Getting back into Gear

What does it say about a game when you find yourself playing it until 4 a.m.? For the past few weeks, this has been my relationship with the game Gears of War 2.

Developed by Epic Games, Gears of War 2 picks up half a year after the events of the first game. Players reprise the role of Marcus Fenix as he leads the members of his COG (Coalition of Organized Governments) Delta squad on a tour-of-duty into the dark, subterranean heart of enemy territory.

Gears of War 2 still uses the same third-person, over-the-shoulder view established in the first title. Players can still dive and slam into cover during firefights, as well as perform a ducking run known as the "roadie run."

As for weaponry, most of the previous armaments have returned, along with a few new additions. Many weapons sport either new abilities, such as being able to use a grenade as a proximity mine, or new challenges in their use.

For example, the standard issue Lancer, a chainsaw-bayonet-fitted machine gun, would originally saw unlucky foes right in two with just the push of a button. Now, if the intended victim is also using a Lancer, players will have to duel until somebody is left in pieces.

Any game featuring a chainsaw-bayonet is going to have some gore and violence. In an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, both the gore and harsh language can be turned off during play. Another big feature is that players can tailor the difficulty to suit their own skill level.

Multiplayer fuctioning extends to the competitive realm with a slew of game modes for online play. Even if you fall in battle, you can still freely view the continuing fight and take and upload photos.

New to the multiplayer mix is Horde Mode, which allows up to five players to stand their ground against waves of increasingly tough attackers.

Gears of War 2 is one of the biggest Xbox 360 titles this year. It has enough new features to stand up to the first title, but it also has enough returning features to keep both old and new fans up until the wee hours of the morning.

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