Pick Up Them Sticks

I know I’m not the only one out there, but I strongly feel that Gears of War is/was the best video game to date.  That being said, considering Cliffy B and Epic Games return, I am confident that Gears of War 2 should displace GoW from this throne.  Considering just how delicately perfect GoW was I am concerned that all those that said this that and the other should have been in GoW will get their wish and ruin it all for GoW2.

Here are my concerns;

Graphics – At the time of its release, GoW was the prettiest game on the 360.  I think its since been replaced by games like Fallout 3 and FarCry 2.  Maybe its unfair, but I somewhat expect GoW2 to be just as gorgeous as these newer games.

Map Size – For some stupid reason, some people want enormous maps.  In GoW2 the versus census is being upped from 4×4 to 5×5.  Fine.  I would imagine that they would need to make the maps somewhat larger to compensate.  However, I don’t want this to be another Halo 3 where I spend half the time running around to find someone only to spend the next five minutes of the round to watch my teammates run around essentially playing hide and go seek.  Please keep the maps intimate.

Weapons – This is my main fear and concern, and the one that I am afraid is most likely to get messed up in a big way.  I hope most people are able to comprehend how perfect the balance of weapons were in GoW1.  They were perfect.  You started out with serviceable weapons.  They were good in some situations.  Not ideal, but good enough to play the whole round with.  You could upgrade your weapons if you could dive, straife and safely get to them.  And once you had them, its not like you had a huge advantage.  You still had to be skilled with them.  The boomshot had two rounds.  Anymore than that and its too much.  You had one screw up and one to be succesful with.  I can’t remember how many people on Live I yelled at after they whined that the boomshot didn’t have fifty rounds.  Again, Halo 3 is what you want if Rocket Launcher wars if what you are after.  Heck, Unreal Tournament 3 would be better.  Ironically also made by Epic; Unreal is the game for you if ammo conservation is a turn-off and you simply must be shooting something at all times.

Here’s a parallel between vids and sports; GoW is like basketball.  In basketball you defend with your feet.  You get your feet in position, which moves your body, and thats how you defend properly.  Its not arms and hands, its your feet.  And many times in GoW its not the gun in the hand, but more where you are and gaining a positional advantage over your enemy.

For GoW2 to be another raving success this arms balance must be kept in store.  I see new weapons and I have my concerns that one will be too powerful, too resilient, too favorable.

What made GoW great is that no matter the position, the situation, the numbers, you were never in an impossible situation.  The odds may be against you, but you are never out of it.