Gears of War Megathread V1: I'm coughing up blood that ain't even mine! - Games

[h2]Gears of War[/h2] [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Gears_of_War.png[/img] [quote]Gears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was initially released as an exclusive title for the Xbox 360 in November 2006 in North America, Australia, and most of Europe and included a "Limited Collector's Edition" with added content and an art book titled Destroyed Beauty that detailed much of the game's back-story. Despite the initial statements of Xbox 360 exclusivity, a Microsoft Windows version of the game was developed in conjunction with People Can Fly and released a year later, featuring new content including additional campaign levels, a new multiplayer game mode, and Games for Windows LIVE functionality. The game focuses on the troops of Delta Squad as they fight a desperate, last ditch effort attempt to save the remaining human inhabitants of the fictional planet Sera from a relentless and virtually unstoppable subterranean enemy known as the Locust Horde. The player assumes the role of Marcus Fenix, a former prisoner and war-hardened soldier. The game is based on the use of cover and strategic fire for the player to advance through the scenarios; a second player can play cooperatively through the main campaign to assist. The game also features several online multiplayer game modes for up to eight players. Gears of War sold over three million copies in just ten weeks and was the fastest-selling video game of 2006, as well as the second-most played game over Xbox Live during 2007. The game has since sold over five million copies by September 2008. The game was well-received by critics, who praised its gameplay and detailed visuals, and it won several "Game of the Year" awards in 2006. The success of the game has led to the development of the Gears of War franchise, including the 2008 sequel Gears of War 2 and the upcoming sequel Gears of War 3 announced April 12, 2011, (but later on push to September 20, 2011) when Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski was a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with adaptations to books, comics, as well as a feature film to be expected.[/quote] [h2]Plot of Gears of War 1[/h2] Note: MAJOR SPOILERS IN THE PLOT, READ IF YOU HAVE PLAYED THE GAME OR NEVER PLAN TO [quote][sp]The game’s plot begins fourteen years after Emergence Day. Marcus Fenix, a former COG soldier, is reinstated into the military after spending four years in prison for abandoning his military post in order to make a vain attempt to save his father, Adam Fenix. Dominic Santiago successfully extracts Fenix from the prison, and takes him to meet Delta Squad. The group seeks to obtain the "resonator", a device that will map "The Hollow", the underground caverns which the Locust inhabit and later deploy the "Lightmass Bomb", which will destroy the heart of the Locust forces. Fenix and his allies recover the device, but suffer multiple casualties in the process. Amidst the chaos, Fenix leads the remaining soldiers through the ruins of Sera, to a mining facility, and finally into the planet’s depths. Delta Squad successfully detonates the resonator, but the device fails to map entire tunnel network. Fortunately, they discover a larger map of the network that originates from Fenix’s old home, specifically his father’s laboratory. The group ventures to the Fenix estate at East Barricade Academy, where Fenix originally attempted to rescue his father. When they arrive, Delta encounters heavy Locust resistance. After collecting the data, the group fights their way past Locust forces and boards a train carrying the Lightmass Bomb. Fenix and Santiago battle their way through the train, and defeat General RAAM, before finally uploading the data. Fully activated, the Lightmass Bomb launches into the Hollow, and eradicates the Locust tunnel networks. In the game's final sequence, Hoffman delivers a victory speech as the tunnels collapse and explode, whereupon the voice of the Locust Queen promises that the Locust will keep on fighting, and will not stop, saying that humanity does not understand why they wage the war and cannot stop until they win or die.[/sp][/quote] [h2]Gameplay[/h2] [quote]Gears of War is a third-person shooter that places emphasis on using cover to avoid taking damage while moving towards enemy forces. The game uses a number of weapon archetypes, but predominately featured is the Lancer, an assault rifle that has a mounted chainsaw bayonet that can be used to kill foes at close range. The player can attempt an "Active Reload" of a weapon to reload it faster and temporarily boost the damage from the gun, but failing to perform the Active Reload correctly will cause the gun to become momentarily jammed while the player's character fixes it. When the player takes damage, the "Crimson Omen", a red cog representing the player's health gauge, will fade into the screen, becoming more defined with larger amounts of damage. The player can seek cover to recover their health, but if they take too much damage, they will become incapacitated. Once this occurs, a skull will fill the center void of the omen. Depending on the game type being played, the consequences will vary. If single-player career mode is being played, instant death will follow. If there is a second player, they will have to revive their fallen teammate. In multiplayer, the player will fall and be rendered useless until either revived by a teammate, executed by an enemy, or until they "bleed out", die from blood loss. The game features a five-act campaign that can be played alone or co-operatively with one other player. The campaign focuses on Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago and their efforts in the Delta Squad to wipe out the Locust forces. The players will be joined by AI teammates that will help fight the Locust. Certain sections of the campaign feature two paths that can be taken as selected by the first player. If there is a second player, their character will automatically take the other path. Throughout the campaign, the players can find "COG tags" of fallen comrades to collect. The campaign can be played at three difficulty settings in the first game. From easiest to hardest, these are "Casual", "Hardcore" and "Insane". The "Insane" difficulty is unlocked once the game is beaten on "Hardcore" difficulty. Multiplayer Gears of War features up to four-on-four competitive gameplay, with teams representing the Gears or the Locust. Matches can either be played in Ranked mode where one's performance is tracked through leaderboards but prevents players from inviting friends or adjusting the settings of the match, or in Player mode in which a player can adjust several settings of the game and invite friends to join, but where performance in the game does not count towards tracking. Three match types were available with the game as-shipped for the Xbox 360: "Warzone" and "Execution" modes are standard deathmatch modes, with the only difference being that players must execute downed foes in Execution otherwise they will revive after a time. "Assassination" assigned each team a leader, who is the only one that can track the other team's leader and can pick up new weapons after which teammates can then pick them up, with the goal to eliminate the foe's leader. An Xbox 360 patch added the "Annex" mode, which is similar to King of the Hill, in which players must try to control a shifting control point for a certain amount of time to win. The PC version of Gears introduced "King of the Hill", a mode not present in the Xbox 360 version, which uses a fixed control point but varies the conditions on which it is controlled.[/quote] [h2]Characters[/h2] [quote]The game primarily focuses on Marcus Fenix, the main character, and Delta Squad, consisting of Damon Baird, Augustus Cole, and Dominic "Dom" Santiago. Side characters, such as Colonel Hoffman, Anthony Carmine, and Lieutenant Kim, also aid Delta Squad. Players take control of Fenix. When in co-op two player, the second player assumes control of Santiago. All four of the squad members are available for play during multiplayer games, along with Anthony Carmine, Minh Young Kim, and Victor Hoffman, in addition to the various Locust characters.[/quote] [h2]Gears of War 2[/h2] [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Gow2_offbox.jpg[/img] [quote]Gears of War 2 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games with lead design by Cliff Bleszinski, and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the second installment of the Gears of War series. The game was officially released in North America, Europe and Australia on November 7, 2008 and was released in Japan on July 30, 2009. The game expands technically on the previous game by using a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3 engine. The development team also brought in comic book writer Joshua Ortega to help write the plot for the game. In Gears of War 2, The COG continues its fight against the Locust horde, who are attempting to sink all of the cities on the planet Sera. Sergeant Marcus Fenix leads Delta Squad into the depths of the planet to try to stop the Locust during the assault upon Locust territory. The player controls Fenix in the main mission campaign, with the ability to play cooperatively with a second player controlling Fenix's best friend and fellow Squad member Dominic "Dom" Santiago. The game includes several existing and new multiplayer modes including five-on-five battles between human and Locust forces, and a "Horde" mode that challenges up to five players against waves of Locust forces with ever-increasing strength. New weapons and gameplay mechanics such as "chainsaw duels" and the ability to use downed foes as "meatshields" were added to the game. On its release weekend, Gears of War 2 sold over two million copies, and within two months of release, had sold four million copies. It was the seventh best selling video game of 2009 and received several accolades. The game received similar praise as its predecessor, with the new gameplay and multiplayer modes seen as outstanding additions.[/quote] [h2]Plot of Gears of War 2[/h2] Note: THERE ARE MAJOR SPOILERS IN THE PLOT. ONLY READ IF YOU HAVE BEATEN IT OR DO NOT PLAN TO PLAY IT. [quote][sp]Taking place six months after Lightmass bombing at the end of the first game, the Locust Horde has survived and has renewed their war on Humanity, and through unknown means begun to sink entire Human cities. With the COG army continuing to lose large numbers to Locust raids, the COG plan a counter-attack against the Locust by sending troops in Grindlifts deep below the surface to attack the home of the Locust, the Hollow. Sending a large assault force through the mountains to the settlement of Landown, the COG take heavy losses from Locust opposition but make it to their destination. As they prepare to use the lifts to enter the Hollow they are driven back by a counter attack led by the Locust armies' new leader Skorge. Undeterred, the human forces continue their plan. After their descent, Delta squad, consisting of Marcus Fenix, Dom Santiago and Benjamin Carmine, continues to search the Hollow and discovers that the Locust are using a giant Riftworm to sink the human occupied cities. as they watch it sink Ilima City, they also realize that the Locust plan to have it eat away at the rock structures at the outskirts of Jacinto in hopes of sinking it into the ground. Exploring the sink hole, Delta Squad is ambushed by Locust and rescued by Augustus Cole. As they search for Damon Baird the squad discovers that the Locust have begun taking prisoners and taking them deeper into the hollow, with unknown intentions, after a quick search they find and free Baird. Boarding the Locust prison barges, Delta Squad finds another imprisoned squad member, Tai Kaliso, who has suffered wounds inflicted by Locust torture. Though Marcus tries to arm Tai for a fight, Tai instead commits suicide, the physical and emotional trauma having been too much for him to bear. As the squad tries to be extracted by a King Raven Gunship, they are swallowed by the Riftworm. Inside the squad quickly plans to escape, but a plan by Marcus sets the squad to destroy the worm's heart to kill it. Inside, Carmine is mauled and eaten alive by monstrous parasites, having been separated from the rest of Delta. After destroying the worm's heart, the squad is irritated to discover that the worm is survived by not just one heart but three—they nonetheless locate and destroy the remaining two, effectively killing the worm. Delta squad narrowly escapes being drowned in the creature's blood by cutting their way out to the surface only to be given orders by Hoffman to investigate a nearby abandoned COG outpost where they encounter experimented creatures of unknown origin and learn of a back door entrance to the Hollow in the nearby Kadar Mountains. The team fights its way to the caverns in a Centaur tank and discovers that some Stranded have taken shelter near the entrance. Marcus orders Cole and Baird to evacuate the Stranded while he and Dom search further. They find more prisoner cages and Dom convinces Marcus that Maria must be inside one of them. They manage to find her, but the Locust imprisonment has left her too traumatized and unable to communicate, so Dom reluctantly chooses to euthanize her. Marcus and Dominic then disguise themselves as Theron Guards and continue their infiltration of Nexus, the Locust capital, where, they encounter and free a captive Franklin Tsoko, and later use Jack (the squad's utility robot) to signal for COG forces from the surface, who quickly join them, including Cole and Baird. Inside Delta squad discovers that the Locust are locked in a civil war between the normal Locust and the "lambent," who have been exposed to Imulsion, and seek to over throw the queen, explaining the Locust's desperation to get to the surface to escape the overwhelming Lambent. Inside the Locust palace they discover that the Locust have messages from Adam Fenix, Marcus' father, that suggests an alternate way of ending the war, in case they can't take out the queen; to sink Jacinto in order to let sea water flood the Hollow and wipe out the Locust. They learn from the Locust queen herself that she is pursuing the same plan not only to wipe out the humans, but to also destroy lambent. After a face to face meeting with the queen, and a face off against Skorge, the queen escapes on a Reaver. Marcus realizes that humans must sink Jacinto first, before the Locust mobilize and escape to the surface. Delta squad escapes the Hollow on a pair of Reavers, defeating Skorge and his Hydra, and then return to Jacinto where a mass evacuation is underway. The COG have decided that they can sink Jacinto using a Lightmass bomb and Delta squad is ordered to clear debris out of the way in the main sink hole, allowing a helicopter to safely transport the bomb into the caverns. Marcus orders Cole and Baird to assist with the bomb, while he and Dom manage to kill a Brumak driver, hijack the Brumak, and use it to arrive at the Hollow and fulfill their objective. As the helicopters arrive, the Brumak, exposed to high levels of Imulsion, begins to mutate. As it changes, it attacks the helicopter transporting the bomb, which falls into the Imulsion. With the Lightmass bomb lost, Marcus comes up with a plan that includes killing the lambent Brumak, as lambent explode upon death, as a replacement for the bomb. He uses the Hammer of Dawn to kill the Brumak, which explodes, taking out the last supporting structures of Jacinto, flooding the Hollow with water. As the COG forces and civilians evacuate, a voiceover of the Locust queen talks about unintended legacies. After the credits, a last voice over of Adam Fenix is heard, a radio transmission of a call for help, and a cry of desperation, revealing he is still alive.[/sp][/quote] [h2]Characters[/h2] [quote]Returning characters includes the main protagonists of the series Marcus Fenix and Dominic (Dom) Santiago and others from the first game, including Marcus and Dom's fellow Delta Squad COG soldiers, Augustus 'Cole Train' Cole and Damon Baird. Also returning in supporting roles are radio dispatcher Anya Stroud and senior officer Colonel Hoffman. Lead designer Cliff Bleszinski confirmed that the character Carmine would be returning, but did not reveal how or in what capacity as Carmine was killed in the original Gears of War.It was later revealed that the original Anthony Carmine would not be present in the Gears of War 2 campaign, but rather his brother, Benjamin, would make an appearance. The game also introduces several new characters. They include Chairman Prescott, the noble, yet near-dictatorial military leader of COG; Tai Kaliso, "a spiritual and meditative warrior from a tradition of honor bound fighters;" and Dizzy Wallin, a former Stranded who joined the COG to keep his family safe. Dom's wife Maria also makes an appearance, and Dom's search for her plays an important part in the story.[/quote] [h2]Gears of War 3 is coming out for the Xbox 360 on September 20th, 2011.[/h2] [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Gears_of_War_3_box_artwork.png[/img] [quote]Gears of War 3 is an upcoming third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360. Originally due for release in April 2011, the game was delayed and will now be released on September 20, 2011. Gears of War 3 has made over one million pre-orders and is one of the most anticipated games of 2011. It will be the third installment of the Gears of War series, and the final game in the current story arc.[/quote]

We already had a thread but who cares. Buying epic edition and there's nothing you can do about it - definitely my favourite TPS on the 360, I can't wait to see how it all ends.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32221287]We already had a thread but who cares. Buying epic edition and there's nothing you can do about it - definitely my favourite FPS on the 360, I can't wait to see how it all ends.[/QUOTE] The other thread was only for gears of war 3. This definetly deserves more attention.

Favourite weapon? Go Go Go. Mine? Boltok pistol

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32222240]Favourite weapon? Go Go Go. Mine? Boltok pistol[/QUOTE] Longshot. :v:

I'm not sure about getting this I played the beta but I didn't like it. I played the other games and enjoyed the single player and the online.

The only thing I didn't like about the beta was the retro lancer, I didn't get alright with it until the beta was nearly over. Fucking gold skin is going to taunt me for the rest of GoW3's days.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32222240]Favourite weapon? Go Go Go. Mine? Boltok pistol[/QUOTE] Lancer. Nothing beats a good chainsawing.

I hope Cole's sports outfit will be somehow unlockable to those who didn't play the beta. Microsoft was so fucking nice to put region locking on the [b]beta[/b]. :suicide:

[QUOTE=Legolas;32222775]I hope Cole's sports outfit will be somehow unlockable to those who didn't play the beta. Microsoft was so fucking nice to put region locking on the [b]beta[/b]. :suicide:[/QUOTE] I would imagine it would be available later as DLC. At least, that's what they're planning to do for a few character, like RAAM and Tai.

[QUOTE=Legolas;32222775]I hope Cole's sports outfit will be somehow unlockable to those who didn't play the beta. Microsoft was so fucking nice to put region locking on the [b]beta[/b]. :suicide:[/QUOTE] it'll probably be unlockable after beating GoW2 or completing a chapter/achievement, like the other outfits/characters were in GoW2. Favorite Weapon: Probably Lancer since I suck with every other weapon in Gears. In GoW3, it'll probably be the Retro Lancer. Charging them with the bayonet will be fucking AWESOME!

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32221287]We already had a thread but who cares. Buying epic edition and there's nothing you can do about it - definitely my favourite FPS on the 360, I can't wait to see how it all ends.[/QUOTE] TPS

[QUOTE=markg06;32223268]TPS[/QUOTE] my bad

[QUOTE=BurningFlare;32222985]I would imagine it would be available later as DLC. At least, that's what they're planning to do for a few character, like RAAM and Tai.[/QUOTE] Ah if that happens I'll probably never be able to get that outfit, Gears 2's region locking all DLC is good proof of that ALTHOUGH redeeming the code for Griffin worked without any problems. Maybe.. :aaa:

That epic feeling you get when you have an AMAZING teammate on your team in Wingman.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RoOarRix6Q[/media] Fucking hell I was trying not to get hyped too.

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32222240]Favourite weapon? Go Go Go. Mine? Boltok pistol[/QUOTE] The revolver? Man I loved that gun, I'd be pulling headshots left and right My bro sold GoW 1 and 2, and now I really want to play it again

[QUOTE=elitehakor v2;32275149]The revolver? Man I loved that gun, I'd be pulling headshots left and right My bro sold GoW 1 and 2, and now I really want to play it again[/QUOTE] I need to find room for the Marcus statue. Unfortunately I'll have to move the signed Saxton Hale posted :v:

7 more days. Can't wait!

Pre-Ordered. Can not wait. As for favorite weapon, Lancer. Fuck your shit Gnasher people.

Aw shit its only a week away! I need to get this thing pre-ordered!

[QUOTE=DaysBefore;32278742]Pre-Ordered. Can not wait. As for favorite weapon, Lancer. Fuck your shit Gnasher people.[/QUOTE] hey wow rude :( I love the gnasher. I'm so cheap. A bit disappointed they're not having RAAM in at launch, I've used him since way back in my GoW1 days. I'm preordering standard edition from Gamestop, as Commando Dom looks all kinds of awesome. Probably helps that I've read Aspho Fields, so I know what the model is from :v:

I see Dom had a nice time in Skyrim while they made the game though.

Can't wait till Gears 3. Hopefully I will have the cash for it on release day.

can I call it luck that the controller barely fits into my right palm? (the plaster is being taken off 3 days after releasee)

Anyone wanna replay #2 with me?

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;32289794]Anyone wanna replay #2 with me?[/QUOTE] Idk what #2 is, but if you want, we can do some campaign coop. I need those achievements, and it's really fun w/ 2 people. I don't have a mic though.

[QUOTE=PyroCraz3d;32290271]Idk what #2 is[/QUOTE] ... Gears Of War 2?

[QUOTE=PyroCraz3d;32290271]Idk what #2 is[/QUOTE] The second game.

[QUOTE=Grim Joker;32290345]... Gears Of War 2?[/QUOTE] Oh, I didn't know he was referring to that. I call it GoW2. But yeah, I'll play campaign w/ somebody in gow2 if somebodys interested.