The holiday season always brings with it a horde of new games. "Gears of War 2," released by Epic Games on Nov. 7, 2008, puts you back into the shoes of Marcus Fenix and the soldiers of Delta Squad as they take on the subterranean menace known as the Locust. I went into "Gears 2" with pretty high expectations, and I was not disappointed. It has a two-player cooperative campaign, an online matchmaking system and even the all-new "horde" mode. Being a fan of all those things, "Gears of War 2" brings back fond memories of playing through the first "Gears."
"Gears 2" doesn't stray too far from its already-fun formula of tactical cover and hectic battlefield situations, and that's a good thing. If you were a fan of the first you will be addicted to the second. Epic brought back every weapon from the first, including the chainsaw gun, and even added more such as heavy weapons, shields, and even new types of grenades. I especially found it exciting when I found that I could tag grenades to walls to make a proximity mine. It feels monumental when you watch the Locust run into your trap. As a whole, the game controls are more fluid than the first "Gears," making maneuvering from cover to cover much easier.
Playing through the campaign, I realized that Epic Games took a great deal of time creating an environment and story that really sets it apart from other shooters. The story was engaging, and I actually felt like a hero jumping over cover with my cooperative partner covering my back. There is actually character development in this game as opposed to its prequel where Delta Squad was about as dynamic as a bag of rocks. The characters actually show emotion between shouting obscenities.
The major addition to the game is the Horde mode where you and four of your friends are pitted against wave after wave of increasingly difficult numbers and types of enemies. Your objective in Horde is simple: survive. There are 50 waves in all, and after every 10th wave the horde gets stronger either by having their health, accuracy or damage output increased. It makes for great gaming experience as you slam through wave after wave while scavenging for ammunition.
There are just a couple flaws in the game that keep it from being perfect. Some parts just feel glitchy. During one moment in the campaign, I had to wait for another character to open a door; however, the character never did what he was supposed to even with the coercing I was giving him (round after round of sniper artillery). I had to actually restart from my last checkpoint which, thankfully, wasn't that far from where I was.
Also there was another glitch where my partner was unable to move after a turret exploded, which resulted in another restart. Multiplayer is in desperate need of a patch, because it takes the online matchmaking 10 minutes to find a match. This needs a patch quickly, but Epic is already hearing the flames of the angry gamers and is remedying the situation as this is being written. After all is said and done, I would give this game a 9 out of 10 because of the replay value of Horde mode, the fun factor of when you actually get to play online, and the grueling campaign against the Locust. "Gears of War 2" is now available exclusively for the Xbox 360.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Gears of War 2 Producers Make Noteworthy Attempt to Appeals to Both Genders
Gears of War 2 Producers Make Noteworthy Attempt to Appeals to Both Genders
Gears of War is currently one of the most popular shooter franchises on the market, having won over a big number of fans due to its hardcore nature and bloody firefights. The first game was a huge success and the sequel, which was just released, is bound to overcome all sales expectations and boost the profits of Epic Games, the developer of the game, and Microsoft, the publisher.
We've heard the lead creator of the franchise, Cliff Bleszinski, talk about a lot of interesting things that were implemented in the sequel to the very popular game. From co-op to new weapons, a lot of things were discussed, but one of the most important ones, the story, particularly the romance, was left out.
This was up until now, as Bleszinski has recently talked with MTV Multiplayer about the very difficult task of implementing a romance and a decent story in a shooter that might look very manly and only focused on gore and violence on the outside. He went on saying that he had wanted to create a lot more complex story in the first title, but it wasn't possible, and this time around, he was really determined to come up with something that would appeal to players both male and female.
"I wanted to put it in the first one, honestly. It was one of the things we didn’t have the confidence in our abilities as storytellers at that time. And we didn’t have the time to get it in there. All that wound up in there was a shot of a tattoo on Dom’s arm and a reference that he might know someone stranded because he was looking for his wife. To put that at the forefront of the new game, you see it right in the opening cutscene. He’s looking right at the picture of him and his wife. It’s really hard to do. I think we did an admirable job of it. Is it a Nicholas Sparks romance? No, it’s not. But there’s a little bit of heart in there. For some reason, Gears seems to have more of a female following than other shooters."
Quite an interesting statement and it's really nice that developers are trying to come up with some intriguing stories through their games. One of the biggest faults of the first title was that it was a pretty mindless shooter, which portrayed big men who only knew to shoot things and curse, with no remorse. But, from what critics say, this new game is certainly more story driven and offers a calmer side to the characters.
Gears of War is currently one of the most popular shooter franchises on the market, having won over a big number of fans due to its hardcore nature and bloody firefights. The first game was a huge success and the sequel, which was just released, is bound to overcome all sales expectations and boost the profits of Epic Games, the developer of the game, and Microsoft, the publisher.
We've heard the lead creator of the franchise, Cliff Bleszinski, talk about a lot of interesting things that were implemented in the sequel to the very popular game. From co-op to new weapons, a lot of things were discussed, but one of the most important ones, the story, particularly the romance, was left out.
This was up until now, as Bleszinski has recently talked with MTV Multiplayer about the very difficult task of implementing a romance and a decent story in a shooter that might look very manly and only focused on gore and violence on the outside. He went on saying that he had wanted to create a lot more complex story in the first title, but it wasn't possible, and this time around, he was really determined to come up with something that would appeal to players both male and female.
"I wanted to put it in the first one, honestly. It was one of the things we didn’t have the confidence in our abilities as storytellers at that time. And we didn’t have the time to get it in there. All that wound up in there was a shot of a tattoo on Dom’s arm and a reference that he might know someone stranded because he was looking for his wife. To put that at the forefront of the new game, you see it right in the opening cutscene. He’s looking right at the picture of him and his wife. It’s really hard to do. I think we did an admirable job of it. Is it a Nicholas Sparks romance? No, it’s not. But there’s a little bit of heart in there. For some reason, Gears seems to have more of a female following than other shooters."
Quite an interesting statement and it's really nice that developers are trying to come up with some intriguing stories through their games. One of the biggest faults of the first title was that it was a pretty mindless shooter, which portrayed big men who only knew to shoot things and curse, with no remorse. But, from what critics say, this new game is certainly more story driven and offers a calmer side to the characters.
Gears of War Ranking System In detail
Confused about the ranking system?
You don't need to be.. it is very simple, but there are some basic concepts you need to master first.
The first thing you should know is that there are five ranks total, with the first rank automatically achieved after you play your first match.
The second thing you need to know is that the Gears of War 2 ranking system is based on Microsoft's TrueSkill technology and that's why it is not as intuitive as those implemented by other games. Six Okay explains:
TrueSkill is like the chess ELO system, which tries to predict who should win the match based on the skill of the players. If you were predicted to lose and your team wins, then your TrueSkill goes up more than if you won and you were predicted to win. This holds true for the inverse scenario: If you were predicted to win and you lose, then your ranking drops more than if you were predicted to lose.
Also, keep in mind that each rank icon represents a specific range or bucket of TrueSkill values, so while your skill is fluctuating in very small increments from match to match, your rank icon will only change when your skill moves from one bucket to the next. Therefore, your rank is not just about number of kills or experience or the amount of time played. It's an aggregated representation of your skill level based on your wins and losses during Public Xbox LIVE matches. And yes, quitting will lower your rank
Friday, November 14, 2008
Gears of War 2 - Better than the Original>?
Gears of War 2 - Better than the Original?
If you remember "Gears of War," you remember the disc cost 60 of your hard-earned dollars. With the release of "Gears of War 2," that disc is now a coaster. "Gears 2" is quite possibly the best game of 2008, an amazing feat considering this year also produced juggernauts "Fable II," "Ninja Gaiden II," and "LittleBIGPlanet." Even more amazing considering "Resident Evil 5," "Call of Duty: World at War" and "Left 4 Dead" have yet to be released. But Gears makes a persuasive case for the top spot.
"Gears 2" picks up close to where the original left off. You once again take control of Marcus Fenix, leader of the Delta Squad. The Lightmass Bomb set off at the end of "Gears 1" that was supposed to exterminate the evil Locust Horde failed to do so, and the Locust are now stronger than ever. They've picked up some mysterious new weapons capable of sinking whole cities into the ground. With only the city of Jacinto left, Delta is tasked with stopping the Locust at all costs.
The story is still the worst part of the "Gears of War" franchise, but that's like saying frosting is the worst part of a cupcake: You're still going to eat it and you're still going to love it. Trying to be spoiler-free, it's hard to really tell you much more about the game's events, but it is one sweet cupcake.
The controls are some of the best ever in video games. Marcus moves exactly as you command him, accompanied by satisfying animations that get players' adrenaline pumping. The camera is glorious, being close enough on your character to make every battle as cinematic as possible while never hindering the game play. The cover system is unchanged from the original "Gears" (it's hard to improve upon perfection.) AI for both armies has been drastically improved. Your allies don't stupidly make suicide runs at enemies anymore. Instead they'll be reviving you after the tactical Locust take you down time and time again.
You'll be taking Locust down, too, with the multitude of weapons available. It is a valid, and effective, option to use your default Lancer assault rifle throughout the entire game, but you'll be having fun with returning weapons such as the sniper rifle and shotgun, as well as new armaments like the flamethrower, mortar launcher and the painfully awesome Gorgon Pistol.
The environments are varied and beautiful. It's easy to tell this has been lovingly crafted. This level of craftsmanship has been extended to the multiplayer maps as well, where many, many death matches will take place in the coming months. Although online play is still spectacular, one of the biggest new features is computer-controlled bots. Whether you want the experience of online without the Internet connection or just need one or two to fill out the roster in a multiplayer match, the bots work just as well as a human-controlled character. They're so good in fact, you'll be hard pressed to know if that thing that just sniped you was human or not.
"Gears of War" raised the bar on quality, and "Gears of War 2" is raising it again, this time, to astronomical heights. The game is so polished, so pristine, that you can almost hear angels sing when you rev your Lancer's chainsaw bayonet. Ride your bike this month: You're going to need the gas money to buy this masterpiece of a game.
If you remember "Gears of War," you remember the disc cost 60 of your hard-earned dollars. With the release of "Gears of War 2," that disc is now a coaster. "Gears 2" is quite possibly the best game of 2008, an amazing feat considering this year also produced juggernauts "Fable II," "Ninja Gaiden II," and "LittleBIGPlanet." Even more amazing considering "Resident Evil 5," "Call of Duty: World at War" and "Left 4 Dead" have yet to be released. But Gears makes a persuasive case for the top spot.
"Gears 2" picks up close to where the original left off. You once again take control of Marcus Fenix, leader of the Delta Squad. The Lightmass Bomb set off at the end of "Gears 1" that was supposed to exterminate the evil Locust Horde failed to do so, and the Locust are now stronger than ever. They've picked up some mysterious new weapons capable of sinking whole cities into the ground. With only the city of Jacinto left, Delta is tasked with stopping the Locust at all costs.
The story is still the worst part of the "Gears of War" franchise, but that's like saying frosting is the worst part of a cupcake: You're still going to eat it and you're still going to love it. Trying to be spoiler-free, it's hard to really tell you much more about the game's events, but it is one sweet cupcake.
The controls are some of the best ever in video games. Marcus moves exactly as you command him, accompanied by satisfying animations that get players' adrenaline pumping. The camera is glorious, being close enough on your character to make every battle as cinematic as possible while never hindering the game play. The cover system is unchanged from the original "Gears" (it's hard to improve upon perfection.) AI for both armies has been drastically improved. Your allies don't stupidly make suicide runs at enemies anymore. Instead they'll be reviving you after the tactical Locust take you down time and time again.
You'll be taking Locust down, too, with the multitude of weapons available. It is a valid, and effective, option to use your default Lancer assault rifle throughout the entire game, but you'll be having fun with returning weapons such as the sniper rifle and shotgun, as well as new armaments like the flamethrower, mortar launcher and the painfully awesome Gorgon Pistol.
The environments are varied and beautiful. It's easy to tell this has been lovingly crafted. This level of craftsmanship has been extended to the multiplayer maps as well, where many, many death matches will take place in the coming months. Although online play is still spectacular, one of the biggest new features is computer-controlled bots. Whether you want the experience of online without the Internet connection or just need one or two to fill out the roster in a multiplayer match, the bots work just as well as a human-controlled character. They're so good in fact, you'll be hard pressed to know if that thing that just sniped you was human or not.
"Gears of War" raised the bar on quality, and "Gears of War 2" is raising it again, this time, to astronomical heights. The game is so polished, so pristine, that you can almost hear angels sing when you rev your Lancer's chainsaw bayonet. Ride your bike this month: You're going to need the gas money to buy this masterpiece of a game.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Gears of War 2 Sells 2 Million Copies First Weekend
Gears of war 2 is the mega gore smash hit that has parents and teens equally engaged in the very realistic game that some have been aptly calling "game of the year"
Once you've had chainsaw guns, you can't go back to regular chainsaws or regular guns.
Everything that was great about the first "Gears of War" re-emerges in "Gears of War 2," either meeting the high standard or surpassing it. The visual presentation is stunning, the battles intense and the mechanics spotless.
What separates "Gears of War 2" from its predecessor is a story line that delves deeper to add emotion to the visceral experience, the element that invests you in the characters and the dire situation of the humans as they fight for existence on the planet Sera.
story continues below
"GoW 2" takes place after the failed attempt in the original to destroy the subterranean terror, the Locust. Back with a vengeance, the Locust horde have a plan to take out the city of Jacinto, humanity's last refuge.
The twists keep coming and quick, with many of the game's juiciest bits off-limits for discussion because I don't want to risk spoilers. Although "GoW 2" resolves some questions, even more tantalizing ones get the brain itching.
While Marcus Fenix remains the star of the show, fellow gear Dom gets his due. It's through Dom that we are shown the emotional toll of war. He's searching for his wife, his reason to keep fighting. Other characters are introduced, but not in a way that bogs down the pacing, and, as in any war, there are casualties.
More cutscenes pepper the sequel to flesh out the story line, but the cinematics aren't used as a crutch. The dialogue doesn't go overboard on the drama, either, with just enough to sell you the emotion or make you chuckle.
The new "meat" physics are put to spectacular use in one level that adds a heart-pounding dimension to the gameplay. Of course, expect extra meatiness when dispatching any enemy up close and personal with the standard-issue lancer.
There also are new ways to finish off a wounded enemy, besides the popular curb stomp. One example that comes in extremely handy is the meat shield.
The A.I. on both sides is solid. Your squadmates no longer need constant revival or direction from you, and, except in one particular fight, keep you from bleeding out.
Ordinary battles up the lethal ante with Reaver, Corpser and Brumak appearances, and because of this, ordinary courtyards quickly can turn into boss fights. However, the big boss battle near the end is a little disappointing, largely because of the lather-rinse-repeat strategy that, once determined, feels stale.
To keep things fresh, the environments range from dilapidated cities, deep underground in Locus territory, old COG facilities, boats and vehicles, and even a Reaver and a Brumak. You'll want to pause in some scenes just to take in the details and the outstanding backgrounds.
If the campaign mode is the heart of "Gears," the multiplayer is the testosterone-pumped muscle. Co-op plays a huge part in this installment, with the addition of Horde, where you and as many as three friends fight to survive waves of Locust horde. You can even play the campaign mode co-op, and, thanks to a split screen, attack the objectives strategically as you progress through the story.
The online multiplayer modes are where the bloodthirsty go to play, especially with all the wonderful weapons -- from flamethrowers to mortars to mulchers -- execution moves and 15 maps, including five flashback maps to download. There's occasional lag when searching for players to join a match, which is aggravating, but hopefully the delay will subside as more people pick up the game. And aside from a few glitches here and there, the overall experience met expectations.
The "Gears" franchise continues to climb in quality and substance, and, with four levels of difficulty, it's accessible to noobs and challenging enough for hard-core Gear-heads.
And, if you wait for the end of the credits, you'll immediately get fired up for "Gears of War 3."
Once you've had chainsaw guns, you can't go back to regular chainsaws or regular guns.
Everything that was great about the first "Gears of War" re-emerges in "Gears of War 2," either meeting the high standard or surpassing it. The visual presentation is stunning, the battles intense and the mechanics spotless.
What separates "Gears of War 2" from its predecessor is a story line that delves deeper to add emotion to the visceral experience, the element that invests you in the characters and the dire situation of the humans as they fight for existence on the planet Sera.
story continues below
"GoW 2" takes place after the failed attempt in the original to destroy the subterranean terror, the Locust. Back with a vengeance, the Locust horde have a plan to take out the city of Jacinto, humanity's last refuge.
The twists keep coming and quick, with many of the game's juiciest bits off-limits for discussion because I don't want to risk spoilers. Although "GoW 2" resolves some questions, even more tantalizing ones get the brain itching.
While Marcus Fenix remains the star of the show, fellow gear Dom gets his due. It's through Dom that we are shown the emotional toll of war. He's searching for his wife, his reason to keep fighting. Other characters are introduced, but not in a way that bogs down the pacing, and, as in any war, there are casualties.
More cutscenes pepper the sequel to flesh out the story line, but the cinematics aren't used as a crutch. The dialogue doesn't go overboard on the drama, either, with just enough to sell you the emotion or make you chuckle.
The new "meat" physics are put to spectacular use in one level that adds a heart-pounding dimension to the gameplay. Of course, expect extra meatiness when dispatching any enemy up close and personal with the standard-issue lancer.
There also are new ways to finish off a wounded enemy, besides the popular curb stomp. One example that comes in extremely handy is the meat shield.
The A.I. on both sides is solid. Your squadmates no longer need constant revival or direction from you, and, except in one particular fight, keep you from bleeding out.
Ordinary battles up the lethal ante with Reaver, Corpser and Brumak appearances, and because of this, ordinary courtyards quickly can turn into boss fights. However, the big boss battle near the end is a little disappointing, largely because of the lather-rinse-repeat strategy that, once determined, feels stale.
To keep things fresh, the environments range from dilapidated cities, deep underground in Locus territory, old COG facilities, boats and vehicles, and even a Reaver and a Brumak. You'll want to pause in some scenes just to take in the details and the outstanding backgrounds.
If the campaign mode is the heart of "Gears," the multiplayer is the testosterone-pumped muscle. Co-op plays a huge part in this installment, with the addition of Horde, where you and as many as three friends fight to survive waves of Locust horde. You can even play the campaign mode co-op, and, thanks to a split screen, attack the objectives strategically as you progress through the story.
The online multiplayer modes are where the bloodthirsty go to play, especially with all the wonderful weapons -- from flamethrowers to mortars to mulchers -- execution moves and 15 maps, including five flashback maps to download. There's occasional lag when searching for players to join a match, which is aggravating, but hopefully the delay will subside as more people pick up the game. And aside from a few glitches here and there, the overall experience met expectations.
The "Gears" franchise continues to climb in quality and substance, and, with four levels of difficulty, it's accessible to noobs and challenging enough for hard-core Gear-heads.
And, if you wait for the end of the credits, you'll immediately get fired up for "Gears of War 3."
Gears of War 2 Sells 2 Million Copies First Weekend
What's bigger than Gun's and Roses Use your Illusion II, Perl Jam's Vs., and Ozzy Osborne?
"Gears of War 2," developed by Cary-based Epic Games and distributed by Microsoft, sold 2 million copies in its first weekend, the companies announced Wednesday.
The $59.99 game hit stores Friday. It is outselling the original, which sold 1 million copies during its first two weeks in 2006 and went on to sell 5 million copies. Some analysts have predicted the sequel will sell 10 million copies.
"Gears of War 2," developed by Cary-based Epic Games and distributed by Microsoft, sold 2 million copies in its first weekend, the companies announced Wednesday.
The $59.99 game hit stores Friday. It is outselling the original, which sold 1 million copies during its first two weeks in 2006 and went on to sell 5 million copies. Some analysts have predicted the sequel will sell 10 million copies.
Gears of War Basic Strategy
Use Cover
*This may seem pretty obvious, but using cover will make you a smaller target and will also make you more hidden. Seeing any enemy before he sees you is a huge advantage for you, and cover can get you this advantage.
*Using the cover button can also help you move faster around the map. One helpful hint when moving is to move from one covered spot to another covered spot. This will keep you moving quickly around the map and will also make you a hard target to hit.
Buy the Brady games guide on Amazon today and save big money!
"Before you can run you must first learn to walk"
Gears of War is one helluva tough game, that's why you need a firm grasp of the basics before you can really kick ass in team play.
Falling Back
*If you get yourself into a bad situation, don't be afraid to fall back. Gears of War is all about who advantages and disadvantages and you can help regain the advantage by falling back to a safer spot on the map.
Flanking
*Flanking your opponent will force them to seek cover from multiple angles and to worry about mulitple targets. A good flank will often end with you getting a frag or your teammates getting one. Make sure to be careful when flanking, as the enemies may be hiding and waiting on you to do so.
Active Reloading
*Hit the reload button and watch the upper-right corner of the screen. Notice that meter that slowly trails right? Wait for the meter's needle to match up with the white area near the center of the meter. Press the reload button a second time at this point and you'll execute an active reload and speed up the usual reload time.
Using Stealth
*Taking the first shot on your enemy is a huge advantage, especially after you get your aim to a good point. You should try to be stealthy, quiet, and a small target whenever possible to get this first shot and also to prevent the enemy from getting an easy shot on you.
Use Cover
*This may seem pretty obvious, but using cover will make you a smaller target and will also make you more hidden. Seeing any enemy before he sees you is a huge advantage for you, and cover can get you this advantage.
*Using the cover button can also help you move faster around the map. One helpful hint when moving is to move from one covered spot to another covered spot. This will keep you moving quickly around the map and will also make you a hard target to hit.
*This may seem pretty obvious, but using cover will make you a smaller target and will also make you more hidden. Seeing any enemy before he sees you is a huge advantage for you, and cover can get you this advantage.
*Using the cover button can also help you move faster around the map. One helpful hint when moving is to move from one covered spot to another covered spot. This will keep you moving quickly around the map and will also make you a hard target to hit.
Buy the Brady games guide on Amazon today and save big money!
"Before you can run you must first learn to walk"
Gears of War is one helluva tough game, that's why you need a firm grasp of the basics before you can really kick ass in team play.
Falling Back
*If you get yourself into a bad situation, don't be afraid to fall back. Gears of War is all about who advantages and disadvantages and you can help regain the advantage by falling back to a safer spot on the map.
Flanking
*Flanking your opponent will force them to seek cover from multiple angles and to worry about mulitple targets. A good flank will often end with you getting a frag or your teammates getting one. Make sure to be careful when flanking, as the enemies may be hiding and waiting on you to do so.
Active Reloading
*Hit the reload button and watch the upper-right corner of the screen. Notice that meter that slowly trails right? Wait for the meter's needle to match up with the white area near the center of the meter. Press the reload button a second time at this point and you'll execute an active reload and speed up the usual reload time.
Using Stealth
*Taking the first shot on your enemy is a huge advantage, especially after you get your aim to a good point. You should try to be stealthy, quiet, and a small target whenever possible to get this first shot and also to prevent the enemy from getting an easy shot on you.
Use Cover
*This may seem pretty obvious, but using cover will make you a smaller target and will also make you more hidden. Seeing any enemy before he sees you is a huge advantage for you, and cover can get you this advantage.
*Using the cover button can also help you move faster around the map. One helpful hint when moving is to move from one covered spot to another covered spot. This will keep you moving quickly around the map and will also make you a hard target to hit.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
If you thought ipod was the bomb...
think again!
Get geared up for combat with the tank-busting, brilliant Gears of War Zune on Amazon. Buy today and save 25%!
The new zune gears of war edition is lean, mean and guaranteed to put the ipod's benign looks to shame!
If you love of Gears of War and hate the iPod, we have the perfect product for you. Microsoft is making special editionGears of War 2 Zunes and placing them on presale today for $280. The special edition Zune 120 comes with a laser-etched Crimson Omen on the back, and comes preloaded with 244 pieces of Gears of War media, including the game soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, game trailers, and concept art galleries.
The Gears of War 2 edition of the Zune 120 ships on November 7 (same as the game) to the U.S. and Canada. Pre-orders are available online at Amazon and Walmart.
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