Gears of War 2 review embargo lifted – round-up

But, pat, I express opinions that others don’t agree with. Clearly I should be silenced for this crime. What’s the point of freedom of speech if you can’t use it in order to tell other people to shut up?

Anyone know what resolution Gears 2 runs at?

540i. 20fps.

No one gets banned. Old skool internet. Police your own neighbourhood, citizens.

540i. 20fps.

Surely you jest?

I do

Yeah, I thought those numbers were a bit high.

Also noticed Metacritic translated the B+ Resistance 2 got as 83% … interesting.

I don’t get all this ‘the story is not that good’ rubbish.

Not everyone cares about the story. Some of us are just to pragmatic to fall for the pointless illusion that there could ever be an outcome other than the blatantly obvious.

Surely the millions of people who play muliplayer day in, day out don’t care about the fact that they’re not being subjected to totally predictable drama?

Gameplay makes up nine tenths of a game.

But, G1Ggsy, if Story is present and regarded as game content then it’s part of the package and there to be reviewed – for better or worse.

It’s not like anyone is expecting anything from the story other than a device to put the player into a situation where he can shoot his big gun and provide momentum and drive for new big gun shooting scenarios.

Space Giraffe has no story and is all the better for it. It’s pure gameplay that takes up ten tenths of the game. Oh yes.

@G1GAHURTZ
“I don’t get all this ‘the story is not that good’ rubbish.

Not everyone cares about the story.”

You are almost there G1GA – marry your own two sentences and you might have an epiphany.

Yeah, I suppose it’s there to be judged if it’s put in, but I just find it a bit strange that so many of the reviews seem to try and pick up on it as being one of the most negative aspects of the game.

Some of them seem to read as though they marked the game down because the story wasn’t of Shawshank Redemption quality.

It just seems as though they were expecting much more than most gamers do.

Well, a review is only one person’s opinion isn’t it? So it’s going to reflect that persons expectations and standards.

Look at that OXM Space Giraffe review. That’s clearly one person’s appraisal of a game based on what he expected from games. Is it right? Is it wrong? No, it’s just one guy’s opinion. (Actually, it is wrong, but that’s not important right now).

If you want reviews tailored to what the audience expects to read then I suggest Famitsu is probably more your thing.

The other point is that the story was meant to be a lot better this time and was touted as a feature too.

I can’t read Japanese!

Anyway, I was just looking at the most negative reviews on Metacritic, which is generally the method that I use to try and find out the worst parts of a game before I buy it, and the story seems to be a common theme.

You could argue that the people who gave these reviews were the ‘wrong’ people for the job.

I mean, what were they expecting? You could easily compare Gears to Predator, but the people who love that film don’t love it because of the story.

Big guys, big guns, lots of intense action and a big explosion at the end.

You don’t need much more plot detail than that! lol.

“The other point is that the story was meant to be a lot better this time and was touted as a feature too.”

I don’t think that any reviews have said that the story was worse. In fact, most of the stuff that I’ve seen about the story say that it’s much better, but still too brute-ish or something like that.

I love Predator more since I learned that UberScriptWriter Shane Black actually starred in it.

So, G1Gsy, you went looking for negative views on a game you’re clearly hyped about and are a bit miffed that you found some negativity?

It sounds like you went searching for something to annoy you and now you’re annoyed.

Here’s my advice:

Forget those negative types. Immerse yourself in Space Giraffe until your copy of Gears of War 2 turns up.

lol

Alright, I’ll probably try Space Giraffe tonight.

Oh don’t do that Space Giraffe is a self indulgent pile of wank … just my opinion mind .

It’s Zen gaming. But it’s like those Magic Eye Hidden Picture images from years back. Some people simply aren’t wired in a way that allows them to see through the self indulgent pile of wank bits and get to the soft, gooey, playing-with-your-sixth-sense nirvana within.

That’s not an opinion. That’s INTERNET FACT.

Talking of Space Giraffe, I thought the story in that was shite.

i wouldn’t try space giraffe also if i were you.

Space Giraffe is great.

It’s just that Rez is better.

Get Rez instead.

Pfffft. Rez is awesome. It’s a true experience. But its gameplay is nowhere near as intelligent or transcendentally layered as what can be found in SPACE GIRAFFE.

Space Giraffe, when you start cranking it up into those higher, more elaborate and strategic levels genuinely makes you wonder what is going to be in store for you in the next round. What tactics and reactions, what reflexives and synapses, what instinctive GAMER SKILLZ you’ll need to pull out of the bag to get further. The only stuff like it is Minter’s other stuff.

Rez is an amazing trip, but half the fun is up on the screen and coming through your speakers. With Space Giraffe, it’s as though Jeff Minter has actually ENTERED YOU and is tickling your brain DEEP INSIDE your most private areas. You have to be brave enough to OPEN UP and let his genius PENETRATE YOUR BEING. When your MOIST and TENDER areas have been touched by the giraffe, there’s no going back.

Rez is one of the best games ever made ever ever.

heh, too bad space giraffe didn’t sell for shit on xbla then =/

Ah, but that’s the game’s proof airdom! Don’t you see? In generations to come, it will be seen as a triumph of one man’s unique psychedelic mastery of the digital playground over the carbon copy mainstream fodder that fills the shelves and people’s hard drives. It is like claiming that Big Macs are a better food than Sainsburys Own-brand “Finest” Tuna Bake For One simply because more people have bought Big Macs. No true masterpiece is ever recognised by its financial swagger (after all – look at the Wii, it’s shit!)

Also, trying to sell something that wasn’t “SHOOT THE MAN IN THE HEAD” to pumped up 360 owners and expecting them to use their brain to shoot things was EPIC overconfidence on Minter’s part. The 360 audience are simply not atuned to Minter’s brilliance and, if anything, their herd-like ignorance has spared his work from nestling amongst the ranks of “PRESS [RT] TO KILL” mediocrity.

Are games art? I don’t know. But Jeff Minter is an artist.

nice sweeping generalisations there. Couldn’t've done better myself.

I’m actually inclined to agree with Shatner in this case, and the games’ sales just prove it.

Big Macs are art. I’ve seen it myself. I’ll be back with a link.

morriss, don’t take it to heart. Just cos you’re shit at Space Giraffe. Go shoot something in the head. It’ll make you feel better. And manly.

It’s makes me feel as manly as arguing with people I don’t know anything about on the internet. Which is of course very manly indeed.

Yeah, I’ve glanced at your “contributions” on the Eurogamer forums.

You need to get out more.

Oh, and speaking of manliness in respect of videogame sites and shooting people in the head, allow me to quote you back at yourself from this very comment thread:

“*beats chest*

BRING IT ON!”

/girlish giggle
/pets giraffe
/sneezes

I’m sure you’re studying me very carefully, yes.

Oh this is hawt. It’s the courtship ritual of the greater spotted internet comments poster.

xD

Yes psycho. Games journalists really do it for me.

But until I find a decent one, morriss’ll do.

Hey, remember when games were simple and actually had a SCORE?

Space Giraffe, that has a score. It has BIG scores. It’ll even analyse your play and show you just how many points you could have squeezed out of a level. Oh, and don’t forget the subliminal image of J. Allard on Level 1. Heh.

If you call that subliminal you need an eye exam.
I miss J.