Gears of War 2 'Last Day' ad as haunting as 'Mad World'
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Oct 23rd 2008 at 2:30PM }
Before screaming that the ad "totally rips off" the original Gears ad, it's probably good to know that it was created by the same team that designed the first. Check out "Last Day" after the break. Now, if only the game can pull off the ad's emotional tug ...
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Joshua @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:36PM
That was fucking awesome.
Can't wait.
Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:57PM
Thank god for the creators of Mad World and their originality. Plus with it being on Wii it should intensify the awesomeness 10 fold.
360 is teh suxorszz
Penguin Warlord @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:03PM
I don't really see why this one was disturbing but I thought it hit a much sadder note than the mad world ad. I also don't quite think this will be as iconic as the song isn't as catchy. But both are sick ads regardless. Better than most game ads.
Dr. Strangel0ve @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:37PM
I find the song choice ironic as the ending is already leaked on youtube. So when I play the game I DO already know how it ends.
Also drills with guys in them are pretty badass.
zuburi @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:42PM
I kinda wonder why Joystiq didn't do a story about this game being pirated and available a week ago, like the Fallout one.
Jakka @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:43PM
Let me guess...The Locust are all killed but we don't know for sure in case GoW3 comes out...
Envoy @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:48PM
I saw a good 30 seconds of the ending, then I stopped it. It looks amazing!
primetime4 @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:52PM
Nope... Marcus turns out to be Dom's father and they have to face off against each other. Cole is frozen in carbonite.
Just Mr ESC. @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:11PM
OH the good guys win,NO WAI!!1
halo 3 sucks. @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:48PM
Hey primetime,
FUCK YOU.
Envoy @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:36PM
IMO Mad World is still better.
Killjebus @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:49PM
This reminds me of the baby ads for Sony. Madworld was much better.
Just Mr ESC. @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:15PM
In places were Mad world was Sad yet Awesome this one is more on the disturbing side.
Kinda like "Believe".
fyreblazer @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:16PM
I'm with you too. Mad World hit the right note. This ad though is no slouch.
heypaul @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:38PM
Speaking of the Mad World ad, does anyone remember the original version of it? I'm talking about the version that was visually exactly the same, but had the actual sound effects instead of Mad World playing over everything. I swear I saw that on TV a bunch of times before the Mad World version took over, but nobody else seems to remember...
Duke @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:04PM
Agreed. I like this one because it gives an emotional connection, but Mad World was an ad that made you just watch in awe.
Vcize @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:04PM
heypaul, I'm pretty sure you dreamt that...
pwnetheus @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:24PM
I think this ad was way better. IMO I thought the mad world ad was very overrated. Only reason I liked it is because I love Gary Jules' cover of Mad World.
heypaul @ Oct 24th 2008 5:16AM
Perhaps you're right, Vcize. Or perhaps that happened in the real world but all you guys are just a figment of my imagination... Hmm, everything's finally starting to make sense... Or is it?!?
I should quit drinking.
LilTmac2003 @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:36PM
I disagree dude. I actually liked the 1st ad. It was great, and something 'different'.
I liked this one too, and I can already see a bunch of people ripping on Gears b/c of the similarities the ads show.
As JoyStiq has said, it's made from the same people as the first one.
Ahh, Gears 2, how much will we all love you.
LilTmac2003 @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:37PM
Woops. This was a response to Joshua. Sorry all.
Infidel @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:41PM
No way was that as "emotional" as the Mad World ad, the music just doesnt even compare. Plus i prefered the darker, more desperate tone of the first, in this they seem somber, like they have already accepted their death, not fighting for survival.
HyeWarrior @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:39PM
Mad World Madness all over again... and I approve
Arno @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:40PM
It's not that good and not as good as Mad World, not by a long shot.
Steven M @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:43PM
This ad is great, but it just cant beat the Mad World ad
Billy @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:44PM
What the hell Joystiq, your judgment is way off here, sorry! This one doesn't hold a candle to the original. It's not that it's bad, it's just not even in the same league.
TheAbbotFire @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:44PM
Simply amazing!
Xoviet chiK - Gyiyg Strikes Back @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:45PM
Thought it was going to be "Elevator Love Letter" by Stars for some reason, and after seeing the Drill thing... It would have been strangely appropriate.
Good stuff though, not quite as compelling as the Mad World ad though.
AwesomeTown @ Oct 23rd 2008 4:18PM
As much as I can never get sick of that song, I think it would be weird and out of place here.
kinshadow @ Oct 23rd 2008 5:17PM
I can't quit you Dom!
aristokrat @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:42PM
My love for you is like a truck...
Sean @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:46PM
This looks awesome and I can't wait. I got a 4 days weekend to play the Gears of War 2!
geo @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:48PM
Can you feel the homoerotic tension between them in that pod
zkey14 @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:51PM
Was about to post this.
J @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:07PM
Not to mention the phallic drill SLAMMING into the ground.
ogvor @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:50PM
With the constant jokes about Dom and Marcus as a couple found on this blog, I couldn't help but think the same thing.
"You Already know how this is going to end" - lol
The-ENIGMA @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:48PM
That wasn't a good choice of music IMO. I get the message behind the song but that was way too upbeat, Mad World was a thousand times better than this one
Ricky Schroder @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:48PM
i love DeVotchKA! not so much GoW though.
I already know how it ends... repetitive game play with a shade of brown :)
nonpareil @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:49PM
Devotchka is awesome.
Zo @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:08PM
What song is that?
Decent ad. It's no Mad World though.
John Craig @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:54PM
That music was actually used in the trailer for "Everything is Illuminated," and I actually think the "Rendevous with Death" trailer is better than either this or Mad World.
Titanium_Orchid @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:20PM
seconded.
All the gears ads are pretty good though
xFenixKnightx @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:53PM
I cried...
Jakka @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:55PM
[Insert a sympathetic "awwww"]
awwwwww
turkeybaster @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:54PM
The mad world ad was amazing because it was so different. This ad just feels contrived, and the swelling strings at the end make it more hokey than anything.
Taco_Hell @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:57PM
I wish I was kidding when I say that I was expecting the little yellow bus from Little Miss Sunshine to appear in the background.
Jawmuncher @ Oct 23rd 2008 2:59PM
Mad Word Sucked, this one is better.
IMO
Just Mr ESC. @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:18PM
No U do.
Actually Mad world was awesome for the fact that instead of fitting some thing like Die Motherf*cker die they choose a dramatic song.
Something unexpected I guess.
In this case is disturbing.
Marty @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:03PM
Grats to the marketing team who puts this stuff out. It may not be as good as the original Mad World trailer, but a lot of the stuff that made that trailer work stemmed from the fact that we had no idea what to expect from the game.
This one works nicely though, and it's a great compliment to the first. Good job, guys!
Dirty @ Oct 23rd 2008 3:03PM
Damn I cant watch this at work.
I think the mad world ad was such a big deal just because it was very different.
Now everyone want to make an ad like it, Lost Odyssey, the new PoP. So it just doesnt have the same effect.