Since my cousin has a flashed console he has done it on Insane already. Looks improved over the first Gears in graphics and controls. Ofcourse there is a cool horde mode and some new LOCUST beasts. Overall it is a really good game, not a big improvement over the first but there isn't a bad thing in this game.
The only bad thing is the controls still need a little tweaking. Sometimes you will dive into areas you don't want to. Or the camera will do some funky spin and make you forget which way you were shooting. This is especially frustrating when you are in the middle of a fire fight or against a boss. Even with that small issue its a 10/10.
There are times in it when I get a slight touch of motion sickness. Mostly happens when I pick up one of the heavier guns that slows Marcus down. The game's very fun though.
Horde is fun as hell. Nothing more exciting than sticking a baddy with a troque bow and waiting for them to blow up.
After an entire weekend burned on Gears 2 I have the following things to say 1) AI is vastly improved, teammates actually kill enemies in a firefight instead of firing small burst and letting them heal like before. The Locust are much better tacticians and use flank maneuvers to the usual run straight up. 2) Visually its still among the top console games in terms of graphical beauty. Small effects like fog, fireflies, hail...all add to the rich atmosphere of the game. 3) The level design is pretty boring, most of the game is spent in dark dimly lit quarters with the usual industrial rusted junk provided for cover. Some ideas are straight rip off of other games with "been there done that" moments like the worm level. Also I could spot some God of War inspirations with the creature selection for mini bosses. The Centaur is another Warthog clone with similar handle and ride. Overall the real fun is online play which is the best feature. Gears 2 doesn't evolve too much from its predecessor but that would be tough to do at this point because the core game play of taking cover and letting it rip on locust monsters is still a very satisfying treat. Although one would like to see a different setting for the next game with perhaps more creatively developed levels.
I was referring to story mode which is rather unimpressive with a boring narrative. Who really cares about the Gears or the Serra planet? Locust are a generic bunch of villains nothing great about them. Heck you don't really know what they are after until the end of the game. Not to say the game is bad, nope its awesome in execution of game play but the campaign and story are pretty much dull. Its like Unreal Tournament, the game is awesome but there is no story or narrative. There is nothing in Gears storyline that makes you want to "finish the fight".
anyone else finding this match making system annoying? it takes forever...i've had 16 player battle royals on halo match quicker than this.