The latest EGM magazine features one final cover story by outgoing editor Dan Hsu, but boy does he go out with style. The main act is a rather detailed preview of Gears of War 2 with quite a bit of new details about the game. You will now be able to take pictures during the game and upload them to a website for sharing and voting. Also noticed during their playtime was an Epic dev "watching a video," which is perhaps a hint at saved films. Other hinted features include 4-player co-op and AI bots for multiplayer. Our friends at X3F have some more details, including new weapons and what to do if you find yourself knocked down or stumble upon a downed enemy. The latest EGM, with GoW2 on the cover, should be on newsstands already.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
And First, or perhaps not.
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When a reader submitted question asked about a 4-player co-op possibility, Cliff Bleszinski only reiterated the "Bigger, Better and more Badass" mantra behind Gears of War 2.
There will be a screenshot capture in Gears of War 2 which will allow players to upload the images they take to a website and vote on submitted images.
The photo-mode scores you in-game based on the action around you (think, Dead Rising).
During the playtest, EGM spotted an Xbox LIVE status message that said someone at Epic was in Gears of War 2 watching a video--not playing a game. Saved film possibility?
Epic is considering implementing a live onscreen ticker that displays how much damage you are dealing and how many points you earn per match.
Gears of War 2 may offer A.I. bots for multiplayer to help fill the new 10-man limit.
The dev team calls chainsaw kills from behind, "Chainsodomy"
On the Subject of Weapons
"Gorgon Burst Pistol" is the official name of one of the newest weapons. The double-clipped handheld has a high rate of fire and shoots in short bursts for an extra punch while hiding behind a shield--meat or otherwise.
"Scorcher" flamethrower detail: Power weapon, only appears once on a map (similar to the Boom Shot). Short burst weapon, perfect active reload increases its range.
"Boltok Pistol" detail: Perfect active reload allows the old pistol to fire much faster.
Epic says plenty of more weapons are on the way, including new additions to the superweapons class (alongside the Hammer of Dawn) which EGM speculates could include a mortar type of weapon.
Got an enemy down? Attack! (Slightly different from the original article in X360)
'X' button: Curb Stomp -- The original curb stomp kill returns
'Y' button: Execution -- Longer to execute, so riskier, the executions are a sight. Race, and sometimes weapon, specific kills that promise to earn the expected 'M' rating. COG soldiers will punch an enemy to death, Locusts will rip off arms and beat an enemy with them and in the example for a Torque Bow specific kill the attacker will take the victim's head and place it on a Torque Bow's blade tip, then use his foot to pop it off. Wiiiiiiicked.
'A' button: Grab -- Take a downed enemy and use them as a human shield. Considered dead as soon as it happens, the shield can actually respawn (if it's allowed in that mode) and their body can take quite a bit of damage before disintegrating. The 'B' button ends the encounter with a neck-snap.
'B' button: Melee -- End it quickly and without all the flash.
Got knocked down? Oh noes! Defend Yo' Self!
'R' Trigger: With Grenade Equipped -- Martyrdom
Had a frag grenade equipped when you got cut down? Wait for an enemy to approach for a killing move (listed above) and make them pay. Press the 'R' Trigger to detonate your frag and send you both into oblivion in a wet, gooey mess.
'R' Trigger: Without Grenade Equipped -- Raise your hand and request assistance from your squad. Doing so will flash your 'man down' icon for friends to spot.
'A' button: Crawl -- Crawl to safety as you bleed out. Your dragging body will leave a trail behind you and you will eventually die, unless someone comes to revive you ... which we hope still doesn't look like a firm pat on the back.
All I can say is FUCK YES!!!
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:P
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Sony cares about you, about as much as Microsoft does. Stop trying to justify your console purchase by relentlessly slagging the competition.
- Scott
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As I was saying, this game has a lot going for it, I just hope whats put on paper plays just the same.
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But if they include 4 player online co-op (if it's relevent to the story), none of that will matter.
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Oh thank god. When X360 said that the weapon specific executions would take over the "B" button I was worried it would ruin the game by making it such that the only way to finish off a downed opponent was going to be going into some long execution animation.
But man, if half of this stuff is true I'm going to have to take longer than just a couple days off come November. At least a week straight.
Although the martyrdom thing sounds really lame. That was one of the few things I hated in CoD4.
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Hopefully you can use bots to fill the void when people leave a match.
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to
"Vcize explosion in new pants"
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