Gearheads of War

So, I already mentioned this to Zoso last night, but I just want to share one point about the footage we saw yesterday.  That is, the entire show was on rails, and that realization blew my mind.  See, I cannot imagine any other situation (game) where showing something as fundamentally basic as the rail shooter mechanic, albeit incredibly souped up and with platformer elements, would garner anything other than, "Didn't we finish with that sometime before Doom, or Castle Wolfenstein?"  And you know what, that would be right.  What we saw is basically the essense of Galaga, or name your favorite 70's-80's arcade game here, translated into 21st century gaming.  It is reach-over-and-grab-your-nut-sack, I'm-gonna-squeeze-as-hard-as-I-can-and-I-won't-ley-go-until-you-give-me-all-the-quarters-in-your-poc ket gaming.  Of course, it isn't limited to that, but that is one of the prominent qualities of the video (and of the original game).  

The campaign for Gears is by most standards short, but from the very first scene, it is play-to-the-end, and with incredible replayability.  So far, it would appear that what I loved about Gears 1 is fully intact in Gears 2, but now the weapons are more powerful and with more features, there are new maneuvers, it is prettier, smoother, at least a factor of 10 bigger, and denser in scale, and it is even more cinematic than the first game.  Really, in my personal history of entertainment enjoyment, it looks to be as big an event as Aliens was. Gears 1 was Alien, Gears 2 is Aliens.

I am runnin' naked to that glistening surf, and I can't see a boat, let alone a tanker run aground, anywhere in sight. 

By the way, Zos, Boxin, and Grymm, all brought their "I'm hyped" game last night.  I was host, and I almost never got a second shot at takin' them out, and when I did, I still got beat.  I just love it when these guys decide that they are going to turn it on.  Oh my, watch out!

The guys in my room were all talking about the mashing of the B-button for the chainsaw dueling and it's pretty much what it has to be.  Using another scheme such as random combos that flash on the screen would just take away from the intensity & focus of the action.  Since it's rumored that other players can interrupt the dueling of two players, it makes that button-mashing mechanic fit even more.

 I wish that Papi hadn't signed off last night because I'm sure everyone would have wanted to get his take on the gameplay reveal.  GTA 4 didn't even stand a chance for our FFF-game last night.  Not a chance at all.  In fact, I suggested that we bounce on over to GTA 4 because we could use it as a 16-player lobby to talk about the Gears 2 gameplay.  However, I was shot down because some of the guys stated that the enthusiasm from everyone would have been made it too difficult to talk in an orderly fashion.  Regardless, all of us couldn't wait to talk it over with our fellow Gearheads.  

Hypnos (Joeycorpse) put it best when he stated that it was great to be talking about a game with so many fanboys in the room because there's barely anything negative that was said.  Hahaha.

blew away my expecations. I would agree with you Sweets on the chainsaw duel kind of cheap but will probably give us all some good laughs in a multiplayer match. I think it's shaping up to be a amazing experience. The executions are crazy!! I can't wait to snap a locust neck. I hope the game is longer and delivers on the story.

I CAN NOT believe what I watched last night. The 50+mins of waiting for the video to load was well worth it once I finally got to see that damned Locust fall to the ground with a broken Neck. And as I was saying last night, the Mashing would be sooooo much more intense than getting Downed right in front of an enemy that went down along with you - and that gets pretty freaking intense in itself! But, while you're mashing the B button, just to have you're finger slip off the controller while you're frantically moving you hand up and down and in turn losing the battle. Ahhhh, I can see it now. CAN... NOT... WAIT!!!!

I've been wanting to share this video with you guys for sooooo long. Now I have to wait until I get to share some MP goodies with you all. grrrrrr :)

this footage REALLY impressed me....It blew my expectations out of the water.

I told papi I'm glad Gears 2 is coming out because that's the one thing everyone agree on =)

"Chainsaw dueling looks like cheap button mashing and the animation didn't look very good at all"

Chainsaw dueling should ONLY be button mashing imo. I seriously LOVE when two people are down and they fight to hit a quicker to get up... thats the best.

And what was wrong with the animation? lol

rewatched the analysis video. And i love the chainsaw animation lol.

Bear with my geekiness because I wrote this up when the wife was asleep.  Hahaha.

*Trees are run through & splintered in real-time.
*Nemacyst mortars actually spread their tentacles & dive bomb toward vehicles (takes out the King Raven & Derrick).
*Sidearms are now shown on COG thighs instead of magically appearing (Gorgon Burst pistol on Marcus' high).  Gorgon Burst Pistol has six-five round burst shots in each clip.
*Flocking tech of Unreal Engine 3.5 is shown, but the reticule doesn't turn red which might indicate that the multitude of enemies are window dressing.  Also, several Boomers are interspersed among Drones.
*The Lancer has a longer barrel that extends a bit farther than the chainsaw attachment, blue targeting cross-hair on the iron sights, new muzzle flashes, and firing sound effects.  Also, new active-reload HUD display animation were seen for the Lancer and Hammerburst
*Retooled Hammerburst sounds beefier and has the ability for semi-automatic.  It now has a barrel extension.
*No weapon melees were shown except for the chainsawing.
*When using the left trigger aim feature, the perspective is tighter than in Gears 1.  Peripheral vision is now decreased much more than originally.
*Locust were boarding the Derricks by use of grappling hooks.
*New COG tank vehicle is seen shooting a Brumak in the face.
*Option to use a downed enemy as a shield is available by hitting the A-button. Ability to break the neck of the shield victim was shown.  The X-button was used for curbstomping & reviving your teammates.  No curbstomp button tool tip was shown.
*COG "redshirts" have a minor redesigned helmet & to have a beefier build.
*Chainsaw kills (flipping of the Lancer) seemed much faster than the regular animation in Gears 2.  Perhaps the speed of the kill allows the player or enemy to react faster.  Formerly, the attacker was "immune" to attacks during the chainsaw animation.  Possible reason why this is now sped up.  B-button mashing tool tip was displayed.
Chainsaw dueling was interrupted by Marcus as the Locust was dueling with a COG "redshirt" (Dom was seen fighting next to the "redshirt").
*No weapon pickups or drops were shown when the enemies were killed.
*More vibrant colors are evident throughout the gameplay reveal.

 was just thinking of something.  When Marcus shoots the Locust down and goes over to pick him up you can see that the A button comes up to pick him up to use as a shield, what about the curb stomp??