Gears of War 2: Nine new gameplay details

• By Travis Moses
• May 13, 2008 11:05 AM PST
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We dissect the first and only Gears of War 2 gameplay trailer and learn 9 things that set Gears of War 2 over its predecessor.

1. Derrick Trucks - Derrick trucks are a new and very important vehicle in Gears of War 2. It doesn't look like Marcus Fenix can drive these behemoths, but there are plenty of operable turrets on the top deck. Derrick trucks are used to tow Grind Lifts into Locust occupied cities.

Derrick trucks are a new vehicle in Gears 2 used to tow Grind Lifts.

2. Grind Lifts - Grind Lifts are used to dig deep holes into underground Locust cities, opening the hives up to attack like a colony of termites. COG soldiers climb into the Grind Lifts and are barreled below the Earth's crust to strike the Locust where they live.

3. Acts and Chapters - Gears of War 2 still retains the same acts-and-chapters story structure as the first game. In the first gameplay trailer of Gears 2, we get to see an excerpt from Act One, Chapter Three titled 'Assault.'

4. Brumaks and Mortar - Unlike the first Gears, Marcus will actually have to fight the ogre-like Brumaks this time around. Brumaks are equipped with machine-gun nests on their backs, and turrets on both arms. Judging by what we've seen, these temperamental beasts can easily knock you off a Derrick truck.

"Is that a mortar on your back or are you just happy to see me?"

5. Reavers - These enemies were only introduced at the end of the first game. They are flying squid-like creatures that the Locust horde can ride like horses. But where's the ink? In Gears 1, the Reavers spewed midnight ink from their behinds, and it was one of the coolest "next-gen" effects we've ever seen.

Seriously, where's the ink?

6. New Weapons - In the trailer, we see Marcus Fenix using a new high-powered single-shot rifle and an automatic pistol. The single-shot rifle looks to hold a similarly sized clip to the standard assault rifle, but appears to deal more damage. The semi-automatic pistol is unique in the fact that it only fires in 5-round bursts. It is not a single-shot pistol.

New high-powered, single-shot rifle.

New semi-automatic pistol.

7. Locust Shield - Marcus Fenix can now pick up downed Locusts and use their bullet-sponge bodies as a temporary shield, ending their life with a Solid Snake-style neck snap. The trailer shows Fenix using the automatic pistol in the choke hold to kill another Locust. In Gears 1, Marcus Fenix performed a curb stomp on downed enemies; it's unknown if this move will return for Gears 2.

Just like Solid Snake.

8. Chainsaw Battle - Marcus Fenix will now engage in button-mashing chainsaw duels with the Locust horde. Currently, it appears the battle is limited to soldiers wielding the chainsaw bayonet assault rifle.

Mash the B-button to win the chainsaw duels.

9. Blood and Guts - At GDC earlier this year, Cliff Bleszenski, lead designer at Epic Games, showcased new tech behind Gears of War 2 that allowed for destructible environments. Well, the environment isn't the only thing that can be blown to bits. At the end of the trailer we see a Brumak's face getting torn apart by heavy turret fire. Bleszenski did say that "Gears 2 is going to be bloodier than the first," adding that "you may want to bring a bucket."

Gears fans love the blood and guts.

"Is that a teeny Brumak brain I see?"

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