RipTen Videogame Blog » Marcus-Fenix

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Marcus Fenix Blue Balls Master Chief

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:12 +0000

You may not know this but Microsoft’s fine print does not allow the ammo from one Xbox exclusive hero to damage another Xbox exclusive hero. Unfortunately for Master Chief, they forgot to add Chainsaw Bayonets to that list.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of video game fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

Cooly whipped up this creation to cheer up a sick sibling. I’d love to see what he does for holidays and birthdays.

Gears of War 3 Epic Media Blowout – Videos, Gameplay and Much More

Chris Carlson — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:26:52 +0000

Epic Games has just announced……wait they didn’t announce anything. Unless you were out partying all weekend you would know the full version of Gears of War 3 has been leaked online.

Following the leak, tons of videos have made their way onto Youtube showing tons of footage from the game. Now of course we’re going to keep this spoiler free but that doesn’t mean there’s not a shit ton of content to share with you. Keep in mind these videos may be the full game but it’s still unfinished and bugs will be present.

This video confirms that Gridlock will be making an appearance in Gears of War 3. It also got a huge make over and looks even grittier than before. Wether or not this will be a shipped map, or if Epic will offer a “Flashback Map Pack” code with copies of the game similar to how they did Gears of War 2 is still unknown. Just knowing this classic Gears map is making a return is good enough for me.

This next video showcases a new outfit for Marcus titled “Civilian Marcus” and shows off boat load of additional unlocks. Players will receive exclusive weapon skins for playing Gears of War on PC, Bulletstorm, and all three Gears of War campaigns. Avatar items is also listed which suggest the game will feature Avatar Awards which is nice because many games don’t support this feature. Last but not least the infamous Seriously 3.0 is a confirmed achievement, but we really didn’t need to tell you that right? Seriously……..we didn’t need to right?

Previously noted in the last video was certain exclusive unlockable skins for your arsenal. This video displays quite a few of the weapon skins but no details on how to unlock them. The skins range from a beautiful nice set of flowers to a blood red covered Lancer. Then there’s your classic camos like urban, jungle, pink etc.

One of the new weapons announced was the Vulcan Cannon, however Epic didn’t go into much detail at all. So now I present you with this beautiful fucking beast of a weapon and just how dangerous this baby is. Words can not describe this beauty, just watch.

Was that not enough for your blood pumping Gears of War veins? Check out some actual gameplay from some of the new maps not playable in the beta below.

Mercy

Azura

Dry Dock

Hotel

Overpass

Rustlung

Sandbar

Gears of War 3 is set to release September 20th, exclusively on Xbox 360.

Buy Replica Retro Lancer from Gears of War, F**k Shit Up IRL

Justin Carter — Tue, 24 May 2011 07:25:43 +0000

With the Gears of War 3 beta recently over, you’re probably pitching a tent in front of your local Gamestop right now to get the first copy during the midnight launch. But what’s this? Someone’ s cut in front of you, and they’re being a real dick about it! Have no fear, disheartened gamer! With the help of 3D renders from the game, NECA and Gamestop have created (cue drumroll here)…a replica Retro Lancer!

That’s right, Gears and Gears-ettes! It slices, it dices, it has machine gun sound effects, and it makes one mean human-kabob! And it’s all for only $99.99 by itself! Will you pick it up September 13? When it comes bundled with the game for $139.98? The limited edition for $159.98? Or, the coup de grace, the Epic Edition for 229.98? While you ponder that, we here at RipTen would like to remind you that we don’t condone violence with video game swag! That said, get to the back of the line before I slice your head open like a watermelon.

You can curb stomp and chainsaw to your bloodthirsty heart’s content when Gears of War 3 hits the Xbox 360 this September 20.

Gears of War 3 – Boxart, Screens, Open Beta Information and MORE

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:54:07 +0000

Hold on to your seats true believers – Gears 3 is gearing up for a September release. Sure that’s still quite a while away, but it’s never too early get wrapped up in the HYPE!

Today Epic has released some very epic Gears of war 3 information which includes Screenshots, Boxart, Open Beta information (yep, OPEN Beta), multiplayer info and MORE!

First of all, the beta will be open to all in mid-April and will feature three new multiplayer modes across four new maps. Excited yet? You bet your ass I am! Additionally, gamers can vote on the maps they want to play at the Gears of War Facebook page. Playing the beta can unlock in-game content upon the game’s release on September 20th.

The Beta multiplayer modes include:

King of the Hill – Combines with Annex and simplified with a new user interface and ring that moves around the map.
Capture the Leader – Capture and hold either Chairman Prescott or Queen Myrrah. The leaders aren’t useless though as they can see through walls and coordinate their teammates. Also, everyone gets one smoke grenade that can be used to force the player holding the leader to let go.
Team Deathmatch – Each team gets 15 respawns. Once those are gone, it is game over for the team that gets killed first.

Two of maps that will be available for the beta have been decided – Stadium and Supermarket. The other two are to be decided on facebook. The options include: Mercy, Old Town, Overpass and Trenches.

Beta Unlockable content includes a Retro Golden Lancer and Cole Train’s Thrashball uniform. The Gold Lancer will be unlocked by playing 90 matches or getting 100 kills with the impaling machine gun. Cole’s Thrashball outfit will be unlocked once you play 70 matches of any game type. You get to keep him in the retail version if get 83 matches total. Check it out in the screenshots below.

Last but not least, Epic has confirmed Gears 3 Multiplayer will be off of Dedicated Servers. Great news for anyone who had to deal with laggy Gear 2 matches.

All and all awesome news! You’ve got to hand it to Cliffy B, Gears of War 3 looks to be another great Epic game!

And why not, Kasland – Bring It On (feat. Cole Train)

New Gears of War 3 Screens Are No Bull

Dave Oshry — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:54:47 +0000

Some new screens of Epic Games upcoming blockbuster mega smash hit have surfaced today and they are looking damn good. Some might say they look “too good” to be in-game screens . . . but honestly? Fuck those people.

Check ‘em out below:

Who From Gears of War Should Represent Xbox in Mortal Kombat?

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:53:02 +0000

"Seriously...Zumba?"

With the recent announcement of God of War’s protagonist Kratos’ entry into Mortal Kombat, the question on everyone’s mind has become, “Who should represent Xbox in Mortal Kombat?” While clearly Master Chief exists as the poster boy for all things Xbox, he clearly lacks the killer instinct, personality and character presence possessed by Kratos.

Luckily, Cliff Bleszinski of Epic and Gears of War fame, had a recent conversation over twitter with fans where he expressed interest in adding a Gears character:

“Yeah. Must figure out a Gears char in MK!”

Very eloquent I might add and he’s right. What other Xbox exclusive game has characters as well-known and tough enough (Chainsaw bayonettes…hello!?) to share the arena of the Outworld tournament? With the Gears now in motion, the question now becomes – Who from Gears of War should fight in Mortal Kombat?

Well, obviously the character would have to be well-known and developed – they’re competing against Kratos here. So that eliminates any of the bosses, deceased characters and logically leaves Delta Squad. So let’s discuss the candidates.

Clayton Carmine

Big, Bad, but voted most likely not to survive Gears 3.

He certainly looks the part. The first Carmine brother to successfully get on the Delta Squad HGH work out program is probably consumed with avenging the deaths of his fallen brothers. But is he well known enough? Will he have the Chrisma? Survey Says – X

The Dominator

What's Kung Lao doing...a pirouette?!?!

Let’s see: He’s big enough, strong enough, and gosh darn it, people like him! But he’s a sidekick…Player #2. You can’t send a sidekick to a man’s job. Did you see Robin featured in Mortal Kombat Vs DC Universe…hell no! And you won’t see Dom enter the tournament either.

Baird

AAARGH!! Not the threads!

Baird is what passes for a nerd on planet Serra, albeit a nerd with a 20″ neck. He’s funny too, always quick with a quip, but the type of character that something gross always happens too. During the tournament he’d be the one most likely to step on one of Montaro’s turds or make out with Mileena. Sorry, Mortal Kombat already has it’s nerds – Baraka and Johnny (not in the face) Cage.

Marcus “The Man” Fenix

"Seriously...Zumba?"

Marcus is about as manly as you can get and one of the few characters who can stack up well against Kratos (and possibly Duke Nukem). He’s got scars, bulging biceps, a gravelly voice (lung cancer?) and legs the size of refrigerators. His last name is spelled “Fenix” because no one wants to correct him. Finally, we have a contender!

Augustus “Daaaaammn! That’s a lot of juice!” Cole

"Man, you ugly...and the Coletrain Don't like ugly!"

Through the course of the first two games it’s apparent in Coles own words, “Nobody plays this game like me! Nobody!” He’s a trash talking mountain of muscle who can survive anything. Hell, even if he were to die, he ain’t going anywhere. Pretty sure the Grim Reaper knows better then to get in the way of the Train. So let’s see: Recognizable – Check. Charismatic – Check. And Jax would be happy no longer being the only brother.

Survey Says- “Yeah! WHOO! Bring it on, sucka! This my kinda shit!“

The Winner is…

The only man Xbox has that could have Kratos shaking in his boots. And Everybody knows Kratos can’t rap!

Five O’Clock Fan Art: Marcus Fenix (Gears of War)

Dylan Duarte — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:12 +0000

In honor of this news story, here’s a little fan art for all you Maple Leaf-sportin’, bacon-eatin’, Locust-shootin’ Canadians out there. O Canada! Our home and native land!

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

Today’s piece was crafted by Shanyar, who actually resides in Iran, which shows that love of Gears extends across the Atlantic.

Gears of War 3 Public Beta Announced with Epic Multiplayer and Execution Footage

Garrett Hartman — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:32:29 +0000

That’s right Gears heads, Epic Games has revealed Gears of War 3 will have a public beta early next year. Epic’s Ron Fergusion explained earlier this week to the press how they’ve always wanted to do a public beta and that this would give them the feedback neccessary to improve the game.

Recently, it was announced that Gears of War 3′s release date would be changed to fall of next year. This extra time obviously allows for the beta, feedback and adjustments neccessary to create a polished product.

There’s been no word on when the beta might take place nor has there been a specific date given for Gears of War 3′s release.

Enjoy these Epic multiplayer videos! For stunning Screenshots click here.

Gears of War 3 Delayed 5 Months to Fall 2011

Garrett Hartman — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:44:59 +0000

Yep, Marcus and company will have to push Locust hunting season to Fall 2011. Gears of War 3 will be delayed 5 months.

Microsoft claims the move as a strategic one to position Gears 3 for the big Holiday season:

“Gears of War 3 promises to be the biggest entertainment launch of 2011,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. “The teams at Microsoft Game Studios and Epic Games have done great work thus far readying the title for release in the Spring of 2011. However, we’ve elected to move the launch of Gears of War 3 until Fall 2011 to make it the marquee title for the holiday season.”

While disappointing it’s a pretty well thought out move. Spring 2011 looks to be a murder’s row with marqee titles abundant including Epic’s own Bulletstorm.

This delay also allows CliffyB and the Gears of War team to craft a very polished finished product. I’ve got my chainsaw Lancer waiting.

Read my Top Ten Wants for Gears of War 3

New Bulletstorm Kick-ass Demo Trailer with Commentary

Garrett Hartman — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:19:55 +0000

There’s absolutely no doubt that Epic’s Bulletstorm will kick some serious ass! Killer graphics + Entertainingly creative ‘death combos’ = An Epic gaming experience that looks to blow you away!

No, you don’t play as a stinkin’ space marine. Expect to see enough gore to make even Marcus Fenix blush.

Expect Bulletstorm to execute on February 22nd.

E310 Preview: Gears of War 3, Plus Q&A With Producer Rod Fergusson

Chad Lakkis — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 06:42:59 +0000

Ripten was granted behind-closed-doors access to Gears of War 3 at E3 2010 with Epic Games Producer Rod Fergusson walking us through the demo and answering a few key questions along the way.

First off, those of you unfamiliar with the Gears of War franchise should know that it’s a highly stylized third person shooter packed with tons of gore and a variety musclebound characters to choose from. In the past, I’ve described Gears as a satisfying combination of He-Man looking G.I.Joes wielding chainsaws and tearing through alien-filled battlefields.

The third installment introduces new Lambent enemies, playable female characters, and two new characters in Jace Stratton (voiced by Hip Hop artist Drake) and the stranded leader Griffen (voiced by Ice-T). It is being touted as the final installment of the Gears franchise, however during our session with Rod, he was only willing to confirm it as an end to this specific story arc. In fact, his exact words were:

“I’m confirming this is the last game in ‘this‘ story.”

In other words, there’s still a good chance we’ll be seeing more Gears of War related games in the future. I’m call dibs on Gears vs. Capcom. You heard it here first.

Marcus: You head right, I'll go left. Dom: But, I really don't want to be alone right now Marcus.

The gameplay we saw during our appointment with Rod was essentially the same as the four-player co-op demonstrated on stage during the Microsoft E3 2010 keynote, minus the other three players. During the four player co-op mode, players will be transported from the perspective of the character they originally chose and thrown into the shoes of another, with the ultimate goal being a broader storytelling experience for the gamer. And while this is an example of the new “involuntary”co-op split aspect, players will still be able to voluntarily split from the pack by going separate ways at road forking points.

In addition to four-player co-op, Gears 3 gamers will also be able to partake in a new multiplayer “Beast” mode that allowing for a glimpse at the full spectrum of enemies available in the game. Beast mode puts online players behind the wheel of various enemies ranging from Tickers all the way up to massive Berserkers. The goal in this mode is to break through COG defenses and destroy them all.

When addressing the biggest gameplay hurdle faced by the team while creating Gears 3, Rod said that it was by far the four player co-op aspect, and finding a way to make the game feel “natural” across various settings. He cited an example from Gears 2 that wouldn’t work very well with the new four player format:

“Could you imagine the Maria scene with two other guys standing around? It would have been a little awkward.” said Rod.

Fans of the comic book should know that some of the backstory revealed there will be available in the game, but not so much that it slows down the pacing of things. Rod stressed that the thing they believe drives the Gears of War franchise is “pace, pace, pace, pace, pace”, adding that the “blockbuster movie type pacing” really works for them, with the proof being that the game has a very high completion rate.

Cole: Shoot the squid! Marcus: It's a Lambent. Cole: My bad. Shoot the thing that looks like a squid!

As a means to add more excitement to their “blockbuster movie” experience, Epic is introducing a new species of enemy called Lambent (not to be confused with this guy). The Lambent are a mutated form of Locust that have evolved into a threat to both the COGs and the Locust themselves. Rod fired off a few rounds at one and showed us that anything but a headshot on a Lambent will leave it’s crawling head to live and fight another day. So it’s better to just knock their block off and eliminate them completely.

Why did Epic finally decide to include female soldiers? Well, according to Rod, the team “just felt like it was a good time,” He went on to say that the story also lent itself well to the introduction of some “bad ass” female soldiers. While the newly introduced female characters won’t have their own set of unique attacks, they will be able to perform the same attacks as the male counterparts.

Speaking of attacks, the demo showcased some of the new weapons, moves, and battle specific enhancements available in Gears of War 3 that should help to bring a smile to your face … assuming you’re a fan of “Rated M” violence.

And you thought getting beat with a belt was bad. Try getting beat with your own arm.

The lancer bayonet struck me as something I’d never use when I first heard it described, but after seeing it in action, I’m confident that it will quickly become an all too often used staple in the game. It’s lack of a chainsaw action is more than made up for by the weapon’s ability to perform powerful charging spear attacks that utilize the roadie run to pierce your target like a shish-kabob.

The digger launcher, which is essentially a land based version of an underwater missile, looked pretty impressive in action as well. And while new additions like the arm rip looked brutal enough, my favorite move combination involved a new mantle kick opener that sends you flying boot first over cover knocking your enemy down, followed by a meat shield grab, a quick grenade tag, and finished off with a kick to the rear propelling your enemy into another for one giant frag-fest.

Other various enhancements to the gameplay include more precise shooting aim when stationary and the ability to swap weapons with other Gears on the battlefield. I’m not too sure how often my friends will be willing to share their toys, but the option sure sounds good on paper.

This is what it looks like after you skewer a Locust with your Lancer.

If the standard melee kills aren’t demeaning enough for you, players will be able to unlock special melee kill animations by playing through co-op and/or participating in online multiplayer matches. This is a purely cosmetic thing but it’s sure to garner the interest of hardcore Gears fanatics.

Those of you who haven’t seen the E3 Gears of War 3 demonstration that took place at the begining of the Microsoft Keynote a few days ago might want to take a little reading break. The video below showcases all of the aforementioned enhancements we’ve outlined above in a short five and a half minute clip. We’ll wrap up our preview right after you’re done.

The maps themselves in Gears 3 promise to be a bit more open, as Rod stated that the team at Epic felt the Gears 2 levels were a bit too linear. As a fan of the variety Gears 2 had to offer, I was concerned that creative/yet linear levels such as the worm interior would no longer exist, but Rod assured me that the variety would still be there.

“It’s finding a balance. When you’re trying to tell a story, there are going to be some linear aspects. It’s like an hour glass really. You have the combat parts, and then the parts that help you get through the story with a more predictable path. It’s not like we’re doing ‘Gears Open World’ … it’s just when you have four people going into battle, we want to allow each person to have a certain set of choices …”

In terms of graphics, Gears 3 features a brand new light and shadow system that Rod believes will help to make the world that much more “dynamic.” I never really had a problem with the look of Gears 1 or 2, and it’s not like the changes between 2 and 3 really warrant a lengthy discussion, but you could definitely see the differences in contrast and lighting when he pointed them out.

Our first look at a beaten up Thrashball stadium

A more typical Gears of War setting with lots of pretty lighting

Anyone who read my Gears of War 2 review knows that I felt a little let down after one of the final chase scenes in the game, due to what I felt was a less than stellar job of establishing the villain mounted on the flying beast. I explained this to Rod and asked if the third Gears installment does a better job with establishing shots. Here’s what he had to say:

“It’s a challenge with our storytelling to be honest with you. We don’t like to do a lot of remote shots. Once you are with the characters we like you to be with the characters. We had the same problem in Gears 1 …”

Well, I can’t fault them for taking this approach, as it does help to keep you grounded throughout. However it does mean that we as gamers will have very limited opportunities to pick up on the establishing/remote shots that are in Gears. And when they do present themselves, we’ll need to process them quickly and accurately.

If your looking for closure in Gears 3, you might be only partially satisfied. Rod promised that fans will receive a sense of closure as certain questions like “why does Marcus’s father know the Queen?” will be answered. However, he went on to add that others aspects will remain more open to interpretation even after the curtains close.

My final question to Rod was regarding the actual campaign length of Gears 3, to which he responded:

“Our goal has always been to find a good pace … We’re happy with Gears 2, so it will probably be somewhere around there.”

All in all, I believe that Gears of War 3 is on “pace” to take the Xbox 360 by storm the moment it hits store shelves April 5th, 2011. Expect us to follow this title closely as it’s release date approaches and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Gears of War 2 Review

Chad Lakkis — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:30:24 +0000

Some of you may already be familiar with the fact that I didn’t play through the campaign mode of the original Gears of War the first time around, and instead spent countless hours lost in the game’s multiplayer mode. Well, being that I was going to review Gears of War 2, I felt the need to go back and complete Gears of War 1 first.

With the assistance of Dan Landis, I cleared through the Gears 1 campaign in co-op mode, and then played through the Gears 2 campaign in single player mode over the course of two nights. In terms of multiplayer, I ran through a few of the classic formats and tested out Horde Mode with Dan, Zung, Dlyan, and some 14 year old kid I’ll refer to as “Superman” because he almost always decided to run off and save the world from Locust on his own.

Alright, enough small talk, let’s “dig in baby”.

Level Design & Gameplay Variety

Gears 2 looks great. That said, I’m not one to scrutinize textures or lines of resolution. I tend to focus on the overall impact of an environment’s design as a whole. In doing so, I’d have to say that Gears 2 features some of the best map designs you’ll see in a video game today. The combination of lighting, color, structure, and interactive elements is well thought out and does its part to engross you in the fictional world.

Without giving too much away, you will be treated to a mix of different level types. Some will focus more on enemy interaction, while others will pit you against the level itself, combining aspects of puzzle solving and timed movement. I found that the change of pace was enough to keeps things moving along. The variety helped to battle any boredom that may have otherwise set in without the addition of a campaign co-op partner.

Weapon Selection

The weapons in Gears 2 feature a few new additions, but I usually found myself clinging to a sniper rifle and a lancer throughout most of the game. In the name of experimentation however, I did from time to time pick up items like the flamethrower, toasting tickers for shits and giggles. It was fun, but not something I’d let supplant my trusty longshot — not by a long shot (see what I did there?).

Other, non replacement items (won’t force you to drop a main weapon), such as the mulcher, mortar, and boomshield were definitely worth picking up when given the chance.

The mulcher is a no brainer, as its slow walking human turret capability easily plows through pretty much anything that gets in your way. The boomshield is great for situational cover on the go, and the mortar can do some serious damage with a little practice. Think of it as an alternative to the hammer of dawn that can be used indoors.

Character Development, Storyline, Enemies, and Boss Fights

Having played both the original and the sequel back to back, I felt like I was in a pretty good position to compare any advances made in the overall plot and character development.

The original Gears was pretty straight forward but it did a great job of introducing you to the various COG personalities. Gears 2 builds on that foundation, adding depth and additional insight into each character’s background. Some attempts are better illustrated than others, but considering the pace at which things move, I felt the team at Epic did a great job here.

The story itself, continues where Gears 1 left off, as you must once again team up with your fellow COG soldiers to foil the plans of the Locust horde and their demanding Queen. New enemies are introduced — both big and small — requiring you to think on your feet and employ different strategies to take them down.

I found the boss fights to be creative and climactic for the most part. The high speed chase sequences kept me on the edge of my seat, and the the environmental interaction required during certain battles forced me to stay on my toes and be aware of my surroundings.

As the game nears completion, I felt that one of the final battles (though multilayered and exciting) could have been executed better on the tail end. Something as simple as an additional camera shot clearly reestablishing the villain would have been enough to do the trick in my opinion. Instead I was left asking myself “Was he on that? Did I just kill him?”

Character Design, Animation, & Controls

The character design in Gears 2 fits the world, and subtle animation/interactions between characters add a layer of believability to their dialogue. New enemies and new allies alike are well designed and act/move as you would expect them to.

In terms of control, the game responded well, and the scheme was in line with the previous Gears setup — a simple one button mentality which makes most movements second nature and easy to perform. The result is that I rarely thought about controls, which left me free to focus on the actual gameplay.

Multiplayer and Horde Mode

Multiplayer offers up several modes and is more fun than ever, but if you want to thoroughly enjoy it against others, you will need to dedicate yourself to the art. Exploits are still there to be had, and it’s better to know them than it is to die by them. The introduction of environmental interaction during levels like Avalanche (self explanatory) make a nice addition.

Guardian, Wingman, and Submission modes are all fun in their own right. Guardian asks one player to designate themselves leader of the group, tying respawn ability to that individual. Once downed, a team will no longer be able to respawn. Wingman is a point based battle broken into multiple rounds consisting of up to five two man teams, and Submission is the meat shield version of capture the flag.

Wrapping up the multiplayer discussion is the addition of Horde Mode. A battle of up to five players against wave after wave of progressively more challenging groups of locust. If you buy this game and have internet access, Horde Mode is something you have to try. Fun times.

Closing Thoughts

Gears 2 combines practically everything I loved about being a kid into a video game. It’s G.I. Joes riding Tonka Trucks through the mud while fighting a massive army of beefed up albino Skeletor clones. It more than borrows from our pop culture past, and I don’t mind it one bit.

You will often be reminded of moments from Star Wars, and some may even see the influence of Disney’s Pinocchio — crazy, I know, but it works.

One thing you won’t be able to deny is that Gears of War 2 is a roller coaster ride of variety that keeps things fresh and fun. The action is fast paced, and the story/dialogue offers just enough depth to make you care about your cast of COGs, and motivate you to kill anything that gets in their way. If you own a 360, Gears of War 2 is a must buy.

Keane’s Take

9.5

I was never the biggest fan of the first Gears of War. The actual gameplay always appealed to me hugely. Gears gets all the little things right in a big way – the way every gun feels heavy and powerful, the satisfying crunch of slamming into cover. But I was never sold on the near-broken multiplayer, much less the campaign’s seemingly boneheaded tale of aliens vs. jocks.

It was a huge surprise, then, that I found myself head over heels in love with Gears of War 2. Chad’s already broken it down in the text above: it’s perfectly paced, the visuals are splendid, and the levels varied and action-packed. Most of all, there’s just something so fundamentally fun about it that I’d say that any gamer, regardless of prejudices, will find something to love at the core of this game. Even the story won me over.

My main issue with the game is that it manages to keep up such a perfect flow of action for most of the game that when it hits an occasional snag, it’s really freaking annoying. A handful of vehicular sections and other objectives that require you to do some serious trial-and-error to get past them drag the whole thing down.

But that’s really a flaw that only manifests itself because the rest of the game sets a higher standard. Overall, Gears of War 2’s one of the best action games in recent memory, and an example of gaming (on any platform) at its finest: ceaselessly entertaining, visceral and satisfying, a blast to play from start to finish.

Gears of War 2 Image Gallery – Click Here To View

Gears of War 2 Cinematic Intro, Humanity at Fault

Chad Lakkis — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:51:50 +0000

The two minute Gears of War 2 cinematic intro paints a picture of human ignorance fueled by a “hunger for power” — soldiers marching without hesitation into a war that the narrative suggests they brought upon themselves. Pretty darn deep for a game centered around albino skinned monsters who live underground.

Hit the jump for face full of Locust and things that go BOOM!

Ripten’s Gears of War Movie Poster Fan Art

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:24:37 +0000

So yeah, I was bored and the lack of news coming over the wire convinced me to pop open Adobe Photoshop and mess around for a while. One thing lead to another, and a few hours later I ended up with my own little Gears of War Movie poster. Dan Landis added his two cents on the casting over Skype.

Yes, we know that Kilmer is currently a bit on the heavy side, and Batista may not be the best actor on the face of the planet, but we figured what the fuck — they sure as hell look the part. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Lester “Terry Tate” Speight were obvious choices. To be perfectly clear, the Gears of War movie has NOT been officially cast yet, these are merely our “shooting the shit” selections.

Hit the jump for a high res version and make sure to let me know what you think of it in the comment section below. Thanks guys.

(CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE)

Thirty-Two Enter, Only One Will Be Crowned “King Of The Game”

Chad Lakkis — Sun, 27 May 2007 21:22:17 +0000

This is what we have all been waiting for … a battle for the ages, and the time is now. We have assembled 32 of the finest video game characters that have ever called a console home, and a five round single elimination tournament of speed, skill, strength, and determination stands between them and being named pixel for pixel the baddest that ever was, the “King of the Game”.

Can Marcus Fenix roadie run his way through a bullet blazing, one liner laden, no holds barred battle with the one and only Duke Nukem? Will Metal Gear’s main man Snake slither his way to victory against the Splinter Cells triclops, Sam Fisher? Metriod’s Samus Aran, or the combat evolved Master Chief? The king of cold: Sub Zero or the queen of hot: Lara Croft?

We here at ripten have been working for over two months, researching, arguing, and eating lots of junk food, all in the name of bringing you an accurate account of each characters quest for video game immortality. The results are in and over the coming weeks, you will lay witness to five rounds of sword swinging, scope sniping, chainsaw buzzing intense action.

Below you will find division one of the first round match ups, division two will be up tomorrow. We would love to hear your comments on how you think things should go down and who you would like to see win it all.

DIVSION ONE

Update: June 4th, 2007

Hello everyone,

Division One has changed slightly based on the feedback we received from readers. Lara Croft will now be facing off against “Pitfall Harry” and Ryu of Ninja Gaiden fame will be swinging his sword against Mr. Joe Shinobi.

We thank you for the feedback! To see the division two matchups click here. Check back tomorrow for matchups to start posting to the site in comic book page format featuring the artwork of various artists!

Thanks,
Mad Gamer

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