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  • $59.99
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Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360)

common sense media says

Gory yet well-done shooter meant for adults only.


parents & educators say
  • 48% say violence is an issue
  • 38% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a bloody, violent shooter. Players use a standard array of weapons from assault rifles to shotguns and grenades. Bodies are blown to bits, with flesh flying across the screen. On head shots, you'll sometimes see heads blown apart. Melee kills are particularly brutal. One rifle includes a chainsaw bayonet players can use to rip bodies to shreds, while blood splatters on the screen. This is definitely a game meant for players 18 and older. The game is also playable online.

Educational value: Not applicable.
Positive messages: You assume the role of a futuristic soldier who fights horrible alien creatures using all sorts of weapons.
Violence: The game is both brutal and gory. Players use assault rifles, flamethrowers, and other weapons to kill enemies. Often, opponents' heads and/or bodies are blown to bits, with chunks of flesh flying through the landscape. Blood will splatter onto walls as well as on the television screen. The more brutal attacks occur through melee strike. Players can use a chainsaw attached to one rifle to hack enemies apart. There is also an array of execution moves ranging from curb stomps to smashing heads with the butt of your gun.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: The f-word and s--t are used regularly. You may also encounter additional cursing when playing the game online.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Gears of War 2

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the intense, gory violence of the game. Do you think that it's necessary to make the game an enjoyable experience?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Space marine Marcus Fenix is back in the highly-anticipated sequel GEARS OF WAR 2, a gory yet gratifying action shooter. The Xbox 360's latest superstar picks up where the original Gears of War left off: with an explosion that seemingly eradicated the evil alien race known as the Locust. Instead, the Locust have gone underground, rebuilding their forces and growing stronger. Their latest scheme involves sinking cities in the land of Sera, and it's up to Fenix and his Delta Squad to thwart their efforts.

For those new to the franchise, this is an action shooter where cover plays a critical role. Players must strategically pop in and out of cover as they mow down enemy Locusts. Leaving yourself in the open often results in defeat, as enemies prove to be relentless. Players have a bevy of weapons to choose from, including an assault rifle with chainsaw attached, shotguns, sniper rifles and flamethrowers. The entrenched firefights are very bloody, and often result in bodies being blown to bits. Players can opt to move the action online by participating in the game's myriad of multiplayer modes.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Instead of drastically altering the mechanics, developer use Gears of War 2 to make smart refinements. Players now use human shields, allowing them to move more freely while holding a wounded enemy in front of them as cover. Players can also carry out new execution moves near opponents. They vary from curb stomping an enemy to slamming an enemy's head with the butt of your gun. Overall, the game exhibits a high level of polish. Landscapes are vast, with intricate details along mountain facades and other objects.

The battles are as intense as ever. Locusts range in all sizes, from speedy Tickers to Brumaks the size of buildings. New weapons freshen up the combat and are satisfying to use, especially the flamethrower and Mulcher, a powerful machine gun. Multiplayer mode has been tweaked as well. Players can now be matched based on skill, and can group with friends. The online highlight, however, is Horde Mode. Players can join four others online to fight off endless waves of Locust. As you defeat one wave, another appears that's bigger and tougher. It serves as a fantastic extension of the game's co-operative component.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Xbox 360
Not available online
Genre: Third-person shooter
Developer: Microsoft
Released on: November 6, 2008
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

This review was written by Brett Molina
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 40 parent & educator reviews:
  • 48% say violence is an issue
  • 38% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

m00kyst
adult
 
The content isn't as bad as you might think.....
The game is undeniably violent, however I first played the game when I was 13 and I had no problem handling it or didn't become violent myself or aggressive whilst playing it. I think a lot of people under estimate kids and really need to realise that unless your child is exceptionally more aggressive normally, games (way within reason) should be fine for them. Give them a decent amount of time to play it and don't let them go on it for hours on end and it should be fine. The game itself is very violent, with lots of shooting and even a weapon with a chainsaw attachment that can be used for cutting enemies in half. However take into consideration that you are killing (and chainsawing) evil alien monsters NOT people. Kids know the difference between a monster and a human and I definitely think that the chainsaw feature isn't that bad because like I said, there are no HUMAN enemies. The language is moderate. It does contain a few f-bombs but very few and on top of that guess what, you can go into the options and turn OFF the language and turn OFF the gore! Not so bad after all eh?! It doesn't have many f-words in though, however when you get to my age you hardly notice the language. My friends use worse language in this game so i'm generally used to it. The game is a fantastic one, and I highly recommend it. Remember, all you parents, you've got that language and gore on/off feature so you can turn it all off if you wish. Happy gaming. Peace.

gamerboy296
kid, 11 years old
 
9+
ok im 11 i play it and its realy violant and gory but u can turn all the gore and the curses.if u ask me story line is great

ilikegears2
teen, 13 years old
 
perfect for kids 13 and up,not for 12 and down
i think the game is great i am sure this game is appropriate for teens i am a fan and even though its has the f and s word you turn the strong langauge and gore off to make it easier to play .

 
Very impressive game
This game is amazing. if the gore is a problem, you can turn it off in options. The main character, Marcus, treats his comrads Carmine, Dom, and Tai like brothers. Marcus is a very respectable man who could be looked up too.

RealDealx
teen, 14 years old
 
AWESOME GAME!! however very violent in parts.. it is better then the 1st however the gore is worse..

Dan the man20000
teen, 16 years old
 
Great game.
If the violence is to bad. Turn the gore off. This game is very impressive. Great graphics. A good role model, who only fights for peace and family. And another, who treats his comrades like family. If WW3 does happen... These brave men is who you should look to.

SSMidnight
kid, 13 years old
 
Very gory.
This game is kind of like the first one gore and language wise. There is a filter to take out the gore and language like the first one.

Rigbyboy
kid, 10 years old
 
GORY!
LOVE it the same as 1!

GameDude17
kid, 11 years old
 
Adults!
Gears of war 2 isn't as good as the first only because Epic Games over did it. When I say over did it I mean that it is way to violent! This game is one of the first games I have found to be brutal. Super Super gory, disturbing, along with tons of swear words such as: the F word, and sh*t. The story is okay, but Gears of War 2 is not even as close to as good as the first game.

imm
parent
 
Not so bad as you think
For all you parents that wont let your kids to play this game, -BLAM- i have a 7 yr old son and a 3 year old daughter that loves to watch him play, my son is probably the most fright tend kid in the world, but he doesn't get scared of this game, iv'e played it with him a few times and he just went nuts when he chainsawed that locust thing or whatever but i was a bit concerned about the guts and limbs and heads and torsos so, i just turned off the blood which was easy. worth the money,a bit Gorey but easy solution, various guns and moves...Bye

PantsOffDanceOff
teen, 15 years old
 
FAMiLY FUN :D
OMG THiS GAME iS COOL CHAiNSAW plus MACHiNE GUN EQUALS BEST THING ON EARTH

Maccboy1
teen, 15 years old
 
I have only played this game several times and have loved it. I do feel that its unfair that it's called to bloody and has language. Yes, there is a lot of that, but unlike other M games you have the option to turn all of it off. Wether it be with the counsoles family settings or your conscience it can be removed.

 
elitzur i played the game lol he couldnt take her to the doctors and the game isnt a athiest game,it is very very gory made me want to throw up.Good for 16 or up

hma400
adult
 
Great game
it is amazing. i love it. the best graffics. And you can turn everything thats bad (blood,dialogue) in the options menu

madelineshadowrose
teen, 13 years old
 
turn off gore and swearing before your kids begin.
My dad plays this game in front of me. Based on there review you'd expect an x-rated game, its not when my younger brother,age 10, wanted to play my dad went to the menu and turned of the strong swear words and gore. making it fine.

 
An amazing Islam-Friendly game
This game was quite a good game. Instead of killing people, like in a lot of other games, you kill huge monsters and aliens. Now, the reason the ESRB rated it "M" was because it has a lot of blood, sometimes the alien's arm will fall off when shot too much, and there is a little bit of language. But all these things can be turned off in the menu, so no more chainsaw, bad words or blood! Also, in most games, the Muslims are either the bad guys, or not the good guys. But in the Gears of War series, your character likes Islam and later converts. He says things like "For God", or "We fight only in the way of God." You even get to save Mosques from being destroyed. But it's not racist. When a character in the game asks you to come back to Christianity, your character says "To you your religion, and to me mine." Overall, this was a great 3rd person game, with not much violence with the settings, and Islam friendly.

DeltaJ
adult
 
M is for Mature.
I'm not a parent, just an Uncle who wants his nephew to not be exposed to things he shouldn't be exposed to including these games. It's a game strictly for adults. Parents(or Uncles and Aunts like myself) respect the ratings M is for mature.

lazer berriez
kid, 12 years old
 
The Filters
The game is super bloody and gory and the swear not as much as you might think.When you put the filter on for swearing you hear radio static.And when you filter the blood and gore either nothing comes out of the bodie or sparks fly with the chainsaw.

m games
kid, 11 years old
 
very very very bloddy and gory

akido
teen, 15 years old
 
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ANY KID
I love it, but it is in no way appropriate for me or anyone near my age (14). When walking into a laser like fence or being hit close with a shotgun, you basically explode. No like fireworks, but your blood and guts fly across the vicinity of your death. Your bloody limbs are then lying on the ground waiting for people to walk on. You can also chainsaw peoples chests open and have their blood and guts appear all over the screen. The story mode has tons of nasty suppress. A main character casually shoots his head clean off for no apparent reason, and husband shoots his crazy wife etc. There is also a ton of swear words not appropriate for kids to listen too that frequently. When you "down" and opponent, you walk over to them as they lay dying on the ground waiting for a team mate to save them or die from their wound. You step on their faces half of the time, and other beat them with your gun. Over all not for kids at all.

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age