A LONGER CAMPAIGN AND AN ACTUAL STORY THIS TIME

There was more story in the Gears of War game manual than in the story itself. Marcus defied orders to save his father to no avail and was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 40 years in maximum security. Memorable characters and an interesting universe were delivered but the game’s plot was paper thin with several references to a back story that was never explained. That won’t cut the mustard this time around, we want it all explained in the game itself; not in the manual and certainly not in any comics or novels. Expand the universe in other mediums for sure, but don’t intentionally leave stuff out that leaves gamers hanging. That’s cheap.

Epic Games reps always danced around the issue when pressed on the original’s singleplayer campaign length retorting with talk of multiple playthroughs and the co-op experience (which is second to none, I’ll give them that). While stopping short of any admission they have certainly wasted no opportunity in emphasising the sequel’s story will be of a longer duration. Just how much longer though? Comments made by some of the press that have already completed the game suggest approximately 25% longer than the first. That sounds like a considerable and acceptable lengthening, we will be most interested to see for ourselves. Take these comments with a grain of salt though, I remember when certain popular gaming sites were naming GTAIV’s multiplayer as the most anticipated game feature and how it could challenge COD4.

Will it deliver? MOST DEFINITELY