The COG Strikes Back (With a Perfect Sequel): Gears of War 2 Review

Sequels are famous for the natural ability to either make or break a series. So many great games have been stopped dead in their tracks by sequels that jumped the gun, took it in an unwanted direction, or simply lost the fire. This is not one of those sequels - Gears of War 2 exemplifies everything a fan of the original Gears of War wanted to play in a follow-up title. It delivers on every promise made by the smash hit by Epic Games in 2006.

Following Marcus Fenix's big win over the vicious Locust Horde, the Coalition of Ordered

Governments (COG) has made a serious comeback. Soldiers of COG, or "Gears," are no longer fighting from the shadows. Instead, they're mounting a large offensive against the genocidal, subterranean monsters that have laid waste to their civilization on the planet Sera for the past 15 years. Sargent Fenix and Delta Squad must push back the beasts and attack them on their home turf - the underground Hollow.

Gears of War 2 introduces you to the troubled and gory world of chainsaws and non-stop combat very calmly. With the shift from small-scale horror to full-scale warfare, the third-person game takes some time before throwing players into combat situations against the Locusts. The player's control of Marcus and his cover system is crisp and very familiar. Taking cover against a number of objects provides you with ways of approaching ranged attacks, or bloody close quarters combat. Gears of War's sprint, also known as the "roadie run," is essential for quickly crossing the war-torn streets or massive underground hollows of Sera. The movement in this game is unchanged from the first title, and feels smooth albeit a tad unusual due to the characters' massive size and armor. However, with that massiveness comes the power to literally obliterate enemies. Marcus and his fellow Gears are armed with weapons so legendary, they define themselves. The Lancer assault rifle's chainsaw bayonet is still sawing, and many more new weapons including flamethrowers and mini-guns debut on the battlefield. The destructive power the player is allowed is so undeniably fun.

The story of this sequel is the best it's ever been. The fantastic and dark mystery that the debut title cultivated is perfectly followed up by Gears of War 2's excellent combination of answers, and new questions. Dramatic new developments and background information is tantalizingly discovered, all while the mystery of the Locust is only further expanded. With the larger scale we discussed earlier, we have a better understanding of the planet Sera and those who live on it. Marcus and other characters, such as his best friend, Dom Santiago also get more substance. A slew of new characters also surprised us with unexpected perspectives and story arcs, such as Ben Carmine, the brother the late Anthony Carmine of the original Gears of War. Impressive voice acting from John DiMaggio (Futurama, Adventure Time) and thematic elements are also infused with Emotions and dramatic flare are distant yet palpable at every turn, making the plot more intriguing and relatable.

If you've played the original Gears of War, then you know that it's a bit mysterious (vague more than anything). Plot points, background and history is introduced to players in tiny pieces, and this games is no different. As we already mentioned, we get a better look at the big picture of the war and the world in which it takes place, but it keeps any significant answers just out of reach. That's all fine, but it could've been handled better. Certain developments are dramatic and horrifying, but ultimately confusing. At some points, even the members of Delta Squad are baffled at some jumps in story and in character. This is a minor snag, and doesn't hinder a play-through all that much, but it could have been approached in a less minimalist fashion. Even with that being said, the mysteries of Gears of War are still viciously enticing.

While we've touched on them a bit, we really wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't talk guns. Gears of War 2's arsenal is improved and expanded with a new array of gut grinding weapons. The Mulcher, a portable chain gun can be deployed on cover or on the ground and rip Locust Drones to shreds. The new Mortar is a personal favorite of ours, as it launches a cluster bomb of mortar shells that can decimate enemies positioned behind cover. With these new weapons also comes a new facet of Gears combat, children of the ever-famous "curb stomp" - executions. Nearly every gun, from the massive Mulcher to the tiny Snub pistol has a unique and bloody final touch to downed bad guys. Those bad guys can also be man-handled by Marcus as "meat shields," which lends players a little more ferociousness in their war against the Locust monsters.

One of the most fascinating observable components of the first Gears of War were the environments. Mostly taking place above the surface of Sera, the ruins of COG cities showcased Neo-Roman/European inspirations, now mastered by Epic Games. Giant buildings with unique and intricate stone-work are still all around Delta Squad as they traverse their battered country. However, the most amazing and intriguing surroundings lay below. The Locust Hollow is teeming with alien beings and dark passage ways. As the COG strikes back against the Horde for the first time, we get a glimpse of Locust architecture and the horrifying designs of their massive underground network.

This 2008 release sets so many standards on how to develop a sequel into a hit. Gears of War 2 is fun, touching, and introduces so many new things to such a great series in video games. It's a blockbuster game with so much to offer. Any lover of fun third-person shooters and fantastic plot lines would be wise to pick up this Xbox exclusive.

#TheLancerGearsofWarReviewSeries