enemies. They were either doing their own thing, sitting in my way, jumping in front of my shot or just otherwise annoying me. I guess part of playing the solo campaign is to do certain things by yourself?? Because quite a few times Dom was nowhere to be found. And some of those times I could really have used the help....at least this time Baird seems to be more useful.
There are quite a few new additions to this game besides weapons. You are given missions where you end up riding some of the enemy creatures, and it is not easy. Luckily, those little krill bast*rds are nowhere to be found. There is also a rookie COG that you have to train, but he comes in pretty handy...til later...Having a deeper storyline also adds to the intensity of the game. I know some will find it unnecessary, but seeing Dom hunt for his wife and be driven by something other than anger or insanity adds a different dimension to the overall mission.
All in all, I enjoyed the game for the 14 or 15 total hours it took me to beat it. I recommend the casual mode ONLY for someone who has virtually no experience with FPS or Gears or has really sucky hand-eye coordination. I beat it somewhat easily, and the only other game I've ever beaten by myself was Yoshi's Island....I imagine on the normal setting, the game would be as challenging as I was expecting and thus a little more fun. If you liked Gears 1, this is definitely worth the $60. I dont recommend trying it if you havent played the original, because it wont make a lot of sense and you wont appreciate the new features.
Showing reviews 236-240 of 257
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