Gears of War 2 Preview

By Ellie Gibson Published 13 May, 2008

And we are not dead yet.

For many visitors to Microsoft's Spring Showcase, the highlight of the day will be Gears of War 2. But then for many of those who own an Xbox 360, Gears of War 2 will be the highlight of the year - at least that's what Cliff Bleszinski reckons, as you'll know when you read our interview with him later today. He's standing before us and a dozen or so other journalists to show off the game, or as he puts it, to "share the love and share the magic".

Specifically Bleszinski will be sharing the second level, titled Assault. It's the same one featured in the video released a few days ago. According to Bleszinski, however, "What you saw there was just a two-minute snippet of the entire scenario. This is the whole level from start to finish, and I'll be playing it right here in front of you on the Xbox 360."

Like the trailer, the demo begins with a cut-scene showing giant trucks, called Derricks, rolling through a canyon as helicopters fly overhead. Sunlight streams over mountains looming in the distance. Bleszinski explains the game is set about six months after the ending of the first game, just as winter is beginning. The human race still has a stronghold in Jacinto, but perhaps not for long. "The Locusts are back and they're stronger than ever," he informs us. "This time they've brought with them a force that can bring down entire cities." Although the Locust still can't tunnel underneath Jacinto, they have started digging around it. "If they keep doing that, eventually Jacinto will fall and all will be lost for humanity," says Bleszinski.

Humanity's response is to attack the Locusts in their underground habitats. To do this they've constructed tools called grind lifts - "express elevators to Hell", as Bleszinski puts it. Two soldiers enter a pod and it's sent down a tunnel into the ground. Then they pop out and clear all the Locusts in the area, hitting them where they breed.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 1

Marcus Fenix is back but this time not all his fellow soldiers are in it for the glory alone. Bleszinski explains the COG have developed a new programme called Operation Lifeboat. Men are invited to come to Jacinto and sign up on the understanding that in exchange, the families they leave behind will receive water, food and shelter. Dizzy, a character we're being introduced to here, is one of those to have taken up the offer. His accent and the banter he exchanges with Fenix suggest he's a real redneck and not quite as into macho posturing as the characters in the previous game.

The banter doesn't last for long though as a helicopter ahead explodes and mortars begin raining down on the Derrick. Bleszinski gets to work blowing the bombs up before they can complete their trajectory, and giant chunks of rock start flying all over the screen. A huge boulder is dislodged from the canyon wall and crashes into the Derrick, and almost into our hero.

Now he starts shooting at the Nemacyst Mortars flanking the Derrick. Previously seen towards the end of Gears of War 1 and in the first gameplay trailer for GOW2, these are the flying betentacled enemies that suggest someone at Epic quite likes The Matrix. And here comes a Brumak - you can shoot them now, and Bleszinski uses a mounted turret gun to see it off.

As all this is going on the Derrick is still rolling through the canyon, crushing any trees in its path. There's another Derrick travelling alongside, but there's a problem - the Locust have managed to hijack it, accessing the driver's cabin and deck using their grappling hooks. Following a fierce shootout across the bows of both vehicles, the Locust start attempting to take over the Derrick Bleszinski's on. He battles back by shooting their hooks off the bow before they've had a chance to climb up, and when that fails, by blasting them in the chest as they leap onto the deck. Turning his attention back to the successfully hijacked Derrick, Blesinski aims at the Locust in the driver's cabin and fires a perfect shot. With no one behind the wheel it tumbles into the chasm ahead and explodes, while the other Derrick continues over the bridge.

Time for the final act of the level. A Corpser bursts out of the ground right next to the Derrick, and Bleszinski despatches it with a few furious bursts of gunfire. He turns his attentions to the Brumak throwing its body weight against the Derrick in a bid to tip it over, attacking its guns first before shooting it in the face. A splatter of blood hits the camera, the Brumak gives out a great groan and comes crashing to the ground. The Derrick has reached its destination, Landown. "And that's level two," says Bleszinski.

There's just time for a few questions, starting with one about how the Achievements system will work this time around. "I don't want to get into too much of the multiplayer right now, but one thing I can confirm is we are doing Achievement progress," he says. "So players can track how far they're getting with each Achievement in whatever mode.

"We're also going to be throttling the amount of Achievements players can get at any given point." For example, if you're going for headshots, only the first headshot will count when you're in multiplayer mode. "The others won't count, so players won't be able to rock the system and play at getting headshots the entire round just to get their Achievement," explains Bleszinski, before adding that you'll be able to get all Achievements whether in single-player, multiplayer or co-op.

'Gears of War 2' Screenshot 2

The next person to pipe up wants to know how they've managed to knock out a sequel to Gears of War so quickly. "Because we started working on it the moment the first one shipped," says Bleszinski. "When we saw how the pre-orders were for the first game, when we saw the reviews coming in, we were like, 'We have to do a sequel to this, because it's clearly going to be a success.'" Now the foundation of the series has been established, he continues, the team is able to focus on "having some fun" rather than working out the game's core mechanics.

That fun will include duelling, of which not much was shown in the demo. Bleszinski is happy to talk about it, however. "The chainsaw duelling is just a B-button press mini-game because, I don't know how you guys feel, but if I play another Quick Time Event thing I think I'm going to stab somebody in the neck. I think that trend just needs to die," he says, before outlining a feature we didn't get to see in today's demo but wish we had. "If you come up from behind someone, you'll take the chainsaw up between their legs and behind them and... You know." There's a titter from the audience. "Yeah."

Of course, there's lots more we didn't see in today's demo - for example, enemies and environments other than what was featured in the trailer (Bleszinski promises locations will range "from the deepest depths of the underground to the highest snow-capped peaks"). But it's still a thrill to see Gears of War 2 in action. "I know I've been saying bigger, better, more badass, but I hope you guys agree that's what we're delivering here," says Bleszinski. It certainly looks that way.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (82) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Benno #1 4 years ago

    gears 1.5

  • Benno #2 4 years ago

    The co-op is going to rock my world, i hope they make the story a bit clearer this time.

    Why were we are Fenix's dad's house again?

  • SHABBAWOTT #3 4 years ago

    killzone 2 is going to own this game

  • solidSnake04 #4 4 years ago

    @SHABBAWOTT

    I'd like to think so...and it better be good

  • neil_likes_bums #5 4 years ago

    pie

  • SHABBAWOTT #6 4 years ago

    I was only joking lol

    Killzone 2 is gonna be shit

  • Toonster #7 4 years ago

    /digs trenches for MS and Sony fanboys

  • foamy #8 4 years ago

    Played first one to the end, it was nice. Didn't buy it though. Didn't really care about the multiplayer. Doubt i'll buy this one also. It's a nice shooter, but not something really worth spending money in.

  • SHABBAWOTT #9 4 years ago

    It really is worth spending money on to be honest.

  • stevetuck #10 4 years ago

    If the train isnt in it i dont want it :/

  • messiahtj #11 4 years ago

    Wow this site just don't give up about suckin Microsoft dick. "Gears of War 2 will be the highlight of the year".......sorry ignorant editor, the highlitgh of the year has already came out: GTA IV. Gears of War 2 will be good and good welcome for the people that played the first game. Stop making an idiots from you please, just once at least.

  • Benno #12 4 years ago

    Eurogamer sucks Microsofts dick?

    I would like to know what visual imagery other EG users have come up with for this scene?

    Eurogamer and Microsoft are companies, not people. Do you imagine Microsoft being male, sucked off by a female Eurogamer? Or a male Eurogamer, just to add a more homosexual twist?

    How big is Microsoft's penis?

    I am seeing a female sucking off Bill Gates' 10 inch penis.

  • rotmm #13 4 years ago

    @messiahtj,

    It seems the only idiot here is you. Eurogamer didn't say Gears 2 will be the highlight of the year, but rather reported Cliff's statement.

    You should be banned from reading websites until you get a basic understanding of what "reported speech" is.

  • barnard666 #14 4 years ago

    @messiahtj II

    Learning how to construct a sentence might help too.

    I just grabbed a Japanese copy of gears so I can play it again, in a new language....(My disc has cracked from over use or the xbox doing its best to split dvd's in half).

    I can not wait for this, I loved the last one, and even though this will probably be little more than a level pack, I still can't control my excitement.

  • waggy79 #15 4 years ago

    More of the same would do me just fine, but i think epic are aiming a little higher...

  • Antwandemarco #16 4 years ago

    Looks awesome...

    Cliffyb however is a massive douche.

    God bless.

  • Kanselier #17 4 years ago

    I quite enjoyed the original, had me a blast. Nothing wrong with GoW in my opinion :) If part 2 brings more of the same I'll be a happy bunny.

  • GitSomE_UK #18 4 years ago

    Really looking forward to this I loved the first one and if they've improved on that then wahoo!.... BUT.... no Cole train? Surely a mistake? The Cole train brought a lot of humour to the first.

  • Deepo #19 4 years ago

    So, the main character is called Bleszinski now, eh?

  • Xerx3s #20 4 years ago

    "Played first one to the end, it was nice. Didn't buy it though. Didn't really care about the multiplayer. Doubt i'll buy this one also. It's a nice shooter, but not something really worth spending money in."

    Tell that to the large portion of the EG online club who spend months on this.

  • Xerx3s #21 4 years ago

    "Wow this site just don't give up about suckin Microsoft dick. "Gears of War 2 will be the highlight of the year".......sorry ignorant editor, the highlitgh of the year has already came out: GTA IV. Gears of War 2 will be good and good welcome for the people that played the first game. Stop making an idiots from you please, just once at least."

    I bought GTAIV. I like it a lot but in no way is it THE highlight of the year imo. Not saying that this will be the best, I'll have to play it but there are several games out this year that will be far better than gta imo.

  • Darren #22 4 years ago

    There's another underground level... ah crap, absolutely hated the one in the first game, it was so dull visually and seemed to drag... hope this one is more interesting...

  • Darren #23 4 years ago

    As for Cliff saying Gears 2 will be the highlight of the year, well he would say that wouldn't he? LOL

    For me, I don't think it will be no matter how great the game is - and I'm sure it *will* be good - because it's just a short (according to Epic) linear third-person shooter that'll probably be over inside ten hours like the first game and since I've no interest in playing it online whatsoever it'll struggle to compete with the mighty heights of GTA IV IMO, a game that has been consistently brilliant and memorable for the duration of the 70 odd hours I've been playing it so far (and I'm still itching to return to it). When a game makes me go WOW! almost every time I play it I know it's bloody good! LOL

    Granted playing Gears 2 campaign for 70 odd hours would likely prove far too repetitive as it's just the same thing all the way through... move to setpiece, take cover, shoot enemies until dead, repeat until end of game... but to me it shows just how great sandbox games really are compared with conventional shooters like this as they can be dipped into for short sessions or you can play through the story for longer periods of time so how can *any* game bar epic RPGs compete with that?

    The first Gears didn't even have a compelling narrative so that's one area that I hope they improve upon for the sequel... I mean the characters like Marcus Fenix are the most unlikeable bunch of cliched stereotypes ever... I never cared about their plight or really felt that involved.

    Oh and get rid of the horrid running camera angle that restricts your vision please, Epic... or at least have the decency to make it optional as I found it annoying far too frequently in the first game! :)

  • Ali_sdf_pwn3d #24 4 years ago

    omg gears of war is rubbish, once KILLZONE 2 comes along u will see wut a fps is about, gow has grafics like a KIDDY GAME.

  • Peew971 #25 4 years ago

    I'll get it even if it's Gears 1.5 :)

  • CreepinJesus #26 4 years ago

    We're not interested in your FPS - Gears isn't an FPS anyway.

  • TRACTORBOY1971 #27 4 years ago

    I really enjoyed playing the first gears of war, and if it was just another mission update I would not mind. I enjoyed the mulitiplayer co-op so more the same please.
    I don't really care if Killzone 2 is going to be better, because it is not going to be out until feb 09, so I would have finsihed GOW2 by then and then I can enjoy Killzone 2 when it eventually comes out, but knowing sony and how much it loves europe, it will be out in Nov 09.
    We have another potenially great game coming out in Novemeber - resistance 2 - lets hope Sony does not do what it normally does and delay that as well.

    Happy gaming to all

  • Weezer #28 4 years ago

    Gears 1.5 > Killzone 2

  • CannonAnBall #29 4 years ago

    Gears is the new Top Gun!

  • Ali_sdf_pwn3d #30 4 years ago

    haha u guys r so jealus!!! go and cry into your rrod boxes while we play rfom 2 and killzone 2!!

  • adamamosa #31 4 years ago

    I dont understand the hype surrounding Killzone 2. The first game was average at best.

  • Laika #32 4 years ago

    I can't stand Epic's macho arrogance. "More badass"? Jesus fucking Christ, give it a rest.

    Give me Valve's thoughful boundary-pushing any day.

  • Chewy #33 4 years ago

    There are some 'interesting' comments away from the subject i.e. killzone rocks blah blah. Please stop.

    GoW2 I'm sure will be enjoyable as much as the first if not more. I do keep having a blast of the first on my own as it's very satisfying in terms of the intense fire fights and taking down the enemy.

    p.s. I do have a PS3 too and hope that Killzone 2 is going to be 'AAA', but that's some time away.

  • Garulon #34 4 years ago

    "I dont understand the hype surrounding Killzone 2. The first game was average at best. "

    Plus this has been delyaed multiple multiple times. It's still possible KZ2 will be great but it's very likely by the time feb 2009 comes around it's going to look a bit stale.

  • Ali_sdf_pwn3d #35 4 years ago

    what a week for the ps3, winning the gta 4 battle, killzone 2 CONFIRMED, gears of war 2 looking CRAP. sonys win in the console war is CERTAIN!

  • Negotiator #36 4 years ago

    Can you say game of the year.

  • Widge #37 4 years ago

    Eugh, don't own a 360, looking forward to kz2. Based on that, I'd also like to add my voice to the "why on earth are there uninvited
    killzone 2 comparisons coming into this comment thread?" crew, to show a bit of dismay from "the other side" at comments like that!

  • Negotiator #38 4 years ago

    "what a week for the ps3, winning the gta 4 battle, killzone 2 CONFIRMED, gears of war 2 looking CRAP. sonys win in the console war is CERTAIN!"

    When did they win the GTA 4 battle, the 360 version has sold more. Killzone 2 was confirmed in 2005 and it still ain't out, only a moron would say GOW 2 looks crap, so I guess that makes you a moron.

  • CannonAnBall #39 4 years ago

    Looks like a few people have fallen for the wind up!

  • Xerx3s #40 4 years ago

    "Give me Valve's thoughful boundary-pushing any day."

    lol.

  • nickthegun #41 4 years ago

    Looked good in the video. Even if its gears 1.5 and is just more 'fun' i'll be happy.

  • Ali_sdf_pwn3d #42 4 years ago

    wtf? im not a troll, im just speaking the truth. xbox is dead, ps3 is going to take its rightful place as #1 console. cry more xbots!

  • BadBoyBonner #43 4 years ago

    Much less excited about this one than I was the first one - guess being a bit of a GFX whore the lure of seeing the UE3 engine in action long before it made it onto any other system was quite a big pull at the time.

    In addition I didn't rate the multiplayer - seemed like a wasted opportunity - wish you could have a semipermanent First Person view in multiplayer only switching to thirdperson while in cover. Co-op was really good for the time but has since been eclipsed by Halo 3 co-op.

    More excited by the idea of CoD 5 for multiplayer (even with Treyarch at the reins) and GTA IV DLC.

  • Xerx3s #44 4 years ago

    "wtf? im not a troll, im just speaking the truth. xbox is dead, ps3 is going to take its rightful place as #1 console. cry more xbots!"

    Yesyes, if you want to be a sock, you really need to do a better job.

  • BadBoyBonner #45 4 years ago

    Ali - in your version of reality does the Wii not exist?

  • Ali_sdf_pwn3d #46 4 years ago

    haha, wii is for kids and old people.

  • captainrentboy #47 4 years ago

    I'm guessing Ali_sdf_pwn3d is blatantly taking the piss, as no human is that fucking stupid.
    I think he's taken a dash of Apologie with a sprinkle of Swam, and this is the outcome.
    Ohh and I'm looking forward to this game, but not as much as I thought I would be, maybe it's a little tooo similar to the first, or maybe I'm just sick of frikkin shooters.
    I want fable 2 and Banjo more :/

  • berelain #48 4 years ago

    Good gods, the more I read about this the more I'm loving it.

    But seriously guys, it seems that everyone likes to bash a successful product. Halo 3 was bashed because it was, well, too Halo, wasn't it, and Gears 2 is now being bashed for being... what... too Gears?

    At the end of the day, casting aside all hype and fanboyism, playing the original Gears was a huge highlight of gaming for me, and I've since played the campaign through five more times, twice co-op with different people, and a few solo on higher difficulties. I just don't get bored of its visceral charm. Nothing I've played since, on 360 or PS3, has come close to capturing the same level of entertainment I get from playing Gears.

    And the look on my mates face when he saw the Gears 2 gameplay trailer was priceless. He only has a PS3, so he's no xbot, but he was utterly blown away by the massive scale and silky smooth framerate, let alone the fun that the game seemed to be.

    And for those of you saying its all about set pieces, yes, perhaps it is, but then, so are most games. The difference with Gears for me was that the Locust AI was smart enough to give you a different experience each time you encountered a scenario.

  • Dark_Stranger #49 4 years ago

    ignores chemical Ali_sdf_pwn3d

  • Xerx3s #50 4 years ago

    "I'm guessing Ali_sdf_pwn3d is blatantly taking the piss, as no human is that fucking stupid. "

    Well obviously he is taking the piss but if you want to see people who are really that stupid -> swam.

  • Lexx87 #51 4 years ago

    You know, sometimes I think people a like Ali_sdf are actually serious. It makes me really depressed and think someone should rape them in the arse until they DIE

  • zuljin #52 4 years ago

    Highlight of the year would be Dead Rising 2.

    I'm going to be very dissapointed...

  • kangarootoo #53 4 years ago

    "The others won't count, so players won't be able to rock the system and play at getting headshots the entire round just to get their Achievement"

    Well I for one am pleased to hear players will not be able to "rock the system"... o-o


    The movie looked rather impressive, even though I wasn't really into GEoW 1. Certainly one to watch.

  • kangarootoo #54 4 years ago

    How about this thread actually discusses GEoW 2 for a change. Everybody who descends into fanboy name calling is a c*nt, bar none. It doesn't matter which game or which platform you like (and be sure that nobody else cares which game/platform you use as wank material), you all look equally like twats. Grow up ffs.

  • stepneg #55 4 years ago

    Arbiter your not educating anyone just boring people to tears with your constant bitching at least Ali_sdf_pwn3d comes out and says what he really thinks, even if it is insane ramblings it's at least mildly amusing.

    As for Gears 2, Cliffy B could take a shit in a box and slap a Gears 2 logo on it and I would still buy it, I can't wait for this game!

  • Physically_Insane #56 4 years ago

    This is a mess.

    Anyway, I love GoW and I'm certainly going to buy this one. GoW online has still to be beaten as my most played game on live. Everyone who is saying 'Gears 1.5' are retards. What do you expect? It's a sequel. Look at MGS1 and MGS2, RE1 and RE2, Halo1 and Halo2, etc. All are highly rated with little changed in the sequels.











    ps3 suxx teh dicks

  • andromeda #57 4 years ago

    COCK

  • Xerx3s #58 4 years ago

    kangarootoo: Well, we can always talk about how I'm going to chainsaw your arse into oblivion.

    /reads own comment

    0_o

    /posts

  • Dark_Stranger #59 4 years ago

    is it half term?

  • miiiguel #60 4 years ago

    I need to try this Gears game. I still have an unopened copy at home. I heard it's good.

  • thinktank #61 4 years ago

    I think GoW2 looks promising, I was waiting to fight a Bumak all the way through GoW1,

    As for the usual dribble on these boards, what exactly is stopping me going to the shops and buying a PS3 with KZ2 or RFoM2 if i decide i want to?

    How the fuck to any of you win anything? How the fuck does gears loose? What the fuck are you morons talking bout?
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 10:40

  • miiiguel #62 4 years ago

    "stopping me going to the shops and buying a PS3 with KZ2 or RFoM2 if i decide i want to? "
    Nothing really, apart from the fact that those games do not exist... it might be enough of a reason, not sure though.
    Edited by 2 at 14/05/08 @ 10:41

  • mazzl #63 4 years ago

    EG. I WOULD REALLY LIKE MODS IN HERE TWO!

    with the GTA vs article and this and the killx2 article i've put a massive amount of people on ignore this week.
    it's really getting stupid!

    i would also like to see Dead Rising 2 :)

    the trailer for this looks very nice. a bit more collurfull would be nice. might just get this. but fable2 is more my kind of game. and out in the store about the same time this launches...
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 10:43

  • kangarootoo #64 4 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    Anything is preferable to fanboy rantings. My arse is prepared to take a bullet for the sake of the thread :)

  • thinktank #65 4 years ago

    Sorry Miiiguel,

    Please insert "upon their release",

    Better?

  • chrisjm #66 4 years ago

    Ali_sdf_pwn3d, congrats on being the first person in my ignore list.

  • asphaltcowboy #67 4 years ago

    ...before adding that you'll be able to get all Achievements whether in single-player, multiplayer or co-op...

    GOOD! Finally! No more having to play ranked matches against total dicks :/

  • muscleblade #68 4 years ago

    ((If you come up from behind someone, you'll take the chainsaw up between their legs and behind them and... You know." There's a titter from the audience. "Yeah.";))

    This is shown in the trailer and looks badass indeed.

    ...before adding that you'll be able to get all Achievements whether in single-player, multiplayer or co-op...

    Very good news. I always preferred campaign coop over multiplayer in GOW.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/08 @ 11:15

  • chronom4n #69 4 years ago

    I am sure the pre-orders will come flooding in, but the quetion is will it bring radically different ideas to the franchise or will it be as someone has said "gears 1.5." To me it is just another genre which is not that different to say Gran Turismo or God Of War. Just more of the same and the only people who will most likely pick out the finer points be it good or bad, will be the hardcore fans of the game. Other than that, I can see this flying off of the shelves like the proverbial locust hordes.

  • DUFFKING #70 4 years ago

    Heh, this comment section just became about 30 posts shorter.

  • Skooch #71 4 years ago

    With all due respect DiamondIce, at least the first poster said SOMETHING. Flaming someone and then posting that you have nothing to say isn't exactly riveting reading for everyone else, is it.

  • DUFFKING #72 4 years ago

    He seems a nice enough guy to me. Probably people don't like him because Epic seem to parade him around as a 'LOOK! HE MAKES GAMES AND HES NOT A FAT SWEATY BAGEL INHALING MORON!' kind of guy with his mug everywhere.

  • theindustrialone #73 4 years ago

    "Shut the fuck up, ali, you're out of your element. What the fuck are you talking about? Killzone 2is not the issue here, dude. I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, Dude, ps3 fanboy is not the preferred nomenclature. SDF, please."

    Nice!

    I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't play GoW on Shabbos!

  • bitesize #74 4 years ago


    aww, did the PS3 fanboy get banned? can only read the replies to his rantings now...


    anyways, wasn't too impressed with the gears vid to be honest. it all looks a bit 'uncanny valley' to me - looks so good that the small details that are wrong really stand out, like some of the wierd lighting/reflection effects + some iffy DOF stuff. and the explosions aren't too good either. course, it's a standard-def video of a high-def source, so it might just have been the video encoding... the scale of the thing certainly looks pretty amazing tho.

  • #75 4 years ago

    High light of the year? Considering the last game got a 7.

    0?

  • MightyMouse #76 4 years ago

    Surely the problem people have with Cliffy B is that he says things like "share the love and share the magic"? It's cringeworthy.

    On the topic of the game, it looks pretty good but no matter how good the gameplay it would really benefit from having a decent storyline.

  • TRUTH #77 4 years ago

    Who gives a crap about the story line ?...It's a action game all the way and does well. If you want a story line go for a adventure or rpg: Oblivion, Lost Odysee, Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonatra. Great action movies don't really bother with some boring deep story.

  • Madlax #78 4 years ago

    Games are getting too...shallow.

    No offense to Epic, this is probably how most game developers are doing there games, but why are the concepts, scenarios and story so shallow, its always the 'good' guys against the savage 'bad' guys, there is almost no depth in games anymore, this seems more prominent in american games.

    While i do realize that this is to appeal to the target market, which adores such shallow ideas, thus the word 'badass' is constantly repeated, and although by saying that i,v answered my own question, i still need to ask. ;)

    When will we ever have games that are more than just 'kill the bad-guy', with 'bad-ass' characters spitting 'bad-ass' words that lack any depth or meaning.

    The way i see it, the more mainstream games become, the more shallow they will be.

    I think the only way to achieve deeper scripts and scenarios, is for easily accessible game developement tools to become available to users world-wide, then we may start to see unique creations by different individuals.

    Seems i got carried away.....now this looks 'bad-ass'. ;)

  • TRUTH #79 4 years ago

    I don't remember many great 2d action titles bothering with a story. WHO CARES ?...This is pure big beefy gory action. Why waste all that time and money on story telling!

  • Xerx3s #80 4 years ago

    Shallow? Fucking hell, you take a game that is purely centred around action and then complain about the lack of depth? If every game was as deep as a normal wrpg, I wouldn't have time to play games at all.

  • Widge #81 4 years ago

    I thought Halo had a decent story driving you on, whereas HalfLife2 had absolutely nothing driving you on. For me, I do like to a have a purpose for playing through something beyond great action. In my mind, thats what multiplayer is for, and exactly why I abandoned the HalfLife2 singleplayer in favour of Counterstrike and Day Of Defeat.

    Plus it doesn't have to be particularly overblown, just well crafted. Pure flash and action films nowadays are generally derided because we've all seen examples where the blend between action and story has been hit perfectly by Hollywood, making us all a bit more demanding.

  • LeoliansBro #82 4 years ago

    Oh GOODY. More cocksucking Gears of War. More tedious whining american children in my ear. More tiny levels and rabid fanboys banging on about ooooh teh shiny. More pretence that a game with very few weapons, variety, or fun is somehow the be-all and end-all of gaming. As opposed to an essentially on-rails corridor shooter with identikit grey backgrounds, grey protagonists and grey enemies. I. Can't. Wait.

    Although the massively gay characters are always good for a chuckle.

  • JYM60 #83 4 years ago

    Well the gameplay is flawed...the cover system is shitty than just crouching behind a wall and standing up and shooting and then crouching again plus you can move alittle out towards corner of wall and shoot better than leaning your whole body bullshit.

    plus the game doesnt let you jump piece of shit.

    if the game had duke nukem time to kill gameplay mechanics might be good game.

    Also...

    Another Unreal 3 engine clone? No thanks.

    Bring on the Frostbite, Crytek 2 Engine, Rage, Dunia, Avalanche etc etc

    I'm getting pretty sick game developers pumping out the same old games using Unreal 3 tech, they mostly suck, none of them push boundaries, none of them are decent.

    With these new engines we're getting advanced new technology that is actually making the next-gen consoles worth buying:

    -Frostbite we're getting fully destructable enviroments

    -Crytek 2 we're getting massive highly detailed enviroments with highly interactive enviroments

    - Rage we're getting new streaming textures technology

    - Dunia we're getting massive open seamless worlds

    etc etc

    Unreal 3 engine games havn't pushed beyond what the source engine did over 3 years ago. Basic physics, basic decals, basic animation system basic games. The only thing it does is throw around more polygons and provides pre-coded shaders.

    Gears of War, Unreal Tournament 3, Bioshock, Area 51, Rainbow Six: Vegas they all could have been done on the Unreal 2 engine, granted they wouldn't look as 'pretty' however fact is the basic gameplay elements that create the game are no more technically demanding than any of the games brought out on the PS2 or Xbox.

    Granted it's intressting to see how different developers can skin their models or the differed gun noises they can come up with for basically the exact same particle, decal and animation effect.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/08 @ 14:48

  • TRUTH #84 4 years ago

    GOW is still the best looking console game. And a great action game too.

  • JYM60 #85 4 years ago

    TRUTH speaks total shit.

  • TRUTH #86 4 years ago

    JYM60 - Why because simply I prefer the 360 to PS3. Well personally the 360 is a better gaming platform, I have seen nothing on PS3 to change my mind. JYM60 sorry if I hurt your ps3 feelings.
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/08 @ 23:36

  • WillyWanka #87 4 years ago

    yakult