It’s that time of year when some of the biggest games hit the shelves and along for the ride is Gears of War 2.  The sequel to the massive franchise from Epic games and Microsoft.  If you don’t know what Gears of War is you clearly don’t know enough about modern gaming.  Gears of War 1 managed to be one of the most popular online gaming blood baths ever.  With dirty environments, evil enemies and by far one of the coolest weapons ever made, “the lancer”.  Gears of War 2 is back to put Epic’s reign back on the leader board. 

The story of Gears of War 2 continues after the light mass bombings of the original game.  You carry on the campaign playing as Marcus Fenix, leader of Delta squad with your close friends, Dom, Baird and Augustus Cole.  Even though the story is mainly about humanity fighting back the locust for claim over territory and humanity’s survival, the story digs deeper which involves a sub story including Dom and his wife Maria.  Over the course of the campaign you will explore the depths of the undergrounds deep in Locust territory, execute an all out attack on the Locust stronghold and also manage to find yourself eaten by a giant worm!  The story is pretty intense with every development causing a chain reaction which opens several new theory’s to why the war is happening and where the locust have come from.  I found myself lost in the plot sometimes far too eager to see what happens! 

Even though there has been slight changes to the game dynamics and how the characters move, it is still pretty much Gears of War 1.  If you liked that, then 95% of the time you WILL like this game.  It’s more of what we loved from the original.  You do how ever have some improved game play mechanics for example Chainsaw duels.  With your lancer equipped while revving running towards the enemy some enemies may initiate in a chainsaw duel.  This is where you smash your B button to bits to see who is the victor.  It’s quite an intense moment which will have you red in the face, but as you watch your chainsaw cut through their limbs you will have a surge of accomplishment.  Well until the next chainsaw duel that is.  You have bigger and better ways of killing enemies now with most weapons having a fatality move which you can perform on downed enemies by simply clicking Y.  Also in this game you will take control of some certain mounts which players only dreamed about in the first one. 

This game will have you riding Reavers while escaping the clutches of a massive hydra, storming through the Locust HQ with a Brumak, and then you will have the chance to decimate entire legions while in control of a COG tank.  The vehicles and bestiary is pure awesome with some amazing design elements and ideas.  A tonne of new weapons have also been added, for example the grinder, the flamethrower and the mortar.  Three massive weapons which cause extreme damage to the enemies but you do have to prep the weapons before using them.  Also a new small arms weapon which is used by the locust and then of course the Boom Shield.  The boom sheild is a heavy duty shield which allows the player to advance while being invulnerable.  Then on top of that you can place down the boom sheild in the floor to use it as a cover point. 

Similar to the first game duck and cover is the main essence of survival.  On harder difficulties if you’re caught out in the open with no cover you are as good as mince meat.  Of course you can go in guns blazing and chainsaw every locust on screen but knowing when to do that is key.  The sheer beauty of this game is its so much better when played Co-Op.  You friend can play out the campaign with you playing as Dom as you fight the long fight against the Locust.  This is where the game truly shines.  For example when riding the tank one player will take the controls while the other operates the gun.  Other times you will have to split up to achieve a certain objective.  It all blends together to provide such an amazing gaming experience which you will want to play again... and again.... and again.