Gears of War 2

[foogledricks]

So not that I'm surprised, this is sounding awesome as details "emerge."

-Party System finally

-Tons of Multiplayer maps, way more than Gears 1 shipped with

-Significant more multiplayer modes than Gears 1

-5 vs 5 multiplayer

-More finishing movies, one per weapon

-Huge emphasis on creating levels with unique gimmicks like the krull level or the train level from Gears 1. I say gimmicks, but not in a bad way. Let's call them "interesting levels" and I think COD4 did a superb job with that type of thing.

-"Bigger and Better" Coop which sounds like 4 player coop, and more coop-centric levels which were awesome. LOVED that.

 

They seem to be really listening to the community as well as doing the expected iterative improvements. This along with Ninja Gaiden 2 might be my #1 game of the year. There are so many though.

[JoeyN]

And Cliffy B said today that Curb Stomps are still in the game, along with weapon finishers

[PHiL]

I'm actually really looking forward to this game... I know I played the first for a while then just got so annoyed at it... But what the hell thats most games:)

[PHiL]

http://www.gamestop.com/common/images/sscreen/1-94648c7e-86a0-4d1e-b9cc-8721bf608539-s.jpg

[SCREWNUT]

This is excellent news indeed!

[JoeyN]

Forgot to mention it's 5 vs 5 multiplayer

[Covak]

A party system? I may buy this afterall...

[foogledricks]

A party system? I may buy this afterall...

Seems very possible that you're mocking them for not having one in the first place. Or it is possible that the lack of party system was the biggest thing you didn't like about GOW1 so now you're legitimately excited. Perhaps both?

[Covak]

Or it is possible that the lack of party system was the biggest thing you didn't like about GOW1 so now you're legitimately excited.

 

That, and the game was laggy as heck for clients. I'll be pleasantly surprised if they address that.

 

But I can live with a little lag if it's actually possible for me and some buds to get together as a team and play against other teams.

[Cyberwoo]

The lag issue for clients is the biggest flaw with GOW multiplayer without question. When there is little to no lag the game was alot of fun for me. If they fix this I will be all over GOW2. If I hear its the same I'll be passing.

[Jeff W]

Definite buy for me based on the SP alone, if they manage to fix the lag issue and the MP is at all playable it'll be a pleasant extra for sure.

[Union Carbine]

The co-op is what it's all about for me. :tu

[foogledricks]

Does Unreal have issues with hit detection like people complain about GOW. I mean, same developer. What's the difference? How does UT do on the PS3? Is it server based, is that the problem? Halo seems good.

[Covak]

Does Unreal have issues with hit detection like people complain about GOW. I mean, same developer. What's the difference? How does UT do on the PS3? Is it server based, is that the problem? Halo seems good.

 

It's not an engine problem, or the fact that it's server-based. Halo does well because it lets clients tell the server "I think I just shot this guy in the head." and the server looks at the situation and says "Makes sense." With GOW1, clients simply say "I fired my gun this way." So the client sees one thing (like tracers flying into a moving target, causing blood spurts), but the server (and everyone else) just sees that client missing, causing no damage.

[foogledricks]

It's not an engine problem, or the fact that it's server-based. Halo does well because it lets clients tell the server "I think I just shot this guy in the head." and the server looks at the situation and says "Makes sense." With GOW1, clients simply say "I fired my gun this way." So the client sees one thing (like tracers flying into a moving target, causing blood spurts), but the server (and everyone else) just sees that client missing, causing no damage.

To re-ask my question about Unreal... is that how Unreal works? I am guessing not. You'd think whatever they do for Unreal would be fine for Gears. And in fact, Gears is way slower than Unreal so you'd think they'd be able to do the exact same thing even more accurately.

[JoeyN]

It just has to do with the net code

[EnemaEms]

Gears online multiplayer was totally secondary to the campaign and Co-Op. UT3 is all about Multiplayer. Two different animals entirely.

 

-Dean-

[JoeyN]

On 1up yours this week Shawn mentioned something cool from the EGM cover coming up. On top of using Meat Shields, you can also now take some sort of portable shield, Move across to a open area, and plant it in the ground .

[foogledricks]

Man, I am so distracted by your avatar. It's always the most interesting thing on the page.

[JoeyN]

LOL. I saw the picture in a article mentioning how this is the last year of his contract, and they haven't extended it yet

[Whooter]

I don't even know who it is.

[JoeyN]

Terrell Owens crying at the press conference after they lost to the Giants

[kelley]

Terrell Owens crying at the press conference after they lost to the Giants

 

One of the greatest pictures of all time.

[JoeyN]

Multiplayer Details from UK X360 magazine

 

-List of Juicy GoW2 Details from X360 Magazine

-Ten person, 5v5 online multiplayer.

-Yes, Gears of War 2 will have a Halo-style matchmaking system.

There will be respawning multiplayer modes, but the focus is still towards traditional non-respawn gaming.

 

Multiplayer game modes:

- "Guardian" game mode: A remade version of Gears' Assassination game mode where the objective is still to kill the other team's leader, but players keep respawning as long as their leader is alive. Opponents' leader will be marked on the HUD to keep the game moving along.

- "Wingman" game mode: You and a buddy team up, sharing a single character model in this five teams of two game mode.

- "Meatflag" game mode: A CTF-style mode where the "flag" is actually an AI-controlled player who'll wander the map and attempt to kill anyone who gets near. To "capture" him, you'll have to first down, then escort him as a meatshield all the way back to your base, all while your opponents are trying to kill you and shoot at the "flag". Because, if shot at enough, your meatshield flag will break free, go berserk and deal out the pain. Respawning will be featured in this game mode as well as stats for the amount of kills the AI-controlled flag dished out

 

Multiplayer maps:

- Around a dozen maps will be included on disc.

- "Gridlock": A remake of the Gridlock we've all come to know and love, but taken over by vegetation, old age and now featuring a beautiful sun-setting glow.

- "River": Symmetrical map featuring a house and a sniper tower separated by (you guessed it) a river.

- "Security": A long, thin map with "verandas" on each side that are sealed off by red laser bars. In the center of the map is a button to deactivate all the security for roughly 20 seconds.

 

Fishing moves when an enemy is downed:

- "X" button: Traditional curb-stomp.

- "B" button: Melee attack that will be weapon specific. (Longshot sniper rifle will be used as a golf club of death.)

- "Y" button: Flips your opponent over and let's you punch in their face ... UFC style.

- "A" button: Use your enemy as a "meatshield" that limits your weapon choice to a pistol. And, yes, your meatshield can and will disintegrate in your arms after taking on enemy fire. If they don't get ripped apart, you can always dispense of your meatshield with a good old snap of the neck.

Random weapon location respawns will be used, but only for certain weapons not including power weapons, pistols or grenades.

-All weapons have a variable amount of "stopping power" that'll slow down an opponent's running or diving abilities.

 

Weapons:

- Players will have the option of spawning with the chainsaw-equipped Lancer or the newly modified Locust Hammerburst.

- "Scorcher" weapon: A flamethrower that we're promised will produce some uber-realistic fire.

- "Medusa" weapon: A new Locust pistol that is said to be extremely powerful, pumping out five to six rounds per shot downing enemies in a few shots. Said to be the perfect compliment to a meatshielder.

- "Hammerburst" weapon: Changed a bit, now requiring players to pump the trigger as fast as possible (think Halo 3's Carbine). Though, recoil will increase the faster it's fired.

 

Grenades:

- Can be stuck to people, walls, the floor and any other surface to be used as a makeshift proximity mine.

- As before, players will spawn with one smoke grenade.

- Smoke grenade: Now carries a "stun" effect that "ragdolls any player within their blast radius".

- Poison gas grenade: Spews poison that will kill anyone who lingers in its poisonous cloud.

 

Chainsaw Duels:

- Whoever does the quickest amount of "B" button tapping will be victorious.

- Your teammates can help give you an edge in the duel by shooting the opponent which will give you the upper hand on the "B" button mini-game.

- No duel will occur if a player is chainsawed from behind. Instead, the sexy "butt to head" chainsaw animation will kick in giving the attacker and instant kill.

-The cover system has been subtly reworked, where players' gun and body sit tighter to cover making it harder for your enemies to get an attacking angle.

-Bullet shields described as "metal bucklers" that can be carried as indestructible cover. The trade-off being that only a pistol can be wielded and movement is slowed dramatically. One benefit of the bullet shield is that it can be planted into the ground for mobile cover, though we're told enemies can kick it over if they get close enough.

-Once killed in a non-respawn game, players will enter a "dynamic battle-cam" that floats above the action.

-Also available (when dead) will be a Ghost Cam where players can view the action from the battlefield and take screenshots that can be uploaded online similar to Halo 3.

-Hammerhead Grunt Locust revealed and named as such because of his shark looking helmet.

-The GoW2 Collector's Edition may include a weathered looking Polaroid of Dom's wife, the same one seen at the beginning of the game.

-Development on Gears 2 is roughly at 65% complete.

-Don't count on Call of Duty 4 style XP or perks, Cliff says they will not be adding these types of character building elements to the Gears universe.

[Covak]

I hope all those finishing moves aren't just more invulnerable animations.