Gears of War 2

I never thought it was possible to make a game more masculine than Gears of War: I was wrong. This sequel is so laced with testosterone I had to grow a beard, wear a headband and talk about women loudly just to feel man enough to play it.

Gears of War 2 manages to be bigger, bolder and better than its predecessor which is an impressive accomplishment. There are very few games that draw me back to them again and again but I can honestly say that Gears 2 does, thanks to its ultra-violent charms.

The plot follows on directly from the slightly unsatisfying cliff-hanger conclusion to the first game and a knowledge of the original story definitely helps. You again follow the actions of Delta squad as they combat a dangerous new threat the Locust have developed. Humanity is no longer safe and in order to make a last stand they decide attack is the best form of defence. Suffice to say this leads to explosions, gunfire and more gore than an exploding elephant in an abattoir.

The tight, refined and polished gameplay returns and is challenging but satisfying. The third-person action is tightly supported with an essential cover system. Standing out in the open with all guns blazing will buy you a one way ticket to your own messy death. In order to succeed in the frequent shoot-outs, it is necessary to take cover and gradually move your way forward, placing pressure on the enemy with covering fire and flanking tactics. This is handled brilliantly being both intuitive and smooth, within minutes you find yourself taking down clusters of enemies with clever strategies.

Epic have listened closely to previous criticism and have added small but well thought-out additions to the armoury. All the guns in Gears 2 feel meaty and realistic thanks to great animations and enemy reactions. The new death dealers are excellent: poisonous grenades, a flamethrower and a minigun all feel right and leave only bodies in their wake. The real star though is the new and frankly ridiculous mortar which is tricky to master. Once you get the idea, no one is safe in cover which means you have to get to safety before you're reduced to a quivering pile of entrails.

Graphics in Gears 2 are simply astonishing and the increased variety in the game's levels means that it isn't merely grey and brown this time around. Lighting is jaw-dropping on occasions and the gritty tone and atmosphere immerses you in the title. The violence in the game remains extreme and is both exaggerated and at times shocking. Decapitations, evisceration and lacerations are all graphically depicted but this uncompromising vision of war sits well with both plot and style. The chainsaw bayonet returns and is as worryingly satisfying when you cleave someone in two.

The characterisation is much improved on the one-dimensional masculine stereotypes of the original and as the game progresses you find yourself really caring for the team. The voice acting and dialogue are both incredibly well written and really go a long way to building a believable universe. The balance between humour and drama is excellent and I found myself chuckling at the dark exchanges between the members of Delta.

Co-operative gameplay is again prevalent and the game plays so much better with an additional player backing you up. Whilst the co-op computer AI is by no means terrible, a human companion is necessary on the harder difficulties thanks to improved enemy movement. Your enemies can now revive one another and the vastly increased varieties mean that you really do need someone watching your back. The increased roster of opponents is satisfying and you now have to develop a range of strategies depending on what you find yourself against.

The multiplayer mode is more refined, providing new maps and modes which are all well designed and very enjoyable. The usual range of competitive modes are available but the real diamond is the new "Horde" mode. Here you and up to 4 friends must fight off waves of the Locust which get progressively harder. Making it to the higher levels is seriously challenging but when a group of you make it to the end alive it feels special.

Gears of War 2 is clearly a great game but it does have a number of problems which tend to hold it back. The emphasis on co-op and team play is very prevalent but if you die in single player, your AI companion lacks the intelligence to revive you. This problem was present in the last game and should really have been fixed. There are times when an unfair shot leads to you dying with no hope of revival. This instant game over doesn't fit in with the rest of the game and playing the title co-op gives you a real advantage over single player.

The cover system is at times a little temperamental and could possibly have been tweaked a tad but as a whole it works well. The checkpoint system in the single player campaign is generally good, except in a few annoying locations. At times you are forced to reply several fire fights just to get to the difficult final one which feels like a cheap lengthening of the game on the hardest settings.

In their infinite wisdom Epic decided to include another driving level which is pretty basic and tedious in comparison with the third-person gunplay. Thankfully you can actually drive and shoot this time which is a godsend in comparison with the first game's section.

These criticisms are minor detractors in what is otherwise a satisfying, enjoyable and varied game. If you can stomach the violence and are a fan of shooters then this is undoubtedly a must-buy title. Gears of War 2 has the level of polish of a Hollywood blockbuster and is such, it plays like one. Explosions, shooting and decent acting make this the ideal "popcorn" gaming title. The replay value is excellent with a well sized campaign, co-operative gameplay and outstanding online multiplayer. Grab some armour, your chainsaw bayonet and sit down for an experience which makes you glad to be a gamer.