Gears of War 2

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3389 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,602 out of 3389
  2. Mixed: 275 out of 3389
  3. Negative: 512 out of 3389
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  1. Jimi360
    Mar 24, 2016
    9
    The highlight of the Gears of War series, GOW 2 picks up and improves on the first instalment of the franchise by adding in four-player co-op for you and 3 friends to play, but if you're going solo then there is a hugely enjoyable campaign with some ridiculous boss fights, and all the blood and gore of the original.

    Though some aspects of the story may be forgotten or lost in the    The highlight of the Gears of War series, GOW 2 picks up and improves on the first instalment of the franchise by adding in four-player co-op for you and 3 friends to play, but if you're going solo then there is a hugely enjoyable campaign with some ridiculous boss fights, and all the blood and gore of the original.

    Though some aspects of the story may be forgotten or lost in the shuffle, the main characters are once again some of the finest characters in video games, from the gritty realistic versions of Mario and Luigi in Marcus and Dom, to the unforgettable Cole Train and the sarcastic Baird. The addition and improvement of the multiplayer is also a welcome addition, and everything about Gears of War 2 shows off everything that gaming can do, in fantastic fashion.    … Expand
  2. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    9
    I have just recently completed Gears of War, the first one and my goal is to play all of the Gears of War franchise. This is just the 2nd one and I will keep continuing to play them all. Gears of War 2 feels like a much better game than the original. It also feels much easier, it seems like they knocked down the difficulty settings quite a bit. Personally I kind of liked it though becauseI have just recently completed Gears of War, the first one and my goal is to play all of the Gears of War franchise. This is just the 2nd one and I will keep continuing to play them all. Gears of War 2 feels like a much better game than the original. It also feels much easier, it seems like they knocked down the difficulty settings quite a bit. Personally I kind of liked it though because it allowed me to play the game as a little bit more of a run and gun rather than the cover shooter that its suppose to be.

    I enjoy a fun shooter campaign and the Gears franchise seems to be a well-made shooter campaign. I am having a fantastic time with the franchise. As I’m playing these games, I can’t help but appreciate what Gears have done for the Genre. Who knows without Gears, there may not have been Uncharted or if there was. It may not have been as good.

    The game itself has aged very well. The shooting works great, honestly, for an Xbox 360 game, I was impressed with how it looked. Sure its a dark and grimy game but it still looks good. I thought the first Gears game aged well and I think this game is even better. The Gears can be picked up for cheap and I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  3. DietDew12
    Nov 24, 2016
    9
    One of the best games on 360. Probably one of the main reasons I bought the console. The story is amazing, the visuals look beautiful to this day, the gameplay is addicting. Probably the best Gears game to date.
  4. ladygaga93
    Jul 3, 2017
    9
    It is one of the best game on xbox 360, the reason why you wanna buy this console. Good graphics despite many years since release, interesting story and i think it should be the last one from gears of war. 3rd part is like reheated pork, get easy money from fans.
  5. FeerFrikazus
    Sep 10, 2017
    9
    Es un juego muy bueno con gráficos avanzados para esos años, el sistema de apuntado me gusta igual que los sonidos, los jefes no son gran cosa pero tampoco son malos, la historia tampoco me cautivo mucho, las mecánicas están muy bien hechas pero lo importante del juego es que es divertido y entretenido que al fin y al cabo es lo importante.
    Si te gustan los juegos de disparos lo recomiendo.
  6. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Jul 31, 2018
    9
    "Gears of War 2" is one of the best video game sequels ever made. An improvement over the original, it's a great title that ranks up with "Modern Warfare 2", "Uncharted 2" and "Halo 2". Story and character development are secondary to the exhilarating action. It's one of those cases where bigger really is better. Both the campaign and multiplayer were expanded upon and improved. This is"Gears of War 2" is one of the best video game sequels ever made. An improvement over the original, it's a great title that ranks up with "Modern Warfare 2", "Uncharted 2" and "Halo 2". Story and character development are secondary to the exhilarating action. It's one of those cases where bigger really is better. Both the campaign and multiplayer were expanded upon and improved. This is arguably the best installment in the series. It's a true action classic that I would rate it with a 9.5 out of 10.… Expand
  7. PedroRC19
    Oct 3, 2018
    9
    Ao meu ver tem a melhor campanha dos 4 games lançados, e um grande jogo como todos da franquia e pra mim consegue ser disparado um dos melhores jogos do Xbox 360 no Geral.
  8. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    9
    Hikaye = 10
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  9. velikaplana
    Jul 7, 2018
    9
    Gears of War 2 has a lot in common with its predecessor, but the new environments, darker storyline, and epic scale certainly have a lot to offer fans. The new weapons, melee attacks, and co-op options make for a campaign that you'll want to complete a number of times, and the new multiplayer modes give the game variety and longevity. Simply put, Gears of War 2 is a superior shooter thatGears of War 2 has a lot in common with its predecessor, but the new environments, darker storyline, and epic scale certainly have a lot to offer fans. The new weapons, melee attacks, and co-op options make for a campaign that you'll want to complete a number of times, and the new multiplayer modes give the game variety and longevity. Simply put, Gears of War 2 is a superior shooter that no action fan will want to miss out on.… Expand
  10. Kostas101
    Jun 4, 2020
    9
    Awesome game with an interesting story, very good characters and great shooting mechanics. The dark atmosphere sets the tone of the game perfectly, the boss battles are epic and the action is very good, the best game in the Gears of War series.
  11. Rains01
    Jan 26, 2021
    9
    ..........................................................................:
  12. sergio123456
    Jun 20, 2020
    9
    Segunda parte de esta gran saga, donde se mejora todo lo de la primera, con nuevas mecánicas y motor gráfico más pulido para una mejor experiencia del jugador. Totalmente imprescindible.
  13. yangfanhong
    Dec 1, 2020
    9
    The story between Dom and his wife Maria is really touching. And the hidden story between humans and locusts is profund.
  14. emptychain
    May 29, 2020
    9
    Gears of War 2 es un juego obligado para los usuarios de un Xbox 360 o un Xbox one, gráficamente el juego a día de hoy se ve bastante decente aunque aveces hay fallos en las texturas y pueden tardar unos segundos en cargar pero cuando estas cargan se ven realmente espectacular teniendo en cuenta que este juego fue lanzado en el 2008, la campaña es muy buena de hecho creo que es la mejor deGears of War 2 es un juego obligado para los usuarios de un Xbox 360 o un Xbox one, gráficamente el juego a día de hoy se ve bastante decente aunque aveces hay fallos en las texturas y pueden tardar unos segundos en cargar pero cuando estas cargan se ven realmente espectacular teniendo en cuenta que este juego fue lanzado en el 2008, la campaña es muy buena de hecho creo que es la mejor de la saga, es muy divertida y mejora si la jugamos en el modo cooperativo o pantalla dividida con amigos, tenemos alrededor de 8 o 9 horas de campaña, el modo multijugador es la parte fuerte del juego siempre lo ha sido y en esta entrega se incluyo el emblemático hora un modo de juego en el cual te enfrentaras a oleadas de enemigos hasta llegar a la ronda 50 la experiencia mejora si jugamos acompañados de amigos, la banda sonora es muy buena y el doblaje latino es un espectáculo con grandes voces como Sebastián Llapur, algo malo del juego es la mala inteligencia artificial de los personajes muchas veces serán derribados torpemente o por culpa de ellos varias veces terminaras repitiendo misiones por errores de ellos, los personajes son carismáticos y en alguno de comentarios de estos te hará gracia pero sin llegar a ser tedioso, los tiroteos son el punto fuerte de toda la franquicia llegando a la perfección con eso los tiroteos son divertidisimos y son lo mejor de la franquicia. en definitiva Gears of War 2 es una experiencia divertidisima y que deberias jugar es uno de los mejores shoters de todos los tiempos y en definitiva uno de los mejores juegos de su tipo… Expand
  15. BrandoNation23
    Jul 1, 2020
    9
    Gears of War 2 was bigger and more badass in almost every way. The multiplayer, when it worked, was absolutely fantastic!
  16. SWFan523
    Jun 21, 2020
    9
    Horrors of the COG and Locust war are felt throughout this somber and deeper narrative than the original.
  17. soldar
    Jun 26, 2020
    9
    Una mejor entrega que la pasada, con grandes situaciones de acción y le da más profundidad a los personajes
  18. Cjmolina007
    Jul 21, 2020
    9
    You want a good sequel that reminds you on how amazing the first one was or even better, than this is the game for you. Gears of War 2 goes all out with this one by taking the fight to their house after the events from the previous game failed. Revelations are revealed and hearts will be broken, the magnitude of this game was so much bigger than the previous one that it might be myYou want a good sequel that reminds you on how amazing the first one was or even better, than this is the game for you. Gears of War 2 goes all out with this one by taking the fight to their house after the events from the previous game failed. Revelations are revealed and hearts will be broken, the magnitude of this game was so much bigger than the previous one that it might be my favorite one out of the whole series. Although I gave the first Gears a 10/10, to me I think that this story is a lot better than the first. Couple of moments made it feel like it was a horror movie which made it even more intense that I thought it was going to be. Did have some slow moments or moments that I think could have been done differently which sometimes did take me out of the experience but other than that, a near damn perfect sequel to one of my favorite games of all time.… Expand
  19. adam_carl
    Oct 21, 2021
    9
    Another perfect GEARS GAME! The story the combat the characters are amazing like always this the most action experience what I ever had long long time.
  20. DoctorMojica
    Aug 8, 2021
    9
    Gears gets improved in every way possible. Better controls, better graphics and textures, better soundtrack, better gameplay. Definitely one of the best games of Xbox 360 and definitely worth it to play in 2021. Must play.
  21. OMonarquista96
    Mar 16, 2021
    9
    A história é sensacional do pouco que pude entender. Infelizmente o jogo não está em Português, esse é o motivo de não ter dado nota máxima.
  22. iovanni
    Apr 3, 2021
    9
    It is a great game, its campaign is one of the best, if it is not one of the best in the gears saga, its horde mode is something meh, but I lay the foundations for the horde mode of gears 3, which in my opinion is e best horde mode
  23. CloudStrife05
    Aug 19, 2021
    9
    Gears of War 2 is a great sequel to a great franchise that really sucked you in.
  24. Bananastik
    Jan 9, 2022
    9
    An excellent game, although old, it plays well, a good main character and an excellent storyline
  25. Amir7scorpioN
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    classic...i had so much fun in this game
    a great TPS... this franchise is one of my favorites
  26. Kostas_Spirou
    Feb 15, 2022
    9
    An improvement over the first game in every way possible, Gears of War 2 is definitely the best game in the series.

    It's a ruthless game, full of violence, gore and action. The story is pretty interesting for the most part, nothing special but it does depict the atrocities of war very well. The gameplay is enjoyable, it's a brutal fast paced cover shooter with a good amount of creative    An improvement over the first game in every way possible, Gears of War 2 is definitely the best game in the series.

    It's a ruthless game, full of violence, gore and action.
    The story is pretty interesting for the most part, nothing special but it does depict the atrocities of war very well.

    The gameplay is enjoyable, it's a brutal fast paced cover shooter with a good amount of creative weapons to use.

    The dark atmosphere sets the tone of the game perfectly, and it can be quite scary at times. There are many different areas that you visit throughout the campaign, and each area looks unique.

    Last but not least, the boss fights are jaw-dropping!
    This really is an Epic game after all.

    Final Rating: "Amazing" ~ 9/10.    … Expand
  27. Hiccup3319
    Oct 28, 2022
    9
    A Great all around game, the most fun i have had in game in a while. The action, story and gameplay were all great and stepped up from Gears of war 1
  28. leofravoline
    May 10, 2022
    9
    É o melhor gears, sem dúvida. Ele pega todo que fez o 1 um jogo bom e eleva ele a um patamar acima. Não gostei do gears 3, e do 5(os únicos que joguei após esse) então esse continua sendo o meu preferido.
  29. HuevoAlce
    Jun 26, 2022
    9
    Gears of War is famous for a reason. It engages in, both, great single and multi player.
  30. DanielGG91
    Nov 15, 2022
    9
    Mantiene lo mejor del 1 y en algunas cosas lo mejora, me enganchó mucho más y sobre todo es frenético a más no poder.
  31. goodgriff33
    Dec 24, 2022
    9
    Answer: 75 characters is between 10 words and 19 words with spaces included in the character count. If spaces are not included in the character count, then 75 characters is between 12 words and 25 words.
  32. SabaPro
    Mar 4, 2023
    9
    A game where you shoot monsters with your cool big ass gun, thats not everything that this game has to offer, i am only saying that because when i hear that i immediately get turned off, but this one actually does it well and is really good not gonna lie.
  33. Alec
    Nov 10, 2008
    8
    overall a great game, if a bit over hyped. the game play is solid (albeit simplistic), the campaign is gripping (aside from parts that are too soap opera-ish for my tastes), and horde mode is just fantastic. the only downer is the versus multiplayer, which is disappointing on several levels. the match making system takes way too long (2+ minutes to find a game?), the way you chose game overall a great game, if a bit over hyped. the game play is solid (albeit simplistic), the campaign is gripping (aside from parts that are too soap opera-ish for my tastes), and horde mode is just fantastic. the only downer is the versus multiplayer, which is disappointing on several levels. the match making system takes way too long (2+ minutes to find a game?), the way you chose game modes is frustrating, and weapon imbalances are annoying. if i want to play the submission game type, why do i have to join a queue for "territories" and hope that it is voted for by the other players over annex or king of the hill? that method of finding games may make sense for halo 3 because it has so many game types, but i really think that epic should have gone the route of COD matchmaking, including the ability for new players to drop in/drop out of games. god knows there are enough people playing this game for this to work. luckily this game has horde mode to keep me coming back, but who knows for how long. cod 5 comes out soon, with its zombie coop mode, and not long after is left 4 dead.… Expand
  34. DemothH.
    Nov 25, 2008
    8
    This game was AWESOME, and far better than the first. I am almost a total fan-boy for this game because of the fixes for multiplayer. I still have my gripes, however, that caused me to not give this a 10. The weapons online can sometimes be horribly inconsistent. Some days all the weapons seem to work as they should and I'll get kills and get killed and there are no problems. Other This game was AWESOME, and far better than the first. I am almost a total fan-boy for this game because of the fixes for multiplayer. I still have my gripes, however, that caused me to not give this a 10. The weapons online can sometimes be horribly inconsistent. Some days all the weapons seem to work as they should and I'll get kills and get killed and there are no problems. Other times I will unload 3 shotgun shells into someone, point blank, then melee them and then I get chainsawed. I've also been on the receiving end of BS when someone sits in my face for 3 seconds with a chainsaw and then I roll away and down them in one non-active reload shot with the shotgun. I've even been hin the legs with a boomshot and lived.... wtf? BS goes both ways sometimes, and when the game decides to have inconsistent weapons then the game becomes no fun. The matchmaking can also be spotty, sometimes taking 10 minutes to find a game, and other times assigning you to a game where everyone is experiencing crippling lag. When the game does decide to work, however, the game is second to none. I just wish the game actually was consistent.… Expand
  35. JohnS.
    Nov 25, 2008
    8
    Although the feel was the same as the first game, this shouldn't be unexpected as it is the second in a trilogy. The writing was great as the plot was advanced - the writers aren't waiting for the last game to release all the information. I liked the differences between Gears 1 and Gears 2 - "collectables" aren't just in the form of COG tags, and, when found, they actually Although the feel was the same as the first game, this shouldn't be unexpected as it is the second in a trilogy. The writing was great as the plot was advanced - the writers aren't waiting for the last game to release all the information. I liked the differences between Gears 1 and Gears 2 - "collectables" aren't just in the form of COG tags, and, when found, they actually serve a purpose - they advance the plot of the story. DIfferent weapons, enemies and modes of transport made for a very enjoyable experience.… Expand
  36. Mike
    Nov 8, 2008
    8
    Gears 1, but with better graphics and more weapons. The SP is much like a current Hollywood action film: bloated, obvious, and be prepared for either a cutscene or text and control hints overlaid on your screen about every 60 seconds or so. And the music is an overbearing nonstop classical score from beginning to end. The whole thing kinda reminds me of a new Star Wars film, overproduced Gears 1, but with better graphics and more weapons. The SP is much like a current Hollywood action film: bloated, obvious, and be prepared for either a cutscene or text and control hints overlaid on your screen about every 60 seconds or so. And the music is an overbearing nonstop classical score from beginning to end. The whole thing kinda reminds me of a new Star Wars film, overproduced and bombastic with not much substance. I struggled to feel "part" of the world, with the text messages, cutscenes, and control hints constantly popping up. Feels like its for a 12 yr old. All that being said, MP is better than in Gears 1, with more options and a better party system. Still has some of the glitchiness present in Gears 1, with wall sticking and the cover system, but I suppose that can be overlooked. Still, its unreal this is getting rated 100 by so-called legit game mags and websites. Wake up people.… Expand
  37. mg
    Nov 8, 2008
    8
    The cinematics are the same as the first, which is great. The single player campaign is epic. The multiplayer is a little wanting. My friends and I had to wait for a long time to get a 5th player before we could actually start playing. And only 2 player coop? And since they were released so close together, you can't help but compare this game to resistance 2. Gears wins the solo The cinematics are the same as the first, which is great. The single player campaign is epic. The multiplayer is a little wanting. My friends and I had to wait for a long time to get a 5th player before we could actually start playing. And only 2 player coop? And since they were released so close together, you can't help but compare this game to resistance 2. Gears wins the solo campaign. But I have to give the award for multiplayer to Resistance. It's just more fulfilling, not a lot of waiting around. Gears is still definitely a great game, though.… Expand
  38. DAVIDGIBBONS
    Nov 9, 2008
    8
    i THINK THIS IS STILL AN AMAZING GAME AND FOR NEWCOMERS IS JUST AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN THE FIRST. BUT IF YOU HAVE PLAYED THE FIRST AND HAVE JUST BOUGHT THE SECOND THEN YOU MAY FIND IT A BIT BORING IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE IT IS VERY MUCH THE SAME
  39. AdamW
    May 21, 2009
    8
    Not the best game ever but still one of the best cover shooters around. The storyline was a little disappointing with the extremely easy end boss but the inclusion of 5 of the original Gears of War maps makes up for that.
  40. IsaacH.
    Nov 23, 2008
    8
    The Campaign has been vastly improved, the graphics look great and the gameplay less clunky and heavy from the first... Everything Single player is great. Multiplayer drags it down from the first... The addition of matchmaking is a HUGE flaw as most games are laggy unless you can pull host. The Chainsaw is too overpowering and the shotgun, reduced greatly. It's still fun to play and The Campaign has been vastly improved, the graphics look great and the gameplay less clunky and heavy from the first... Everything Single player is great. Multiplayer drags it down from the first... The addition of matchmaking is a HUGE flaw as most games are laggy unless you can pull host. The Chainsaw is too overpowering and the shotgun, reduced greatly. It's still fun to play and a good online experience - and much better than most other shooters (fps or otherwise) - but it just feels like they wanted to change it too much, to have it played completely on their terms, and there definitely needs to be the inclusion of dedicated servers so that lag is not an issue.… Expand
  41. BryanFedor
    Nov 23, 2008
    8
    Gears of War 2 is a good game, bu I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Sometimes, bigger isn't better. The level design in the original Gears of War is better, even without the "boss" battles. The enemies in Gears of War 2 lack distinction. The tickers remind me of less mobile, and therefore, less threatening wretches. What happened to the Berserker, and why get rid of theGears of War 2 is a good game, bu I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Sometimes, bigger isn't better. The level design in the original Gears of War is better, even without the "boss" battles. The enemies in Gears of War 2 lack distinction. The tickers remind me of less mobile, and therefore, less threatening wretches. What happened to the Berserker, and why get rid of the Kryll? Razor hail? Really? Weapons are unbalanced, too. The mortar is simply too much fun, and the range on the flame thrower is too high. That being said, Gears 2 works because it tries to tell a story, and because the "boss" battles are good enough (even if they're derivative) to keep you entertained. The real juice is in the multiplayer, especially Horde mode. This is where Gears 2 offers enough variety that it earns style points over it's predecessor. By all means, play this game - but make sure you play the original too.… Expand
  42. David
    Nov 9, 2008
    8
    Very similar to the first game, which could mean a good thing or a not so good thing. But I liked the first gears so the second one i definitely enjoyed. I always thought the third person shooter system was always a bit quirky for online play but single player was spectacular, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot.
  43. PaoloB
    Dec 28, 2008
    8
    Single Player:10 Multiplayer: 7
    I feel like the developers did not listen to the gamers at all while making this sequel. Yes, there's nothing like it out there and is the only game I truly enjoy playing but as an avid GOW 1 multiplayer I feel they screwed it up a bit. I know but talking to fellow players what their concerns are and everyone says the same thing: they messed up the    Single Player:10 Multiplayer: 7
    I feel like the developers did not listen to the gamers at all while making this sequel. Yes, there's nothing like it out there and is the only game I truly enjoy playing but as an avid GOW 1 multiplayer I feel they screwed it up a bit. I know but talking to fellow players what their concerns are and everyone says the same thing: they messed up the SHOTGUN big time ! Before it was the weapon of choice, using the Chainsow only occasionally but now you have no choice as the SHOTGUN is just ineffective, even bots need two or three shots in the head to die at times, the result is that if you use the SHOTGUN you will more often than not, DIE, probably by chainsaw. The Sniper shot and the BOOMER have all been weakend, everything seems to have been geared towards the CHAINSAW gaming, which makes no sense at all to me. Don't get me wrong, I am not one of those yanks who go around calling people nubes when they Chainsaw but before there was a balance, the chainsaw being just of the options , now that balance has been broken. Never mind releasing new maps and stuff if you release any update please fix the SHOTGUN to what it was before. Single player is awesome, I have been playing for 25 years and, believe it or not, I've only ever finished three games prior to this, one of them being GOW1 ! The games keeps you guessing and constantly throws new things for you to do, always retaining the same unique playability. If anything single player is a little short but it's still terrific. It's quite funny to me how rather obviously the game's creative director Cliffy B created Marcus Fenix out of his reseablance, cleverly disguised, nice try but you cannot hide ones eyes, unless he wears goggles. TOP TOP GAME    … Expand
  44. AlexH
    Dec 4, 2008
    8
    As a fan of the first Gears. I can easily say i am still as much a fan the second time around. Solid, polished single player experience with beautiful Art and nice story pacing from Design. I do feel however that Multiplayer has taken a step backwards. I feel adding an option to search for local games or at least per country would have been a much stronger pay off than matching players As a fan of the first Gears. I can easily say i am still as much a fan the second time around. Solid, polished single player experience with beautiful Art and nice story pacing from Design. I do feel however that Multiplayer has taken a step backwards. I feel adding an option to search for local games or at least per country would have been a much stronger pay off than matching players rankings. There is just as much, if not worse lag during games.… Expand
  45. Tj
    Nov 11, 2008
    8
    Gears of War 2 is a good game, with good gameplay elements. However the single player campain seems uninteressing at times and dull. The new muiltiplayer features are the best part of this game. The mulitiplayer modes are addicting and a blast to play, especially without Gears 1 famous "Run 'n' Shotgun" stratagey. However it's mulitiplayer still has a long way to go to Gears of War 2 is a good game, with good gameplay elements. However the single player campain seems uninteressing at times and dull. The new muiltiplayer features are the best part of this game. The mulitiplayer modes are addicting and a blast to play, especially without Gears 1 famous "Run 'n' Shotgun" stratagey. However it's mulitiplayer still has a long way to go to match up with Halo 3's Party up, forge, and limitless options.… Expand
  46. gamertag=smockthegreen
    Nov 23, 2008
    8
    After having played non-stop since release, let me start by saying that the campaign is improved over Gears of War 1. The variety in objectives and scenery make it a more enthralling adventure, and the many sequences that pit you against hordes of locust are more entertaining than the kill-5-guys-and-go-to-the-next-room formula used throughout most of the original campaign. However, Gears After having played non-stop since release, let me start by saying that the campaign is improved over Gears of War 1. The variety in objectives and scenery make it a more enthralling adventure, and the many sequences that pit you against hordes of locust are more entertaining than the kill-5-guys-and-go-to-the-next-room formula used throughout most of the original campaign. However, Gears of War 2's multiplayer does not compare. The level design puts more emphasis on the "power weapons" (sniper, torque bow, etc.) and the beginning of each round is less about cooperation than it is a bum rush to the weapons (see level: "Day One"). While this was true in the first Gears, it is heavily emphasized in the second. The Lancer Rifle/Chainsaw has replaced the shotgun as the game's main weapon, and someone running at you with a revved chainsaw spells imminent doom. Unlike the first, the chainsaw is not easily lowered by one shot, or even two - your best bet is to turn the other direction and run, or pull out your own Lancer. The frag grenade blast radius has reached the point where one full roll away will nearly always result in death, making it almost completely unavoidable. Tagging walls, while a novel idea, creates many standoff situations where both teams are too afraid to turn a corner because of the chance their face will be instantly blown across the map. The shotgun has been weakened and a delay has been added, removing the "shotgun rolling" tactic that almost every Gears 1 MP match consisted of. Gears 2 maps with mortars have become races, and as long as one team holds the mortar the other is stuck on the opposite side of the level, or hiding under some sort of ceiling. Matchmaking takes forever, especially with a party of 4/5, and the voting system forces only gives you an option of 2 of the 6 game and 2 of the many maps, meaning you may not even want to play the game you get into after waiting for 30 minutes. While Gears 2 is at core a similar game to the original, the added content and weakening of Gears 1 tactics result in an ultimately frustrating multiplayer experience.… Expand
  47. MarianoMora
    Dec 15, 2008
    8
    This is a great game. The online play is one of the best for the xbox 360. The co-op is not the best. People don't play that as often so the chances of finding a room for a particular level are slim. The game it self doesn't flow as well as the first for both the. Online and the campaine
  48. dupplawt
    Apr 20, 2011
    8
    Gears of War 2 is a great game. The campaign is fun, while the story is a bit naff, playing with a mate is a great experience and the fun you can get out of wiping out horde after horde of locust makes this one of my favourite games. Horde mode itself is brilliant, especially with mates and you achievement of surviving waves 1-50 is one of the highlights of my gaming career. Multi-playerGears of War 2 is a great game. The campaign is fun, while the story is a bit naff, playing with a mate is a great experience and the fun you can get out of wiping out horde after horde of locust makes this one of my favourite games. Horde mode itself is brilliant, especially with mates and you achievement of surviving waves 1-50 is one of the highlights of my gaming career. Multi-player is the only downside, I've never got to grips with it really but it can be fun in short doses, but be prepared to get slaughtered if you're not a hardcore player.… Expand
  49. asylumspadez
    Nov 15, 2011
    8
    Improved multiplayer and visuals definently get a thumbs up from me. However the campaign is shorter and the story is far too recycled from the previous game, Ends exactly the same as well.
  50. CorsairReviews
    Oct 30, 2010
    8
    A great improvement on the original with more weapons, characters, maps, enemy types complimented with some improved graphics and sounds. Although the story and gameplay is pretty much the same the whole way through, it is great fun nonetheless although some might feel it lacks the awesomeness Gears of War 1 brought when it was released.
  51. claychastain
    Nov 25, 2010
    8
    This is a worthy sequel to a great game. The single player has more action and explosions, though the story is still about a bunch of space marines being badasses. Who cares? The point is to shoot stuff, and in that approach, it's a great experience that has tight controls and rewarding combat. The multiplayer is well expanded and this is the first game that I can recall that uses theThis is a worthy sequel to a great game. The single player has more action and explosions, though the story is still about a bunch of space marines being badasses. Who cares? The point is to shoot stuff, and in that approach, it's a great experience that has tight controls and rewarding combat. The multiplayer is well expanded and this is the first game that I can recall that uses the "horde" system of cooperative play against waves of harder and harder enemies. I like this more than the actual multiplayer of the game, which is full of people who apparently play this game 24/7 and are so good it takes the fun out of trying to play.… Expand
  52. TheChaser1985
    Nov 1, 2011
    8
    Single player: The single player campaign is the main reason why I love Gears of War. I spent most of my time on the game, playing the campaign. The story is great and the controls are pretty good. I feel like the campaign was just long enough as well. With it on it's easiest level, it's EXTREMELY easy and hard is just hard enough to still enjoy the game Multiplayer: I enjoyed multiplayerSingle player: The single player campaign is the main reason why I love Gears of War. I spent most of my time on the game, playing the campaign. The story is great and the controls are pretty good. I feel like the campaign was just long enough as well. With it on it's easiest level, it's EXTREMELY easy and hard is just hard enough to still enjoy the game Multiplayer: I enjoyed multiplayer but I wasn't good at it. I was very impatient and that hurt me. You have to be good at aiming from your hip a lot. It's solid gameplay, but it just wasn't my thing. It also was really broken. It was hard to get into matches and had MANY glitches.… Expand
  53. Watermelon789
    Jul 15, 2011
    8
    I loved it , not blown away by the typical standard's , i most say is an exaggeration by all any means, which is what i a hated . The story is good and is interesting, and the visuals are beautiful and well made. The multiplayer is what i found cool, quite challenging. Looking forward too Gears of War 3, that may be the monster.
  54. TheCoz
    Apr 21, 2011
    8
    This game is awesome. That isn't a very refined word but this is no refined experience. There are a great many games on the market today that offer the "I'm a big, testosterone spewing Space Marine....in Space, and all Aliens must be violently punished." sort of games. None do it quite as well as "Gears of War 2".

    The setting is cliche but completely realized. It's a boys club of well    This game is awesome. That isn't a very refined word but this is no refined experience. There are a great many games on the market today that offer the "I'm a big, testosterone spewing Space Marine....in Space, and all Aliens must be violently punished." sort of games. None do it quite as well as "Gears of War 2".

    The setting is cliche but completely realized. It's a boys club of well designed gigantic characters in well designed war torn environments kicking ass in the name of humanity. The Weapons, vehicles and locales in the game all help to put you into the blockbuster mind-set and played through co-op the campaign offers a ton of variety and unique shoot out moments with touch perfect controls and great paving thoughout.

    It's going to get a lot of flack for being stupid, and that is stupid. I definitely love a cerebral and innovative game experience. But sometimes I want to jump into my favorite sci-fi action movies and just blow some **** up. This satisfies that urge. If you're a shooter fan, well you're already playing this. If you think you're too good for; pull the bug out of your ass and join the fun.    … Expand
  55. Chrislake94
    Jun 4, 2011
    8
    The Campaign was brilliant and the high definition in it was immaculate. The Storyline was great as were the whole Graphics for the Game. The Insane Horde was beyond fantastic although it does get boring after you complete Wave 10 and it repeats itself by starting again but the Locusts are just much stronger. Online is slow but it is worth the wait. Multiplayer online is just as great asThe Campaign was brilliant and the high definition in it was immaculate. The Storyline was great as were the whole Graphics for the Game. The Insane Horde was beyond fantastic although it does get boring after you complete Wave 10 and it repeats itself by starting again but the Locusts are just much stronger. Online is slow but it is worth the wait. Multiplayer online is just as great as Multiplayer Campaign.… Expand
  56. Daematune
    Aug 30, 2011
    8
    Possibly one of the best reasons to own an Xbox 360. Gears of War 2 is easily my favorite console shooter. The multiplayer matchmaking has improved in almost every possible way, the co-op ended up being an awesome addition to the game also. The horde mode is good, it feels lacking though. The weapon arsenal is bad ass. The maps were as good as the maps in the original Gears of War, IPossibly one of the best reasons to own an Xbox 360. Gears of War 2 is easily my favorite console shooter. The multiplayer matchmaking has improved in almost every possible way, the co-op ended up being an awesome addition to the game also. The horde mode is good, it feels lacking though. The weapon arsenal is bad ass. The maps were as good as the maps in the original Gears of War, I didn't see much of a variation between the two. The only thing I could **** slap this game with is the story, it turned it into a dramatic soap opera, it didn't turn out well either; I definitely didn't hate it though.… Expand
  57. siveZ
    Jul 21, 2012
    8
    Despite somewhat repetitve gameplay, multiplayer imbalance and other flaws, overall game is good. The game idea itself is really good. I'm really looking forward to Gears of War 3 and hope it will be better in terms of polish, stability and balance.
  58. sinadoom
    Sep 28, 2011
    8
    Campaign is deep, controls are done right and the action is hardcore and brutal. Insane difficulty is as it should be. It's good that it makes it harder for co-op because if one person dies you have to restart the checkpoint. The only problem with this game is the multiplayer. While it is satisfying, I rarely got into a match that wasn't laggy. And I don't mean slightly. I mean a full 3Campaign is deep, controls are done right and the action is hardcore and brutal. Insane difficulty is as it should be. It's good that it makes it harder for co-op because if one person dies you have to restart the checkpoint. The only problem with this game is the multiplayer. While it is satisfying, I rarely got into a match that wasn't laggy. And I don't mean slightly. I mean a full 3 mins behind where the game actually freezes. To add further frustration, the ranking system got updated so I ended up losing my rank from level 21 to level 1 again. There's also no free-for-all or game mode where you respawn. Horde mode is what makes this game great.… Expand
  59. SCB92
    Jan 26, 2012
    8
    Now this is more like, because compared to Gears 1, the Gears of War 2 campaign is twice the length of Gears 1, and there's also an extra difficulty level. What I really like about this game is the innovation, with variety in gameplay. Even though Gears of War 1 was a great game, Gears of War 2 is an improvement. My only complaints I have are the absence of some enemies and weapons thatNow this is more like, because compared to Gears 1, the Gears of War 2 campaign is twice the length of Gears 1, and there's also an extra difficulty level. What I really like about this game is the innovation, with variety in gameplay. Even though Gears of War 1 was a great game, Gears of War 2 is an improvement. My only complaints I have are the absence of some enemies and weapons that were in Gears 1 (though replaced with others), the blood can look pink when fighting in daylight, and we barely know about Marcus' past. The characters also seem to say the same phrases that was recorded for Gears 1.

    I like how when you shoot an enemy (or when you get shot) the blood splatters onto the environment, unlike Gears 1 where it showed blood coming out but never landed. The sound of the weapons is a huge improvement, the music is fantastic, and the graphics are brilliant. The longer campaign of Gears 2 is what other shooters should look at as an example, where the campaign mode of games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3 are just too damn short. The campaign mode for Gears of War 2 is perfect for people who don't have Xbox Live Gold.

    The Horde Mode is a wonderful addition to the game, where you can play by yourself or with friends to take down wave after wave of Locust.    … Expand
  60. FlyingAsianBear
    Nov 20, 2011
    8
    The game may lack in areas, but still shines in many others. I found the campaign to be the best I've ever played in any shooters, and I've enjoyed the story very much so far. The overall gameplay is great, but the game's only yet big flaw is it's replay value. At the most, it offers campaign, competitive online, and horde. The game may not last long, but while you still have it, you areThe game may lack in areas, but still shines in many others. I found the campaign to be the best I've ever played in any shooters, and I've enjoyed the story very much so far. The overall gameplay is great, but the game's only yet big flaw is it's replay value. At the most, it offers campaign, competitive online, and horde. The game may not last long, but while you still have it, you are in for a wild ride.… Expand
  61. namDa65
    Jan 6, 2012
    8
    It's awesome and feels awesome. Lame dialogue and story though. Very bad. 8 for multiplayer, 6 for singleplayer. I don't particularly like how some of the guns handle, and my favourite mode is definitely execution.
  62. Josh_47ra
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    Thought it was the best and most fun of the series. Wasn't a fan of all the DLC or the cliffhanger out of nowhere ending. BUT had awesome levels, weapons, and a decent plot.
  63. potatoes351
    Mar 8, 2013
    8
    Six months after the Lightmass bombing and humanity is still fighting for control of Sera against the Locust Horde. Though close to defeat the Locust have a secret weapon, one that is sinking the last bastions of humanity one by one. It is up to Marcus, Dom, Cole Baird to reunite as Delta Squad to go deep into the underground Locust cities to find this weapon and destroy it, so thatSix months after the Lightmass bombing and humanity is still fighting for control of Sera against the Locust Horde. Though close to defeat the Locust have a secret weapon, one that is sinking the last bastions of humanity one by one. It is up to Marcus, Dom, Cole Baird to reunite as Delta Squad to go deep into the underground Locust cities to find this weapon and destroy it, so that humanity can be one step closer to being at peace on Sera once again.
    Gears of war 2 takes all of the great gameplay that makes Gears, Gears. However the story is no-where near as strong as last time round and the level design for the Locust cities are just ugly and horrible. GoW2 is still one of the best exclusives for the 360, but its not as good as its predecessor.    … Expand
  64. BigD
    Jun 1, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is like having your cake and eating it, too. From the very moment you're training the rook to the end game battle with the Lambent Brumak, the game is very rewarding. A rich story that doesn't interfere with the carnage, the optional gore and language filters that ensure even younger gamers can enjoy the game, and top it off with a variety of challenging enemies, the game is nearly perfect. However, the AI is quite stupid sometimes. A few times, as I was dying, my stupid AI partner, Dom, walked past me ten times at least, and never revived me, as was intended. Nevertheless, don't let that change the perspective of the game. This game is very good, and I recommend it to anyone who loves shooters and action games.… Expand
  65. iKen
    Apr 12, 2020
    8
    Played on XBOX 360.
    Gameplay: GREAT.
    Story: GREAT.
    Graphic: GREAT.
    Music/Sound: GREAT.
    Dialogue/Voice Acting: GREAT.
  66. WyattTheAwesome
    May 30, 2013
    8
    A wonderful followup to an already great game. The campaign is still awesome and draws me in every time. They added Horde which allows you to fight against wave after wave of Locust infantry alone or with 4 of your bro's. Multiplayer is once again not user friendly, but is very enjoyable. Gears 2 is worth your money and will bring you a great many hours of fun.
  67. proxskullz
    Sep 9, 2013
    8
    A very good sequel that changes and adds things in to make it feel like a fresh new experience, I recommend this game to anyone that owns an Xbox 360.
  68. bulletchan
    Apr 11, 2016
    8
    This is a worthy sequel to a great game. The single player has more action and explosions, though the story is still about a bunch of space marines being badasses. Who cares? The point is to shoot stuff, and in that approach, it's a great experience that has tight controls and rewarding combat.
  69. kon4ak
    Aug 2, 2015
    8
    That's f**cking crane stage is totally broken. can't get pass it, even with all guides. And that useless Dom... whole act he is just sitting somewhere. So i'm going to watch the ending on youtube.
  70. br_1245
    Feb 4, 2019
    8
    Empolgante, mantém um bom ritmo de gameplay e desafiador na medida certa. Sem duvida uma referencia no seu gênero!
  71. Epik_Ninnja
    May 24, 2015
    8
    I'm not sure why this game has a lower user score than the original, except maybe because it's not the original. I personally enjoyed this game more. I bought it when it was on a digital sale six months after playing the first GoW game. At first, I felt like the campaign was the same old thing but it quickly got better. Not only are there more guns (and more guns=more fun) but the sale ofI'm not sure why this game has a lower user score than the original, except maybe because it's not the original. I personally enjoyed this game more. I bought it when it was on a digital sale six months after playing the first GoW game. At first, I felt like the campaign was the same old thing but it quickly got better. Not only are there more guns (and more guns=more fun) but the sale of battles can get pretty immense. You'll ride on the back of massive locust creatures and gun down dozens of enemies. You'll rain mortars down on your foes. You'll travel to a hellish city udnderground. On top of the epic campaign is the multiplayer which is just as good as last time, but again not the reason to buy this game. GoW2 features an all-new co-op mode (it was all-new, I mean), which adds to the fun! I'd give GoW an 8.0/10 and I'd give this great sequel an 8.5/10. And one last comment: the story is better this time around, with more reason to care about the characters.… Expand
  72. kvnd
    Mar 22, 2020
    8
    It's just Gears of War again but with better graphics, sound, and enough new features to make it a must-play Xbox game.
  73. BlakDak666
    Jun 20, 2017
    8
    Gears of War 2 took everything that made the first game good and improved on it in almost every way, but there is some caveats to be shown that hold it back from greatness. The first improvement is a better campaign with a story that is far better told even though it doesn't answer questions that I think it should explain in order to not have books and comics fill those gaps. The emotionalGears of War 2 took everything that made the first game good and improved on it in almost every way, but there is some caveats to be shown that hold it back from greatness. The first improvement is a better campaign with a story that is far better told even though it doesn't answer questions that I think it should explain in order to not have books and comics fill those gaps. The emotional moment of Dominic and his wife Maria is still one of the most powerful moments in the series and I do generally love (and cry) when he shoots her out of mercy. The moment to moment events (like the giant worm to the razorhail rain) are improved to provide variety and challenge that isn't complex, but still interesting that it's more grounded than say Uncharted with the way it uses puzzles. The new enemies on top of old and the addition of new executions make the experience far better than previously and it feels so good to decapitate a Locust grunt still with the Torque Bow.

    The multiplayer improves initially but then becomes almost disastrous after the last patches went in. It uses the same setup of modes and mechanics like the campaign (just with a choice now to equip one of the two main assault rifles). The game uses P2P but the connection (prior to the major patches) were stable and better than the first game. Unfortunately, just like the first game did, the major sweep of patches over certain guns not only change the multiplayer, but also the entire experience in every other avenue of the game. It becomes very inconsistent and the toxic nature of players reached a new low, turning off potential players for the series. To some, it was still the best multiplayer of the series. For me, it was no different than the first with a bigger sin of allowing bots in the matches and have absurd amounts of accuracy and network glitching that sometimes made them more powerful than decent players, ruining matches if a person lagged out or left for the bot to take their place.

    Horde mode is a cool concept but very half-baked on execution (which would be fully realized by 3). You go through 50 waves of enemies and use whatever you scavenge to survive each wave as enemies increase in numbers and modifiers. Scale that with difficulty and the need for team members to contribute becomes a main prerogative. Unfortunately, it makes enemies far too strong in later waves and can cause frustration when players wipe and come back in without the weapons they scavenge to survive.

    Despite the issues, Gears 2 still proved to be a better game to come out of Gears and it's what truly set it on the map for greatness. If the sequel could improve on it even more, than there's no doubt it will be solidified as a great game. And that is what happens for Gears of War 3.    … Expand
  74. Refreshment
    Aug 1, 2020
    8
    This sequel to the first game of the franchise is a successful upgrade despite it looks like the previous one in many aspects. There were things that had a lot of potential but weren't exploited at all, so despite Gears of war was a good game there was something missing. However, this second part improve those weak points and brings to us a more enjoyable experience.
    This time, the story    This sequel to the first game of the franchise is a successful upgrade despite it looks like the previous one in many aspects. There were things that had a lot of potential but weren't exploited at all, so despite Gears of war was a good game there was something missing. However, this second part improve those weak points and brings to us a more enjoyable experience.
    This time, the story and character's background are given more importance, what makes us feel more into the game. In addition, there are moments where we won't be able to disconnect from the game due to excitement of some moments of the plot.
    Game level design is much more worked out as there is a much bigger variety of environments. Each level feels like something different where we'll have to face different challenges, there are also many events that will change completely the gameplay and will make the game to look fresher.
    Despite i consider Gears of War 2 a substantial improvement, there are some mistakes that haven't been learnt. For instance, the lack of variety of weapons still and there are not good bosses neither. So there are still things to improve to look after in further games of the saga.    … Expand
  75. Charlybs
    Jan 22, 2018
    8
    Gráficamente muy bueno, situaciones variadas en la historia, acción muy buena, le faltan variedad en las armas y aventura co-op muy recomendable. El online también era bastante decente.
  76. tunahan43
    Oct 6, 2021
    8
    Çok süper bir oyun .Ama boss savaşlarını pek sevemedim.1.oyundaki son boss baya iyiydi.Bundaki son boss çok kötüydü.Sondaki sahneyi sevdim .
  77. ItalianNerd7
    Nov 16, 2020
    8
    A very good game! Maybe one of the best Gears. Despite the great similarity with the predecessor, the game adds some news in the gameplay: new weapons, new moves, old weapons but with different mechanics. As far as for the plot the game has improved a lot, even with regard to the depth of the backstory. So I recommend this game to those looking for a TPS done well. This game is one of theA very good game! Maybe one of the best Gears. Despite the great similarity with the predecessor, the game adds some news in the gameplay: new weapons, new moves, old weapons but with different mechanics. As far as for the plot the game has improved a lot, even with regard to the depth of the backstory. So I recommend this game to those looking for a TPS done well. This game is one of the best titles on Xbox, and in the whole in history of video game world.… Expand
  78. VincentValen
    Sep 10, 2023
    8
    Gears of war 2 for it's time amazing very enjoyable to play. I love the Story and the gameplay. Highly recommend! You can get this game on the cheap now, it's a absolute steal for the price. I decided to go back and enjoy it again on my Series X which led me to finally giving it a review.
  79. TooTiredOne
    Aug 30, 2022
    8
    After the first part this game feels so much better, as it has some pretty interesting story. The game aged pretty good and looks amazing on series x. It's a lot of fun to play with friends. The AI is **** though
  80. KubaRoman
    Jul 31, 2020
    8
    In the middle of revisiting the single player campaigns of this series, my memories had me convinced that the first Gears was better than the second. I'm not so sure that's the case. While I'm not a fan of vehicular segments being shoehorned into sequels to "give variety", the developers did a great job of making many unique environments that give this sequel a refreshing feel. The storyIn the middle of revisiting the single player campaigns of this series, my memories had me convinced that the first Gears was better than the second. I'm not so sure that's the case. While I'm not a fan of vehicular segments being shoehorned into sequels to "give variety", the developers did a great job of making many unique environments that give this sequel a refreshing feel. The story continues to be a hokey B-movie horror/action hybrid, but it works with the absurdity of the world that's been created. It's gotten me excited to push forward with the rest of the series as I work towards Gears 5.… Expand
  81. RoninNinjaXL
    Sep 25, 2020
    8
    GREAT GAME WITH A BADASS SLAP CERTIFIED

    Story: 8
    Gameplay: 8
    ost: 9
    Characters: 10
  82. Mindkiller7522
    May 13, 2021
    8
    1/11/21-1/17/21 100% Complete 4/5 Stars

    Pretty great! Marcus Fenix and crew are still fighting the Locusts, this time a bit more underground. The combat was a bit of a slog for me, it takes me a while to get used to the Gears-style shooting. But there were some pretty epic and memorable moments and at least one bit where I laughed out loud. Really awesome scenery, too! I like how    1/11/21-1/17/21 100% Complete 4/5 Stars

    Pretty great! Marcus Fenix and crew are still fighting the Locusts, this time a bit more underground.

    The combat was a bit of a slog for me, it takes me a while to get used to the Gears-style shooting. But there were some pretty epic and memorable moments and at least one bit where I laughed out loud.

    Really awesome scenery, too! I like how they keep coming up with neat ideas for Locust vehicles/creatures and enemies to fight.

    The voice acting and music were very well done. Lots of gruff grumbling, but there is really nothing else that would fit this type of game. Looking forward to the next entry.    … Expand
  83. zezeljmare
    Jun 26, 2021
    8
    EN:
    Great fun. The campaign is fantastic, much better than the first part. "Horde" mode is great. Very good game.

    SRB:
    Izuzetna zabava. Kampanja je fantastična, dosta bolje od prvog dela. "Horde" mod je odličan. Jako dobra igra.
  84. Major_PC_92
    Dec 7, 2022
    8
    Dans la continuité du premier avec quelques nouveauté de gameplay, c'est du très bon!!!!!
  85. Rorian7
    Sep 25, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One more amazing game in this franchise. Incredible gameplay, fast, pretty.… Expand
  86. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    Incredible sequel to a great game, a lot of the scuff at the edges of the first game are smoothed out and refined here. The characters are more vibrant and there's more variety in gameplay. the plot is more off the rails though, in good and bad ways.
  87. ChrisE.
    Nov 10, 2008
    7
    Gears of war 2 starts off pretty good with the single player campaign. i was kinda expecting that you would be able to play as the different characters in the story mode, but unfortunately you get stuck with dom and marcus. Oh well. Doesn't detract from the overall single player experience, which is solid, albeit with a few rough spots here and there. Now, the reason i'm giving Gears of war 2 starts off pretty good with the single player campaign. i was kinda expecting that you would be able to play as the different characters in the story mode, but unfortunately you get stuck with dom and marcus. Oh well. Doesn't detract from the overall single player experience, which is solid, albeit with a few rough spots here and there. Now, the reason i'm giving this good game a 7 is because of the craptastic online multiplayer. I'm not saying Gears of war 2 multi player sucks, i'm saying the online component sucks. There are so many issues with online play right now that it's not even funny: The online lobby and interface looks like crap, you can't find a match you wanna play, you have to wait TEN minutes for the game to find other players to play with, and even when you get into a match, there's no guarantee you'll have fun, thanks to the abundant amount of lag on the servers. Even worse you can't tell the connection strength of everyone, it just put you in a room and says have fun. And yes, this was an issue before the game released, go read IGN's review of the game. There is no grace period for lag when it comes to chainsaw duels, meaning that you'll try to chainsaw someone who you think is unaware, and then 2 seconds after you rev the saw in their face, you're suddenly half way through a chainsaw battle and he's got a second and a half edge of button mashing on you. Not cool. There's also no way to tell who's lagging the game up (which could be me, i dunno) and there's no way to tell your connection strength for gaming (i had to pop in Gears 1 after a really laggy match to find it out... surprisingly it was good enough for a flawless gears 1 match). And the one of the biggest problem is that there are no REGIONAL SERVERS! meaning that Canadians like me will end up fighting Mexicans or Brits that have really bad connections. I can't believe that the gears 2 online is much worse than the gears 1 online. It is a few days after launch but right now its worse than halo 3 in terms of lag. Overall its a good game, but i recommend you rent this first if you're going for the online experience, cause as of right now its a train wreak. It might work for you but lots of people have been experiencing massive lag, so beware.… Expand
  88. DavidHull
    Jul 11, 2009
    7
    Looks good, feels good, plays well, has a much larger scale campaign however multiplayer can be rather frustrating should you live anywhere bar the USA and the story line has brutish men with feelings. Honestly where there no story it would probably be better, shooting locust is fun but leave the story to Bungie and Valve
  89. TorgnyH.
    Nov 11, 2008
    7
    the game is a 10. it is a great game. but I must deduct 3 pts for not getting all that I paid for. I bought the Limited Edition thinking I would get the flashback map and golden lancer codes, but with no warning from the publisher... some limited editions in some regions don't have the codes included. this could have been better managed by telling us ahead of time and we the game is a 10. it is a great game. but I must deduct 3 pts for not getting all that I paid for. I bought the Limited Edition thinking I would get the flashback map and golden lancer codes, but with no warning from the publisher... some limited editions in some regions don't have the codes included. this could have been better managed by telling us ahead of time and we wouldn't have necessarily wasted the extra money on the limited edition. Now apparently the flashback map codes are available for an additional price. There is no way I'm buying them as I feel I have already bought them by spending extra for the limited edition. its tainted an otherwise blissful gaming experience.… Expand
  90. GrahamM.
    Nov 18, 2008
    7
    No advancement since the first installment. Game design feels old, environments looks messy (some might say detailed, I say messy), and moments of frustration (can't skip cut-scenes). If you were happy with the first one, just stay there.
  91. ShaneS
    Nov 25, 2008
    7
    This game does not have the same emotive quality or graphical purity or, indeed, soul as the first one. The first was more gritty and tougher than this: Stick your head out and it would be blown away! GOW1 was a masterpiece; GOW2 is a cartoon for kids. Basically lamer version of GOW1 on trianing wheels: not challenging at all and a BIG disappointment.
  92. AnthonyG.
    Nov 7, 2008
    7
    Not so polished gears 2 Yet another fast and to the point review on this game. Ok here it is the game is great game and adds some new stuff to do in the solo campaign, but it's a bit short...hold for it
  93. WillThurston
    Jan 4, 2009
    7
    Not the greatest game I've ever played. But you have to look at what it is as a game, it's a first person shooter, which generally aim for good graphics, easy-to-learn controls, and fairly original weapons/characters/plot. In those categories, it does well. The story is fair, but again, it's an FPS. The graphics are very nice, as well as the sounds. I have not played theNot the greatest game I've ever played. But you have to look at what it is as a game, it's a first person shooter, which generally aim for good graphics, easy-to-learn controls, and fairly original weapons/characters/plot. In those categories, it does well. The story is fair, but again, it's an FPS. The graphics are very nice, as well as the sounds. I have not played the first GOW, so I cannot compare them. As a whole, it's a nice game if you like FPS's.… Expand
  94. mg
    Nov 10, 2008
    7
    The game is amazing from new weapons, new enemies, and sick graphics. bought it and beaten it. The reason this game isnt getting higher than an 7 in my book is because of one big difference: THIS GAME IS INSANELY SHORT! I beat it in the course of 5hrs. come on. The first one took a bit longer. That made me upset.
  95. JonD.
    Nov 12, 2008
    7
    Highly overrated - this is what we all wanted 2 years ago and now arrives feeling a bit dated. Every gaming cliché in the book is thrown at the story mode, with star wars scenes featuring heavily and some really poorly executed, plainly dull sections to labour through (notably the 'tooth' section). To be fair, there's still an above average game in there and well Highly overrated - this is what we all wanted 2 years ago and now arrives feeling a bit dated. Every gaming cliché in the book is thrown at the story mode, with star wars scenes featuring heavily and some really poorly executed, plainly dull sections to labour through (notably the 'tooth' section). To be fair, there's still an above average game in there and well worth checking out, especially if you missed the first title. Just don't expect anything earth shatteringly new or inspired.… Expand
  96. JustinM.
    Nov 7, 2008
    7
    the game is fun, but anyone expecting something different should turn away. The game is average, and far from flawless, with dialogue that was written by a hyped up twelve year old. nevertheless, the game can be very fun with it's run and gun sequences, the gore can feel satisfying, and the color palette is much more colorful than the last two years of generic shooter x. But Gears the game is fun, but anyone expecting something different should turn away. The game is average, and far from flawless, with dialogue that was written by a hyped up twelve year old. nevertheless, the game can be very fun with it's run and gun sequences, the gore can feel satisfying, and the color palette is much more colorful than the last two years of generic shooter x. But Gears hasn't changed and the story still sucks, except now it's a teenage romance, instead of a non existent plot.… Expand
  97. DanC
    Dec 6, 2008
    7
    Gears of War 1 and I had a strange relationship; I got it on the PC after hearing every XBox owner in all of sweet Christendom singing it's praises for it's innovation, fast game play and superb multiplayer. I found all of these to be oversold at best; the "innovation" being stolen wholesale from kill.Switch and Resident Evil 4, the multiplayer being dominated by idiots, and the Gears of War 1 and I had a strange relationship; I got it on the PC after hearing every XBox owner in all of sweet Christendom singing it's praises for it's innovation, fast game play and superb multiplayer. I found all of these to be oversold at best; the "innovation" being stolen wholesale from kill.Switch and Resident Evil 4, the multiplayer being dominated by idiots, and the fast gameplay apparently being a figment of the imaginations of 3 million gamers playing something which insisted upon making the player crouch behind solid objects for extended periods of time, firing occasionally. However, the at-the-time stunning graphics, cinematic atmosphere and generally intense nature, which WAS extremely well realised - would have resulted in me giving it a 7 had I bothered to write something up about it. Fortunately, Gears of War 2 is so unoriginal that this review can almost be read as a review for the first one as well. Gears of War 2, for all it's flaws, can't be faulted for messing with this partially winning formula because it's almost exactly the same game. The controls and gameplay elements are the same, the character models are all but copy-pasted, and as for introduced features, there is a new weapon. I can't help being reminded that Team Fortress 2 has been consistently giving us new weapons, levels and game mechanics for free; here, we're expected to pay full game price for what by all rights should be an expansion pack. And since nothing has changed, you can expect all the old problems with Gears of War 1 - the characters are still unlikeable meat-headed pricks, the visual aesthetic, while as pretty as ever, is still monotonous and dull, the new elements are as unoriginal as the first one's "innovation" - human shields are all very well and good until you remember that the Metal Gear Solid series have been doing this since 2001 - and the gameplay is still revolves largely about siege-like gunfights that seem to take so long only to give the obsessives a chance to show off how they can do them in all of five seconds - roughly the amount of time said obsessives' conversations with girls last for. The much-touted deeper storyline is all very well and good, but it says something that despite us caring about the NPCs we're supposed to, the player characters are still the kind of people who you charge directly into the line of fire just for the relief of watching them being ripped apart by Locust bullets. Not that that rather cathartic punishment is available here; GOW2 is incredibly easy However, as with the first one, for all it's over-hyped dumb , it's actually quite fun. The immersion is perfectly achieved, the atmosphere and pressure on higher difficulty is pant wetting - metaphorically speaking, honest - and the storyline gives the player motivation beyond basic bloodlust and perhaps a desire for digitalised homoeroticism (the common-or-garden space marines are still as overcompensatory in their relentless masculinity as ever). The fire-fights have been sped up thanks to human shields giving a moving cover and the sound is superb, even if the voice acting is still reminiscent of what would happen if you got all Canada's toughest ice hockey players and forced them to fight to the death, then used the final remaining one to do the dialogue. It's also more ambitious - for a lot of it, the grey corridors of the first GOW are replaced with more varied environments, even if this is purely aesthetic; the gameplay isn't as affected as better games would have had it. Overall, this is a fun shooter, but I'm still kicking myself that I was playing this when Crysis was sitting in by PC.… Expand
  98. RyanS
    Dec 7, 2008
    7
    Gears of War 2 feels different to Gears of War 1 but in a good way. The characters are epic (Cole Train is back!), The guns are epic (better sounds!). The campaign is epic (and it was easy to go through the game a second time on insane difficulty without beings bored). The only flaw to this game is MATCHMAKING. The matchmaking is not programmed to match you up with a good connection. So Gears of War 2 feels different to Gears of War 1 but in a good way. The characters are epic (Cole Train is back!), The guns are epic (better sounds!). The campaign is epic (and it was easy to go through the game a second time on insane difficulty without beings bored). The only flaw to this game is MATCHMAKING. The matchmaking is not programmed to match you up with a good connection. So this can lead to very laggy games! The lag on this game will be so terrible that you will be forced to use the CHAINSAW! This flaw has caused me not to want to play the game any longer and has greatly reduce the games playability after single player. I am currently waiting for a patch of some type.… Expand
  99. AluanHaddad
    Oct 18, 2009
    7
    I'll be short and to the point. The single player game is excellent. Apart from a weak final boss fight, the campaign is epic and varied, the story is fairly decent, and the gameplay is smooth.
    Multiplayer on the other hand is terrible. I tried to get into this game for a month. Then a tried again after a few patches came out. Matchmaking takes a long time. 50% of all matches have    I'll be short and to the point. The single player game is excellent. Apart from a weak final boss fight, the campaign is epic and varied, the story is fairly decent, and the gameplay is smooth.
    Multiplayer on the other hand is terrible. I tried to get into this game for a month. Then a tried again after a few patches came out. Matchmaking takes a long time. 50% of all matches have unplayable lag(my connection averages 10.0mbps by the way) and even in matches where the lag is manageable, the host has a major advantage. If you want an excellent single player TPS get this game. If you are at all interested in the multiplayer, keep in mind that it is truely broken.    … Expand
  100. EirinY
    Jun 13, 2009
    7
    First of all I would like to clarify the fact that I am not a fan of neither the Xbox 360 or PS3, Microsoft or Sony. That aside, I found Gears of War 1 and it's sequel to be thoroughly enjoyable. I have not touched multiplayer, so these are my impression of the 4-6 hour single-player campaign. This game has definitely improved from the original. More focus has been put into First of all I would like to clarify the fact that I am not a fan of neither the Xbox 360 or PS3, Microsoft or Sony. That aside, I found Gears of War 1 and it's sequel to be thoroughly enjoyable. I have not touched multiplayer, so these are my impression of the 4-6 hour single-player campaign. This game has definitely improved from the original. More focus has been put into storytelling and character development, although still not enough to make me baww about Dom's "wife problem" (won't go into detail). The soundtrack is about the same as the previous game with only a handful being memorable. Gameplay is as always: plain fun. The cover system works great and is seamlessly integrated into the detailed scenery and environment. Weapons are easy to use and aim; they work well with the cover system and conjure perfectly in the Gears of War universe. Where's my problem with this game? It plays too similar like Gears of War 1, however that did not stop me from having boatloads of fun. If you enjoyed the original, it's worth playing. If you haven't, get your feet wet and pick up either game.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
2
#2 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2008
9
#9 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 90 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 90
  3. Negative: 0 out of 90
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    90
    There are very few ways that Gears of War 2 could be improved on. Only the story and the final boss in particular are a slight disappointment. Fanboys will love the fact that only one of a multitude of story arcs is concluded; everyone else will feel slightly unfulfilled. But aside from this, Gears 2 is not just the most exhilarating game you'll play this year, but possibly the most heady and downright shocking piece of entertainment full stop. Hollywood, your days are numbered. [Dec 2008, p.61]
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  2. Eurogamer
    90
    The real star, however, is Horde, a ballistic assault on your worst score-rush tendencies that transforms maps into Gears-flavoured Mutant Storm: weapons spawn, then a wave of enemies hits, then more weapons and then another, tougher, wave.
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  3. 360 Gamer Magazine UK
    90
    We could be critical of Gears of War 2 simply offering more of the same, but the fact that it simply does everything better than the original in delivering a fantastic display of shoot-’em-up mayhem its quality simply shines through. With some awesome level design, supported by unsurpassed visuals and relentlessly entertaining action it is a compelling experience from start to finish. Forget the crack at putting emotion into the storyline; it’s almost irrelevant as Gears of War 2 is an allguns- blazing extravaganza and, as such, it’s just a glorious shooter that very few can match.
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