Gears of War 2

The Gears of War continue to turn as Marcus Fenix and his squad of Cogs go back into action in the sequel to Microsoft and developer Epic Games' blockbuster action title. Gears of War 2 continues the story of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad, locked in an increasingly desperate battle against the nightmarish Locust Horde for the survival of humanity.

The game promises to be an epic saga of survival, loss, and retribution. Just as Gears of War set the standard for high-definition visuals, Gears of War 2 raises the bar even further with the amazing technological advances of Unreal Engine 3, delivering a bigger, badder, and more intense experience as the story continues.

• Bigger, better, and more badass gameplay: Gears of War 2 builds upon the gameplay of the first title in every way. First, the scope of the action is bigger—new characters, more weapons, nastier enemies, bigger vehicles, and grander locales offer more action, more emotion, and more thrills. Next, every major aspect of the game has been refined to create heightened, more immersive experiences. Finally, the overall tone of Gears of War 2 is more badass—replete with new weapon-specific executions, chainsaw duels, and shocking boss fights.

• Jaw-dropping visuals: Gears of War 2 raises the graphics bar for next-generation games through its breathtaking visual effects, which are made possible through advances in Unreal Engine 3. New visual effects include ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, improved character lighting, the ability to render hundreds of on-screen characters simultaneously, improved water physics, additional blood and bullet decals, advanced destructible environments, new weather effects, and the introduction of fluid objects. When combined with the sweeping vistas and evocative locales in the world of Sera where the Gears of War 2 story unfolds, these additions help make this the most gorgeous game available this generation.

• Gripping story: Gears of War 2 continues to push deep, immersive storytelling in video games to greater heights. Humanity's epic battle for survival is felt on both the personal and epic levels as you explore multiple story arcs that introduce new characters and flesh out the histories of familiar ones. A new in-game conversational camera system also helps bring the compelling story to life in a cinematic fashion.

• Unparalleled Xbox LIVE action: Gears of War 2 takes full advantage of the industry-leading Xbox LIVE® service. Home to 10 million gamers, Xbox LIVE is a robust online entertainment network and allows you to experience Gears of War 2 either competitively or cooperatively. Enhanced competitive multiplayer gameplay over Xbox LIVE introduces new modes, weapons, and a multitude of new maps. Also new to Gears of War 2 is the ability to drop in and drop out of the co-op campaign at anytime, while allowing you to play at their own difficulty setting. Enjoying the visceral thrills of Gears of War has never been easier.