Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360)
Epic shooter leaves things wide open for a sequel -- like that's a bad thing?
11/7/2008 7:15 PM | 6 Comments | Page 3 of 3
What's Hot: Superb visuals and gameplay controls; Tasteful new additions; Engaging single-player and multiplayer modes; Smarter AI; Exquisite pacing
What's Not: Ending raises more questions than it answers
Erin Bell
Status: I'm the King of the Cheese, and you're the Lemon Merchant.
What's more, the world -- even while largely made up of the same greys and browns as most shooters seem to be -- still manages to be vibrant, often breathtaking. On one mission I emerged into a massive underground cavern, high ceilings bathed in a yellowish glow, waterfall cascading into a rippling lake below, and was struck by how beautiful a scene could be still rendered in such understated colors.
The world is a brutal one though, and the game doesn't let you forget it for long. Indeed, the unflinching portrayal of violence can get intense at times, and not just in an "eww, that's gross" way (although there is plenty of stuff that's over-the-top to the point of being cartoonish). One particularly harrowing scene at a Locust prisoner-of-war camp is an example of a different kind of intensity that I'm not going to forget any time soon.
Like in the first game, the ending of
Gears of War 2 is open and a little unsatisfying. The finale (and subsequent blink-and-you'll-miss-it epilogue teaser after the credits roll) raises more questions than it puts to rest. I'm not adverse to more Gears of War games -- in fact, quite the opposite -- but I'll be interested to see where the story can possibly be taken. After all, humanity can only teeter on the brink of extinction for so long before epic declamations like "last remaining defense..." and "impossible odds..." start to lose their impact. I'm starting to crave some sort of closure, lest poor old Fenix comes back in
Gears of War 10 for humanity's last, last, last stand -- six old men in a tent.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Get the first hour in Kyle Orland's
Games for Lunch: Gears of War 2.
