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Gears of War 2 | 
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| From: Microsoft
Category: Video Games
List Price: $59.99
Buy Used: $38.00
You Save: $21.99 (37%)
New (44) Used (28) from $38.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  165 reviews
Sales Rank: 21
Platform: Xbox 360
ESRB: Mature
Media: Video Game
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Operating System: Xbox 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: C3U-00001
Model: C3U-00001
UPC: 882224691635
EAN: 0882224691635
ASIN: B000ZK9QD2
Release Date: November 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Award-winning sequel picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original | | • | Innovative third-person tactical action gameplay; Xbox LIVE delivers online multiplayer (up to 10 simultaneous players) and cooperative action | | • | Unreal Engine 3 delivers jaw-dropping graphics; new effects include ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, advanced destructible environments, and more | | • | Winner of several awards at E3 2008, including Overall Best Shooting Game, Overall Best Graphics Technology, and Best Action Game | | • | Original cast of characters returns, including Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as well as several newcomers |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The gears of war continue to turn as Marcus Fenix and his squad of Cogs go back into action. Gears of War 2 continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad, locked in an increasingly desperate battle against the nightmarish Locust Horde for the survival of humanity. It is an epic saga of survival, loss, and retribution. Gears of War 2 raises the bar with the amazing technological advances of Unreal Engine 3, delivering a bigger, badder, and more intense experience.
Party system and skill-based online matchmaking - form a full or partial team with friends and continue together from match to match without the need to reform after each game. A skill-based online matchmaking system groups players of similar skill level together in competitive multiplayer matches
Amazon.com Product Description
The wait is over, Gears of War 2 has arrived. Ever since the original was released, fans have clamored for this sequel. Developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Epic Games, Gears of War 2, which has already garnered several awards, picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original Gears of War. Players are thrown back into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading the battle for humankind's survival against the Locust Horde. With innovative third-person tactical action gameplay and unsurpassed high-definition graphics, Gears of War 2 is a must-have game for the Xbox 360.  | Gears of War 2
Players:
Offline: 1-4
Online: 10
Gameplay Modes:
Single player, competitive multiplayer, cooperative multiplayer, system link multiplayer, online multiplayer with voice support.
Format:
16:9 Widescreen on HDTV 480p, 720p, and 1080i. |  | | 
Gears of War 2 offers stunningly realistic, vast environments to play in. View larger. | 
The enemies in Gear of War 2 are huge and downright nasty. View larger. | Huge Environments, Bigger Gameplay
For those who loved Gears of War, Gears of War 2 builds upon it in every way, but with several major enhancements. There are more weapons, bigger vehicles, and more action. The enemies are more dangerous, and the total experiences is more immersive than ever. And with a revolutionary tactical combat system, the game will require not just fast reaction times and shooting skill, it will also challenge you to devise a strategy that will work against the enemies who exhibit smart AI. Jaw-Dropping, Realistic Graphics
Just as Gears of War did the first time around, Gears of War 2 ups the ante for graphical prowess. Combined with the sweeping vistas and evocative locales of Sera, where the story takes place, Gears of War 2 offers jaw-dropping graphics that are made possible through advances in Unreal Engine 3. New visual effects include ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, improved character lighting, the ability to render hundreds of on-screen characters simultaneously, improved water physics, additional blood and bullet decals, advanced destructible environments, new weather effects, and the introduction of fluid objects. Immersive, Gripping Story
Taking place six months after the end of the first game, Gears of War 2 returns the cast of characters of the original, including Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as well as several newcomers. Novelist and comic book writer Joshua Ortega, who assisted with the writing, has created a story that is big on character development and personality. With a new in-game conversational camera system and multiple story arcs, the story is presented in a gripping cinematic style where characters gain an emotional depth that matches their realistic graphical representation. More Characters, Upgraded Vehicles, Badder Weapons
Those who were impressed by the original Gears of War will be in for a real treat. New characters such as Tai Kaliso, weapons like the burst pistol, and huge vehicles like the COG Centaur tank will give players a whole new dimension and scope of gameplay in both single-player and multi-player modes.
  
Multiplayer Action with Xbox LIVE!
Gears of War 2 features a multiplayer mode that allows up to 10 simultaneous players for outstanding multiplayer fun. Taking full advantage of the Xbox LIVE service, which boasts 10 million gamers, Gears of War 2 features both competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Setting up games is simple with LIVE, and you have the ability to drop in and out of co-operative campaigns at any time. Everything you loved about multiplayer in the original is back, including the classic death matches, but with this sequel there is an added emphasis on teamwork. New multiplayer game modes will require better coordination in order to win. The game also features voice support, so you can communicate with other players around the world -- whether you're on the same team or trash talking! Gears of War 2 won several awards at E3 2008, where it was first presented, including Overall Best Shooting Game and Overall Best Graphics Technology of E3 2008 from IGN, as well as Best Action Game of E3 2008 from the Game Critics Awards.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 160 more reviews...
 Very solid gameplay; story could have used a little more refining + better integration November 8, 2008
55 out of 67 found this review helpful
To start off, I played the first Gears for the campaign/co-op campaign. And I purchased this game for the same reason, so if you're looking to know more about multiplayer gameplay, check out another review. That said, this game plays very well, very much like a thrill ride for the most part. Story can use a lot more refining and better integration. This gets a 5-star in its own right. But Halo 3 and BioShock are still better games overall than GoW 2.
GAMEPLAY: A+
This game still plays like the first Gears, except with a wider array of weapons and features (ie, chainsaw battles, different modes of executing a downed enemy). This is a third person shooter, for those who have not played the first one. And also, expect a lot of blood and violence, so if you are parents considering this game for your children, this serves as fair warning.
The campaign takes longer to beat this time around (10-20h I think). The graphics are very beautiful and realistic, and a lot more 'vibrant'. The first Gears was in general a very dark and gloomy game. You see a lot more color in this one. Co-op campaign gameplay continues to be addictive and I think a strength in this game. It is still as immersive an experience for all players involved as the first Gears was.
Further, the creators definitely outdid themselves in design of the levels. You should expect to be pleasantly surprised with every single level that comes up. While you can clearly expect to see yourself running around in the streets battling waves after waves of Locust, you will also see another order of magnitude of fighting, with sometimes even as many as 80-100 Locust rushing through your field of view. To emphasize the creativity of the creators, there was also, at various points later in the game (spoiler warning), a section where you had to traverse a pitch-black tunnel to safely escort a vehicle across, and even a level where your squad somehow ends up inside one of the Locust beasts and had to fight your way out...
Overall, this game has been quite an experience. It deserves an A+ and Game of the Year awards.
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STORY: B
Given that this game promised to have more leads on the storyline of the series than the first one, it does a better job. A lot of the early story is centered around Dom and him trying to find his wife, amidst all the fighting. The voice acting is compelling for the most part, and you can tell a lot more easily that it's a dark time for humanity on this fictional planet. In the first Gears, playing through the story was mostly humorous because of the way all the guys were joking around in between fight scenes and the light talk that went on. In this Gears, those dialogues are still present, but with a lot more of a sense of urgency mixed in here and there. And cutscenes are well made. The script is definitely that of a cheesy scifi as some of my buddies like to call it.
Finally, instead of COG tags for collection, we have bits and pieces of 'collectibles' like newspaper clippings, ads, so on and so forth that in some cases contribute to the backstory a little bit, kind of like the way those terminals worked in Halo 3. All of these, when found, are put in some scrapbook that's accessible from the Main Menu, and arranged in a more or less logical order.
The reason the story only gets a B+: if you think about games like BioShock and Mass Effect and the Halo series with their very immersive storylines, GoW 2 is still not quite there. But it is closer to that state now than it was previously.
I won't reveal any more in this part, but definitely expect a lot more of a plot that serves as a backdrop to all the fighting that's going on. Epic Games did a good job of piquing your interest and making you want to learn more.
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CHARACTERS: B
The characters come across a lot more human in this one. I have mentioned that the mood in this game comes across with a lot more of a sense of urgency to beat the Locust. As you play the game, you begin to feel more and more of a connection with each of the characters and in some cases, almost have to just stop playing when certain characters die... Let's leave it at that.
All that said, the game needs a better scriptwriter if it is to convey a stronger storyline.
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REPLAYABILITY: A
With the first game, I recall beating it my first time around with a friend on Hardcore, and then on Insane, and then going around and helping each of my roommates and a good number of friends beat the game on both difficulty settings. The same will probably hold for this game. I think it's a thrilling enough of a ride that I wouldn't mind going over it over and over and over...
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To sum up, this game is definitely worth the $60.
PROS: This is all about gameplay and the feel of the game. Even on top of all the additional features and improvements, it is still undoubtedly Gears of War. The controls remain very intuitive and easy to learn. It's easily one of the best 3rd person shooters out there, in my opinion.
CONS: I think storyline could have been a lot deeper. I guess they are saving this for Gears of War 3. Violence may be a little too much for the unprepared. Right now, this is all I can think of.
FINAL VERDICT: A. This is a very well-made game. I have the tendency to buy games and sell them back when I'm done. But I think GoW 2 will probably be a mainstay in my library, just as GoW was. For that, plus all the +'s I have mentioned, I think this game deserves an awesome grade. Can I hear Game of the Year?
Great sequel November 16, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
i loved the first game and this just added to the franchise. Gears of War 2 is great in all aspects. the gameplay, the story line, the graphics, and even the co op.
if you liked the first one well you will like this one. the characters grow on you and the story picks up adding more details on the COG and the horde back ground. Must buy.
"Bullets, bullets, bullets." December 5, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Okay most have gone over the ins and outs of the game. We get the dopey 1 star reviews for whatever insane reason and dismiss most of them. GoW2 is a great game and you can see where the people that created this game put their time and effort into especially Multi-player which is better than anything currently on the market. I was always pi$$ed that games had a shelf life and by that I mean you couldn't play all the maps on-line because not many or no one was playing the damn game. While this isn't much of a problem with this franchise it did bother me with other titles. GoW2 you can go Local / Elimination (or other arena)and pick a number of maps and have "bot players" come into the map so that you can play 100% of this game without having to go online. HORDE is another crazy part of the game, ghost camera and taking photos , then upoading these shots to [...], checking matches , scores and top player names and rankings. Some new weapons in the game, unusual characters and story arcs "explained" although I never got caught up in the Dominc/Maria saga.
Worth the money hands down. Having said that I have experienced some problems trying to find an online match, but if friends are on it isn't a problem getting into the room. <<<*SPOILERS*>>> No Berserker battles, walking carefully over wood planks, a rock dislodging at an opportune moment, some joker turning out the lights in the house, ending Boss Battle w/General Raam. None of these things are in this game. Cliff B. going on and on about Skorge and you see him once at a cut scene with Dizzy, who you don't see again, and another scene in a ballroom like setting where you fight Skorge for all of 2 minutes. Not enough to knock the game down, but none of the edge-of-your-seat-moments like the first game.
Horde Mode Blows My Mind!!!! December 6, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Well the SP mode has its peaks and valleys , where some parts of it are great and some are'nt so good. There's too many linear vehicle missions and simple 'walk through' missions where all you do is run through the entire level. But once you get to level just after defeating the reever and you have to defend Jacinto, the game takes on a new life of hectic action. But all of the single player elements pale in comparison to the AWESOME Horde mode. Do yourself a favor and try this mode by yourself offline on insane difficulty and you'll be treated to some of the best gametime you've had in just about all of your gaming life. Yes its that good. There's ever increasing levels of waves of enemies who increasingly try to outflank you and supress your position . Then once you get the feel for Horde mode go online and hook up with a couple players and take care of business. I'll admit I was at first very dissapointed with Gears2 in the SP , up until I got to Jacinto. But where the meat and potatoes of Gears2 is the online mode Horde. Love It!! By far one of the best modes of the year. If you can get to level 10 by yourself on Insane mode in Horde offline with bots ,your my frikken hero. Is the SP really that bad? Ehh ,there's some crummy vehicle flying,driving missions on rails, SNOOZE,but there are some moments of eye candy ,the game does look good,and like I said earlier its really kool once you get to Jacinto and you have to assault into the sinkhole. But I can clearly see EPIC spent allot of there time developing the co-op and multiplayer horde modes. Don;t get me wrong the SP is good ,just not great . What's Great ? Horde Mode all the way baby! Plus those of you who don't have online LIVE access can play all of the multiplayer maps against bots , just like Terrorist Hunt in RSV. Definitley a well polished gaming experience.
The only downside to Horde is sometimes it takes awhile to find a match , on average I wait 5-20 min for a match , BUT , Horde is such an awesome game mode I'd gladly wait 20min. Just ONE Horde Match I played recently lasted 3 1/2 hours!!! Holy Moly almost four hours for just one match , we made it all the way to level 41 before we finally got taken out. I cannot express how kool Horde mode is , it goes beyond the normal death matches as there's more of an emphasis on reviving your buddies and Horde tends to punish those who go out on their own witthout back-up.PLus the enemies flank with supreme agressiveness, if a enemy gets hit too much coming one way at you , you can see them change direction and eventually they'll be right behind you. What an awesome game! Buy it for Horde alone, its worth it.
Gears of War 2 December 3, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Unbelieveably awesome visuals (read: inside the worm), a great storyline, and the same easy to use controls that made the first Gears of War so popular make this, in my opinion, one of the greatest video games ever made.
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The Nintendo Wii goes on sale on Sunday, November 19. Thanks to the inclusion of the simple--but infectiously fun--Wii Sports game, the Wii is the first console in recent memory that lets you have fun straight out of the box. Still, there are a few key Wii accessories you'll want to pick up to maximize your Wii experience--especially if you're buying it as a gift.
Extra controllers: Like all recent consoles, the Wii ships with just a single controller (well, one two-part controller: one Wiimote, plus one nunchuk). But the real fun of the system is playing the head-to-head Wii Sports games such as tennis and boxing. To do so, you'll need at least one extra set of controllers--and again, that's one Wiimote ($28.99) plus one nunchuk ($12.99). The Wii supports as many as four, but just the one extra controller set should suffice--at least for Christmas morning.
Rechargeable batteries: The Wiimote takes two standard AA batteries. They're included--with the Wii, and with the sold-separately version of the controller mentioned above--but avid players may find the juice draining pretty quickly, especially if they keep the nunchuk attached (it draws its power from the Wiimote). Instead of buying an endless stream of costly AAs, consider investing in a set of rechargeables. You can score a charger and four rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries for less than $25.
GameCube controllers: The Wii is fully backwards compatible with the Nintendo GameCube, but there's a catch: to play the GameCube games, you'll need a GameCube controller ($15.99). You can even go wireless with the Nintendo WaveBird ($59.99). If you already have a GameCube, your existing controllers will work just fine--just plug them in to one of the four ports underneath the flip-up panel on the Wii's topside. GameCube controllers should also work with the Wii's "Virtual Console" games--which saves you the trouble of having to buy a Classic Controller.
GameCube memory cards: One other annoyance when playing GameCube games: your progress can only be saved to GameCube memory cards, not to the Wii's internal memory or to an SD card (we're hoping Nintendo fixes this with a future firmware update). Like the controllers, your old GC cards will work just fine--there are two slots right next to the GameCube controller ports. If you don't have any onhand (and you want to save your games on GC titles), you'll need to spring for a $26.90 (2GB) memory card.
Wii Points: One of the big attactions of the Wii is its Virtual Console, which lets you purchase classic games that originally came from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the Super NES, the Nintendo 64, the Sega Genesis, and the TurboGrafx16. By the end of 2006, at least 30 titles should be available, including Donkey Kong (NES), Super Mario 64 (N64), and Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis). To purchase the downloadable titles, you'll need to use a Nintendo currency known as Wii Points (similar to the Microsoft Points on Xbox Live), which currently have an exchange rate of 100 points per U.S. dollar. You can buy Wii Points directly through the console's online store, or use prepaid cards (2000 Wii Points) available in various denominations.
SD card: If you're close to filling the Wii's built-in 512MB of storage with your Virtual Console games, you can always expand your available space with an SD card. Nintendo sells its own, but any run-of-the-mill card will do. Fairly spacious 1GB cards are available for less than $20--even less with mail-in rebates--and they'll work in plenty of other gadgets as well.
Wireless access point: In addition to the downloadable Virtual Console games, the Wii offers online "channels," including news, weather, and even an Opera Web browser (head-to-head online gaming is said to be coming sometime in 2007). You can get online for free via the Wii's built-in Wi-Fi. To do so, of course, you'll need a nearby wireless access point or router. Alternately, you can plug the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector into any nearby PC on a wired network, and the Wii--plus your Nintendo DS--will be able to use it to get online instead.
Component video adapter: The Wii doesn't have the graphical horsepower to handle high-def graphics, but it can do DVD-level 480p video, which will look considerably better on large HDTVs. To see the Wii's games in 480p, you'll need Nintendo's proprietary component video adapter, which should run about $20. |
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www.seeker-wii.com | |
