Gears Of War 2 on Xbox 360 - Just another shooter?
By Dave Parrack
If you’re an Xbox 360 owner, there are likely to be two games you continually hold up as the best on the system: Halo 3 and Gears Of War. Now, with Gears Of War 2 being released, how important is this game to Microsoft, the Xbox 360, and 360 owners Christmases?
There’s no doubting the fact that when it comes to shooters, the Xbox 360 rules them all. Halo 3 and Gears Of War are the two big exclusive titles in this genre on the system, but Gears is about to see the sequel make its debut, with Gears Of War 2 due out on Nov. 7.
The first Gears game garnered some great initial reviews, and the graphics were rightly held up as a suitable showcase for the Xbox 360’s power. But there were problems with the game, the far too short single player campaign being the biggest letdown. There was also the fact that as nice a game as it was, it wasn’t exactly pushing the boundaries, either for video games in general or in the genre itself.
Gears Of War 2 has the opportunity to build upon the first game, offering more of the same but with improvements around every corner. The reviews are coming in thick and fast, and most agree that the game manages this superbly, offering even more impressive graphics, but with new enhancements where it matters most.
Don’t expect some high-end emotionally charged experience, Gears 2 looks to be a solid shooter which looks and feels stunning but doesn’t offer any of the cerebral moments that Metal Gear Solid 4 manages so well.
Microsoft clearly has high hopes for Gears Of War 2. With no new Halo game confirmed, and one highly unlikely on the Xbox 360, Gears is the one new exclusive shooter that could draw in gamers and make them purchase an Xbox 360 this holiday season. Along with the new Xbox Live Experience and the lower prices, this game is the third element in the unholy trinity Microsoft hopes will punish the PS3.
Gears Of War 2 does have the capacity to shift units but my fear is that it’s unlikely to capture the casual market in the same way LittleBigPlanet, Sony’s great hope this Christmas, undoubtedly will. As impressive a game as Gears 2 may be, it is still just another shoot-em-up, a genre of game that the Xbox 360 is already blessed with an abundance of.
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November 6th, 2008
well… they said it MAY feel like a gears 1.5 but the online modes and the single player has been improved… the story is good…
So its a good game… dont hate on it… Id love to play it… damn epic and their “exclusives”…
November 6th, 2008
Microsoft has thrown there advertising muscle behind it. I’m sure it will end up doing pretty well. The first one was great and the sequel looks like they have really made a lot of improvements. It might not grab the casual market, but it will sell really well. (note: Even though xbots trolled the resistance review with negative dribble, I as a Sony fan am above that).
November 6th, 2008
DAVE PARRACK and FERRO,
How come the title of Resistance 2 was ‘Potential Shooter of 2008′ and Gears 2’s title was ‘Just another shooter?’ yet Gears 2 has a higher Metacritic score than Resistance 2?
Johnny Ninja, please, i’ve seen you bashing the 360 plenty of times. To come out here and say that you’re ‘above that’ (while calling Xbox fans ‘Xbots’) is hypocritical. Cut the bullshit.
November 6th, 2008
Umm..DAVE PARRACK,
“Microsoft clearly has high hopes for Gears Of War 2. With no new Halo game confirmed, and one highly unlikely on the Xbox 360″
Ever heard of Halo 3 Recon?
November 6th, 2008
I never loved Gears. Perhaps because I played it on PC or something? Just seemed kind of a boring slog and didn’t seem to bring anything new to the table. That said I did NOT play it all the way thru because I got so effin bored. So maybe I missed out on stellar later levels.
Of course that’s just my opinion and there are a zillion of you out there that don’t agree with me I know
It looks purdy tho…
‘There’s no doubting the fact that when it comes to shooters, the Xbox 360 rules them all. ‘
I think there are PC users that would disagree with you there
November 6th, 2008
@harry sachz
stop the hatin on DAVE and MIKE
I admit, mike may be a bit of a ps3 fanboy, but dave has proven himself to be pretty balanced (even though we all know he is still more of a ps3 fan)
Gears looks good and its gonna sell millions.
But the game that I think is going to be the one to beat is, not Resistance, or Gears… its gonna be Killzone 2. - Dont ignore it, its coming
November 6th, 2008
@ idiot,
I agree that Dave is the more balanced one, but to say that there aren’t any more Halo games announced for the 360 about a month after Halo 3 Recon was announced was purely asinine.
Killzone 2? Are you serious?
November 6th, 2008
cmon Harry… with all due respect to the writers in this site.. I dont come here to find the stories… I come here to talk (shit) to you guys… so take it with a pinch of salt…
Although I have to say… I saw “On the spot” today… and their Resistance 2 and Gears 2 marathon… they seemed more excited for the Resistance 2… Im a little happy bout that… Gears 2 is gonna sell by the shit loads… I dont here people get excited about PS3 games nowadays from the critics…
Still Gears 2 kicks ass… and so does Resistance 2…
November 7th, 2008
lol I knew that would get you pissed Harry. I was
kidding btw.
Below was copy and pasted from a very non-biased site. They ended up saying that the game is a “buy”, they dodn’t give numeric scores. So it looks like the game is definatly good, but not exactly perfect.
The good
• Bountiful UI improvements and fixes
• Greater scale in graphical presentation
• Great new multiplayer modes
• Longer campaign with some really interesting bits
• New weapons, enemies mix up the action well
• Horde mode is awesome
• Offline multiplayer, bots
The bad
• Campaign feels uninspired at times, best bits are with the exeunt
• Online party interface not conducive to small groups, solo players
• Level design can be frustrating at times
• Single-player experience suffers slightly from co-op focus
The ugly
•The fact that, in spite of how good this game looks, the Unreal Engine 3 seems to be incapable of rendering the game’s sole female character in a way that doesn’t look hideously grotesque.
November 7th, 2008
Gears of War 2 feels like Gears of War 1.2, a patch to GeoW 1.
I’m joking. =) I’m sure the game should be fun to the 360 fans. I’ll be enjoying my R2, LBP and specially K2 Beta <3
November 7th, 2008
After last night there is nothing that any writer on Blorge can say that will get me upset because ultimatly I really feel sorry for you guys because you have no idea what your talking about. Gears is ultimatly the best game out this year and I’m blown away at how good it is and the depth of the game experience is definately a huge improvement on what was already a fantastic game. I trully feel sorry for you.
November 7th, 2008
I think they purposely make articles like that to get under you, harry, and kevs skin. I know I would.
November 7th, 2008
Tatsujin,
I saw you on another site proclaiming the Killzone 2 beta as “the best thing ever” or something to that effect. Was that hyperbole, or were you making a serious statement?
-Arvis
November 10th, 2008
@CAD - This is the Halo affect for me again
I jsut don’t understand it.
Did I think the game was fun? Sure! Do I think its the best game this year? Nope.
But it was fun. (ending sucked tho).
November 10th, 2008
johnny- that review is a joke. the reviewer hadn’t even finished the game.
there are no design flaws in the levels and there are THREE women in the game not ONE.
oh well…at least the brits know a great game over a “good” one… lol
http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/11/10/xbox-360-gears-of-war-2-beats-sony-ps3-littlebigplanet-sales/
ouch….
November 10th, 2008
“Gears Of War 2 does have the capacity to shift units but my fear is that it’s unlikely to capture the casual market in the same way LittleBigPlanet, Sony’s great hope this Christmas, undoubtedly will.”
hey dave…wrong….again…
http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/11/10/xbox-360-gears-of-war-2-beats-sony-ps3-littlebigplanet-sales/
geez..when are EVER right? lol