Game Review: Gears of War 2

Ah yes, the ever popular Gears of War franchise. With its breathtaking graphics and fast paced action, how could it not be adored by millions. The first Gears of War was praised by many and even received the 2006 "Game of the Year" award from multiple media outlets. With shoes as big as that to fill, the next in the franchise had better be as good, if not superior. But as many in the entertainment industry know, the sequel is rarely as good as the first in the series. No pressure Epic Games (for those of you who have never heard of them or their ever popular Unreal Engine, they are the developers of the franchise.).

I have what one may consider to be a love-hate relationship with the Gears of War series. I don't so much hate it as think it is overrated and lacks any real creativity or story; instead substituting the latter with big guns, meathead characters, and great graphics. Though don't get me wrong, I still very much enjoy playing the games and can see why they are so entertaining. I just don't think they are "Game of the Year" material. But alas, that is only my opinion and it is obviously not viewed the same way by others. Moving on though, let's get into Gears of War 2 and see whether or not it made the grade.

Gameplay: Gears of War 2, like its predecessor, has two parts to its gameplay. First there is the campaign mode (either single player or co-op), which follows the story of the game, and there is also the multiplayer mode, which is best played over Xbox Live but can also be played locally or via a system link. They are both great in their own right, but are a completely different experience. Since I mentioned the campaign mode first, I'll start with that. Not much has changed here since the first Gears of War. If you look past the additions of some new, more powerful, weapons and enemies, it is structurally the same. Aside from the brand new story line, not much has changed. Most of the time you are involved in intense shootouts where you are constantly forced to take cover, which is good as it adds variety to what would otherwise be a run and gun shooter. Pepper in some vehicle based levels (which I thought to be much better this time around, even if they were still somewhat annoying) and you have yourself a bona fide Gears of War game. As for the environments, I would have liked spend more time above ground in this game. All the surface levels were pretty cool and fun to explore and play through, but I found the subterranean levels to be rather repetitive and they got old fairly quickly. Overall I enjoyed the campaign mode. I played through it twice and was satisfied each time. With the co-op mode, both off and online, (not a new feature) it has definitely replayability, even if the story doesn't have much lasting appeal.

Now on to the multiplayer. Gears of War 2 is one of those rare games that incorporates a multiplayer aspect and actually makes it so enjoyable that it could be a standalone game in itself. The original was also like this and quickly became a hit with Xbox Live fraggers all over the world. This newer version takes those concepts and adds to it, making a very enjoyable online experience. There are some modes that make a return (Warzone and Execution) as well as a few nifty additions (Horde and Wingman), which makes for quite a nice variety. I personally enjoy Horde Mode, which spawns increasingly difficult waves of enemies for you, and up to four friends, to fight in the map of your choice. Also worth mentioning is the Submission mode where you and your team must capture a human "meat flag" (which fights back and be quite surly at times) and bring them to a designated location while fighting against the opposing team. There is even a mode (Wingman) that lets teams of two face off against other bite sized teams for some good old death match style fragging where the key to survival becomes watching each other's backs. Whatever it is that you're looking for in an online shooter multiplayer game, chances are Gears of War 2 has it. With great variety and gameplay that goes beyond the somewhat played out team vs. team standoff that is found in most shooters, Gears of War 2 is definitely worth checking out (that is of course if online multiplayer is your bag).

Graphics & Sound: Gears of War is known for its beautiful graphics and its sequel does not disappoint. In fact, this time around it looks like they pushed the graphical capability and it really shows. There are multiple vistas throughout the game which look good enough to make you take a break from slaughtering Locusts to enjoy the view. Graphically this game is strong and is best enjoyed in HD resolution of some kind. If this is any indication of where games are headed graphically, than I am more than pleased. The sound in this game is pretty good too. The voice acting seems solid and the sound effects are immersive enough to pull you into the game. Although, I did grow tired of listening to Locusts growl about half way through the game. While I have definitely heard better, the audio is not terrible, and that is worth mentioning. Overall the audio-visual experience is where it should be with a game of this scale.

Achievements: Now for the section I have been waiting for. The achievements for the original Gears of War were one of the main reasons that I stopped playing the game in the first place. Not only were they rigid in the rules of how to obtain them, dealing with the unpredictability of other online players really made for some frustrating gameplay in my quest to reach 1,000 points. Needless to say I never got there, but I did develop a disdain for multiplayer achievements along the way. This time around they were a bit more lenient with the rules. Like last time, there is an even mix of multiplayer and story-based achievements, but, unlike last time, the way that you choose to obtain these achievements varies. Some are specific to their mode and can only be won by playing that game type (ex: "Brumak Rodeo" and "Party Like It's 1999"), but there are quite a few that can be earned in either multiplayer or campaign mode (ex: "Shock and Awe" and "Crossed Swords"). The infamous "Seriously" achievement is back and the ante is upped this time around. Instead of 10,000 kills you need 100,000, but they can be obtained in any mode which can make it much easier if you are willing to put the time in. Overall it can take a while to get all 1,000 points if you choose to, but compared to last time it is much easier to do so. Personally I don't like the game enough to go for it, but if you love Gears of War and achievements then by all means pick this game up, as there can be some entertaining opportunities to beef up your gamerscore.

Final Thoughts: Gears of War 2 is pretty much right on par with what I expected it to be. An action packed continuation of the franchise with shiny graphics and a big budget. The game is entertaining, but it lacks the appeal to keep me coming back for more once have played through it a few times. Based on what I have seen from this franchise so far, I am going to predict a new Gears every two to three years that continues to get "bigger, better, and more badass" until it gets so massive that it implodes in on itself and everyone loses interest and moves on to the next big thing. But for now enjoy it for what it is worth; the videogame equivalent of an over-the-top Hollywood popcorn flick.

The Wrap-up: If you are like me and take in so much information on a daily basis that the only way to get through it all is to read the summary, than this is the section for you. Four pages condensed into one paragraph. Enjoy!

Gameplay: A good campaign experience with a decent storyline that is definitely enhanced by the addition of online co-op play. Multiplayer is even better this time around and there are a lot of different modes to satisfy even the most obscure craving. The horde mode is also a welcome addition. Let's hope it becomes a trend for development companies to think outside the box when it comes to online multiplayer gaming.

Graphics & Sound: The graphics really shine in this game and that makes it even more enjoyable to explore its environments or curb stomp foes, whichever floats your boat. I suggest taking time out every now and then to pay attention to the details in the scenery and notice how great this game really looks. Sound is meh. Not bad, but I have definitely come across better. Voice acting holds up and can be believable at times, which is more than I expected from a game like this.

Achievements: The achievements are much more dynamic this time around, but not overly creative or entertaining. Most of them are tied directly to the story or revolve around killing opponents in creative ways (in some cases over and over again). The addition of an achievement tracker is also a welcome change. Let's hope that is another gaming trend that is here to stay. Overall these achievements are not super easy and can require some time to get. See my mention earlier about killing 100,000 enemies (you read that right. It kind of makes the "Zombie Genocidest" achievement seem like a walk in the park).

Final Recommendation: Worth Checking Out

This is a game to get if you are looking for some fun gameplay with over-the-top action and a mediocre story. The multiplayer gives it some replayability, but even that gets old if you aren't a true fan. This game is rated M (Mature) because of its violence and strong language. There is a content filter, but having never used it I'm not sure exactly what it does or how it detracts from the game. We now know that Gears of War 2 didn't win game of the year this time around, but that doesn't mean that it isn't playable. Overall this is a great series and definitely deserves some attention and respect, but I think its missing that unique appeal that could make it great.

Game Review: Left 4 Dead

First up is the zombie flick inspired, apocalyptic first-person shooter Left 4 Dead, developed by Valve software. Let me start by saying I am a big fan of anything zombie (even George A. Romero's not so good zombie films, like Land of the Dead), so needless to say I was very excited about the release of this game. For whatever reason, the thought of undead corpses shuffling around in search of human flesh to consume (as well as the societal breakdown that always ensues) fascinates me. Anything that can virtually put me in the middle of such an experience without any of the real life drawbacks, like death, disembowelment, or zombification, becomes an instant favorite in my book. For this review I'm going to try to keep my zombie obsessions separate from my critique of this game and focus on what I thought made Left 4 Dead both great and not so great.

Gameplay: First and foremost, anyone considering purchasing this game should know one important factor; THIS IS A MULTIPLAYER GAME. For those of you who don't have Xbox Live, don't expect to get much playtime out of this game. In fact, unless you have a friend or family member to consistently play with, (there is a two player split screen feature) I would advise skipping this title altogether. There are only four scenarios to play through, each of which only takes about an hour (depending on how you play the game) to complete. Also, there is not much story element behind these chapters. It basically consists of go here to be rescued or stay here and die. Regardless, they are entertaining to play through, but the game really shines when you add three other friends, or completely random people, via Xbox live.

For those of you who have invested in a Gold Subscription, I would definitely recommend picking up this game. If you are a fan of survival horror, or even first-person shooters in general, Left 4 Dead is definitely worth checking out. While it tends to lead more toward the fast paced action shooter genre, there are elements of survival horror infused (limited health and sporadically placed ammo stashes) throughout the game. It is clear that the co-op gameplay was the main focus of this game though, and that it all hinges on being able to work together as a team in order to complete the level. In fact, if you do wander off, chances are that a hunter will pounce on you or a smoker will constrict you, pretty much ending your play time (unless a compassionate teammate decides runs back to rescue you). Though overall, the experiences tend to stay new enough to keep the game entertaining during the multiple times that you will play through the same scenarios. Provided you can find competent teammates (which is not as easy as it sounds, trust me), Left 4 Dead has enough replayability to keep the game entertaining for quite some time.

Graphics & Sound: Graphically the game is pretty solid. The character models look great and the environments are polished enough to give you that creepy feeling that something serious is about to go, or just went, down here. All four of the scenarios are unique and playing each of them makes you feel as if your actually taking part in a horror flick. On that note I should mention that Valve decided to present the game in such a way that the user is playing it as if they were actually in a zombie movie. Each chapter begins with a movie poster style loading screen and ends with credits that list the stats for that preceding gameplay. There is even a film grain filter that can be turned up or down to increase that old zombie film feeling. While this is creative and different, I feel that it takes away from the game in such a way that it almost spoofs zombie movies and gives it a less realistic feel. I actually turned the film grain off because it started to annoy me.

As for the sound, I have no complaints. The voiceover work is on par and believable and the environmental sounds really help to draw you into the action. The music borrows heavily from horror movies of the past (anyone remember the violin strings from Psycho) but it always gives a suspenseful feeling when it is due. It even manages to keep you in anticipation when nothing is happening at the moment, but you know that danger is right around the corner.

These are not your granddad's slow, shuffling zombies

Achievements: If you are a PlayStation 3 or PC user than you might as well skip over this section. It is usually only reserved for compulsive, completionist, Xbox 360 owners. Most of the achievements in this game are not too hard to get and are even fairly entertaining (ex: "Towering Inferno" and "Akimbo Assassin"), but, as with any other Valve games that I have played, there are those last few that might drive you nuts in your attempt to get them (ex: "Nothing Special" and "What Are You Trying to Prove?"). The achievements for this game will require multiple play-throughs as well as a fair amount of patience and some skilled teammates. I currently only have five left to get and have played the game for well over twenty-five hours. While hard, they are not impossible and anyone can get them with the right amount of skill and a little creativity (btw: it is possible to get "All 4 Dead" and "Lamb 2 Slaughter" with a second controller or a friend signed in as your guest. Just play a local private game and do what you have to do without worrying about the unpredictability of other online players.) If you are looking for a quick and easy 1,000 points, than this is not a game for you. However if you are looking for a quick and easy 500+ points, as well as some rather entertaining achievements to obtain than Left 4 Dead is where it's at. As I mentioned before though, those last few aren't a walk in the park and can lead to some broken controllers and/or pissed off teammates if one is not careful.

Final Thoughts: Left 4 Dead is a great game,...but with a little more time and a better storyline it could have easily been an amazing game. With the addition of more weapons (a well placed RPG would make short work of those troublesome tanks), a more creative story, and access to features that would make for more dynamic gameplay, this could have been a much better game. For instance, I think it would be much more interesting if they made the friendly fire consequences much stronger, but add a feature where the host can decide to turn it on or off if they wish. There have been many a time where I wanted to ditch an annoying teammate who is constantly low on health and keeps holding the team back because they don't know how to advance properly. A well placed bullet to the leg could have put an end to them quick AND make for good zombie bait as the rest of the team gets away. Not to mention I think other players would be much more aware of how they used their ammo if they knew that it mattered who (or what) you sprayed hot lead into. This may not make for good teamwork, but it would definitely add different elements to the gameplay, such as trust. If one knew that they would be sacrificed if they didn't pull their own weight, then I'm sure they would play with more enthusiasm, maybe as if their life depended on it. This is the zombie apocalypse after all.

The Wrap-up: If you are like me and take in so much information on a daily basis that the only way to get through it all is to read the summary, than this is the section for you. Four pages condensed into one paragraph. Enjoy!

Gameplay: Great for online multiplayer, but gets old real quick offline. May be able to make it last with a friend and an additional controller, but this game is made to be multiplayer. The only way to get the most out of it is to play it that way.

Graphics & Sound: The graphics are crisp and show a great deal of polish. As with most Valve games, attention to was paid throughout the entire game and it is evident. The sound and music works well too and really adds to the overall feeling of the game. Hint: Turn on the subtitles to see what going on ahead of time (special infected have subtitles and can often be read about before they are heard) or to read some really funny lines that might have been missed if your volume is down (apparently Francis hates everything).

Achievements: Overall the achievements for this game are fun to get. Many of them revolve around killing zombies or completing the campaign in certain ways and can be gotten in a few play throughs. Be warned, there are a select few that are by no means easy and can be really frustrating at times. If you enjoy killing zombies (53,595 to be exact) and being rewarded icon size images and text for your effort, than this game is definitely recommended. If, however, you are set on getting all 1,000 points than be prepared to invest a decent amount of time and skill.

Final Recommendation: Buy It and Keep It

If you like zombies and action shooters than get this game. As long as you have an internet connection and a Gold Subscription the possibilities are endless. If, however, you are looking for a game with a deep story and a hefty single player campaign I suggest that you look elsewhere. Oh, and one more thing. As the name should imply, this is not a game for kids. Its rated M (Mature) for a reason and I suggest that you don't get it for your child unless you want them sleeping at the foot of your bed until it's time for them to move out. On that note, merry zombie slaughtering to all and I'll catch you on XBL.