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Doing the first sequel to big games usually means changing the levels, adding some multiplayer maps and a weapon or two, and slapping a "2" or a "II" after the name. But when Microsoft releases Gears of War 2 on the Xbox 360 this November it will include a bit more than the usual including augments to its single-player, co-op and competitive multiplayer modes. According to Cliff Bleszinski of lead designers Epic Games, some of the augments might change the way you play the game.

Crispy Gamer: In terms of gameplay, what's new for Gears of War 2? Let's start with single-player.

Cliff Bleszinski: We're Epic Games and the game is epic in scale. Basically, you'll not only have a bigger sense of the war going on around you from the narrative and also from voice-overs, but you'll also have tremendous battle scenes that are just bedlam. The Brumak, for example, had a cameo in the first Gears, but in Gears 2 he has quite a lot of screen time. You'll meet new characters such as Dizzie. Anya has more screen time. Jack has more personality. There's just too much to list.

Crispy Gamer: Have you made any fundamental changes to gameplay, like to the cover system?

Bleszinski: I'm not a fan of how developers tend to hate on their own games. "Our first game, even though it sold a ton of copies, was crappy." What's wrong with you? But I have to say, after playing Gears 2 for so long, the cover improvements alone are just amazing. Whatever you want the A button to do, it just does. It was amazing in the first game, but there were a couple problems with players unintentionally getting into cover when they didn't want to. So we're polishing it until it shines. We made something like 500 code tweaks to the system, so now there are never any instances of someone going into cover when they don't want to.

We've also added Stopping Power so players will physically slow down when they're shot with bullet-based weapons. This fundamentally changes how multiplayer is played since it prevents people from doing that cheesy shotgun roll thing they've adopted. Oh, that drives me crazy.

Crispy Gamer: So if I'm shooting someone now they'll actually slow down?

Bleszinski: Yeah. If you're running at me and I unload on you, you will slow down even if you're running at me. Though it only works if you're facing me. It doesn't work if you're running away or strafing.

Crispy Gamer: Were any of the changes things you wanted to do in the first game but couldn't?

Bleszinski: I wanted crawling in Gears one, and we didn't have time to get it in. And it makes a tremendous difference when you've been knocked down and you're trying to get away. I wanted more time for the Brumak, and this time we have bigger, bigger creatures. Not to spoil anything, but we have far more interesting boss battles this time around. And vistas. A lot of people's memories of the first game are of these stone grey columns, but in this one we've planned it so there will be times when you'll come over a hill and see this amazing view. I also think our pacing is getting better, and we're going deeper with the narrative.