Best shooter this year?
If you thought the boomers and berserkers from Gears of War were scary than think again. In Gears of War 2, Epic has upped the ante to create some ferocious and powerful enemies. Watch out for new additions to the boomer family, in the form of Grinders, Flames and the meat-cleaver equipped Butchers, or the formidable looking 40 foot tall Locust High Priest or even the vile looking, but particularly docile Rockworm, who can be used as portable cover. Not only does the new roster of despicable creatures look fantastic, they move around the environment in their own unique way, have unique skills and react intelligently. The unpredictable nature of enemies ensures that there’s always that element of surprise.As for new weapons, the old ones make a welcome return so expect the likes of the standard assault rifle and the satisfying chainsaw bayonet and hammer of dawn, but equally impressive is the Mortar, excellent for weeding out enemies who have taken cover, or larger weapons such as the scorcher flamethrower which spurts out some of the most realistic fire we’ve seen. Grab hold of the mulcher, a machine gun turret that severely weighs you down, and you'll be able to spray multiple enemies spectacularly with bullets.
Gears of War 2 is tailored toward co-op play, which integrates with the story perfectly. You can jump in and out of two-player sessions and even play on a different level of difficulty than your teammate. The level design works impeccably with co-op in mind, with flanking maneuvers and cover fire playing important parts in each of the fight sequences.
The excellent co-op mode also carries over online, where you can take part in Horde mode; an experience that we found incredibly tough, but immensely satisfying. Of course, we also expected Gears of War 2 to have vast replay value online and it doesn't disappoint with all of the standard game modes mixed in with new additions such as "Wingman", where five teams of two battle out across some great maps.
It's difficult to put into words the overall Gears of War 2 experience (Ed - perhaps you ought to look for a new job then); it's a game that demands to be played to be understood fully. All we can tell you is that its worth every penny of its retail price and from the outset it will grab you by the goulies and pull you through five heart-racing acts. It's a game that we won't forget for a long time. Best shooter this year? We should say so.
Pros
Brilliant atmosphere
Looks amazing
Action-packed
Great weapons
Perfectly paced gameplay
Some terrifying enemies
Cons
If you didn't like Gears of War you'll hate it
Everything you'd want from a shooter.
HEXUS Awards
Gears of War 2 (9.5/10)
