This is truly a game without a soul. It has everything else, top notch graphics, awesome gameplay, leveled action from novice to impossible, lots of game modes and maps; but no underlying purpose or point tying it all together. There is nothing to give the game meaning beyond the immediate gratification of the kill. Now, for shooter fans, this might sound sufficient, but it really is not. Especially after just coming from games like Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Call of Duty 4, and Halo 3. Where is the ranking? Where is my character? Why can’t I build up any attributes, styles, unlock weapons, etc?

This game really feels like any other unreal tournament out there, in fact, it makes me long for the original unreal tournament on the old Xbox, which they, for some stupid reason, never made compatible with the 360. There is something on there called the deathmatch ladder. At least that gives you something to strive for. This games ‘campaign’ mode is the lamest, sorry excuse for a game I’ve ever seen. Trying to sew a story together from three basic gameplay modes: warfare, capture the flag, and deathmatch, is pathetic, lazy, and totally annoying. The only thing motivating me to complete the campaign is the last two achievements, chapter 4 and the final achievement for finishing the game. I must say, it’s not much motivation.

I highly suggest that Epic games make a patch for this game ASAP. I doubt they would do anything intelligent to the game at this point, but if they do, here are some pointers:

• Most of all, a match making lobby needs to be added. No multiplayer game is complete without one.
• Put the ladders back in from the original game for each mode and add achievements for each one.
• Take that retarded post match lag out of the stats screen!
• Give the characters a SOUL, some attributes, a ranking system, SOMETHING!!!
• Put in some more realistic achievements, not ‘complete 10 matches without dying in god mode’ sort of thing.

From the studio that made Gears of War, this game is a travesty. Maybe all they wanted was simplicity, and a straight up shooter, but why did they waste time trying to make a campaign for the 360, and why didn’t they at least try to give the characters some attributes, ranking, customization, etc.

In conclusion, this game is a half built multiplayer in which the Epic games didn’t take the demographic to mind nor the system they were building it for. As of right now, this game falls in our top 10 of the worst multiplayer games for the Xbox 360. It almost feels as if Epic was simply using their name to make a few bucks and finance the Gears 2 project with this piece of crap.