After its first weekend it sold two million units… Two million in one weekend! now that is spectacular.
Released in twenty countries on November 7, it has become the third fastest video game ever behind Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 4. Microsoft claims that 1.5 million have logged into Xbox Live on the game and logged over 15 million gameplay hours, a new record on Live. Also, 19 million collective achievements were unlocked, a simple fun fact.
Having finally played Gears of War 2 for myself I can say it was even more spectacular than the original. The visuals are next to amazing. Except for a couple times when you notice some texture loading while you play. And while the water looks heavenly while standing, when it moves there is little to no splashing and it kind of just engulfs you everything it runs over. I understand that would take a helluva lot from the designers but the moving water is no where near the level of the rest of the graphics. Overall they are still probably the best I have ever seen in a game.
The gameplay is much improved, particularly the A button movements. A large complaint about the original Gears was that when using the A button to sprint it would change functions and move to get into cover whenever you ran even somewhat close to a wall or obstacle. This all lead to an enourmous head-ache for gamers. Also on the online multiplayer function of Gears of War 1 there was a way to cheat the system and sprint up to an enemy and shotgun blast them while they helplessly pounded round after round into them with almost no effect. In Gears 2, the bullets have an effect on impact. Bodies will react when a round hits them and may even be knocked back a few steps.
The worst part of Gears 2 is the story. It has so much potential yet is riddled with something called ‘Halo Syndrome.’ Halo Syndrome is when a game doesn’t elaborate on enough story for you to get the full effect (just like the Halo series). It takes a lot for you to understand what is actually happening in the world. Had I not read many of the interviews with the game designers and reports on the development of the game I probably would have been lost for a good long time. It is not however, impossible to get immersed into the story. Playing through Gears 1 and investigating parts you are confused about on the internet reveals a spectacular storyline.
All in all if you are borderline on purchasing the game I would definitely recommend getting it. Even my few friends that absolutely hated Gears of War 1 had a lot of fun playing Gears 2 with me on Co-op. It is a great game and possibly one of the best ever created.
Released in twenty countries on November 7, it has become the third fastest video game ever behind Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto 4. Microsoft claims that 1.5 million have logged into Xbox Live on the game and logged over 15 million gameplay hours, a new record on Live. Also, 19 million collective achievements were unlocked, a simple fun fact.
Having finally played Gears of War 2 for myself I can say it was even more spectacular than the original. The visuals are next to amazing. Except for a couple times when you notice some texture loading while you play. And while the water looks heavenly while standing, when it moves there is little to no splashing and it kind of just engulfs you everything it runs over. I understand that would take a helluva lot from the designers but the moving water is no where near the level of the rest of the graphics. Overall they are still probably the best I have ever seen in a game.
The gameplay is much improved, particularly the A button movements. A large complaint about the original Gears was that when using the A button to sprint it would change functions and move to get into cover whenever you ran even somewhat close to a wall or obstacle. This all lead to an enourmous head-ache for gamers. Also on the online multiplayer function of Gears of War 1 there was a way to cheat the system and sprint up to an enemy and shotgun blast them while they helplessly pounded round after round into them with almost no effect. In Gears 2, the bullets have an effect on impact. Bodies will react when a round hits them and may even be knocked back a few steps.
The worst part of Gears 2 is the story. It has so much potential yet is riddled with something called ‘Halo Syndrome.’ Halo Syndrome is when a game doesn’t elaborate on enough story for you to get the full effect (just like the Halo series). It takes a lot for you to understand what is actually happening in the world. Had I not read many of the interviews with the game designers and reports on the development of the game I probably would have been lost for a good long time. It is not however, impossible to get immersed into the story. Playing through Gears 1 and investigating parts you are confused about on the internet reveals a spectacular storyline.
All in all if you are borderline on purchasing the game I would definitely recommend getting it. Even my few friends that absolutely hated Gears of War 1 had a lot of fun playing Gears 2 with me on Co-op. It is a great game and possibly one of the best ever created.
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