In campaign the player takes control of Marcus Fenix, the games main protagonist, along with his squad mates from Delta Squad who are apart of the Coalition of Ordered Governments (referred to as the COG in game). These members consist of Lieutenant Minh Young Kim, Dominic Santiago, Augustus “Cole Train” Cole, and Damon Baird. Delta Squad is informed of their battle situation by Anya Stroud via headset. This campaign is 5 chapters long which allows for multiple hours of campaign play. The story itself isn’t too impressive, simple enough to follow for most. This is not where Gears of War has its strong point though. The replay ability of this games campaign isn’t of the highest degree but it is enjoyable to play 3 times in a row and then one or twice after a break from campaign.

Multiplayer: The games multiplayer pits a squad of 4 COG players and 4 Locust Players. Neither side has an advantage or disadvantage (It can be said that the COG’s side is quieter when moving though). Players Spawn with a Lancer Assault rifle, Gnasher Shotgun, Snub Pistol, and a Smoke Grenade. The maps are normally symmetrical but there are asymmetrical maps for those who prefer that. The learning curve of Gears of War is pretty high. If you are new to the game you will most likely be killed by the Gnasher or Longshot most rounds. It is advised you play with an experience player so they can have your back. This games multiplayer also has player and ranked matches. Ranked matches allow for players to gain achievements while player matches are normally higher in population. In multiplayer there are a few game types which consist of:
Warzone: Players can kill a downed opponent from afar.

Execution: Similar to warzone except that player must execute their downed enemies. This simply means the player must be close to the enemy to kill them.

Annex: The teams need to capture a single point and try to hold it for all 60 points. If they fail to hold it and the enemy team capture the point they will begin to receive the points.

Assassination: One leader for each team and the leader is the only player able to pick up weapons spawning on the map. The object: Kill the enemy leader.

Warzone, Execution, and Assassination are all one life deals. Annex has unlimited respawns, Weapons that the players can pick up on the maps (all of the weapons normally do not spawn on one map): COG
Lancer Assault Rifle: Fully automatic assault rifle which can deal heavy damage with concentrated fire. This weapon has the best melee out of every weapon. Why? It has a chainsaw attached to the end of it.
Gnasher Shotgun: Fast firing, lever action shotgun. It is a deadly weapon in the hands of a pro and the equivalent of a pillow in the hands of the inexperienced. It is recommended that the player learns this weapon as it will save them many times.
Longshot Sniper Rifle: The games sniper rifle. It has the ability to kill in one headshot or down a player with a perfect active reload.
Snub Pistol: Fast firing and decent damage where a player can be downed with a full active clip. The Snub Pistol is a very reliable sidearm.
Bolo Grenade: Explosive grenades hat have the ability to stick to another player. Run up close and melee some poor fellow then watch him explode
Smoke Grenade: Simple smoke grenade which creates a field of vision obscuring smoke.
Hammer of Dawn: The COG’s super weapon. The player must hold the targeting device down for about 3 seconds before a powerful beam of imulsion (Sera’s power source) crashes down to the planet.

Locust Horde

Hammerburst Assault Rifle: Burst fire rifle. Weapon can be used effectively with a melee and a perfect active shot.
Boltok Pistol: Revolver pistol which has the ability to down in only a few shots. Only problem is low ammunition
Boomshot Grenade Launcher: Powerful deadly weapon. It fires a rocket-like grenade which can obliterate an entire team if they are close enough. This is one of the most fought over weapons.
Torque Bow: It deadly powerful weapon which fires an arrow with imulsion in it which, after 1.5 seconds explodes and kills a player if it has struck them. This weapon is confusing as the player must hold their right trigger to increase the torque on the bow which adds speed to the weapon but the weapon has a failsafe and if the weapon is charged too long it will automatically fire the arrow.

Overall, Gears of War is a very fun and intense game for the lover of multiplayer. I personally enjoyed this game very much while I played it. Campaign was a blast the first time through (although there were annoying parts especially on Insane) but when I played multiplayer I fell in love with the game. Gears of War 2, after a series of updates, has been made into an acceptable sequel. I would suggest buying this game.

The story begins with you as a Subject-Delta, who’s a part of the Alpha series of Big Daddies (the predecessor of the modern Big Daddies), on the New Years Eve Party of 1958 (before the Civil War of the first). You are making your typical rounds with your Little Sister when she is suddenly attacked by a group of splicers, after a vigorous fight you are put down by the hands of Sophia Lamb as she informs you that your Little Sister is her daughter. You are mysteriously brought back to life ten years after the event to the current dystopian area of Rapture that is being rebuilt by “The Family,” and informed that you must find your Little Sister in Rapture or else you will die due to the dying connection between you and her. The way the story of Bioshock 2 is different than first is the fact that it is focused upon Collectivism, the philosophy that is based on the belief that a group of interdependent people is needed to attain goals, the opposite of the Objectivist views focused upon in the first. One of the ways this shows is through The Family, the collective of splicers and Big Sisters led by Sophia Lamb. The story of Bioshock is also much more personal this time around, through playing I felt that I was actually out to save my ‘daughter,’ and that the stakes were much more about her possibly dying than my own death, which ties into the mental conditioning of a Big Daddy very well. There is also the return of audio diaries, these diaries serve the same purpose of the first, providing valuable information about the characters and story of Bioshock 2. Also your morality will play a larger role than the first, not only will you decide the fates of Little Sisters, but, for other characters as well. Your choices will have subtle and large effects not only in the ending, but, in the latter levels as well. For those who have been following the ARG for Bioshock 2 will also see what has become of Mark Meltzer and his search for Cindy as well…

One of the best parts of the stories was simply the characters introduced and their voice acting. Sofia Lamb, the primary antagonist, served well as the game’s villain, although she isn’t your typical ‘villainess.’ As you play through the game you will notice that she is the opposite of Andrew Ryan essentially. Upton Sinclair is another new character introduced; this smooth-as-butter talking southern businessman is one of the most memorable characters in a game in recent years, providing whimsical comments and is along side you for most of the game. Eleanor is another of the beautiful palette of characters in the game, not only because she is your bonded Little Sister but because… well I’ll let you see for yourself. There are some characters who return from the original game, most through Audio diaries, but, one in person. The voice acting on all of the characters is amazing, with each with their own distinctive voice. Each of the characters delivery is spot on, and you feel the emotions they are trying to exemplify through the game’s equally great dialogue.

There are crops of new enemies introduced into Bioshock 2 as well. The most obvious of course is the Big Sister, post-pubescent Little Sisters who are mentally deranged and under the control of Sophia Lamb designated as “Guardians of Rapture.” These Big Sisters are vastly different then their Big Daddy counterparts: they are much more agile, running on walls and performing acrobatics, they are able to heal themselves as well if given the chance, use plasmids like telekinesis and incinerator, and have an even larger amount of health. There are also two new Big Daddy types, the Rumbler and the Alpha Series. The Rumbler prefers to use range to his advantage and relies on his technology to take out opponents, using his miniature turrets and his Rivet Gun for offense. The Alpha Series is sort of a mix between a Bouncer and Rosie, they use close ranged tactics like charging, but, will also use ranged attacks including fragment grenades and their gun, they will also release a plasmid discharge at random intervals. Another new enemy is the Brute Splicer, who is actually pretty much the same as the Tank from Left for Dead; they are lumbering brutes who rely on strength and thrown projectiles to destroy their opponents. Also returning are the Splicers and their types from the original Bioshock, aside from the Nitro Splicer at least. All of the enemies have had a noticeable increase in A.I. as well, traveling and attacking in groups instead of wandering alone as well as use other tactics to kill you.

The combat system of Bioshock 2 has been reinvented for the better. In the first game I remember wishing that I would be able to use the iconic Bouncer Drill as well as the Rosie Rivet Gun, and in this game I get my wish. Not only are you able to obtain these weapons, but, also other powerful weapons including a Harpoon Gun and other weapons that are valuable to an arsenal. There is also the return of the Research Camera, but, instead of taking pictures you actually take videos instead, which allows you to fight your target while the video is being filmed, using different plasmids and weapons on your target increases your score as well. However, there are fewer Power to the People kiosks, so you must choose what you will upgrade wisely. Since you are an Alpha Big Daddy you are also enabled to use plasmids and your weaponry at the same time; plasmid use in the left hand and weapons on the right. This system works great since you are able to multitask instead of switching back and forth between weapons and plasmids like in the first. The plasmids of course are back as well, with new and old plasmids returning, and also can be upgraded through ADAM, what is also different is that when the plasmids are upgraded to their highest level they are immensely powerful and are essentially Power to the People upgrades for your Plasmids. Hacking has also been remade to flow with combat, instead of how it was in the first where you played ‘Pipe Madness,’ in the second when you hack you are prompted to enter a mini-game that plays in real-time so you can hack and fight at the same time.

The Little Sister system also became more in-depth in the sequel. Now that you are a Big Daddy you actually have the option of adopting or harvesting a Little Sister, after taking out their resident Big Daddy. If you adopt the Little Sister you can either rescue her, or you can have her gather ADAM from corpses for more ADAM. When you have your sister gather she will immediately be attacked by a group of splicers, so you must remember to set up a proper defense (where some trap plasmids and trap ammo is best used) to protect her from the onslaught. After she gathers you can rescue her or you can harvest her. Like the first there are differing rewards for people who harvest and those who rescue the Little Sisters, and like the first their lives is ultimately in your hands.

It hurts me to say this but, like many thought multiplayer is the weakest part of the game. It is by no means terrible; it just doesn’t stand out from other powerhouses like Call of Duty or Halo. The multiplayer game serves as sort of a prequel to the events of Bioshock, you play as one of the premade characters who have just began splicing on Ryan or Fontaine’s side. You can customize your pre-made character as well through your interactive apartment, an area in Rapture where you can check the leaderboards (the newspaper), your characters story (an audio diary), your melee weapon and mask (the wardrobe), and your loadouts (the gene bank). You even use a bathysphere to get to the lobbies. The gametypes offered are of normal variety: Capture the Flag (or capture the sister in this case), Team Deathmatch (Civil War), Deathmatch (Survival of the Fittest), Turf War, Elimination (Last Splicer Standing), and ADAM Grab (hold Little Sister the Longest). The actual gameplay is pretty grand though, the weapon play is basic, you get your standard shotgun, pistol, etc., but, what actually makes it different than other games is its use of plasmids and tonics. For example you can use plasmids for their effects just like in the main game, but, you can also use them for other purposes such as freezing a door solid or zapping them open. As for the tonics, they work just like perks do in Modern Warfare, for example there is a tonic that allows you to hack turrets faster. You can also become a Rosie Big Daddy in games, you will be notified that a Big Daddy suit has been randomly spawned in the match and that you need to find it, this doesn’t happen in Capture the Sister due to someone from your team being selected to be the Big Daddy in defense. The learning curve for this game however is pretty large, latecomers to the game will find it difficult to adapt to the game as they will be dominated by people with powerful weapons, tonics, and plasmids. Playing matches however will allow them to advance (every match gives you ADAM based on the stats you have for that game). Gaining ADAM to reach certain levels will allow you to use more weapons and their attachments, tonics, plasmids, customization options, and also more audio diaries about your character.

Bioshock 2 undoubtedly lives up to its predecessor. From its well crafted story of your bond with your Little Sister to its stance on philosophy and its embodiment within the story. Its characters are of the best I’ve seen in a game and their voice acting is simply divine. With the improvement of the A.I. and new enemies such as the Big Sister and Rumbler, you will have a more satisfying and difficult time fighting through the game. The combat system has even been improved on further; using the immensely powerful plasmids and weapons at the same time is a vast improvement which leads to some deadly combinations, and hacking now is much more amusing. Your relationship to Little Sisters is much more in-depth in this game, which ties with the story nicely, as you can adopt Little Sisters and protect them as they gather. Multiplayer, although just like Call of Duty, is pretty interesting due to the apartment and aspects of gameplay, but, it has no longevity since players will soon return to other powerhouses. This game has personally been top five of all the games I’ve played. I can’t wait until Bioshock 3.

All you will need to submit to the admin is your gamertag so your achievement can be validated. After the winner has been selected, they will be notified and a mailing address will be requested. Happy gaming!

Next is the sequel to crackdown. At the convention they had a playable demo of Crackdown 2. It was very similar to the first only the added element of zombie-like enemies that were a little more difficult than the human targets. It kind of reminded me of “Prototype” with the superhuman strength and you can use almost anything as a weapon. Very fun play, but I can see how it would get old quickly.

A game that we took a quick look at was called, “Splatterhouse.” It is for the blood/gore fan. Buckets upon buckets of blood and violence. They have brought back an arcade classic from the eighties and attempted to build a bigger following. The game itself is just bloody. When the main character is being attacked, he will lose his limbs and must pick them back up to use as a weapon or it will reattach after a short period of time. I think it will be worth a playthrough, but I think the replay will be lacking.

The last game worth mentioning would be the new Lara Croft. It is specifically a multiplayer game focused 3rd person omniscient similar to the Diablo series. You and your teammate must work together to solve the numerous puzzles and enemies to achieve upgrades and future levels. The Wired Zombie and I played through the whole demo having to verbally work things out to finish the level. We were successful and I feel that it will be a great title to play through in its entirety.

Well that concludes our experience with this years E3 conference. Check back often for updates and we will be back at E3 next year! Happy gaming!

When we first entered the main hall, we had been accosted by a couple storm troopers and then I thought, sweet! They have something here for “Star Wars The Force Unleashed 2.” And by golly, they sure did. A huge screen and banner displaying the newest trailer of the game. I wasn’t able to find anywhere that had actual gameplay, but the trailer was just enough to satisfy my hunger for now. The cut scene they showed was extremely crisp, clear, and had plenty of action. So all you non-trekkies hold on just a little bit longer, Star Wars will deliver soon!

I was kind of surprised at the size of the promotional booth for “Tron.” I remember the movie from when I was a kid and when I heard they were making a game I didn’t think twice about it. But after seeing it and playing the game. It is a must have! I was so glued to it that when the trial ended, I looked at the people behind me with those sad puppy dog eyes wanting to play some more. Not to mention the cool new controllers I assume they will be releasing with the game. They have built in LED’s to appear as though they are right out of the movie!

This concludes Part 2 of WiredZombie’s walkthrough of E3 2010!

Continue to Part 3