Gears of War 2 was released this past Friday, and we reviewed it last night with glowing criticism. Unfortunately, it seems that a sector of Gears 2's fanbase do not share our enthusiasm, and have been complaining about the game's multiplayer changes.
First of all, a slow matchmaking process has caused agony for some eager gamers, with reports of people waiting up to ten minutes before getting into a game, and sometimes getting disconnected. I must admit that I had a disconnection maybe twice since I got the game, but the waiting times have not really crushed my spirit or dampened my fun.
Other complaints are about the shotgun, which has had its power reduced dramatically. People think it is far too weak, while the chainsaw is now overpowered thanks to some stagger resistance. These criticisms I find less valid. The shotgun ruined the first game, and I imagine the only people bitching about that issue are the ones who helped ruin it with their mindless, random blasting. As for the chainsaw, I think its use is still a risk thanks to new duels and the fact that a quick-witted shotgun wielder can still get out of danger and explode his enemy's face.
In addition, people also hate smoke grenades and mortars, believing them to be far too powerful. I have seen no such problems with these weapons.
Personally, I think the vast majority of these complaints are people whining because they died too many times to a particular weapon, or they can no longer turn Gears into a brainless shotgun competition. Do you share their views, however, and can offer a counter?
Contest:
10:29 AM on 11.11.2008
| 
Matchmaking is a bitch though, no worse than Halo at times though.
BRING BACK THE OLD SHOTGUN YOU EPIC BASTARDS!!!
Thanks for taking my favorite weapon from the game, my fav thing about playing the game, blasting people apart with instant kills of joy and totally ruining it!
We were all good at shotgunning. So it all evened out. If you were a new player well tough. We wouldn't play with noobs anyway. Know your shotgun skills. To me gears was running and shotgunning. That was fun to me and my friends. At least give us the option to play like that.
At least give us options guys. Why should Gears1 pro's like me suffer because they want noobs to have a fair chance. Fuck noobs! How about the option to turn off bullet stopping power. Rowdy running is pointless now. Option to use the old shotgun from Gears1. Let me tweek shit more! Option to turn off the crappy Halo like Lobby and bring back the old Lobby.
Don't get me started on the glitching! How about how when your character is on the train tracks and decides to jump roll to the right or left, when you're trying to get up the curb as the train is coming at you on Tyro Station. Yeah not frustrating at all guys. Glitchy piece a shit!
Now maybe this time I can actually enjoy GoW's multiplayer.
I rarely ever posta comment because I just enjoy reading the articles, reviews, comments, etc. and keep moving along. I had one thing to say.
@ Namelessted
&
@ Matlox
I believe these 2 are perfectly on the nose. I have played Gears 1 and gotten all achievements and rank around 5800 of 2.5 million. I loved the first gears (even with its flaws). I did like Gears 2 campaign and Horde mode with a friend but the rest is garbage.
You see, This is what Gears ultimately comes down to:
50% Game
50% Talking Shit
This new gears feels like I am playing with robots or playing halo 3. I am in it playing the game but I don't take comments personal.
You remember (for people addict to Gears 1) when someone would call you a bitch, talk about your rank, or how stupid your gamertag of bio was....
Then you started the match and cocked a shotgun back and let off a round that blew the head off the asshole talking shit!!!
Or when the host was up in a game of 7's. Your team was down 3 to 6 and all the host needed was one more round to win... And he would berate you and say you suck...
Then, you would slowly rise back into a 6 to 6 range and blow away the host on the final round... and be able to redeem yourself by talking shit and laughing as the game ended!!!
WELL, Gears of War has NONE of this!
I won't preach the same point and say how I can't get my game type or board but...
I payed for a LE Gears to get the 5 map packs. I can only play them with friends or in Horde mode! Every douche bag now picks River or Hail. WTF!!!
I think they tanked the Multiplayer to let little suzie and gay dave to play it because they play easy games and may consider picking this up if it's "Easy"
Also... I hate the lighting of game and character.
In Gears 1 I felt trapped in a dark time... Here it's like look at the world in this trapped area (which is okay) but the character lightings like 'look at this awesome guy' NOT 'be him and ggod luck.
Well that's my 2 cents and change.
My bet is Game of The Year or GOTY is going to FALLOUT 3.
If you had to pick 1 or the other I'd say Fallout is a crazy fucking place to be, bloody as hell, and AMAZING environments.
If you want to find me with your shotgun... I'll be in Gears of War (that's 1 NOT 2).
Goon420
<::;::)= You have just been knifed.
Re-posted cuz I didnt get to the Revies till this afternoon :)
The visceral close quarters combat where you could have literally 3 guys around you but with active reload, clever movement and accurate gun play you could blow all of them to kingdom come.
Now its a camp fest, anyone daring to leave cover is immediately brought to a standstill and killed by lancer fire. I could get used to it however the Territories playlist is ruined because everyone around the critical areas just chainsaws- there no answer for it especially if you have to stay at a point to defend it (King Of The Hill).
The worst thing though is that its turned me in to said noob as its the easiest way to win/kill people. I wish Epic hadn't of made me play in such a dirty manner just to get by.
I really hope that you aren't serious about the shotgun complaint. That weapon was to overpowered.
@orionsaint
If you're such a Gears pro you would know that it's called Roadie running not "Rowdy" running.
There is a bunch of other weapons and everyone shotgunning in a match was just fucking boring and not fun at all.
They MADE the first one a run n' gun mess instead of a tactical cover-based shooter.
Also, your accusations of a "camp-fest" are silly, considering the fact that camping and pitched battles are supposed to be what Gears is all about.
Shotguns helped turn Gears into just another run n' gun. Now that they've been balanced (NOT underpowered, but balanced) I am seeing a lot more variety in weapons being used and a lot more brains being employed.
I applaud the shotgun being turned into less an instrument of instant death and more something that requires the right use at the right time.
Yea exactly, you get hit by a little fire and all of a sudden your firing into the roof!
I'll be over here, rocking the SHIT out of my lancer and flamethrower.
haven't played it, no opinion, but less powerful shotgun seems like a gopod idea if the balance was way off.
remember, the voices of complaint will always be louder than those 99% who adore the game.
Anyways, this isn't a reason to complain about multiplayer. Complain about the cover system.
I've always struggled with gears, more so than COD4 and Halo3, because i bought the latter games close to release and bought gears several months after it came out. Now i'm just glad that myself and those others who felt alienated by the original can now enjoy a fresh multiplayer experience.
It's not about being good at the game, it's about being good enough to enjoy it.
I understand that the game is all about taking cover and flanking in a tactical manner. And yes they have tried to stop the 'bum rush' of everyone running around with shotguns straight at the power weapons/other players. This is admirable and has partially succeeded, and yes I find myself using other weapons more often which is another success. But I am extremely disappointed by the close in gunplay which i loved in Gears 1. As far as tactical cover based gunplay Rainbow 6 beats it hands down any day, Gears just felt better up close but now I fear that has been lost in an attempt to constrain how people choose to play the game.
As someone who has played Gears 1 regularly since release, all the core gameplay changes seem like a big "F U" to those of us who enjoyed how Gears 1 played and made it one of the top 5 Xbox Live games since release.
On the side of the gameplay, the game just came out and people are gonna bitch. I was mad about a great deal of the changes they made. But then I realized something... YOU WILL ADJUST TO THE GAME. Give it a month then bitch if the problems continue. The smoke grenades were and are annoying but you learn how to work with them. The chainsaw can still be stopped you just have to try a little harder. People who bitch about the mortar should be shot. Two words: Go inside.
Silly kids.
How can you bring up COD4 in this? The very nature of the game makes it hard for the new people to survive. It's not a level playing field because of all the perks and weapons.
My guess is that after a few weeks of play, when you are all used to the way the new game works, we're all gonna look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.
It's not supposed to be Halo but they tried to make it that way.
I hated Halo 3 and Gears should have no piece of that piece of Shit.
To add. I do like the camera, free cam, variety of guns.
It just aint the same though :(
I'm already going through that process tbh and my K/D ratio in most games is very good.
However I'm British therefore I moan.
1: The hand gun is less powerful this time around. I really enjoyed destroying the shot-gun whores with my hand gun.
2: The Mortar is over powered if friendly fire is off. If it is on, it is a legitimate and very tactical weapon.
Otherwise, I must say it took me some time to warm up to this new game, but I'm really enjoying it now. More than the original.
You actually HAVE the option for all those things you're asking for. Just insert the disk for the original Gears!
Cheers
it feel more tactical like it should be.........
but matchmaking so slow 8-7 min long......
fix that shit..............
the only people bitching about gears 2 are the nerds who ruined gears 1. im looking at you Orionsaint...
gears of trolls.
Pass it on ...
Umm, I would fuck people up with the lancer in Gears 1. I probably fucked you up in the process so stop bawwwing about the shotgun.
GTFO.