Gears 2 Multiplayer Needs Fixing

22 Comments

You probably know that Gears of War 2 was released last Friday. It's kind of a big deal.

You've probably played enough over the weekend to have formed your first solid opinions on what you think of the game thus far. Certainly, it seems the internet has spoken.

The campaign mode is loved by all, who have said it is truly brilliant. It's the multiplayer side of the package that's left some players disappointed. What are they moaning about? What's gone wrong? Why have Epic's forums been descended upon by hordes of foul-mouthed kids who just can't believe some of the changes? Let's have a look...

Advertisement:

Matchmaking needs fixed

The matchmaking in Gears of War 2 has come in for a tongue-lashing, with the time it takes to find a match the biggest problem. Players have been reporting anything from 10 minutes to an hour waiting for their party to connect to a game, with some also reporting random disconnects.

It's likely to be the type of complaint that settles down with time, as the servers are presumably creaking under the stress of the new players rushing to the multiplayer modes. Even so, it's a complaint that needs addressing.

Shotgun are not powerful enough

No doubt some of you will think that this is karma, after the shotgun fest that was the original Gears of War. Shotguns were far too powerful in the original outing but now, it seems, the shoe is on the other foot.

In an attempt to encourage teamwork and stop Gears feeling like four solo players on one team, the shotgun has been weakened. It's still a useful weapon but it now has specific uses rather than the one-size-fits-all punch of old that saw players immediately switching to it. The argument is that hip firing has been weakened too much, and compounding the problem of the weaker shotgun is...

Chainsaw are too powerful

We originally suspected the chainsaw would have been downplayed by the fact you're now vulnerable when in a chainsaw battle or while chainsawing someone. Anyone in the vicinity with working ears and a weapon to hand would be drawn to the noise and find a relatively easy kill waiting. All signs pointed to the chainsaw being weakened.

Not so. The biggest change made to the multiplayer is that those revving chainsaws are no longer stunned by close range shotgun blasts, leaving a sustained volley of Lancer fire to down them with a chainsaw battle the back-up plan.

The scissors, paper, stone system was somewhat flawed in Gears 1 because the shotgun beat almost everything, bar long-range weapons (which could be avoided fairly easily). In attempting to redress the balance, it seems Epic has overcompensated - now the chainsaw beats almost everything, bar long-range weapons. This has led to matches turning into 'chainsaw charging'.

Other Complaints

Smoke grenades are too powerful

The main complaint here is that the default grenade either shouldn't stun (which pretty much guarantees kills in certain situations) or should lose its ability to be stuck into walls (which serves as a stun mine of sorts).

Mortar/boom shot too powerful

Depending on who you talk to, the fire 'n hope approach of the mortar and increased ammo count of the boom shot make them easily spammable weapons.

Pavilion disguises frag grenades

Though frag grenades suck into the wall can be easy to see, some players are having trouble spotting them on the Pavilion map, as the matching background colour means the grenades tend to blend in easily.

Ryan King