The original Gears was one of Xbox’s defining moments. It flaunted next-gen graphics, over the top gore and amazing online play. Gears 2 attempts to do the same, just on a grander scale. The third person shooter may be almost identical to the last instalment, but it’s still one of the best 360 games about.

After a quick tutorial you are thrown into the world of Sera, ravaged by the war against the Locust (underground aliens) you now tunnel into the planet’s core, attempting to destroy them. So the story wasn’t going to win any Oscars, despite Epic trying their hardest. It also may not pull on your heartstrings, but it is addictive with brilliant pacing.

The basic game play hasn’t changed: run forward, get cover and kill Locust. Small additions have been made with a few new enemy types, more weapons and bigger bosses. The snow-capped level avalanche and the ‘interior level’ (I wont spoil it for you) stand out amongst the rest. Why Epic decided to limit most acts to dreary cave levels, I’ll never understand. Other than the two aforementioned examples it all feels like familiar territory.

From the outset, lead designer Cliff Blezinsky said he wanted to make the game “Bigger, better and more badass.” In a way Epic has delivered, you’ll fight one of gaming’s largest and best bosses, which will literally engulf your screen. Gears 2, unfortunately makes some boss characters standard enemies. You’ll take down multiple Burmacks and Reavers, making them the norm, taking away the feeling of bosses and limiting enemy types. Only one really stands out, while the final battle is the biggest let down of the game. Prepare to be disappointed with the ending.

Although I was let down with Gears 2, I still love it. The gameplay may have not changed much, but it is just as addictive. I completed the game in co-op with my flatmate and we’re already going through it again on insane difficulty.  I don’t even have space to write about the amazing multiplayer content; see www.therippleonline for more information. Gears 2 may not have built enough on the original, but it doesn’t need to, this is one of Xbox’s essentials.

5/5

by Kiron Ramdewar

The main addition to the Resi franchise is co-op. Although I didn’t get to play this, my computer aided sidekick (Sheva) helped me battle hordes of zombies, while taking out a 7ft axe-wielding maniac. The AI worked particularly well, with her shadowing you and even throwing a healing spray your way every now and then.

Zombies attack from every direction; in one house I hid in, they broke through the roof, while the door was demolished by the aforementioned axe. There is sense of panic while playing the game; you’re only really safe for a few seconds before something begins to hunt you.

My only gripe with the game is the aiming system. Dead Space recently proved that while using the same camera angle, you can move and shoot. Unfortunately Resi 5 locks your person to the spot when aiming, shooting can occasionally feel rigid.

The major graphical update shows, swarms of enemies run towards you and scenery splints with bullet fire. The 360 and PS3’s power have been utilized, with cut-scenes occasionally looking photorealistic. Resi 5 isn’t anything new, it feels more like an update, but does this matter? The fourth was amazing and this snippet of game play only made me wish the 31st of March was a little closer.

by Kiron Ramdewar

Releasing a survival horror in today’s next generation market is a tough skull to crack. The ensuing franchise war has seen development giants such as Capcom (Resident Evil), SCE Japan Studios (Siren: Blood Curse) hack, slash and massacre every detail to ensure that you’re too afraid to play through their games. However, lurking in the shadows and watching their every move is a newcomer to the genre: EA Redwood Shores with their enticingly malevolent Dead Space.

Set aboard the USG Ishimura, some hundred years or so in the future, the player is thrown into the flesh-pounding boots of Isaac Clarke, an engineer whose job entails the maintenance of gigantic planet cracking spaceships. The story follows Isaac through the bowels of the ship, making repairs and such in order to return surviving crew to safety. Unknown to Isaac, the Ishimura is infested with flesh shredding monstrosities: the Necromorphs. Each of which will have you barrelling for the back of the sofa on every heart-stopping encounter. Armed only with maintenance equipment, the player battles through, witnessing the evil that has eviscerated anything alive.

The principle mechanic of the game is strategic dismemberment. Each of the ten or so varieties of Necromorph has certain strong or weak appendages, which, with the aid of various weaponry, can be sliced, sawn, blown or torched off. The flesh textures in the game are second to none; there are times when you feel truly disgusted at the sight of the pulsating pile of Necromorph guts you just created.

All health bars and ammo counters are displayed though holograms or on your suit, and with 5.1 surround sound Dead Space is one of the most immersive next-gen games out. All this makes the game play very cinematic without taking away any of the fun. This is a game that is defiantly better with the lights off and the volume up!

Dead Space is a brilliantly dark, disturbing and gory experience that doesn’t fall short on any level. It has taken ideas from other great games in the genre, but the result is certainly equal to the sum of its parts. This franchise will grip you in fear and never let go.

by Adam Black

It’s surprising Mercenaries 2 is even out in shops. Terrorism and 9/11 have become the hot topic within the media and politics, so EA’s push to make a sandbox world with free for all destruction is a daring one. As fun as it sounds to blow up skyscrapers (yes pretty much everything can be blown to pieces) that’s all there really is going for the game.

Mercs 2 is set in Venezuela, after completing a job for Cardoso you’re betrayed and fleeing from his mansion with a bullet lodged in your ass you vow revenge with your team of mercs. Story was never going to be this game’s strong point. This is clearly reflected in the games poor voice acting and repetitive dialogue. It seems enemy soldiers all have the exact same voice and phrases in Venezuela.

To get back at Cardoso you must meet with different factions, ranging from Jamaican pirates to a pseudo U.N. Each one unlocks a different shop for you with a vast array of helicopters, boats, cars, air strikes and supplies for you to play with. Missions consist of racing, protection, retrieval and seizing outposts. Other than racing this means clearing the area of enemies and taking control of the situation. Whether it is a hostage or area, there is little variety.

 If that’s not bad enough the games AI is terrible. Enemies will often stand and wait to be attacked or will get stuck behind scenery. In one mission I had to call reinforcements to occupy an enemy building. After calling in their helicopter they became trapped by a knee-high mesh fence. I was then forced to kill my own team members to destroy the fence to let new soldiers come through. This isn’t the only glitch in the game, floating boxes; vehicle and supply call-ins disappearing and random enemy re-spawning are common.

The game pick up once you pick up air strikes and helicopters (which can deliver transport of any kind and supplies). It gives the player a final feeling of freedom. The graphics aren’t amazing, but seeing your air strike blow up the tallest building in the game is truly a next-gen experience. and a satisfying one for that. The only problem is they have little to do with their new abilities. Some missions are far too easy with air strikes, while some a ridiculously hard. The problem may be due to the planned offline co-op, which was only dropped a month before release. This was my main selling point for Mercs 2. Playing online is fun; it just doesn’t top playing next to your mate. It’s a shame to play Mercs 2, you can see the potential oozing from it. It’s not a bad game, just lacking that final polish.

by Kiron Ramdewar