Gears of War 2

Platforms

• Xbox 360

  Nov 7, 2008

  ---

  8.9

  playscore

  9.3

  14 Critics

  9.0

  267K Players

14 critic reviews · 27 community reviews across all platforms

Critic Reviews

• 

  Destructoid

  9.0

  Gears of War 2 is a game that actually accomplishes what most sequels strive to do, which is to be better than their predecessors in every way possible. Gears 2 is a thrilling experience that does all the right things. It has an engaging shooting mechanic, excellent presentation, and a hard-hitting demeanor that both excites and delivers. The multiplayer mode will easily keep you engaged for many months to come.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  IGN

  9.5

  It has non-stop action, fresh gameplay, varied environments, an engrossing storyline, multiplayer that will have people busy for years to come, and some of the nastiest and coolest kills I've seen in a videogame. It has its flaws when it comes to the technical side of multiplayer and the last act of the campaign and the voice acting might turn some off. Still, none of that comes close to holding back Gears of War 2 from its destiny: being one of the best games available on the Xbox 360.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  Video Gamer

  10

  Some people will no doubt criticise Gears of War 2 for what it's not. It's not as emotionally deep as other games on the market, it's not a 30 hour + epic and it's not art in video game form, but is arguably the greatest action game ever created. In a year full of incredible games, Gears of War 2 sits triumphantly at the very top.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  Giant Bomb

  10

  It's clear that no one set out to break things that worked before, and the most dramatic steps were taken in an effort to widen the game's appeal to players who might not be good enough to play it, otherwise. But it takes on this task without dumbing itself down and alienating the people who already liked the first game. Academically, it's interesting to see this balancing act in motion. But all you really need to know is that Gears of War 2 is a terrific, kick-ass shooter with enough stuff in it to keep you busy for a pretty long time.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  Game Trailers

  9.5

  It's not absolutely perfect, it's fairly similar to the first game, and it can be boiled down to a simple war game about killing aliens. But Gears of War 2 delivers on all its promises and accomplishes almost everything a big sequel should--keeping its distinct identity while buffing up in every possible category. Unless you're already a confirmed hater or have absolutely no interest in ripping locust apart with some of gaming's most badass weaponry, don't think twice.

  Reviewed on X360
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  GameSpot

  9.0

  Gears of War 2 has a lot in common with its predecessor, but the new environments, darker storyline, and epic scale certainly have a lot to offer fans. The new weapons, melee attacks, and co-op options make for a campaign that you'll want to complete a number of times, and the new multiplayer modes give the game variety and longevity. Simply put, Gears of War 2 is a superior shooter that no action fan will want to miss out on.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  Cubed3

  9.0

  Gears of War 2 is a huge step up from the original title that gave rise to Epic's big blockbuster franchise. Improving greatly with the AI partners, combined with the open-world fight arenas and plenty of cover to hide behind, it shows why this game went on to become one of the best-selling titles. While online mode is non-existent due to the lack of players who are online, Horde mode can still be enjoyed in single-player format. This is a great game that players can go back to, while still being fresh for new players. Graphical glitches are prevalent, but aren't game breaking, as the story between the Locust invasion and the Delta Squad as humanity's last known hope for survival takes another turn.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  VGChartz

  9.0

  All in all, Gears of War 2 is a fantastic game with great value. It’s well worth the price, and I recommend it to any fan of first or third person shooters. It stands as one of the best games on the 360 and well deserving of its high sales. Like with the first game, Epic has produced something worthy to be played by millions.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  IGN

  9.2

  Gears 2 has it all, but little else. Strip away the gloss and magnificent production values, sumptuous cinematic presentation and top quality AI, you're left with a by-the-numbers shooter. While that does'nt prevent Gears of War 2 from being one of the biggest, most thrilling and visually spectacular games of the year, the lack of any substantial creative expansion means you're unlikely to feel as captivated as you were by the original. Unless, of course, you really do believe bigger means better.

  Reviewed on X360

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• 

  Euro Gamer

  9.0

  Like the original, on one level, Gears 2 is a brilliant advertisement for Unreal Engine 3, glorying in soft-body physics, glinting textures, and massive explosions. Even after a year of non-stop eye candy, Epic's series provides some of the most fiercely pretty visuals you'll get the chance to look at, even if its world is so charmingly ugly. Yet on another level, the game's a calling card from a developer that continues to mature in design as well as technology.

  Reviewed on X360

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Community Reviews

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