Traycee, Beau and I all headed out to CityWalk on Thursday night to participate in the Gears of War 2 midnight launch event. Check out details of the event as well as first impressions from some of our GEN community members.
We started off the evening at Bubba Gumps where Nikole Z, Alexandria & Mike, Billy, Sadie, Beau and Traycee and I all met up with some friends for a little pre-game dinner. After a LOT of laughs and some business talk, we headed up the way to EB games on CityWalk to get in on some Gears 2 celebration.
Most sites will give you their opinion of a game. Here at GEN we want to know what YOU think of the hottest titles that are out right now.
What are your initial thoughts of Gears of War 2?
GamingAngels: I started the Gears of War 2 co-op splitscreen campaign last night. I am only two and a half hours in, but I can already see the attention that was placed on story as well as affects in the game. Many people groan when there are cut-scenes, but Epic makes them short and sweet. I know they have worked on pushing the Unreal Engine 3 and at times it really shows. The landscape is epic and so are the battles. Advice so far, make sure you pay attention to the objectives. It’s easy to pass right by them and fail the mission. Everyone wants to play multiplayer, but take the time to dive into the campaign.
Timebeing: So we got shut out last night. After not being able to get a wristband at Citywalk for the game, we drove to gamestop (they had closed by the time we got there), hit the 7-11 by my place and they had none. Brian hit every 7-11 on his way home, none had them, except the one by his house which had 5. But the sales guy didnt know how to ring them up so he wouldn’t sell them to him….good times.
Jenula: My initial thoughts on Gears 2 came mostly from my excitement and anticipation. The graphics look great, the story starts out great, and the new “Horde” game type is probably the most addictive multiplayer since Call of Duty 4, but when I take a step back and actually think about the game from a non-groupie perspective the graphics are not that great. Considering Epic Games hyped up their new Unreal Engine 3, I thought the graphics would be mind blowing on the verge of PS3 graphics, but they are not. They are just really, really good. I had a lot of trouble matchmaking last night with the multiplayer. I do not know if the servers were overloaded or no one was playing, but it took a good 5 minutes to get into a game. I also think they should have made the map selection random, as opposed to getting the choice of two maps with majority winning. I do, however, think the new “Horde” game type is a great addition to Gears. I enjoy working together with four of my friends (or random people) and kicking some locust butt. You can really get a feel for the maps and it is so much fun going through the different waves of locust, which by the 10th wave is insane! I also love the “new moves” you can do. For example, when you down a locust you can use him as a shield and pull out your pistol to shoot your enemies. I only played a few minutes of the campaign, but that is because my fuel was running a little low at 4am. Overall, it is an awesome game and I think it lives up to its expectations.
SmartMonkey: The game delivers on action and gameplay was smooth, but i did notice frame rate slow down for a little bit when playing horde mode when there were like 4-5 enemies surrounding you at one time. If you were playing on a tv screen less than 40″ there might be issues dealing with everythnig that’s going on all at once. The enemies are way more intelligent. i had a few of them counter/ block me when I was going in to chainsaw them. Meatshield function was cool. all round good fun game to play with friend in co-op.
Adrian Bautista: This game is totally worth the wait in line at midnight just to buy it. i love all of its features it provides. Campaign mode is fun always keeping me at the edge of my seat waiting for new surprises inside. Awesome game
Aj Fraser: Gears of War 2 is Epic. Epic games put their heart and soul into this game and pulled off one of the most “Epic Games” ever created.
Jason Michael Bassett: Oh yeah! I am playing Gears. My first name was all about Campaign and I took some time to play some multiplayer! I can’t tell you how surprised I was at the improvements of the overall product!
Good job, Epic!
PirateAndy: From the first second I popped in the Gears of War 2, the anticipation to continue the story of Marcus Fenix was overwhelming. Playing through the entire game, it definitely met my expectations of the game and the storyline. The actual story in GoW2 is a bit more in depth and has a surreal apocalyptic sentiment. I truly believe this game lives up to the hype that has surrounded it since it was announced. Sadly enough, I didn’t really notice anything that I wasn’t expecting, which was a bit disappointing. All in all, I am 100% satisfied with Gears of War 2 and I look forward to the next installment of the franchise.
Eric: Damn this game rocks. The story is great, gameplay is awesome, and I love the horde mode…the onslaught after onslaught of locust keeps you at your edge!
Dream Maker23: OK, Maybe you haven’t been on Cliffs Community Blog in www. gearsofwar. com.
There is a lot of Ass Whippers who don’t deserve the Hard work E.P.I.C has put into this Game for us & them selves!
I played about 3 Hours Last Night and All I can tell you it is Incredible! I love the fact that the Game Play is Much faster than the first Gears Of War! They gave US what I assume all GEAR Heads would love! The Art Of Motion! Meaning Now you can maneuver much easier and still keep your pace all at the same time!
The Motion Part Of The Game is a A+!
When it comes down to Graphics, I have no comment!
I’m sorry but there is no way in Hell any other Game can TOP this!But enough about The Bragging of this HISTORY in the Making Game Of the YEAR!
I can supply say THERES MORE THEN MEETS THE EYE when it comes to Gears Of War 2! It’s another World!
I CAN GET MORE INTO DETAILS BUT I DONT WANT TO BORE YOU!
JRod: Is simply brilliant.
Everything that was criticized about Gears of War 1 has been looked at and “remastered” for this amazing sequel. Everything is epic and you really get a sense of humanities last hope while playing it. Every character has a stronger deeper personality than the previous installment, with cutscenes that you wish didn’t end.
The pacing done with the gameplay has been tweaked to offer you to explore levels that you didn’t think would be possible. One minute you could be behind cover shooting at the locusts the next you’ll be on a centuar tank rushing down the valleys taking out swarms of lucusts ranging in various sizes. The scope of this game is just Epic(no pun intended!)
The graphics and voice acting is still second to none while we are jumping into the mid way point of this generation. Gears 2 really brings out a lot more colors and longer background distances. Explosions have never looked so damn good either, especially when tagging a Lucust bastard and seeing him running for his life!
I haven’t played much of the multiplayer, besides the new “Horde” mode which is a survival to the end gameplay. With hordes or waves of lucusts coming at you on all fronts, it is really a rush to work as a team and survive the 50 waves!
God I’m a dork when it comes to Gears! =D
Coinop Rob: Emergency Day (Nov 7, 2006) meant the release of Gears of War from Epic Games. Graphics and game play on the Xbox 360 was lifted to a new level of excitement and everyone had a new vocabulary which included words like cover, tactical and chainsaw. So when Gears of War 2 hit the shelves this week it was only natural for gamers to have high expectations. The man behind the game Cliff Blezinski promised ‘bigger, badder and more bad ass’ and delivered in full with Gears 2.
Gears of War 2 controls are smoother then ever. Graphics look like something you expect on a ‘next gen’ title. You are thrust into a world of lush graphics with something to explore in just about every direction. Cover and strategy are important elements – gone are the days of random battles. Play through the solo campaign by yourself or co-op with a friend sitting next to you on the couch or via Xbox Live. Online multiplayer has improvements over the first game and a new feature is called Horde in which a team of five players dukes it out against an endless supply of Locust who get stronger and stronger each wave.
If turning on your Xbox 360 is about excitement, adrenaline and awesome game play then Gears of War 2 hits on all cylinders. Monsters will leap out and surprise you, the gore factor was elevated and there’s even better dialogue and story the second time around. Gears 2 – a ride you won’t soon forget!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
woohoo it was fun hanging out - sorry we had to appear and disappear but Thursdays are busy nights for camp COIN-OP TV
November 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
OMG CHUCK cast!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I don’t have GoW2 yet…sadly. But I have Fallout and Deadspace to keep me company till then! You ladies look fantastic btw!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Let’s just say that GoW2 is my first serious experience with the GoW series (regardless of what my gamertag says, but that’s a different story). I find it very intriguing how the introduction of the game covers our problems with being in constant battle, and how the events of GoW were brought opon ourselves.
Comparing the game physics, graphics and controls, I find GoW 2 much more solid than the original. When you progress further into the story where Marcus and crew finally make that dig, there is much thought made in the details of the caves, and foliage. I’ve only made it halfway through the first chapter so far, but I hope to see more dazzling visuals as the game goes by.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
I love all the multiplayer options in Gears2. Especially being able to play with Bots. It’s fun and good practice. I really love Horde mode too, but not all is well in Gears land. They messed with the shotgun! Too much for my taste. It’s almost a useless weapon now. I was one of the best Gears players with that weapon. Not anymore, grrr!
Yes gone are the days of just walking up to someone and blasting them. The famous rowdy run and shotgun blast. Gone and it sucks! Also the characters move slower. Almost in slow motion at times. There seems to be less intimacy in Gears2 than the original and less strategy as well. They tried to make it more chaotic like a FPS. I also hate that the lobby is like Halo now, meh! Well I only started playing it today. So maybe as time goes by I’ll feel better about it.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:03 am
ill have to wait on this one… fable 2 killed my xbox… =(
OH NOEZ… shotgun nurfed? bahhh
November 11th, 2008 at 11:37 am
So i played threw the campaign on normal, and am half way threw it on insane. The game is very fun, new weapons are a blast, and over all the game looks great
Insane is hard, but really makes you feel like your in a crazy fire fight and you have to play a lot slower. It not perfectly balanced, certain events you kind of have to cheese your way passed since there are so many instant kills. Also teammates AI can be pretty bad (sniper rifle in close quarters fighting.) but you live with it.
the over all story, mood and setting are good, but the plot has some major holes. Epic has not been known for their writing skills. I would get in to details but don’t want to drop any spoilers. There are 3 to 4 plot points that not only do they not go on to explain, they don’t even hint at explaining them in the sequel. GOW1 was the same way, but I chalked that up to being rushed and half done. But now I’m thinking its just Epic is horrible at writing. Oh and Dom’s voice acting is horrible, not that his material was very good in the first place.
Have not had a chance to play multiplayer, or Co-op yet. Played a little solo Hoard, and can’t wait to get a god 5man game going. Forums are going off on how messed up multiplayer is with the chain saw. Bots are great.