Gears of War 2: Review of the Video Game

Gears of War was one of the best shooters that was released in the earlier days of the XBox 360, but seemed to fall quickly by the wayside with the release of others, such as Halo 3. I had all but forgotten about it by the time I heard about the release of the sequel. Epic Games quickly regained its rightful place at the top with Gears of War 2.

The plot of Gears of War 2 is set in a futuristic Earth in which a race of ruthless aliens, the Locust, are hell-bent on conquering the planet and humanity as a whole. You play as Marcus Fenix, the leader of Delta Squad, an elite group of COG soldiers, the last hope of humankind. You must battle your way to the heart of the Locust horde, destroying its heart and bringing peace to the planet once again. I won't ruin it for you, but trust me, the story will pull you in and take you for a ride.

Gears of War 2's graphics are unique in the fact that it is a third-person shooter. While there are others out there, the camera angles of Gears make it seem as though you are in a movie. When running, the camera shakes as it follows you, as if there was a camera man following you throughout the game. Aside from this, the graphics themselves are stunning, especially in cutscenes, which play a major role in the campaign of the game. The audio is also extraordinary. Sounds let you know when a mortar is coming down above you and when enemies can hear you sneaking up behind them. Music is both entertaining and appropriate, and compliments the action that is taking place in the game.

Playability is unlimited, especially when you have a connection to XBox Live. Gears of War 2 has a deep-rooted community of players, many of whom are very helpful. From sniper rifles to crossbows that shoot grenade-tipped arrows, there are so many satisfying ways of destroying your enemies that it's hard to put down the controller. And there's nothing more satisfying than cutting an alien in half with the chainsaw that is attached to the end of your machine gun. With many achievements, collectibles, online gametypes, and campaign difficulties, you'll be in for the long haul as soon as you put the disc in the console.

This game has received a lot of hype, and justly. Its campaign mode leaves nothing lacking, and there's hours worth of extra fun waiting if you have an XBox Live account. If you're a fan of tactical shooters and a great online experience, Gears of War 2 is a must own.