Gears of War 2

As the sequel to the Xbox 360’s flagship initial release, Gears of War 2 was the next step in the trilogy that made Epic Games one of the most empowered names within the video gaming industry. This 2008 release was a major hit on the 360, becoming one of the most popular shooters of the console generation. It was developed by Epic Games, published by Microsoft, and became one of the faces of the Xbox 360 generation.

Over a decade on, though, how does the story of Marcus Fenix and co. live up to the bombastic glamour that was so apparent in its original release?

A macho shooter with style

Compared to modern games, the first thing you’ll notice is how purposely empty the streets feel. For the time, though, GoW 2 done a good job of creating major set-piece moments.

There are various high octane moments where you need to fight through shocking story moments. The story, built around the concept of a subterranean species known as the Locust emerging from under the feet of a war torn humanity, was seen as captivating at the time.

While some find it a touch dull and cliched now, there is no doubt that Gears of War 2 built on the story of the original. In this, you take the fight more directly to the Locust, and you find out the cause of their desperation that becomes apparent. Following the end of the first game, the Locust are back and arguably stronger than ever – and it has left humanity looking for desperate solutions.

A wonderful shooter, held back by the passing of time

Really, if you were to review the game on its release year, it would be a Game of the Year contender. The game today feels a little too empty and linear to match up with the chaos of the titles that come later on in the series. However, make no mistake when we say that Gears of War 2 was a step forward on the first game in almost every way.

The controls were slicker, the story moved faster, and there was more depth and lore because it was not introducing the world but instead building on it. This allows for more detail, more intrigue, and a plot that takes a few steps that you might not have expected. Despite its reputation as a macho man’s shooter game, the story has enough emotive moments and points that can leave you with a lump in the throat.

Pros:

• Excellent character design and plot development for its time
• Addictive gamplay loop that builds on the original in every way
• Surprisingly enjoyable plot for a shooter game

Cons:

• Feels its age in terms of environments and some character choices