Gears of War 2 Review

By Christian Donlan Published 3 November, 2008

Going underground.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Let it be known that the Rockworm is our friend. Sure, he's large and unfriendly. And he's a family-sized centipede covered in stone cladding, so he's never going to be prime romance material. And he looks like just another thing to shoot at - and Gears of War 2 already has no problems on that front whatsoever. But for his twenty or so minutes of screen time, he's actually there to serve a more interesting purpose. His slow crawl and bulletproof hide mean he's a perfect piece of movable cover, and his hunger for the glowing fruit that hangs from cavern ceilings means you can steer him around by shooting down chunks of bait. Before you know it, you're using him to glide past enemy gun emplacements for easy headshots. So who cares if he's got sticky mandibles where his face should be? Yay for the Rockworm.

As well as all that, as you're beginning to suspect, he's also a handy tell. Because rather than reinventing an experience that was already ticking over fairly nicely, Gears 2 builds on the first game's framework at every opportunity. The game's opening teaser - an exhilaratingly familiar fifteen minutes in a Locust-infested hospital - could have been sliced out of the original title, but from that point on Epic's designers head for ground less beaten, switching pace, scrambling objectives, and mixing up the scenery. There are new vehicles, including the mutant offspring of an Advance Wars tank and a white-trash monster truck, a handful of weighty additions to the arsenal, and a few fresh enemies. There are even new moves - including a range of charmingly brutal finishers, the option to use downed Locusts as shields, and the frantic chainsaw duels.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 1

All hail the Rockworm. Burn your Companion Cubes.

And yet, while all of these elements are entertaining additions, it's ultimately the careful staging rather than the new toys that defines the experience. Our friend the Rockworm may resemble Iron Maiden cover art, but there's an undeniable touch of mirror-world Miyamoto to him; a willingness to explore the slightly outlandish potential of creatures and environment. It reminds you, once again, that beneath the grunting dialogue, the Tabasco-strength attitude, and the David Icke narrative of mankind hassling nasty lizard types, Gears of War has more going on upstairs than it gets credit for.

Primarily, this is a game built for co-op. Marcus and Dom now split up officially and unofficially at more regular intervals, and rather than a chance to explore different-yet-similar corridors, there's a greater sense of co-dependency to these sections, with separate mini-missions that often dovetail cleverly. If you're playing alone the game is entirely linear, but each confrontation has been tweaked to provide for a range of different tactics, allowing you to slowly get the best results from the varied cover, sadistic enemy placement, or the simple promise of experimenting with new weapons like the Mortar, which allows you to strike from afar but requires a fairly good eye for estimating distances, or the Mulcher, a worryingly enjoyable mini-gun that chews through almost anything with vivid efficiency but renders you almost immobile.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 2

New characters help the story along this time, although this isn't one of them, obviously. It's a lot funnier overall, too.

Often there are fairly heavy clues as to how to proceed - as ever, the sight of a sniper rifle stacked against some crates means that it's shooting gallery time, and when the ammo starts to pop up all around you during a lull, you can tell there's something big lurking around the next bend - but you rarely have to follow the game's lead too closely. As in Halo, replaying an encounter with different tactics often leads to a surprising outcome. And even if that thing around the next bend isn't necessarily something new, it's probably going to be something clever, like a brutally creative configuration of old foes, or a taxing arrangement of cover. There's always a twist, always a nice slice of spectacle, and while the corridors and trenches may seem familiar, you're going to have to mix up your tactics this time to get by with any style.

It's an inventive approach that's echoed in the game's settings. Each of the five acts manages to be distinct, and yet consistent, with a broader colour palette, and a wider range of landscapes than the first game's. As it gets more experimental in its surroundings - and at least one level I'm not allowed to talk about is surprisingly experimental - its structure frees up as well. The first Gears could often fall into the trap of shunting you into a box and pouring in the enemies, before coaxing you into the next box and repeating the experience. This time the design is a bit bolder, allowing you lengthy periods where there's nothing at all to blast or chainsaw, and offering up the odd assault course, a simple puzzle, or even a chance to take in the scenery instead. These calculated low points turn out to be one of the game's best tricks, ratcheting up your anticipation until you're shooting at shadows; luring you deeper into its labyrinths before springing the trap. It's often easy to tell you're being softened up for a shock, but that doesn't make it any less effective.

As Gears 2 finds its feet in terms of pacing, the storytelling only benefits. Narrative may not have been a strength in the first game - it had a primitive tale to tell, and it did so in a confused manner - but with the sequel's twists and turns, a solid and intriguing yarn is emerging. And the link between story and level construction cannot be overstated: the gameplay variety eases you into the narrative, while the sombre mystery allows the designers to explore different kinds of gameplay, until, for one particularly effective section in the middle, Gears 2 barely resembles a shooter at all.

Yet even when the battles finally erupt, and even if its gunfights are more populated and intense overall, this is also a gloomier experience. Grim, menacing, and frequently subterranean, Gears 2 explores a darker world to the strangely cheerful hard-rock splatter of the original. It's still gorgeous to look at, covered with gloss and flaking rust and benefiting from some truly moody lighting, but Epic's beauty queen has taken on a harder edge. As the plot ambles towards its conclusion, the weight of the game's surroundings and the distinctly downbeat narrative are tangibly claustrophobic. Above all else, one of the biggest surprises is how uncomfortable it can make you feel, as story and setting come together to provide memorable moments in amongst the muzzle flashes and kerb-stomping.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 3

Brumaks are finally here - and there are a lot of them about, too.

Of course, as any veteran of late-night Gridlock sessions will know, the campaign was only half the experience with the first game, and Gears 2's multiplayer is equally excellent. The new maps tend to be more complex and multi-levelled, and as a result may take a bit longer for players to learn, but the fresh modes slot right in amongst the old favourites. Submission is a typically inventive take on Capture the Flag (the flag has a heartbeat - and gibs), and Wingman, where players partner up to take on other couples, is as close to deathmatch as Gears is ever likely to get, but with a tense, enduring interdependency that will probably end more than a few friendships.

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. Although some maps are more suited to this than others - Day One's open-plan city intersection is particularly effective - Horde is a weighty slab of fun that can turn almost any of them into a time-sink, and the leaderboards are likely to be as compelling a reason to stick with Gears 2 as the levelling system has been for Call of Duty 4. Epic says it will monitor the game closely for exploits this time around (fair enough, we'll see), but we can confirm shotgun rolling is largely a thing of the past - incoming bullets now slow you down, and unless you're fighting somebody extremely stupid, you'll be dead before you're close enough to pull off any cheap tricks.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 4

The move from eight to ten players in online matches has made the maps more claustrophobic.

Like the original, on one level, Gears 2 is a brilliant advertisement for Unreal Engine 3, glorying in soft-body physics, glinting textures, and massive explosions. Even after a year of non-stop eye candy, Epic's series provides some of the most fiercely pretty visuals you'll get the chance to look at, even if its world is so charmingly ugly. Yet on another level, the game's a calling card from a developer that continues to mature in design as well as technology. The first game slowed down the crazy pace of Unreal Tournament - forcing you into using the environment every bit as much as the weapon-set - and the sequel continues to build on that with ease, but alongside the bare mechanics, Gears of War 2 shows a new interest in stories and varying the action. Best of all, it has the native intelligence to bring both aspects together.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Christian.

About Christian Donlan

Chris Donlan writes about games for Eurogamer and some magazines. His heroes include Eugene Jarvis, Errol Morris, and Linus Van Pelt.

Read more articles from Christian by visiting the Christian Donlan archive page.

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Comments (330) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • The_Game_Guy #1 3 years ago

    Hello. Its good to be here.
    But 0/10? Wow, that's bad. [edit - that was pretty funny for a few moments, I should post my screenshot somewhere.]

    "Primarily, this is a game built for co-op." And that's just made it a 'no deal' for me.

    Screenshot as promised

    http://im g219.imageshack.us/my.php?image...
    Edited by 3 at 03/11/08 @ 14:08

  • keyboardmonkey #2 3 years ago

    Second. 9 well i better order it and see it for myself.

    I don't see why it's not a 10, but i guess playing the game will soon show what is missing or is badly done.
    Edited by 2 at 03/11/08 @ 14:12

  • sweetcheeks #3 3 years ago

    Ball kickage avoided

  • brinlarden #4 3 years ago

    wooo

    EDIT: nice score, time to continue with my AS level now!
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:02

  • Gazza_UK #5 3 years ago

    EG.. your late..

  • ecureuil #6 3 years ago

    Confirmed shit, then. No sale for me.

  • Beano #7 3 years ago

    Seems like a safe score for EG :)

  • JayeM #8 3 years ago

    Good enough for me.

  • andywilkie35 #9 3 years ago

    Gears of Win

  • G1GAHURTZ #10 3 years ago

    9!?!?!?!??!

    WHHYYYYY!!!!!!????????

  • lambtron #11 3 years ago

    Cool.

    /buys

  • mashk #12 3 years ago

    Only a 9? Don't think I'll bother then... Ho hum.

  • Kingofnothin #13 3 years ago

    Meh

  • Gremo #14 3 years ago

    Omg interesting

  • GamerG #15 3 years ago

    Awesome! Better than the original!

  • Skooch #16 3 years ago

    This game sounds amazing I really cannot wait to play it!!! I think it is an awesome franchise and is a slick, gory, beautiful but most importantly FUN shooter with an absolutely outstanding multiplayer where your life really matters. Any game where you get a chainsaw attached to the end of your gun has got to be good! There will always be haters who dismiss something just because it is successful but I couldn't give a toss and will enjoy this game for hours, days, weeks, months and probably years to come.

    /dons tin hat and grabs popcorn and sits to watch comments thread deteriorate

    EDIT: For spelling, but also, the review praises it across the board (good story, visually appealing, nicely staged and timed) and there doesn't seem to be any downfalls so why the 9? Doesn't really matter but this does seem a little strange. Maybe because it is a sequel?
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:20

  • M83J01P97 #17 3 years ago

    Fallout 3 wins the year on 360 then, yay!

  • theiceman #18 3 years ago

    not better than LBP then lolz

  • Widge #19 3 years ago

    Yeah, sounds about right, not like it was going to be worse than GOW1.

  • ZuluHero #20 3 years ago

    but in a sea of 10s? :p

    Gonna get it - cant wait!

  • GamerG #21 3 years ago

    So far

    9/10 Eurogamer
    9.5/10 IGN
    A 1up

  • Monkey_Puncher #22 3 years ago

    OMGZ ONLY 9/10? OMGZ CALL TEH INTERNETZ POLICE!

    Great game, looking forward to it.

  • darkphoenix #23 3 years ago

    Expected score to a great game. mine is preordered since August.

  • absolutezero #24 3 years ago

    Fuck sake, the splitting up parts were the fucking worst parts of the original campaign. In a game built around co-op so much why hell would you actively choose the split players apart from one another?

    Fucking stupid Cliffy!

  • DFawkes #25 3 years ago

    Apparently it has better storytelling. This is actually important to me - if Gears 1 was more coherant, I'd have given that a 9. So it seems fair to me.

  • Charlie_Miso #26 3 years ago

    9 = FLOP right?

  • stevetuck #27 3 years ago

    i hope its not like the last crop of xbox games....

    Oblivion with a Fallout skin and CoD4 with a WW2 skin :/

  • Gazza_UK #28 3 years ago

    funny how if games dont get 10's now people are a little dissapointed.. if only EG saved all those 10's they gave out back in the day (and recently) .. a 10/10 rated game should have been left for the 'perfect' and 'ultimate' experience
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:10

  • polar #29 3 years ago

    So better than the original then? For me this is all about the multiplayer - nothing else.

  • GamerG #30 3 years ago

    Wow the Sony fan boys are going even more mental than usual!

  • LeD #31 3 years ago

    Epic fail

  • chris_ace #32 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • BadDevotions #33 3 years ago

    doesn't affect my pre-order

    looking forward to slicing up my mates with glee using my gold chainsaw bayonet :D Can't wait!

  • JYM60 #34 3 years ago

    Nothing special.

    And I was looking forward to fragging some fuckas!

    My clan, XxxEliteSnpersxxX will be boycotting this shit.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:12

  • Dizzy #35 3 years ago

    Great.... now the only thing I need is Left 4 Dead and Banjoo and my XMas shopping is complete! ;)

    It was a good harvest this year. About 5 on 360, 2 on DS, 1 on Wii and 3 on PC. I am happy.

  • G1GAHURTZ #36 3 years ago

    There isn't a single criticism in the review, but it only gets a measly 9.

    What's up with that!?

    Rubbish!

  • JYM60 #37 3 years ago

    What's up with that!?

    They didn't have one of the yes men review it.

  • slayaz #38 3 years ago

    Already ordered so bring it on.

    Pretty solid review, but I am surprised it only got a 9 after fallout3 got a 10 and doesn't even have MP.

    Anyway, looking forward to thurs / fri.

  • el-bandito #39 3 years ago

    not a single mention of it being more badass :(

  • solidSnake04 #40 3 years ago

    well looks like i was correct. well deserved 9. I cant wait to sink some hours in co-op

  • CannonAnBall #41 3 years ago

    only a 9/10??? pfft

    I thought 9/10 was shit??

  • Darren #42 3 years ago

    I'm not like the sound of the "frequently subterranean" bits, mainly because that was my least favourite part of the original game, but otherwise it sounds exactly what I expected, i.e. it's an improved version of the original game. That's good enough for me. Anyone know if the campaign is actually longer this time round... I noticed the review mentions there are still only 5 Acts?

  • Pike #43 3 years ago

    A 9?? This is an outrage. EG's bias towards their favourite console is painfully obvious!!1

  • GamerG #44 3 years ago

    I knew this game would have to be really special to be better than Fable 2, good try Cliffy "B" but bow down before the god like Peter Molyneux.

  • Rash' #45 3 years ago

    Dizzy, And yet nothing on a Sony product?

    Why, Dizzy? Why?! ;o)
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:16

  • mcmonkeyplc #46 3 years ago

    Well fuck that! It's not 10/10. It's not worth it.

  • migasUK #47 3 years ago

    friday exchange, fallout 3 with GoW2

  • topblood #48 3 years ago

    if this game got a 7/10
    i would still buy it.

    and also LITTLE BIG PLANET is for geeks and little girls

  • 3william56 #49 3 years ago

    Does it have h0m053xu@1s in it?

    What's the man love rating??

  • Dark_Stranger #50 3 years ago

    Better than GOW then.

  • LeD #51 3 years ago

    A 9 that reads like a 10. Is it better than a 10 that reads like a 9 or 8?

  • Yossarian #52 3 years ago

    Eurogamer have really fucked themselves with this rash of 9s and 10s.

  • Dizzy #53 3 years ago

    "Dizzy, And yet nothing on a Sony product?

    Why, Dizzy? Wny? ;o) "

    Because I have no Sony products maybe? :-)

  • 3william56 #54 3 years ago

    FZ, you are the first of the real sads to turn up.
    Please accept a cookie, and now f**k off.

  • thedaveeyres #55 3 years ago

    Only a 9?

    Oh dear

    Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

    This will not sell more than a couple of hundred copies.

  • drumbaby #56 3 years ago

    Only as good as LBP? Shame.

  • zombies #57 3 years ago

    What a lot of new additions to my ignore list

  • GamerG #58 3 years ago

    With so many 10/10 games on Xbox 360 its a shame many will now skip this game as a direct result of the Credit Crunch.

    I expect it will barely scrape the top 10 next week.

  • ryohazuki1983 #59 3 years ago

    "Better than MGS4!!! put that in your Blu-ray player and SMOKE IT BITCHES!!!"

    Normally all the "better than" comments piss me off as it's been said 1000times before, but for some reason that made me laugh.

    Anyways.... 9..too many decent games to buy, nowhere near enough time to play :(

  • zombies #60 3 years ago

    @ Yossarian.... does that mean all the other review sites/mags have too then? Get a grip dude.

  • haowan #61 3 years ago

    duals

  • Scuzz #62 3 years ago

    Gah, I really can't afford another game right now!

  • Gazza_UK #63 3 years ago

    i dont think this thread can take another 9/10 joke, even i feel like headbutting a kitten now

  • UltimateWarrior #64 3 years ago

    I'm guessing that Epic asked the reviewer not to reveal a certain part so as not to spoil the fun for those who buy it. Sounds reasonable to me. So why can't a so called professional writer find a better way to avoid mentioning said part of the game than merely attesting to some sort of conspiracy with his comment "I'm not allowed to talk about that." It's like films with twists where the reveiwer says there's a twist but I can't tell you what it is. Why not try to be more creative with your words instead and leave these surprises to be exactly that, proper surprises. It would be nice to get our full 40 quid's worth if the developers have been imaginative enough to chuck in some welcome surprises. Lazy writing.

  • migasUK #65 3 years ago

    "Ball kickage avoided

    9 = FLOP right?

    not better than LBP then lolz


    Not as good as Failble?

    Anything less than a 10/10 is utter crap.

    ....

    EAT ME!

    PSLOL "


    I wonder which ps3 exclusive got a tenner, well I mean which exclusive on ps3 is not a shit game then? hahahahahahah

  • Skooch #66 3 years ago

    This much sarcasm is steaming up my glasses. Please, no more...

  • #67 3 years ago

    WOOT nice review.. cant wait for this.

  • TonyCocaCola #68 3 years ago

    That review told me nothing. Im gonna go look somewhere else.

  • JYM60 #69 3 years ago

    The only 10 ps3 games ever see is the £10 sticker on them cause they don't sell.

    innit.

  • asphaltcowboy #70 3 years ago

    Brilliant! Looks like I'll be taking the day off on Friday then!

  • Quint2020 #71 3 years ago

    Review reads like a 10.

    Either way I can't wait for this, the first one is truly excellent in almost every way, it sounds like the second game addresses pretty much all of the problems of the first game (the complete lack of story for one thing) and also throws in some new toys (new guns, bigger multiplayer etc) in which case this is a very strong candidate for my GOTY.

  • Darren #72 3 years ago

    GOW2's Horde mode sounds intriguing... can you play this solo against waves of enemies as I'd prefer or is it co-op only?

  • agparrot #73 3 years ago

    /hugs xbox.

    Fallout 3 is likely to keep me from this, though.

    Maybe.

  • polar #74 3 years ago

    After reading that review I'm really looking forward to the single player now. I'm glad Epic didn't rest on their laurels and churn out a by the numbers update. What a great time to be a gamer.

  • thedaveeyres #75 3 years ago

    That bit that mustn't be mentioned is obviously the Marcus/Dom shower scene.

    So hawt!

    /preorders

  • chris_ace #76 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • GamerG #77 3 years ago

    @ JYM60

    LOL!!!

  • Beano #78 3 years ago

    Just watched gametrailers video review (9.5) and 1UP's (A)... looks absolutely fantastic!!

    Glad they have added more colors and a bit more scale and variation without losing the Gears-style.

    Ordered my copy this morning... can't wait now :)

  • Beano #79 3 years ago

    @chris_ace : You are kidding right?

    Please stop trolling !

  • chrissygreen123 #80 3 years ago

    Seems good to me :) can't be perfect but still a good game :)

    So many games this christmas :(

  • Widge #81 3 years ago

    I wish Epic had actually put a proper one player game in UT3!

  • dryden555 #82 3 years ago

    The review reads like a 10 score. Eurogamer is getting really screwy lately. I used to like their reviews but now too many reviews seem rushed and too complimentary.

  • Trane #83 3 years ago

    God damnit, just after i forked out 52 USD for left for dead too.

    Oh well, it's a nice problem to have :)

  • Razz #84 3 years ago

    -_- What happened to this place? It used to be the home of the most intelligent comment posts on the internet. Now it's just shit. :(
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:59

  • Beano #85 3 years ago

    @dryden555: I belive they just ran out of 10s and has a spare box of 9s on the shelf...

  • Blackthorned #86 3 years ago

    How many people here are posting the same joke over and over?

    A lot.

  • haowan #87 3 years ago

    i've seen a lot of "dual posting" heheh

  • Widge #88 3 years ago

    lol, fallout zombie is a re-registered banned poster

    GOOD ONE CHUM

  • the_dudefather #89 3 years ago

    Can we get a Hazmat team to seal off this comment thread?

  • tomkuryakin #90 3 years ago

    I love this thread. It's impossible to tell the ironic comments from the ones typed in earnest.

  • Petulant_Radish #91 3 years ago

    It tends to get incredibly boring in here very quickly, it used to be quite interesting and sometimes amusing, now it is full of absolute tools. Get a grip.

  • Powler515 #92 3 years ago

    Defo getting this. I havent touched my xBox in like 2 months. Im so broke though.

    I think its quiet funny though, I am really lookin forward to getting my hands on LBP and when i was reading the review, which also got a 9, loads of peps where giving it socks and saying gears will get a ten blah blah. I hope that shut them up and now they can realise that a 9/10 is a savage score for any game. When a game is giving this high of a score it deserves respect.

    Oh and example of retards i have mentinoed above, @topblood. Your a knob jockey for exactly the above reasons cause you were expecting gears to get a 10/10 and now you have to retract with stupid statments. bellend

  • zuljin #93 3 years ago

    @Razz
    I hear ya. 75% of the comments so far people just trying to be funny. Point is, no matter how retarded you make your comments ("9/10 I'm not buying ZOMG!";), sadly enough there are people that think that way... :(

    EDIT: Whoops I'm late... Blackthorne and tomkuryakin already made that point too...
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 14:54

  • siro #94 3 years ago

    Coop is not mentioned in the review is it? I only ever played the original Gears with a mate. I don't even recognize it as a single player game, so I'd like to know if that implementation has improved even further, too.

  • Gazza_UK #95 3 years ago

    @RhythmDancer

    he gave sensible thoughts on the game and you had to go and say that.. look at all the morons on here, at least he didnt splert out the old shite .. dont be sore just because he said he might get a ps3! SHOCK HORROR

  • ronuds #96 3 years ago

    Wow...really sounds good - nothing but praise in the review. I'm especially impressed with how creative it sounds like Epic was with level design. Not thrilled about the underground bits, but I'll deal with it.

    Can't wait!

  • Yossarian #97 3 years ago

    some of the stealth trolling in this thread is quite well done

  • ronuds #98 3 years ago

    @ squarejaw

    LOL

  • GamerG #99 3 years ago

    @ squarejawhero

    You are being sarcastic right?

  • Petulant_Radish #100 3 years ago

    Squarejawhero, try reading some other reviews of it, there are some much more fleshed out pieces out there. Though if you actually thought that Gears was going to be ‘intelligent’ gaming then you’re a little naive aren’t you!

  • Dizzy #101 3 years ago

    Why are people bitching about scores again.

    It is very simple: LBP is a between 9-10 game, Fable 2 is a between 9-10 game and Gears 2 is a between 9-10 game. The 9s and the 10s just fluctuate a bit between review sites. Get over it.

    BTW where did squarejawhero go? He was gone before I could put him on ignore ;)

  • Widge #102 3 years ago

    I disagree with Squarejaw. Its been a long year waiting for this, finally there is a 360 3rd person shooter to match up to Uncharted. So I say job done! I'll be getting the ultra limited platinum collectors tin plated box edition. If you don't want your 306 anymores, I'll have a 2nd to play this on while the missus watches Takeshi's Castle.

  • ronuds #103 3 years ago

    Well, square, if you are serious I don't think you'll get much support from anyone other than PS3 fanboys. The review said nothing but good about the game, and it sounds like Gears 2 is a pretty big step up from the 1st.

  • Ryboy #104 3 years ago

    Couldnt be less interested.

  • Gazza_UK #105 3 years ago

    Takeshi's Castle

    Console version anyone? .. id play it for the shin shredder bit.. poor chinese peoples

  • septimus #106 3 years ago

    Safe score, which it really isn't worth. Shortest game ever, well after Quantum of Solace. 5 hours.... 5 great hours... but still, 5.

    Companion cube > rock worm also.

  • Moonprince #107 3 years ago

    "sounds like Gears 2 is a pretty big step up from the 1st."

    How though? I played and enjoyed the first but other than different multi play this seems the same game?

    (oh other than the gay attempt at some love story balls??)

  • layleeloo #108 3 years ago

    Basically the same exact game as the first with different routes to follow then? Hmmmm. I'll wait for it second hand and buy something innovative like Mirrors Edge instead.

  • Rash' #109 3 years ago

    So Gears is as good as LBP? LOL! Inconsistency FTW! While Cliffy B would like to think of his game as a platform there is only one game this year that has the design to live up to that promise.

    +1 to holding out for Mirror's Edge
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 15:10

  • ronuds #110 3 years ago

    "I'd rather go by a trusted forumite than some reviewer who's obviously got an agenda and a real bias towards 360 flagship titles."

    Ahhhh...good point.

    /sarcasm off

  • Gazza_UK #111 3 years ago

    @squarejawhero

    uh oh, now you gone and done it

    dont you know your not allowed to say that a ps3 game is better than a 360 game on this site lol

  • ronuds #112 3 years ago

    PS3 fanboys are storming the castle!

    Have a good time then.

  • Blackthorned #113 3 years ago

    "I read some actual opinons from Pirotic who played it over the last weeks, and he really didn't like it. I'd rather go by a trusted forumite than some reviewer who's obviously got an agenda and a real bias towards 360 flagship titles."

    Good luck with that.

  • themorganator #114 3 years ago

    @ squarejaw

    Get the hell out of here. I've just come back from the Eurogamer expo (where I played all of the games you listed) and Gears was exceptionally enjoyable. Certainly it's not the best game out there but why - in gods name - would that lead you to by a PS3? How is your comment in anyway relevant to this thread?

    Go troll somewhere else you desperate deluded moron.

  • SPKRFCKR #115 3 years ago

    hahahaha remember all those Xbots who said LBP was an "epic fail" because of its 9/10 score?


    hahahahahhahahahha

  • Moonprince #116 3 years ago

    @squarejawhero

    Well played :>

  • BartonFink #117 3 years ago

    \o/ cashregisterface got a bite. Well baited.

  • Rash' #118 3 years ago

    revoltkid, It's not about the choice of the consumer though. It's about the responsibility of the reviewer to see and inform about superior design. As was mentioned in the lead up thread, there is a shocking level of inconsistency in EG's reviews.

  • Gazza_UK #119 3 years ago

    @RhythmDancer

    ..cock

    thx for the heads up, sarcasm metre has been overloaded :D

    squarejawhero - you are the worse kind of "fanboyLOLZXBOTPS3ZOMG" .. you use your mind!

  • septimus #120 3 years ago

    I love how even the SHIT story line is bigged up in this review.

    Example: Lets go kill stuff! No, wait everyone, Dom needs to cry. He's a real 90's man! Oooorah!

    edit: Why hasn't everyone ignored squarejawhero yet?
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 15:21

  • BartonFink #121 3 years ago

    A fucking 9 though I think I will cancel my pre-order.

  • Quint2020 #122 3 years ago

    But.... but.... Uncharted just looked like Tomb Raider...?

  • layleeloo #123 3 years ago

    "the campaign was only half the experience with the first game, and Gears 2's multiplayer is equally excellent"

    So - YET AGAIN we are going to get half a game all becasue of the bloody muliplayer!!!! Im getting sick of new gen games pandering to the muliplayer crowd and making the single player game sub standard. The indistry should not forget the singleplayers in ther world as it is US and US alone who have got the industry to where it is buy spending thousands over the years to allow the investment and development into multi player crap. Although the review doesnt state the the single player is only half a game, it reamains to be seen. I hope not - as it keeps happening with all games that focus on the bloomin multi player.

  • davisorle #124 3 years ago

    hhmm funny those retarded comments and pathetic tries of "9/10? I wont buy it then!" or "9? doesn't sound that good" or "LBP scored better" , i mean why don't you cry us a fucking river if you got no clue about gaming? oO

    The game rocks. Had it downloaded and expecting my bud to bring me my original copy from the store by wednesday :)

  • Pulsar_t #125 3 years ago

    Haha you tools this obsession with the number at the end of reviews is HILARIOUS. Keep it up!

  • DjFlex52 #126 3 years ago

    I'd rather go by a trusted forumite than some reviewer who's obviously got an agenda and a real bias towards 360 flagship titles.

    @squarejawhero

    Yes, because you're totally unbiased.... you agree, Gazza_UK?

    /sarcasm off

    I remember when I used to enjoy reading comments here before the Grumpy & Dopey dwarfanboys took over EG.

  • Bartacus #127 3 years ago

    I'm hoping Resistance 2 on the PS3 will be as good as this.

    I think I will wait for this 2 come down in price as i have already got Gears 1 & this looks like more of the same.

  • mazzl #128 3 years ago

    great review, so why not a 10? the review is only positives what are the negatives?

    does it also have offline co-op?

  • Gazza_UK #129 3 years ago

    @ DjFlex52

    dont affiliate me with that nutter - i just got confused with all the pretty colours

  • BartonFink #130 3 years ago

    davisorle pirating scum eh?

  • mikeck #131 3 years ago

    "-_- What happened to this place? It used to be the home of the most intelligent comment posts on the internet. Now it's just shit. :("

    Too true man! That's what happens when you allow new users to register just to take beta codes ;)

  • zuljin #132 3 years ago

    @Bartacus
    R2 has been getting some really good reviews... Its a good (expensive) time to be a multiplatform owner...

  • SteveB #133 3 years ago

    All the animals come out at night - whores, skunk pussies, buggers, queens, fairies, dopers, junkies, sick, venal. Someday a real rain will come and wash all this scum off the Eurogamer comments section.

  • RedSparrows #134 3 years ago

    '"the campaign was only half the experience with the first game, and Gears 2's multiplayer is equally excellent"

    So - YET AGAIN we are going to get half a game all becasue of the bloody muliplayer!!!! Im getting sick of new gen games pandering to the muliplayer crowd and making the single player game sub standard. The indistry should not forget the singleplayers in ther world as it is US and US alone who have got the industry to where it is buy spending thousands over the years to allow the investment and development into multi player crap. Although the review doesnt state the the single player is only half a game, it reamains to be seen. I hope not - as it keeps happening with all games that focus on the bloomin multi player.'

    Despite the poor phrasing in the EG line, you are jumping the gun. Nowhere, NOWHERE, did they state that the SP was sub standard, let alone substandard due to the multiplayer. You even realise your mistake half way through and then still hold a tentative grudge, pending confirmation of your expectations (which, I fear, are going to be confirmed because you want them to be).

    But anyway, GoW has always had that heavy multi aspect, co-op or competitive. I'd have thought you'd take that into account with the sequel, but it seems like the SP is just as good as ever.

  • Rash' #135 3 years ago

    revoltkid, It's not about taste. It about the facts. The design of LBP pwns everything Gears 2 offers in it's package and yet it is considered equal. That's bull. Gears 2 from everything I've seen and read is more of the same with tweaked gameplay and an additional feature here and there. It's not the revelation the first game was. In terms of it's design LBP is the most revelatory experience of all the games I see coming this christmas and yet throw some fancy graphics, some guns and gore and the dim witted come foaming. I don't know what bothers me more; the under appreciation of LBP or that so many consider it and Gears equally good.

  • chrisjm #136 3 years ago

    if its in percentages why does 50/50 automatically make the single player sub standard? could it not mean that both are fantastic in their own way? why not go online with it with people you know, your choosing to only use half the game. GOW is about multiplayer (with the right crowd), its more fun than single player

  • mrt181 #137 3 years ago

    just imagine what this game could look like on the current video card generation but i am not sad that it won't appear on pc, there are more than enough other great games to spend my money.

  • Rash' #138 3 years ago

    revoltkid, On second thoughts, maybe it is about taste. One is about "bigger, better and more badass", while the other is about "play, create, share".

  • chrisjm #139 3 years ago

    Rash - so your saying a game made for the mass market trigger happy gamers should be marked down despite how good it is because its not LBP. surely they should each be judged on their own merit.

    EG make a note not to hire rash.

  • bad09 #140 3 years ago

    I love the multiplayer of GOW1 and this is a dead cert buy for me, but for some reason I just can't get excited about GOW2. I know it will be great and I know I will love it but there is so much more intriguing stuff out there right now to get that excited about GOW2.

    Anyway glad it sounds like 2 has improved on the first (although after Dead Space those chainsaw kills won't seem so gory now!)

  • layleeloo #141 3 years ago

    Redsparrow

    It is not that i realsie my mistake half way through - there is no mistake. I reaslied it before I started typing. It is in relation to the exact phrasing they use, whether good or bad. Halo 3 was of course a prime example of this. The comment they use just sparked the thought in my head. I doubt I want it to be sub standard to confrim wasting my money on it - I will judge it when its played on the cheap. But like you say, GOW has a heavy reliance on MP and this as of late has always made the SP suffer in games. EG's comment didnt exactly suggest this outright, but I am sure i am not the first person to draw the same thoughts from their comment
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 15:57

  • Dizzy #142 3 years ago

    "design LBP is the most revelatory experience of all the games "

    We had game construction kits in the 80s...

    Seriously... stop crying about it. How much emo tears do you have stored in that body?????

    Gears 1 was a great game and Gears 2 builds on that to be even a bit better (1 point extra). Is that so hard to accept???? Also some people like to shoot stuff in the face and can't stand platforming (and probably vice versa).

  • mossychops001 #143 3 years ago

    PC date anyone?

  • space_ace #144 3 years ago

    sounds good, should check it out

  • Rash' #145 3 years ago

    chrisjm, I'm not sure whether I would mark Gears as a mass market product, but please humour me a little: what in Gears 2 design do believe justifies the score LBP got for an experience not offered anywhere before?

  • Rash' #146 3 years ago

    Dizzy, Don't you work in tech? You should know better than to make design comparisons from two very different technological eras.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 15:58

  • BartonFink #147 3 years ago

    Jaybus Rash' what the hell are you on about they are two entirely different games they are not even remotely close to the same genre. You may as well be comparing a freaking F22 Raptor jet fighter to a Mercedes F1LM. They are both judged on their individual merits comparing them is utterly pointless and quite moronic.

  • mikeck #148 3 years ago

    "Absolutely the gayest game ever. Anyone who likes it gobbles cock and enjoys licking the man butter off their faces whilst being shafted up the arse by Bill Gates wearing a gimp mask. Whilst listening to Mad World. "

    You're just jealous you aren't Bill's plaything :p

    What's that Bill, you want me to do what...okay, okay, just remember I've got first dibs on playing the next Microsoft console before anyone else :D

  • GamerG #149 3 years ago

    @ mossychops001

    No PC version this time according to Cliffy B, they have decided not to waste their time and want to focus on 360 going forward.

  • chrisjm #150 3 years ago

    'chrisjm, I'm not sure whether I would mark Gears as a mass market product, but please humour me a little: what in Gears 2 design do believe justifies the score LBP got for an experience not offered anywhere before? '

    the first sold 5 million i believe, so yes its mass market in game terms.

    Eurogamers scores are not based soley on design, so why are you telling us LBP is so much better based on one thing when the bigger picture of the EG review takes into account so much more so is a better comparison.

  • Rash' #151 3 years ago

    BartonFink, Ok. What is so much better in Gears 2 to justify a higher score than the original Gears? Please explain? I'm baffled. By most accounts the original hasn't aged well so the tweaks and the additional features must surely improve upon a distinguished if flawed prequel.

  • Trane #152 3 years ago

    Ahh Squarejawhero.

    You said that your disappointment in this game/review may lead you to buying a PS3.

    Yet you claim Uncharted to be such a fantasmigal game, can I ask what you played that on, your game and watch?

    Let me guess....it was your mates PS3, ok then.

    Troll on.

  • anomagnus #153 3 years ago

    yay

  • Rash' #154 3 years ago

    farticusmaximus, And yet it seems we've not been pounded enough by marketing for the "boring" shooters.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 16:08

  • BartonFink #155 3 years ago

    @Rash

    Please go read the review.

    I haven't played the flipping thing yet so the only thing I have to go on are the reviews.
    What I am saying is your comparison is pointless.

  • bad09 #156 3 years ago

    "By most accounts the original hasn't aged well"

    Rash' I'm not getting involved too much but seriously dude that's quite a moronic thing to say, apart from the fact GOW is amazing it isn't even that old!

    Also why the hell are trying to compare LBP to Gears anyway? Last I checked LBP wasn't a 3rd person shooter gore fest (might make a good game tho, Sony call me!)

  • paketep #157 3 years ago

    When they fix the first GoW for Windows, I'll consider paying them for this one.

    Oh, and only if Cliffy doesn't say anything stupid about the PC for a couple of years. Yeah, impossible, I know, but he'll have to try when next year they try to sell us again a buggy port with GfWL and no support at all.

  • GrumpyLlama #158 3 years ago

    Its only a game. Why don't you all calm down. There really is no need for all this aggression. Who cares which console is better? It doesn't matter. If you like one game more than another thats OK. There is no need to rant, swear or question each others sexuality. Live and let live. The point of reviews is to help you sort the good from the dross. Seriously life is too short all this anger.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 16:12

  • BartonFink #159 3 years ago

    "By most accounts the original hasn't aged wel"

    Have you played it? I was playing this last night co-op and it's still brilliant fun.

  • Benno #160 3 years ago

    Meh, theres too many good games out, 9 just isn't good enough these days. No buy for me.

  • corposant #161 3 years ago

    I can't believe some of the inane ramblings found on these comment threads of late. In the last week I've seen Fable 2 criticised for being 'too videogamey' and now someone is trying to draw a comparison between two markedly different games (LBP and GoW2) to justify an argument that one is better than the other.

    Can I posit an alternate theoy to the rash of high scoring reviews of late? It's simply this.... There's been rather a lot of exceptionally good games of late, all offering something a bit different and all of which are great fun to play. As a fan of video games, I welcome that. However, as a fan of video games, I sometimes wonder if I've stumbled into an anti-gaming, Daily Mail rantbox when I read some of the comments here.

    For shame. That's right. FOR SHAME!


  • Penguinzoot #162 3 years ago

    @GrumpyLlama

    You don't sound very grumpy to me. In fact you sound much too reasonable for this thread ;)

  • mazzl #163 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    fine that you feel that way kiddo ;)
    the point loads of people are making is why get upset? what do you care....
    it's a review score, it's a game. it's not something that affects you personally. i agree that lbp has more charm, but that's my oppinion and taste, for a lot of people that won't be the same. but i'm not bitching about it.
    you go out aand by lbp, njoy it and tell people how great it is! just don't come in here and start slacking off some game beceause of a score lbp has gotten on this site. it's just irritating.

    i have just bought gears1 so i'll play that first and get this later, sounds pretty cool. but i like more collurfull games a bit more, can't wait for banjoo :)

  • BartonFink #164 3 years ago

    @mazzl - well said.

    After playing the LBP beta I cannot wait for it but I am looking forward to this one just as much for completely different reasons.
    I am certainly not going to call a waaambulance because the two got the same flippin review score. I would be looking out for the men in white coats if I started thingking about them comparatively.

    Christ this is gonna be a very expensive week.

    Edited by 2 at 03/11/08 @ 16:21

  • tinners #165 3 years ago

    LBP VS GEARS - LMAO and tickle me pink, seriously the winter must be freezing those tiny little minds.

    fuck it lets go all out then seeing some people cant understnand what the word *genre* means.

    The only thing you could ever compare is the score but i remember The Incredible Machine being as good as LBP based on score alone and i think that Shoot Em Up Construction Kit only marked one lower with an 8, so pretty much on par with LBP and that was probably before these people making comparisons were born.....sigh!

    Cant wait for this, i can wait for LBP tho seeing i dont have a PS3, sorry fanboys -awwww :(

  • The-Bodybuilder #166 3 years ago

    I much prefer donovan's reviews to kristians.
    No offence, but it's good to read a gears review (or preview, or anything else similar) without constant reference to homoeroticism.

  • GrumpyLlama #167 3 years ago

    @ Penguinzoot

    Good point. I'm off

  • Waldo #168 3 years ago

    Squarejawhero has trolled so many of you his boat is in danger of sinking.

  • ChadSexington #169 3 years ago

    Why do people seem to think you can't compare games of different genres? All games aim to do one thing (or at least it's why I play games) - to give enjoyment to the player. I rate games on how much enjoyment I get from them, regardless of genre. If you can't see past the limitations of genre, then you're an idiot.

  • Rash' #170 3 years ago

    bad09, Gears had by many standards too short a campaign, the multiplayer infrastructure was flawed and there was an imbalance to the weapons. These flaws came to light after the game had the gone through those 9 and 10 reviews. Today it wouldn't get the same score as the hype permitted it then. Everything I've seen and read doesn't suggest there have been any revelatory additions to the formula to justify the continued enthusiasm it receives. To me considering the flaws in the last game and the improvements to the new, I don't understand why this game should be anything higher then an 8. Maybe I'm missing something. We'll let Edge decide that one for me. Why do I make the conparison with LBP? Because this sequel to a game that as an experience offers little new is regarded (widely) equally as good as LBP. That I find amazing. LBP's experience is like no other and having played the game believe me it is like no other. I've played Gears. I've seens Gears 2. How can a sequal that hasn't dramatically improved on it's design be considered equally as good as a genuielly new expereince? I know they are of completely different genres and customarily the comparison wouldn't be fair, but customarily, Gears wouldn't be getting a 9 for offering "bigger, better and more badass". That's not design. That's marketing.

    Edit: apologies for the grama, but I couldn't be bothered.
    Edited by 3 at 03/11/08 @ 16:43

  • hiddenranbir #171 3 years ago

    Omg, a 1 point improvement!!!

    Squelch!

  • The-Bodybuilder #172 3 years ago

    sorry squarejaw, but your "ironic yet unfunny" trolling it trolling in itself.
    For that, ignore list.

  • Rash' #173 3 years ago

    BartonFink, Not aging well doesn't suddenly make it an average game. It's still well above average. But whether the game's still the 9s and 10s it got a year from today is debatable.

    And yes, I've played it. Great game. The fast food of gaming.

  • tinners #174 3 years ago

    @ Rash - thats ok m8 i couldn't be arsed to read it

    there is making a point and making everyone agree with your point, give up go play LBP and accept that GOW2 is not for you.

  • StooMonster #175 3 years ago

    Cool, now I am definitely going to buy an Xbox 360.

    Now if only I could find a Jasper model.

  • Petulant_Radish #176 3 years ago

    Because wonderfully named ChadSexington genre merely exists as a way of differentiating things, be they games, film, literature or pies. This differentiation is needed as a grasping point for many feeble human minds to gather context about something, genre defines what something must conform to and thus comparative reviews spanning genres are not particularly revealing.

    Enjoyment though, is something that transcends genre, though a genre may perhaps give you a different type of enjoyment. Much like pies, a good meat pie gives you a good hearty satisfaction, though it would be unfair to compare the rich meaty gravy composition of said artery clogging pie with the sweet light loveliness of, say, a lemon meringue. Or perhaps it is, who am I to entrap you within semantics.

  • thedaveeyres #177 3 years ago

    I, for one, welcome our big gay bear overlords.

  • GamerG #178 3 years ago

    Watch the gametrailers.com video review and be hyped!!!

  • Rash' #179 3 years ago

    mazzl, Apologies for being irritating then. I don't mean to be. It isn't a criticism of any game, rather how the reviews in this industry are governed. In other words; poorly.

  • ryohazuki1983 #180 3 years ago

    Comment sections are always full of people trying to be funny with all the "ZOMG, t3e bi4s3d" bullshit or others keep repeating the same jokes, "better than..." remaining lot just making shit up just to be a troll.

    Whats the point?

  • rawburger #181 3 years ago

    squarejawhero wrote

    Absolutely the gayest game ever. Anyone who likes it gobbles cock and enjoys licking the man butter off their faces whilst being shafted up the arse by Bill Gates wearing a gimp mask. Whilst listening to Mad World.

    Parody posts (c) 2008 Squarejawhero FunTimes.

    Git, have now got a beer covered monitor. Keep up the good work :)




    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 16:50

  • Gearskin #182 3 years ago

    Gears of Woo!

  • deathdealer619 #183 3 years ago

    It got a 9 thats a great great sore!
    You little muppets saying "my clan will boycot this game" as it did not get a 10 , a nine is a great score, fable and halo 3 did not deserve a 10, I reckon its a fair review I have played it 11 hours now and i would give it an 8.5
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 16:56

  • bad09 #184 3 years ago

    @ Rash'

    Hmm, can't say I agree with your take on Gears1, for me it's still a bloody good game SP or MP. In terms of 3rd person shooters I can't see anything better than gears1 and if the sequel improves on that only slightly IT'S STILL an improvement.

    I still can't really get my head around your distaste in a 3rd person shooter (probably one of the best examples) getting 9 and a creative 2D platformer (lets all be honest here, it's again one of the best (if only) examples, but that all it is!) getting 9?

    What am I missing? Lets say (as examples) Dirty Dancing gets the same review score in a magazine as The Godfather 2, is DD as good as GF2? Should they be compared as the same or is it they are both good examples in their respective genres. Of course to anyone with any sense knows they are good examples of their different genres.

    Sorry but apart from the usual fanboy stuff I truly see no sane reason to compare the review to LBP to Gears 2.

  • funkyd #185 3 years ago

    I was expecting an 8. Nice.

  • Rash' #186 3 years ago

    bad09, Referr to my last post to mazzl.

  • kasomegalt #187 3 years ago

    YES!!!

    ..it didnt get a 10/10

  • Petulant_Radish #188 3 years ago

    Rash', refer to my last post about pies.

  • desc #189 3 years ago

    9/10 sweet :)

    Must be an improvement on the first one and that was pretty much perfect in my eyes :p

    [link url=http://ww w.eurogamer.net/scoring_policy.php
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/scoring_policy....[/link]

  • HolyJebus #190 3 years ago

    Why is everyone responding to SquareJaw. He's obviously either joking or mentally retarded. Either way, arguing with him isn't going to achieve anything except killing this tread. Hit Ignore god dang it.

  • iago71 #191 3 years ago

    I loved the first one .... Looking forward to this ..... Im sure it will be a rush playing through it with a mate. The review isnt particularly gushing I have to say but then if it was wouldnt people be complaining about that too?

    It seems that its the first game with a few more bells and whistles which is fine by me if it works - which, from the review, it appears to do .

    Edit:

    "YES!!!

    ..it didnt get a 10/10"

    Hmmmm not sure why anyone would say something like that...... what a pointless statement.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 17:16

  • lennon #192 3 years ago

    "Within an hour or two watch this post disappear."

    Why wait that long hit the ignore poster button.

  • Strac #193 3 years ago

    sounds great. first will focus on fable II & fallout 3 though. sequel mania!

  • stevethemeat #194 3 years ago

    Within an hour or two watch this post disappear

    for christ sake, why are you trolling a 360 thread when you could be playing all of those great ps3 games

  • Xerx3s #195 3 years ago

    Not as good as Halo 3 or fable 2 but just as good as LBP and better than halo then?

  • Xerx3s #196 3 years ago

    "hahahaha remember all those Xbots who said LBP was an "epic fail" because of its 9/10 score?"
    No but that's most likely because you are paranoid and see things that aren't there.

    "hahahahahhahahahha "
    Sounds like some insanity there, you might want to see a head doc.

  • Azazel #197 3 years ago

    Like a backwards 6 as seen reflected in a pool of crystal clear water. Er... or something.

  • Xerx3s #198 3 years ago

    "Hmmmm not sure why anyone would say something like that...... what a pointless statement. "

    Because their very existence is a pointless statement?

  • MasterNameless #199 3 years ago

    @lennon

    Indeed, but his post will disappear to all before long as he's a king amongst trolls. EG have already put several of his sock accounts on 'global ignore' (as there's no proper ban), I'm sure this one won't be far behind.

  • MasterNameless #200 3 years ago

    ""Hmmmm not sure why anyone would say something like that...... what a pointless statement. "

    Because their very existence is a pointless statement? "

    Hear hear! Wouldn't it be nice to have an extra option other than just 'ignore'? I'm thinking 'Cull' would be a nice option. We do need some way to stop these 'tards from corrupting the gene pool further.

  • Stratus #201 3 years ago

    I haven't checked where anyone on these forums is from (Europe, States, Canada, whatever) if such an option is available, but me thinks that Eurogamer has become alot more popular and widely visited as of late because it used to have much more intelligent posts that most other sites.

    Unfortunately this is what happens. The boards fill up with wankers, trolls, and morons, no offense to anyone. I used to come here because not every second post is bashing another game or console, and never need to see another post where someone takes a poll about whether anyone is buying game X, Y, or Z.

    I also appreciate the fact that quite often the reviewer posts follow up's to clarify things in the review. Not too much of that going on anymore.

    Wonder why? (sarcasm.)

  • MasterNameless #202 3 years ago

    Oh dear. I just spotted some crappy fake Marcus Pheonix storming out of the Groucho Pub in Soho, pretending to keep a horde of paparazzi at bay! He looked really shit, a tiny actor playing him, surely they should have tried to get a musclebound beefcake! We're only a few doors from Old Compton street, the muscle mary's sitiing at Costa coffee could have kicked his arse with ease.

  • Jimpanse #203 3 years ago

    FIRST !!!

    *joke* iam looking forward to Gears2, @Friday, i will have my copy and going to play Horde ^^

    btw, nice Review!!!

  • DUFFKING #204 3 years ago

    Stratus, it's probably due to the betas EG keeps offering, if the forums are anything to go by.

    Then you just have the blatant fanboys such as headbog, who despite being the most blatant fanboy in the world, insists on calling everyone but him a fanboy instead, and believes that every good game ever on the 360 is a pile of shit. He'd even call LBP shit if it was on the 360.

  • toastmodernist #205 3 years ago

    Can we not just have something along the lines of:

    Fable 2 is a great game, Fallout 3 is a great game, Little Big Planet is a great game, Gears of War 2 is a great game.

    If you don't like these type of games you won't like them regardless.

    lol numbers, lol subjectivity - on a 5 point scale a 9 and a 10 would both be 5, etc. blah.

    Both your consoles are very pretty and so are you.

    Your mummy loves you.


    We could post this, or something similar, at the start of any review of a major game that's very good and maybe y'know actually be able to talk about the game. Maybe?
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/08 @ 18:06

  • captainrentboy #206 3 years ago

    ''hahahaha remember all those Xbots who said LBP was an "epic fail" because of its 9/10 score?''

    No, but I do remember a lot of PS3 owners on the comments section literally shitting themselves with fury because EG dared to give it a 9/10 :/
    I love GOW1, and that got an 8, so the fact that this got a 9/10 means it's a must have for me. Better crack on with Fable 2 though, I've still got bloody loads to do on that.
    Just sad to hear that this one can supposedly be cracked in 6 or so hours, was hoping it would be a bit longer.

  • BillyBrush #207 3 years ago

    Rash'
    03-Nov-08 15:45:50

    revoltkid, It's not about taste. It about the facts. The design of LBP pwns everything Gears 2 offers in it's package and yet it is considered equal. That's bull.

    @Rash

    No...it IS about taste

    Shooting games tend to be quite fun for me because of cause and effect, you pull the shotgun trigger, and boom, something blows to bits...Half Life2 did cause and effect with crazy physics and it was soo much fun...gears also made shooting things fun...if your taste is more sackboy (lets be honest Sony) centric, then you may well like that more, but it's very much taste

    Lets take a game i didn't like very much...Far Cry 2...it let users create and share levels in...wait for it..full 3D...does this in some way mean it suddenly pwns LBP? no it doesn't, LBP sounds like freewheeling fun, FC2 isn't

    Dry design (and LBP isn't THAT revolutionary tbh) isn't the be all and end all...again take Far Cry 2...it's a bolder design than Call Of Duty 4, but it's not as enjoyable to play

    I can't see how you can rate any games against each other based on 'the facts' (what are they in this case? is jumping more fun than shooting from cover? does that make a 'fact' somehow? no)...it's more to do with host platform, and that's just how it is, no one is going to change your mind, and you're unlikely to change other people's, so comparing these games is utterly pointless imo, you think LBP is better because it's on a Sony platform, others may think Gears is better because it's on Xbox, both seem very capable whichever you like more...fun all round

  • Rangerwave #208 3 years ago

    OMG DIS GOT DA SAIM SCOR AS LBP M$ OBVOSL-E PUT MONEY IN2 EUROGAMERSSZZZZ

  • Tuffty #209 3 years ago

    /walks into thread

    .....

    /walks right back out

  • Apologie #210 3 years ago

    this is a very entertaining action game... good score, too bad it aint coming to Pc given the fact that the Xbox version have some texture and framerate problems, not to mention that with a good Pc you can play it 1080p, with better antialising and anisotropic at 60/70 fps average....

  • Scimarad #211 3 years ago

    I'm definitely interested in this (particularly for the co-op) but there are just too many games to play at the moment. If I have to choose between this and Resistance 2 I suspect Gears will lose. I really, really, really liked Resistance.

  • gohda #212 3 years ago

    gears of LOL

  • BartonFink #213 3 years ago

    Yea can't wait for Resistance 2 too really liked that one as well but if push came to shove I would go with Gears. But it won't so I'll just get both ;) \o/

  • MasterNameless #214 3 years ago

    Push will indeed come to shove for me I'm afraid, not for finacial reasons, but as Scimarad says, there are just too many sodding great games coming out! And if I had to make a decision I think I'd sway towards Gears myself. Must resist Resistance...

  • gohda #215 3 years ago

    gears of LOL

  • septimus #216 3 years ago

    Just no time... LBP has just been posted out, this Friday Gears 2, and still haven't finished the myriad of others. Must be close to 20 games to get through currently. After Killzone 2 is released, I hope there is a bit of a drought of releases.

  • #217 3 years ago

    I wonder if EG reviewer completed the main story. The general consensus on the web that the ending is absolutely a huge anticlimax.

    Theres a vid on Youtube showing it.

  • Bangaioh #218 3 years ago

    I'm looking forward to this (except for the lengthy intro I'd happily do without) but 9/10 makes me think of the 10/10 Fable 2 I'm currently playing: this is because I don't think it deserves a 10. It still has some bugs and isn't really polished as I would expect a 10 scoring production to be. It's good, excellent at moments (the landscapes are often simply wonderful and fighting remains fun even after hours) but I really think it should score 9... which brings me back to Gears. I thought the first GOW was pretty amazing and I'm expecting, based on what I've just read, the sequel to be better... sounds like a 10 to me. Fable 2 scores 9 in my house and GOW could be a 10. Or both 9.

  • Rash' #219 3 years ago

    BillyBrush, The problem I ultimately have, as I've gone on to post, isn't with Gears 2. It seems to be an improvement over the flawed original. My problem is with the discrepency in the general rating of games. LBP is a relevation in design. A game built with a toolset so accessible and intuitive that it is offered to it's audience to make their own fun with and share with the rest of its community. It is a platformer at heart but with the scope and potential to reach unimaginable territories. It is a game that is as easily approachable to the hardcore as it is to the family. It is a tremendously remarkable piece of engineering and design that as a game Gears 2 comes nowhere close to. How so many dim witted gaming sites and publications mark the two equally is completely beyond me. Maybe as I've said I've missed something. Maybe Edge will inform me better, but I doubt it... I'm a good student of their measured opinions. And I agree shooters and platformers are completely different:

    [link url=http://www.wonderwallweb.com/stor y-1715-LittleBigPlanet-user-gets-creative.html
    ]http://ww w.wonderwallweb.com/story-1715-...[/link]

    Enjoy!

    ;o)

  • WillyWanka #220 3 years ago

    Lol at everyone falling for squarejaw. You've netted a huge haul of idiots SJH!

  • ArchiRag #221 3 years ago

    read the reviews dont just be score whores....

    very happy about this would have been nice to see some more of the criticisms of the game perhaps if the online was fully testable (and good) the game would score higher not certain if rating games based on a relatively limited multiplayer test is accurate especially for a game which such a big mp following like this

    seriously dont care how this stacks up against lbp, saints row or fable, completely different experiences

    roll on friday!!111!2324

  • PTK-92 #222 3 years ago

    ''HAHAHA only a 9!! LBP is an EPIC FAIL!!!''

    well i'm a ps3 owner , but i'm not gonna bash cuz it has ''Only a 9'' I'm not like that..

    Good review EG , its well worth a 9 ...

    A good fcking fall for the 360 and PS3 and PC

  • DutchDemons #223 3 years ago

    review sounded like a 10/10 tbh...

    oh well, im a GoW junkie (i recognize the ' late night gridlock sessions!;-)), so im gonna enjoy this

    *loads shotgun*

  • RedSparrows #224 3 years ago

    Rash, you're beating your head against the wall of game ratings. It's rather pointless.

    Just don't go to IGN, where commentators seem to somehow equate a score with an actual objective level of quality that supercedes any other consideration.

  • ronuds #225 3 years ago

    "LBP is a relevation in design. A game built with a toolset so accessible and intuitive that it is offered to it's audience to make their own fun with and share with the rest of its community. It is a platformer at heart but with the scope and potential to reach unimaginable territories. It is a game that is as easily approachable to the hardcore as it is to the family. It is a tremendously remarkable piece of engineering and design that as a game Gears 2 comes nowhere close to. How so many dim witted gaming sites and publications mark the two equally is completely beyond me."

    /vomits

    Will you give me a break with this rubbish. Fun and intuitive concerning level design is about the complete opposite of what every review has been saying. If you believe it's all these things, that's fine, but don't expect everyone to. It's not a game everyone would enjoy.

    LBP is a great game, no doubt about it. But let's not make it out to be more than it is. Gaming itself hasn't suddenly changed because LBP is being released. It's pretty much the same as it's always been.

  • ronuds #226 3 years ago

    "[link url=http://ww w.wonderwallweb.com/story-1715-...
    ]http://ww w.wonderwallweb.com/story-1715-...[/link]

    Enjoy!

    ;o)"

    Also, this...sure it doesn't look like a platformer, but it also looks like it's boring as all hell. Sell that on its own and see how many copies are bought.

    The LBP elitism must end! Not everything created with LBP's tools is fun and exciting and "OMG, WOWZERZ!" Does that honestly look fun to anyone? Creative, maybe....but fun? If I had to play that for more than 2 minutes, I'd rip my own eyes out.

  • SPKRFCKR #227 3 years ago

    @ Xerx3s - go ahead and check the very first page of LBP (well, any page for that matter) for the troll comments from the Xbots. Its there for everyone to see, including you.

    Spydy
    12-Oct-08 23:02:13

    LittleBigPlanet lets them run wild, with unprecedented results, but it locks the majority out of the creative process, because it's time-consuming and simply not very enjoyable.

    EPIC FAIL!


  • dryden555 #228 3 years ago

    Remember 2 years ago when Eurogamer was a genuinely great place for insightful reviews? Now we get generic reviews that offer similar hype as every every major game review site :(

  • Calgon #229 3 years ago

    First off this seems to have turned out pretty good, I like what hear/read, they seem to have listened to the critisisms of the first game... anyone denying; that is not one of the messages we should come away with from a review such as this is a liar or in denial(Im sure some prat amateur will disagree for hits and we'll have a Sonybot point it out "see this guy says everyone is wrong... take that";), for those saying theres not enough critisism? I mean come on, at least try and make it less obvious you are fishing for troll ammo... or in the unlikely event you are just a concerend 360(or would be) owner realise the possibility that although like every game ever made there are bound to be some, that they really arent worth mentioning(even the ones mentioned were somewhat trivial) and very unlikely to upset the "sounds like a..." balance(which I suspect some were just looking for anything they could use to suggest that incase people are excited about a 360 game... didnt find it, attacked reviewer, site and its community ect = same as every other high profile game, in any way related to MS).

    A translation of the Sony Fanboys is: "Bash 360 games and give PS3 games better scores or overrate them immensely like we do"

    Still whining because EG didnt quite think LBP was 10/10 worthy.

    Sorry but LBP doesnt excite me, there are many people who wont go for it and its not because they are Xbots... it happens with most games bar very few and this never looked like one of those(despite the claims, its not really done enough for that kind of praise on any level... its not going to change gaming... influence maybe but that happens alot more often), the reason for this kind of reaction is only because of "the console war" and some people just need to beleive its the next big thing that will turn the tides. You'd think theyd just read the reviews and be happy that its the awesome game they beleive it to be(for them), which funnily enough is the reaction most of the Xbots(or 360 owners/would be owners as normal people refer to them as) have had to this score/review... "It turned out good, Im happy with that, cant wait to play it/I may just buy it! :D" much better attitude, if that makes someone an Xbot then its quite a good thing to be if you ask me.

    /Graphics whore mode initiate...

    The graphics will be some of the best to grace a console to date, please dont confuse this with art style... if you dont like that fair enough but all the improvements they talked about for the engine will be in the game. Although Id prefer consoles to have some of their own proprietery engines which use ALL of the hardwares features possible, as optimal as they can acheive ect(without thinking how the heck we gonna port this code to platform B if we do that) its probably more expensive to begin with but you will get more out of the hardware, which will mean they can continue to further impress us for longer. Having said that though as far as engines go in general, especially multiplatform... Epic deserve some props, theyve continued to raise the bar and I think this HD gen would have struggled alot more so without UE3.

  • warbo #230 3 years ago

    Apologie: "this is a very entertaining action game... good score, too bad it aint coming to Pc given the fact that the Xbox version have some texture and framerate problems, not to mention that with a good Pc you can play it 1080p, with better antialising and anisotropic at 60/70 fps average.... "


    The problems you mention are barely noticeable, seriously. You'll be able to load the entire game onto your HDD after the 19th of November. That should get rid of the already minimal texture pop-in.

    I think EPIC have done a great job with Gears 2. It's surely the most visually impressive console title to date.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 02:07

  • smelly #231 3 years ago

    Not surprised this got a 9.

    looking to the right.. mirrors edge will probably get a 10.

  • #232 3 years ago

    @ Calgon... fair dos and theres plenty of the same apathy for GOW2. Its not called GOW1.5 for nothing. More of the same, duck and shoot, duck and shoot, rinse-repeat.

    Ill get it only cos im a geek for monster stories and epic cinematics but at its essence it does far less than LBP does in terms of innovation and generally trying something new and tbh mostly from the reviews pulls it off, so much that MS has now something in the works to rival it.

    Regarding GOW2, a good game it is, a great game? Well that depends who you talk to. I didn't particularity like the 1st one in fact I played Resistance 1 a tonne more.

  • Rash' #233 3 years ago

    LOL!!! If I was interested in opinion I would have raised a (nonsensical) point against it, but I'm concerned with the clear lack of distinction between an achievement in game development and a retread from last year. I agree, liking Gears 2 more than LBP is a matter of personal taste... But reviewers have a responsibility to be objective. As an achievement in gaming Gears 2 is nowhere near the highs of LBP. The fact that so many gaming sites have scored them evenly is demonstrative of the quality of journalism in gaming.
    Edited by 2 at 04/11/08 @ 08:29

  • Xerx3s #234 3 years ago

    "Its not called GOW1.5 for nothing."

    No it's not. We heard that crap so much with so many games.

    "More of the same, duck and shoot, duck and shoot, rinse-repeat."

    So you carry the notion that a sequel should suddenly be radically different from the original (even though that gameplay was top-notch)? How stupid is that? In that respect, you just condemned every sequel ever made.

    "Ill get it only cos im a geek for monster stories and epic cinematics but at its essence it does far less than LBP does in terms of innovation and generally trying something new and tbh mostly from the reviews pulls it off, so much that MS has now something in the works to rival it."

    Just because something doesn't innovate, doesn't mean that it isn't a great game. In the end there is only one thing that counts in games. That's the fun factor. That's what gow had in spades and I reckon this will have as well.

    "Regarding GOW2, a good game it is, a great game? Well that depends who you talk to. I didn't particularity like the 1st one in fact I played Resistance 1 a tonne more."

    Fair enough. I thought that R1 was mediocre at best. The controls alone where completely untweaked imo. Played gow a megaton though. Horses for courses I suppose.

  • Rash' #235 3 years ago

    DaemonB, Another me too attempt from MS?! Imitation is indeed the best form complement. ;o) Do you have a link to the story?
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 07:47

  • Rash' #236 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, I tire of this notion that the only thing that matters in games is fun. It's an incredibly limited view on the possibilities of gaming.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 07:44

  • bad09 #237 3 years ago

    "Xerx3s, I tire of this notion that the only thing that matters in games is fun. An incredibly limited view on the possibilities of gaming."

    Hate to butt in rash' mate but I'm curious, what else are games supposed to be other than fun? Isn't that the fundamental principle behind, not just computer games, but all games?

    While us lot on here take it a little too serious at times, It's not like they will change your life or anything. They are just video games at the end of the day ;)

  • Xerx3s #238 3 years ago

    "Xerx3s, I tire of this notion that the only thing that matters in games is fun. It's an incredibly limited view on the possibilities of gaming."

    Errrr.... So you play games if they aren't fun to play?

  • ducksmuggler #239 3 years ago

    why are people comparing resistance to gears ?? fall of man was shit .. realy shit, it was a poor halo rip off .
    /it seems to me the ps3 fan boys will cling on to anything that is exclusive .. face it ladys you brought a very expenisve dvd player

  • Rash' #240 3 years ago

    bad09, You see there in lies the problem with the perception that games can only be fun; it allows people to accept that "it's only a videogame". Maybe it is. It's a matter of opinion, but it's too soon to limit the creative possibilities of our beloved pastime.

  • lambtron #241 3 years ago

    I can't believe people are comparing Gears and LBP.

  • Rash' #242 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, Well of course games are fun. That's a nobrainer. So why can't we be more articulate with our appreciation of them? This whole games must be fun first and foremost is... well, both patronising and insulting.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 08:03

  • Widge #243 3 years ago

    Had some Playr's Sky+'d last night. Lots of good things on it, Gears 2 looked really nice, the main episode seemed devoted to Motorstorm which also looked nice and Unreal Tournament 3 was looking good (reviewed in 360 form). Tempted to dig out UT3 and give it some serious attention at some point.

  • Xerx3s #244 3 years ago

    "Xerx3s, Well of course games are fun. That's a nobrainer. So why can't we be more articulate with our appreciation of them? This whole games must be fun first and foremost is... well, both patronising and insulting."

    No it isn't, we don't have any problems with the latest action flick. Games are an entertainment product and as such, their primary task is to entertain. It is nice if they do other things as well but in the end it boils down to entertainment. If it isn't fun, you won't play it, ergo, fun is the only mandatory factor, all else is optional.

    I'm not saying that developers shouldn't try to innovate though. It just isn't mandatory to deliver a great product. Imo, marking a game down that doesn't innovate but is highly entertaining is as such, bs.

  • Xerx3s #245 3 years ago

    PS: Games are a long way from being more than just games. Most art forms have set their mark on society one way or another, I'm yet to see games do that.

  • bad09 #246 3 years ago

    Rash' you didn't really answer the question. What should games be if not fun? What creative possibilities do you speak of?

    and there is no maybe about it dude they are just video games, just fun, just play things, a hobby, something to bore the girlfriend with and something to argue about on the net :)

    / shivers at the Braid "life altering experience" brigade
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 08:47

  • Rash' #247 3 years ago

    Xerx3s, there are games out there that are used as education tools so clearly entertainment isn't the only definition. by definition however games are suppose to be fun, so I'm sorry suggesting games should be the blatantly obvious is patronising and insulting. lets just disagree on that.

    i'm not suggesting a game should be "marked down" because it only entertains, i'm questioning the logic that thinks a game that entertains is equally as relevant as a game that innovates as well as entertains.

    Re. Games have a long way to go: you have a knack for stating the obvious. they do indeed but that shouldn't discourage us from demanding greater things from them.

  • rhubarbandcustard #248 3 years ago

    As others have said I also replay Gears Of War 1 two years after release. GOW2 is an essential buy. Great franchise.

    As I also own PS3, Resistance 2 complements this game perfectly.

    What a year for gaming!

    Bring on 2009 :)

  • DrDamn #249 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    Everyone should really have just ignored Rash' comment to begin with. LBP & Gears2 are completely different games.

    "Games absolutely SHOULD be fun foremost."

    Which is actually where LBP shines incidentally :-) - co-op platforming is a lot of fun when approached the right way.

    "Will people be playing LBP in 2 years time?"

    Yes they will. Aside from the core creation possibilities the game will continue to grow and expand with new content - in much the same way I expect Epic will support Gears 2 - like they did Gears 1 - with new multiplayer stuff.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 09:10

  • DrDamn #250 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    What's wrong with a game which innovates and entertains but has a loose control scheme getting the same mark as one which entertains and has a very tight control scheme?

  • anomagnus #251 3 years ago

    LBP is a back of pretentious wank for people that still beleive that user generated content is going to change the gaming world

    LBP reminds me of one of those arty films that come out every year, that every one should run out and see, but no one actually does.

    Of all the games launched with toolkits, really, how many people really, i mean REALLY use them?

    5%?

    10%?

  • Rash' #252 3 years ago

    bad09, sorry, but i didn't answer the question because it's not for me answer. that the job of those working in the industry pushing the creative boundaries. my love is to appreciate. ;o)

  • busboy33 #253 3 years ago

    @rash:
    "revoltkid, It's not about taste. It about the facts. The design of LBP pwns everything Gears 2 offers in it's package and yet it is considered equal."
    "In terms of it's design LBP is the most revelatory experience of all the games I see coming this christmas and yet throw some fancy graphics, some guns and gore and the dim witted come foaming. I don't know what bothers me more; the under appreciation of LBP or that so many consider it and Gears equally good."

    A platformer with access to the development pallets is a relavatory experience? Nice, yes . . . the second coming of Christ? No.

    You complain that the 2nd Gears isn't "revelation" that the first was. You're complaining that a sequel to a game grows and expands on the game?!? What the hell were you looking for . . . dance contests to settle the fights?

    You like LBP, goodie for you. Seems like a good game. I like gears (had enough with spending endless hours developing user content in my Forza livery . . . 2 years ago). But to call one crap and the other genius makes you look like an unbelievable, bigoted twat. Shame really, since you sound like you might have intelligent things to say. Unfortunately, this blatant Xbashing-for-principle taints everything you post now.

  • Petulant_Radish #254 3 years ago

    Rash why do you actually care so much, it’s not like the director of Epic took your mother out for a chicken dinner, slept with her and then never called her again, is it? It’s not a personal affront to you that two different games, in two different genres, on two different platforms got the same review score by two different reviewers, is it?

    Also , it’s patently obvious that no one cares what you are going on about, so why continue?

  • Rash' #255 3 years ago

    DrDamn, Well if it entertains, the more appropriate question should be are the loose controls that much of an issue?

  • Rash' #256 3 years ago

    Once again, for me it's not a question about the quality of the games rather the quality of journalism in gaming. It's an observation. And if it bothers you all so much I'll stop.

  • Physically_Insane #257 3 years ago

    Anybody who thinks a squeal should be innovate is stupid. It's a squeal, it's not supposed to be different! I didn't hear anybody say "MGS4 is just the same, hide, shoot, hide". Makes me think that the only people complaining are the PS3 fanboys.

  • DrDamn #258 3 years ago

    @Rash'
    I think they will detract from the entertainment for some people - however I also think to a large extent they are a consequence of the core design decisions which make the game so good too.

  • Petulant_Radish #259 3 years ago

    Your clandestine ways do not fool me, your allusions are clear young one.

  • Rash' #260 3 years ago

    DrDamn, agreed. i've peeved off enough taking my merry old time getting to my point, so i'll give a rest. Gears 2 looks to be brilliant game. not taking anything away from anyone. many thanks to those that prodded with intelligent responses.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 09:42

  • captainrentboy #261 3 years ago

    ''Anybody who thinks a squeal should be innovate is stupid. It's a squeal, it's not supposed to be different!''

    I actually LOL'd :) Typos are awesome.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #262 3 years ago

    Rash I really can't believe what a plonker you're being. The score at the end is an OVERALL score! It takes into account such things as:

    Playability, Graphics, Sounds, Longevity and Value.

    Maybe ask EG to add a little 'Innovation' Score next to every game for Christ's sake.

    The fact is Innovation in itself is not always a plus point. Sometimes innovation, no matter how original, is crap.

    LBP got rated with a score from 1-10 as a whole. So did Gow 2. They're roughly 9/10 games as a whole package. End of. I can't believe that you think originality is some how is deserved of higher scores.

    Magnolia is a great, innovative film that I've seen about 6 times. Is it better or worse than Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? Dunno, but with a scoring system that only goes up to 10 I'd probably give them both a 9.

    Finally, I expect you to make a similar comment in the Resistance 2, Wipeout HD and Killzone 2 reviews. ;) Thanks.

    Edit: A minor retraction after reading further responses.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 09:59

  • LittleVoice #263 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 18:03:32 01-02-2012

  • captainrentboy #264 3 years ago

    SPKRFCKR just sent me a personal message, he copy and pasted an 'xbot's' insulting comment from the LBP comments section, and then wrote ''You lose'' at the bottom......
    Strange, strange boy :/

  • Dr.Mott #265 3 years ago

    Halo - 8/10 Gears of War - 8/10
    Halo 2 - 9/10 Gears of War 2 - 9/10
    Halo 3 - 10/10 Gears of War 3 - Isn't it obvious?

  • merkdot #266 3 years ago

    fucking numbskull big explosions gaming at its finest and most dumbed down
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 11:40

  • merkdot #267 3 years ago

    quod erat demonstrandum

  • miiiguel #268 3 years ago

    @simakperrce:
    It is actually fun to think. You should think about it.

    I mean, english is not my 1st language, but I did have a good and enjoyable (fun?) evening last Saturday when I saw Fassbinder's Querelle (for the 4th time).

  • hannibaldave #269 3 years ago

    Another awful review. Hate to seem like I have a hard on for this guy, but seriously - who hired this chump?

  • Petulant_Radish #270 3 years ago

    Surely you’d only have a hard on for him if you loved the review? No? Unless you’re a masochist of course…

  • Zootroy #271 3 years ago

    Registered just to say I thought this is an exceptionally well-written review.

    Probably won't return.

    Best,

    Zootroy.

  • ronuds #272 3 years ago

    "Anybody who thinks a squeal should be innovate is stupid. It's a squeal, it's not supposed to be different! I didn't hear anybody say "MGS4 is just the same, hide, shoot, hide". Makes me think that the only people complaining are the PS3 fanboys."

    Disclaimer: This comment, and its lack of grammar, in no way reflects the views of gamers in general or of XBOX 360 owners.

    Thank you.

  • espibara #273 3 years ago

    All those PS3 fanboys saying gears of war 2 is a sequel with no originality etc are just shooting thesmselves in the foot for when the highly original sequels of Motorstorm, resistance and Killzone turn up.

    Who cares if its an unoriginal sequel for gears fans like myself, gears of war 2 is gonna be fucking special.
    Edited by 1 at 04/11/08 @ 18:21

  • rotmm #274 3 years ago

    @Zootroy,

    We will miiss you. Thanks for stopping by :)

  • Xerx3s #275 3 years ago

    "Xerx3s, there are games out there that are used as education tools so clearly entertainment isn't the only definition."
    I've used those. I wouldn't call them games. More like visually enhanced versions of normal school stuff such as calculations. They also fail when the fun factor is not there.

    " by definition however games are suppose to be fun, so I'm sorry suggesting games should be the blatantly obvious is patronising and insulting. lets just disagree on that."
    ?

    "i'm not suggesting a game should be "marked down" because it only entertains, i'm questioning the logic that thinks a game that entertains is equally as relevant as a game that innovates as well as entertains."
    Why not? If a game is rock solid in every way and delivers a fantastic experience that will keep you hooked for years, why shouldn't it be up there? Besides, gow innovates in it's own little ways.
    Personally, I've rather bad associations with the term innovative. More often than not when people rave on about how innovative a game is, I found that the fun factor was lacking. Braid is an example in that. I thought the gameplay was innovating, the art direction was awesome and yet it couldn't capture my interest.

    "Re. Games have a long way to go: you have a knack for stating the obvious. they do indeed but that shouldn't discourage us from demanding greater things from them."
    Better to state the obvious than to state something that doesn't make sense. But enough of petty snides. Indeed, i didn't say that it isn't better to do something that nobody has done before (I'm working on a game atm that has never been done before ;) ) but that should imo not carry weight to mark something down.
    There is a reason that a games like RTS's, FPS's, etc. do everything the same way, that's because it has been established as a good way to entertain people.

  • Les #276 3 years ago

    "I agree with disagreeing on the notion that gaming has to be just about fun. I think the latter demands nothing of the media and lazily complies with the status quo. If you would apply the same requirements to, say, movies, it would be totally cool to only have innocent pap like 'Independence Day' or 'Men in Black'. No Kubrick, no Wong-kar Wei, no Scorcese, no Hitchcock. That is: Stories nobody gives a shit about, no character development, no conclusions to draw, nothing to think about, nothing that touches your personal life in even the slightest way. Just a 2-hour distraction from reality. Rinse, repeat."

    IMO video games are not suited for serious story telling due to their interactive nature. The interactivity is limited by default and therefore creates an extra barrier between the game and the player that movies and games don't have to worry about. Not being (fully) able to influence the story destroys immersion while on the other hand being (fully) able to influence the story destroys the story. The power of a story lies in the fact that one has no control over it whatsoever.

    In general, 'fun' stories work best because the gap between the unbelievability of the game world and the story is the smallest. E.g. the story of Uncharted is fun pulp and it works. A 'serious' pulp story like the one in Bioshock doesn't.

  • spookyzombie #277 3 years ago

    Played this last night. It's more of the same really, the quality has not gone down. If you liked the first one then you'll love GOW2.

  • l__MIDJET__l #278 3 years ago

    I respect the reviewer for what they have done. And i respect thereviewer of the original Gears too.

    Gears of War isnt a 10 game, no way. It is a game that doesnt expand on anything the next game has/does. It doesnt invent anything new.

    The gameplay for the first one was poor. All you did was small movie, cover, shoot. That was it, through the whole game. Boring. And example, COD4. Look at the Ghillie Suit Level.

    I commend the reviewer for not buckling to pressure from fanboys and giving this a 10. It may deserve a 10, but judgin by reviews, it doesnt deserve it as it is still boring.

  • Xerx3s #279 3 years ago

    /\ Lol at the complete brainfart from the poster above /\

  • SPKRFCKR #280 3 years ago

    l__MIDJET__l

    "I commend the reviewer for not buckling to pressure from fanboys and giving this a 10. It may deserve a 10, but judgin by reviews, it doesnt deserve it as it is still boring."

    LOL

  • rotmm #281 3 years ago

    Arrived in post this morning.

    Good times.

  • loop7 #282 3 years ago

    Only a 9!!!!!!!!

    The game the xbots had down as a definite 10, their great hope for the year, a FLOP!

    "We've got Gears of War 2, aren't we great!" A NINE LOL!!!!!!

    "The fps genre is revolutionised" Err no, it's MORE BORE of the SAME!!!!

    FLIP FLAP FLOP





    jokes

  • spookyzombie #283 3 years ago

    @ loop7 - At least it isn't a 'Haze'. It was funny to see Delaystation3 owners lie and pretend that was at least 7/10.

  • layleeloo #284 3 years ago

    Picked it up this morning - playin it now. Its alright to be honest. Nowt special at all. Its just the first game but bigger. If you are bothered about story which im not you might find it better, I just point and shoot. If you like the first, you like it - if not then you wont.

    Cant offer any MP views as I dont play MP, cant stand it. But the SP is quite alright.

  • MuppetThumper #285 3 years ago

    gah. more homoerotic shit.

    if you are aged 18 or over, AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!

  • Ryze #286 3 years ago

    Ha!

    Apololol has sacked off the PS3 - finally realizing that it's underspec for the expectations placed upon it.

  • RedSparrows #287 3 years ago

    I wonder if any pyschologist/anthropologist/sociologist is reading threads like these on the net and chuckling at the veritable wealth of bizarre human activity on display.

  • prolific8 #288 3 years ago

    £29 in Sainsbury's, so no excuse to not own it. Unless you don't want it, of course.

  • IronCladChicken #289 3 years ago

    @Les

    I disagree - The medium is suited to telling well crafted moving stories, at the moment however, publishers have realised that games with this level fo complexity dont sell, so instead they push titles with less depth (in the storyline and complexity of the characters) in favour of guns and explosions.

    As the market matures and niches become more finacially viable this situation will change, but for the moment, this is what we are stuck with - so you might as well enjoy it? :)

  • loop7 #290 3 years ago

    FLOP!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Barry619 #291 3 years ago

    Very please this only 9/10, while a fan of the GoW games there is no way this has the depth of Fallout to deserve being a 10/10, finally a score from EG i can agree with... let's just not even bring up why fable got 10 *shakes head*

  • TiredRiver #292 3 years ago

    Must point something out -

    Rockworm. His use and manner are pure Nintendo. It's organic.
    Very rare to see this in non Nintendo games.
    Of course it makes me wonder and dream of what Miyamoto would do with the world of Assassins Creed or GTA 4 or Far Cry 2 etc. Now that would be something worth getting excited over.

  • Fatnick #293 3 years ago

    "I disagree - The medium is suited to telling well crafted moving stories, at the moment however, publishers have realised that games with this level fo complexity dont sell, so instead they push titles with less depth (in the storyline and complexity of the characters) in favour of guns and explosions."

    I think it might also have something to do with the people who are capable of telling 'well crafted, moving stories' generally staying well away from the medium, leaving us with a bunch of sci-fi fanboys who have all seen Aliens one too many times.

  • Harmonica #294 3 years ago

    The bitter end of an EG comments thread, a few remain fighting the good fight against the endless swarms of idiocy. Not unlike the game they are posting about.

  • Gearskin #295 3 years ago

    I beat yesterday on hardcore. 10!

  • Xerx3s #296 3 years ago

    Fucking hell, why is it that EVERY FUCKING THREAD is turned into a console battlefield because of some tospots.

  • Les #297 3 years ago

    "The medium is suited to telling well crafted moving stories."

    Only in so far that it basically replicates movies through cut scenes. Gameplay itself adds nothing to the way a story is told IMO, rather the opposite. The constraints on avatar control are one factor that makes games as a story mediium much less involving than a movie, a play or a book.

  • anomagnus #298 3 years ago

    have finished the game on normal, and am on act five on ahrd

    this game IS FUCKING AWESOME

    Awesome in the way commando (the arnie movie) was awesome

    dont get me wrong, it doesnt re-write history, cure cancer and and solve the energy crisis, but what it offers is hours of pure, unadulterated fun

    there is nothing better than laying waste to the locust, in the best looking game of 08

    you can shove LBP right up your snooty, pretentious ass

    cutting the heart out of a mile long worm will rank as my gaming moment of 08

  • Kryon #299 3 years ago

    Haven't been able to post for a few days since getting this game because I've been playing it too much, I can confirm that Gears 2 is the best game of the year so far and pisses on anything I've got on my PS3 when it comes to actual fun. It is also the best looking console game of all time (to date). This game is a definite 10/10, Fable II is not (imo) but anyway, yeah, Gears 2 f***ing rocks!

  • phantom516 #300 3 years ago

    No mention in your review of the damn awful matchmaking system, which from my experience can take anything up to 15 minutes to sort out a match for you ! ( Before anyone asks, yes all my ports are open on my NAT and yes all other games including gears 1 are fine ) .

    Also in private match you can only in vite friends or have friends join you so unless you have enough friends online you can't play non ranked matches ( unlike in gears 1 ) this totally sucks ! Why take feature away from a game

    While I'm whinging, why can't you pick one match type, annex for example or elimination ? you have to do a playlist comprising many game types.

    Please Epic sort this out, supposed to be an online game isn't it ??



    arrrgghhhhhhh frustration !!!

  • Xerx3s #301 3 years ago

    No problems here. Takes about 10-15 seconds to set it up.

  • bad09 #302 3 years ago

    "No mention in your review of the damn awful matchmaking system, which from my experience can take anything up to 15 minutes to sort out a match for you !"

    I'm having problems to but only at certain times. I guess the yanks are slowing things down :)

    Anyway good game, SP seems to be the same fun (if repetitive) grind as the first (not a big fan of the SP myself).

    MP, at first, seemed a little strange to me. Almost not Gears like - I can't really put my finger on it but it seems different in some way - even on the flashback levels. Doesn't matter though because after a little while I got into the flow and it plays a better game than the first. Loving it, will continue to love it, and like Gears 1 the MP will be played for a LONG time by me!

    Yesterday I took out 4 of a five man team on my own (NEARLY got number 5 as well) and felt like a god!

    / puffs out chest

    Oh and LOL @ anomagnus,

    "you can shove LBP right up your snooty, pretentious ass"

    Another one bringing LBP into the thread for some strange insecure obsessive reason. Right now I'm enjoying the goodness of both Gears2 and LBP (among others) in my house. It's great owning two consoles! ;)
    Edited by 1 at 11/11/08 @ 08:09

  • loop7 #303 3 years ago

    Could this be the greatest FLOP in 360 history?

    Oh well, at least the xbots can still look forward to.......errr......a blu-ray add on to come out?!

  • phantom516 #304 3 years ago

    Quote: No problems here. Takes about 10-15 seconds to set it up.

    Lucky you, you are in the minority, Epic & Microsoft are apparently working on the problem according to epics forum, some people taking as long as an hour to matchmake. Even so, you still get booted back to the lobby once your game is over , no chance to continue with the players you were with unless you all join as friends ! Damn annoying.

  • captainrentboy #305 3 years ago

    Could this be the greatest FLOP in 360 history?
    Oh well, at least the xbots can still look forward to.......errr......a blu-ray add on to come out?!

    I don't get it, how do the sales figures/review scores of any title affect my enjoyment of it?
    I'm fooking loving it, haven't got that far mind as I decided to start it on Hardcore and then save Insane for online co-op.
    One thing I think Epic should be congratulated on is how the action cutscenes are 'shot' in the game, they're staged and edited better than most of the utter shite coming out of Holywood nowadays. Cole's first appearance, although rediculously OTT was more exciting to watch than anything in the new Bond flick :)

  • loop7 #306 3 years ago

    --"Why on earth would we want another dying optical format? Besides, we have GAMES to play on our console."--

    Err, no mate, the dying format is HD DVD, you know, the one xbox backed?!

    Plenty of games on the PS3 too, LBP and resistance 2 should cater for most tastes.

    --"Lol, a number 1 seller"--

    Of course the xbots are going to buy Gears 2 whatever it's like, they have been proclaiming it as Game of the Year for the past 11 months. But we all know it's basically POLISHED PAP!!!

  • Kryon #307 3 years ago

    loop7 is just another crying SDF goblin, snivelling like a little girl because Gears 2 gets a higher Game Rankings score than his preciouse Resistance 2 (which he hasn't even played yet, so God knows how he'll actually like it anyway, lol) and Fable II (even though it's full of bugs) still outranks LBP in the eyes of EG. Poor loop7, lol what a knob-end.

  • afghan_jones #308 3 years ago

    Ha ha, Inquisitor is responsible for moderating this mess now. Poor bloke.

  • canIdoyabombsforya #309 3 years ago

    He-Man with nice graphics

  • loop7 #310 3 years ago

    @Kryon

    A quote, taken from another board, direct from an xbot like yourself, re Gears 2:

    "Personally i thought the single player campaign was ok, not as enjoyable as the first again, I played through the first one at least 15 times, this one I think the 1 run through is enough.

    Campaign 7.1/10
    Multiplayer 5.8/10"

    Oh dear, looks like Microsoft Gamer bumped up the score a bit too high on this one.

    LBP scored higher than Fable 2 on most other gaming websites and I only mentioned it in response to a comment from someone claiming there are no good games on PS3.

    Resistance 2 has been widely well received by gaming experts and was mentioned as an example of a good shooter on the PS3.

    Just accept that Gears 2 isn't the revolutionary wonder game that it was held up to be, a 7/10 at best.

  • m0thr4 #311 3 years ago

    @Rash
    Xerx3s, there are games out there that are used as education tools...

    Yeah... and boy do they blow.

  • muscleblade #312 3 years ago

    Ok i have finished Gears 2 campaign and played a little mutiplayer and its easily a 10/10. Ive done the same on my nabours PS3 with Resistance 2 and its a 8/10. Both are good games but im afraid R2 gets too high scores because its superior compared to most other games on the PS3. If R2 was an exclusive for the 360 it would have been butchered when compared to Gears 2.

    Edit: My nabour totally agrees after playing Gears 2 with me even though hes a PS3 fanboy.
    Edited by 1 at 13/11/08 @ 13:55

  • Thunderbolt #313 3 years ago

    GOW2 is £29 at Sainsburys and so it Fallout 3!

    How can you say no at those prices.

  • Kryon #314 3 years ago

    @loop7

    Fair play mate, I've checked a few PS3 forums so as to get a non biased view on PS3 games and 19.5 out of the 20 comments I've checked stated that LBP was actually utter shit and worse than Ballz3D on the Megadrive. They also stated that they truly regretted their PS3 purchases and wished they hadn't bought into the hype and bullshit that Sony fed them. They also claimed that they felt like retards after forking out £39.99 for MGS4 because (in their words) it was utter shit, no more than a homoerotic movie made by some crazy old Japanese fantasist who'd never lost his virginity, much worse than a Jaguar game apparently....Who would have thought it, eh?

  • captainrentboy #315 3 years ago

    Possibly some of the weakest trolling I've seen on here, and that takes some effort.
    You can't call something 'Polished pap' when it has an average review score so high, it makes fuck all sense, you silly sausage.

  • 3TPete #316 3 years ago

    Yes come on chaps, you can do better than that...

  • Harmonica #317 3 years ago

    I don't know, I thought xbots was pretty good.

    Okay I'm lying.

  • timberwolf #318 3 years ago

    ok. good but not the first... it kinda reminds me of halo 2. everything they tried to crowbar in, in an effort to be bigger and better added nothing to the game or was misjudged... for everything that was great something annoyed me. atleast one instant death trap every level... too dark.. frustrating checkpoints... too many turret and on rails sections and a much easier difficulty level... now... seeing as the first gears was devoid of almost all these problems. who did they hire that added these mistakes? or did they even realise they were ruining the pace with awkward traps and pitfalls? i just thought there were a few too many levels constructed almost completely around pendulum and crushing traps with little to no skill, or i might add... shooting involved.

  • Gradius #319 3 years ago

    @timberwolf

    Can't say I agree with most of that. I did feel the traps (i.e. the lasers in the lab) and such like did add a bit of variety to the game as did the razor hail section, I'm glad they didn't just leave it as duck/cover/shoot the whole way through, the campaign in this one seemed longer than that of the first so I think it may have got a little boring if it was just the same thing every level. I'm also not sure what you mean by the check points being placed badly? I didn't notice any problem in that respect at all. Also I can't say I thought the game was 'too dark' either, it again seemed very similar to first in that respect. I didn't think it was much easier/harder than the first either, just seemed slightly longer.. I respect your opinion, I just can't say I can see where you're getting it from is all.

  • timberwolf #320 3 years ago

    ok. just a matter of opinion i guess. i'd prefer a game a bit less stop, start, with fewer traps. the whole razor hail and rock worm sections just pissed me off though.

  • Gradius #321 3 years ago

    I liked the razor hail bit but I do agree that the rockworm section was pretty dull.. The toxic penis's hanging from the roof, ready to splurge toxic jizz on me didn't help either :D

  • Harmonica #322 3 years ago

    You're not meant to look at the penises, you're meant to look at the space around the penises.

  • Microshaft #323 3 years ago

    How does a game that has ALL of the last game's problems when EG reviewed it, but with even more technical hang ups get a higher score?

    This site continues it's slow curl up inside Microsoft's anus I see.

  • Kryon #324 3 years ago

    ^^^ Seems headbog has another UID... Really original too.

    Cretin.

  • Amoebalove #325 3 years ago

    @Kryon

    Yep and he's being an even bigger tool than usual!!

  • tjlazr #326 3 years ago

    This finally killed my xbox. Dammit. 3 rings of doom after a 6 hour stint on Saturday. Oh dear. 4th time back to factory for my little launch model. GIVE ME A NEW ONE DAMN YOU!

  • muscleblade #327 3 years ago

    "just a matter of opinion i guess. i'd prefer a game a bit less stop, start, with fewer traps. the whole razor hail and rock worm sections just pissed me off though. "

    I dont agree at all. The campaign is quite a bit longer than the first and needed some variety in the levels. The variety in Gears 2 is unbelievable. Alot of new gameplay elements, enemies, vehicles/vehicle monsters, huge bosses, level backgrounds makes gears 2s campaign better than the first imo. Loved the worm, hail and even the laser puzzles.

  • bad09 #328 3 years ago

    @ tjlazr

    Funnily enough I think Gears 2 has knackered my machine to. The disk drive is making some strange noise that started while playing Gears 2! Still works but I reckon the old girl don't sound to healthy and won't last. :(

    The other week I was tempted to get an Elite as I need a 120gb HDD and hate the rip off stand alone price but decided against it. I guess maybe it is time for that Elite after all....

  • tjlazr #329 3 years ago

    yes indeed, i've just been combing ebay for suitable candidates. Probably the wrong time of year though...

  • chrisola #330 3 years ago

    just finished it and it was great!

    I think i missed a weapon though as i only got to 14/15 on the 'Variety..' achivement....

    I loved the creature sections, but i think some of the showdowns could have been longer (ie last boss)...the Skorge fight in the hall was awesome though, very cinematic.

    To start with i was kind of 'meh' but then all of a sudden the game picked up big time and just seemed to nail it (whatever 'it' is!). The graphics, especially the backgrounds, were great...which is always a bonus. I think the campaign was about the right length, and had some good sections.

    Horde is good but multiplayer doesn't interest me so meh!

    So yeah, very good game, £6 from Blockbuster well spent for the rental!