The first gears was an amazing game… the single player experience was great, with enough variety and story elements to satisfy almost anyone. Yeah, it was short, but it was very sweet, like a rich dessert. Epic also nailed how a co-op experience should be… jump right in to your buddy’s game anytime and help them through a level, then jump out if you need to, all without anybody skipping a beat. No story elements are cut out, nothing is skipped. Perfect.

But as for the multiplayer… things are not so lovely in this department. The multiplayer aspect of Gears of War is completely at odds with itself. On one hand, you have brilliantly designed levels, that were clearly play-tested and thoughtfully laid out. The graphics are perfect, the weapons awesome, and the balance is dead on. But for some reason, once Epic got all that right, they just shipped the game, and didn’t bother adding any hosting functionality or other game types and modes. Upon the game’s release, as a host, you could create a room, choose a map and one of just a few game modes (which were all basically the same mode, with little real variance), and that was basically it. Oh you want to change maps? Sorry, tear down the room and re-create it, then re-invite everybody (if you can remember all 7 gamertags). Epic, you retards. As far as maps, my choices are:  a) Play 1 map over and over the entire time, or b) Rotate through ALL the maps. Just want to play 2 maps over and over? SORRY, CAN’T DO IT. WTF???? Seriously,… did Epic just host the multiplayer a couple times and decide that it was an optimal experience? “Change maps? NAWWWW… leave that out, they won’t need to change maps…”

Well, I doubt Epic ever said that during their play-testing, but the explicit lack of options is puzzling for a game of this significance. Early on, Epic did state that the multiplayer was going to become better over time. In a few interviews, the heads of Epic and GOW mentioned a lot of functionality coming down the pipe in the form of free downloadable content. Epic did make good on this in part, by adding a couple of new maps, and the territories game mode type, but the hosting options are still woefully limited. And only 8 players? Come on…the engine looks like it can handle more than that, but maybe the network code can’t (and by the lag that this game occasionally suffers in multiplayer, this is likely the problem). So with these gripes, here is what we need to see in GOW 2:

1.       16 Players minimum in multiplayer, and 4 player co-op

If Epic really wants to play hero here, they should just go for the gusto and be the first Xbox 360 game to have 50 player multiplayer support, and give Gears of War a real large-scale invasion-of-Earth type of multiplayer battle system.  Give Microsoft a chunk of cash to host the servers, and get it done. But to be realistic, 16 players are enough for the type of game that GOW currently is. 4 Player co-op would be an logical step too. Especially since it was clear the single player game in the original GOW was designed around 4 players, but for whatever reason, they opted for 2. Still cool, but not enough these days. Fix that network code, and get it done.

2.       PUT IN SOME HOSTING OPTIONS, AND ADAPT A PARTY SYSTEM, THANKS

Honestly, if I want to change the map, game mode, time limits, etc., don’t make me kick out everybody and re-invite. That’s just lame. If I want to play a specific rotation of maps and game modes, LET ME. Halo 3 is the model for how multiplayer should work, follow it, copy it, do whatever you want. There is no shame in duplicating perfection. So just do it. The party system has proven above and beyond to be the greatest way to play with your friends, so adapt it! Support for clans is also necessary at this point, so don’t forget that either.

3.       Add more game modes. No, seriously.

There is a reason why COD4 constantly contends with and (as of lately) displaces Halo 3 as the #1 played game over Xbox Live: IT HAS A CRAPLOAD OF GAME MODES.   It’s hard to get bored of a game that has more than 3 game modes. Hell even just another one or two modes that actually have RESPAWNING would be nice. I don’t expect something as ambitious as the Halo Forge system, but I do expect enough built-in modes and maps to keep things interesting for at least a good couple of years. Imagine playing Attack and Defend, or oddball-type variants in Gears of War! It would be badass! Again, there is no shame in copying winning formulas. The core strength of a multiplayer game lies in its look, feel, and style. Gears of War already has this in spades, and is different than any other FPS out there (or 3^rdPS, or whatever you want to call it). Game modes and hosting options are the gravy that gives the core longevity. So Epic, if you are listening, MORE GRAVY PLEASE.

4.       The grenade system needs some work

I kind of like being able to see exactly how my grenades are going to arc through the air, and bounce off the wall when it gets to where it is going, but in practice this is pretty lame. I think a more natural grenade system is needed to actually make them useful in battle. Yes, the grenade sticking is perfect, but you hardly ever see anybody throwing non-smoke grenades as their original use is intended. Why? Because it is slow, clunky, and the grenades don’t do much damage to make fumbling with that giant stupid arc outline on your screen really worth it. Make throwing grenades work more organically, and maybe people will actually throw them from time to time. If you want to keep the arc in, make the arc come up only when you are in the COVER SYSTEM behind a wall or what have you. That way it doesn’t hinder you as you try to throw a nade while running.

5.       Differentiate between the Gears and the Locusts

You know what the difference is between playing as the Locusts or the Gears in multiplayer? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Oh wait, there are different voices, and one side has noticeably worse acne than the other, but that’s about it. Epic, at a minimum, please change up the weapons a little bit for each side.   Maintain the balance, but put in at least a little variance and benefit/consequence in playing one side vs. the other. Maybe make the Locusts a little stronger, and give the Gears a slight weapon advantage? If you can’t do this and maintain the balance, then forget it, but it would be nice if there was a different gameplay experience to be had depending on which side (or even just the character) you pick.

6.       Minimize the public exposure of ‘Cliffy B’, and other stupid promotional BS