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Fenix, Dom, Cole and the whole COG gang are back in Gears of War II, which picks up where the first Gears of War ended.
After having believed that the Locust Horde, living beneath the surface of the planet, had been killed by the Lightmass Bomb, the people of Earth learn that they’ve only come back – stronger and meaner.
So again, it behooves the Delta Squad, led by Fenix, to squash them like bugs.
A sequel video game succeeds if it delivers what fans of the first game liked, but adds enough to make it worth going down that road again.
Gears of War 2 comes through with flying colors.
There is plenty of skull crushing, chainsaw cutting, grenade chunking fun, played out with a visual style that is both pretty and gritty. At times, you almost want to pause and take in the scenery, but you have to remember that there are things trying to kill you.
There is also a bit of an attempt to personalize humanity’s struggle with a back story that draws out some emotion.
But, in the end, the game is all about the fight for survival through the abundant use of ammo.
Back are all of the cool weapons and vicious enemies, including a couple of new ones. Also new is the ability to wrangle some of the Horde’s living transportation, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex-like Brumak and the flying spider-like Reavers.
Gameplay is spot-on, with a variety of fighting options and plenty of opportunities for finding cover and planning strategies. Weaponry is in abundance, with ammo at nearly every turn.
The keystone weapon again is the Lancer assault rifle — with its handy chainsaw attachment — which is useful in dismembering opponents. New in GoW II is the ability to have chainsaw duels, both in single-player and multiplayer action.
The multiplayer mode also adds the all-new Horde mode – battling with up to four other players online against wave after wave of Horde attackers.
Multiplayer options also include co-op mode, where another player can join your single-player game at any time in the action.
Gears of War II provides everything a shooter fan could ask for, with a visual style that commands your attention.
Platform: XBox 360
Manufacturer: Microsoft Game Studios
Rating: Mature
Copyright 2008 ABQjournal.com
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