Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360 gaming console continues the high-action exploits of Marcus Fenix and his hulking, muscle-bound gunslinging cohorts in a futuristic shooting game that fires on all cylinders. Part of the reason why that's true is because Gears of War 2 takes the best of the previous iteration of the game and combines it with a wealth of gorgeous visual environments and unrelenting mayhem.
The battles are furiously bloody, but that's what makes Gears of War 2 what it is. The ability to move around, take cover and fire away at the enemy Locust hasn't changed much in this Xbox 360 game, though some enemies that barely made appearances before are a lot more common now. Throw in some new ones, especially the bigger ones, and you get plenty of bang for every shot you take. And the fact that there's a more compelling story to tell in Gears of War 2 only adds to the great production values from start to finish. Now, if only they can get the voice acting right.
Most importantly, Gears of War 2 is a very fun game to play cooperatively with other players in split-screen. Each player can also play at different difficulty levels, so that the challenges are more unique. It's a little unfortunate that you don't get too many options to find your own way when moving forward during missions, but at least the cooperative aspects lend some creativity when entering each skirmish. Still, at least the game slows down enough at certain points so that you get the chance to admire its visual beauty. If it weren't so dreary and gruesome, it could almost be a vibrant postcard.
A lot of the same principles are true when playing with others around the world online. There are still some kinks to work out here and there in Gears of War 2, but the list of 15 maps and huge swaths of gamers looking to frag each other should be very entertaining for all involved. New weapons in Gears of War 2 also add to the fun, and the game types are especially thrilling. One personal favorite was trying to escort a character stranded in the middle of the map, while dealing with enemies - and that character's lack of cooperation. But the fun stuff can be found in just about every game type you play in.
Needless to say, Gears of War 2 is one of the best games of the year, and certainly one of the best games on the Xbox 360. It has the dynamite combination of beautiful graphics, intense action, a good story and plenty to do in multiplayer online. If you've got the money saved up and you're into the kind of madness Gears of War 2 offers, you can't go wrong dropping the cash on this.