Despite cheesy cut scenes, Gears of War 2 wins over latecomer

First off, video games are in a category all on their own; it’s never too late to jump on any bandwagon. Recently, everyone I talk games with had been pushing me to pick up Gears of War 2. I bought my Xbox 360 a little too late to get into the huge kerfuffle over the first Gears of War. So, automatically when Gears 2 came out I thought it was no big deal. Boy was I wrong.

The other day I picked up the game. I expected Gears 2 to let me down somewhat (it was just spoken so highly of). Immediately after start-up, I fell in love. The graphics are fantastic. The gameplay and controls are smoother than I’ve ever felt in a third-person shooter. Gears 2 also has this unique cover system attached to it that makes you feel more connected—it’s rough, it’s jagged, and it’s awe-inspiring. The game really brings me back to the good old days and reminds me of a favourite movie of mine, Starship Troopers. Gears 2 is full of violence, ruthless killing, and—hello!—chainsaw guns.

The array of weapons in Gears 2 is extensive, and they all feel very different and unique in their own way. The main story line can be played alone, or with a buddy via Xbox Live and split screen. The story behind the wars is intense and deep. The character depth is definitely there, and it adds to the emotion behind your actions. Although the cut scenes and voice acting are a tad cheesy, it doesn’t take anything away from Gears 2.

The multiplayer in Gears 2 is also amazing. A nearly flawless set of multiplayer game modes adds to the on-line experience by a very large amount. Horde mode is by far my favourite. In this mode, you and up to four of your friends fight wave after wave of the Horde, as it increasingly gets harder.

Wyatt Fossett can be reached on Twitter at twitter.com/SheriffEarp.