As most of you have already known Gears of War 2 comes out in just a few short weeks on November 7th. To give you an idea of what we are going to be expecting I’m going to discuss some of the returning maps in multiplayer.

As always IGN has provided a multiplayer preview and can explain it better than I can with their own video to give you a visual representation of what modes and features we should be expecting.

As evident from the video this game is going to be taking a lot of our time when it comes out. Not only are they keeping the original flavor, they are adding to the experience in truly awesome ways.

Now onto awesome stuff. Epic just announced a few weeks that they are going to re releasing 5 returning maps for free as DLC during launch. Along with 10 new maps that come with the game, making it 15 maps straight out of the gate 10 of them being new. I say bravo Epic this is most excellent, thank you for not allowing evil M$ (Microsoft) charge for the 5 returning maps.

The five maps that are returning are, in my opinion, excellent choices. These five would most definitely be in the top 5 best maps in Gears of War. All maps are being retooled and revamped to fit in the Gears of War 2 multiplayer.

• The first returning map is going to be Manson (Top = Gears of War 2, Bottom = Gears of War):

It looks like they have changed up the color setting making it more bright instead of a dark gloomy setting they had with its predecessor. It looks like they have added some new textures, color, and objects but all in all I like the remake. As long as it feels and looks like the original then we’re good. It seems from this position it looks like all the structures are placed in the right areas. It’s just the textures and lighting have been altered a bit.

• Next up is Subway:

It looks like they are taking the similar approach as they did with Manson. Adding some new textures and turning into more of a day setting rather than the gloomy and raining setting. Not much to say here but everything looks similar to the old. Hopefully it was still fun like the original. Wait OMG THAT TRASH CAN WAS NEVER THERE BEFORE!.

• Next we have Tyro Station:

Now this is more like it. Wow bravo Epic. I didn’t really like this map specifically for that brownish haze that made up that entire level. But wow they have really changed the look of it. It seems they have scraped the brownish look and made objects and structures the color that would seem more natural. And damn, it makes it more prettier than the original. I am really digging the color chosen on this map. And if it plays like the original, dude do we have a winner. Man look at all those textures. There is a reason for a high def television.

• The fourth is Canals:

Ok canals had to be my favorite map in the original Gears of War. Mainly because it had a Torque Bow in the middle of the map and whoever was able to grab it pretty much controlled the map, if you knew how to use it. Looking at what they have done to the remake, I really don’t know what to say. The fact of the matter is I don’t like it, I like how they have gone with a face lift and this is true in the other remakes but I don’t know about this one. The original has texture, it has architecture and I really liked how there was like shallow river going down the center of the map. Freezing everything up shows they wanted to try something different, which I totally respect. However its going to be hard to come back to a map that I liked so much and has turned into a snowbound. Maybe there is something here that I am not aware of, we’ll have to wait and see.

• And finally good ol’ Gridlock:

Ah yes another really awesome map gets the Gears of War 2 treatment. This one also I really like. You can definitely see the improvements Epic has made to the UT3 (unreal tournament 3) engine. Lots of the same architecture with very cool looking textures to just show how much the engine has improved. With Gridlock it seems they have gone with a dusk setting which looks great, I mean check out those lighting effects. All in all this clearly Gridlock, all the objects are the same and placed in the same place, and from the looks of it will play just like the original.

With all the new modes and new additions that are being put into this game, this is looking to be another game of the year contender. I certainly can’t wait, have mine preordered and paid in full. And don’t forget to preorder your copy at GameStop (sorry I had to).

I will have my final thoughts on the game a few days or maybe weeks after the launch because I’m pretty sure ill be playing it so much ill forget about this blog. I will also post my thoughts on the story during that time to see if can beat the story in the first. Yeah like the first one had a story but it was still fun, but they hired a comic book writer for the sequel and have been pushing the story since it was announced. So we will have to wait and see. SHIT YEAH!

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At the time I was writing this Epic released another developer commentary. This one focusing on the art and graphics of the game. And holy shit does this game look amazing.

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