There is sometimes a misconception that one of the key ingredients for an excellent gaming experience is innovation. On the contrary, a brilliantly-designed but unoriginal concept has much more value than an avant-garde idea that fails in practice.

Gears of War 2

Cliff Bleszinski ( née : ‘B') may have spent much of the year talking about how Gears of War 2 has problems with its bottom, but the only piles on display here are the ‘of setpieces' variety. Immensely loud and dumb the series remains, but when playing it is so much fun, who needs Proust

Honestly even though 2008 is not quite finished yet. I feel that This game lived up to all the hype and expectations. Graphics and gameplay is way better. GTA IV did the same but I felt that game's hype was over the top. Bring it on for more great games.

While Gears of War 2 bears significant improvements over the series' debut, it doesn't quite go the distance. The visuals are spectacular, the sound is awesome, the weapons and combat features are great and there's enough new stuff to keep both fans and newbies happy.

An epic; unforgettable experience; incredible atmosphere; one of the best shooters out there

Not quite there yet in terms of innovation; a few AI bugs and intermittently glitchy driving sequences

The original Gears of War was a blockbuster hit for Microsoft and Epic in more ways than one. It served as tech demo, showcasing some of the best graphics that the Xbox 360 and the Unreal Engine could muster.

Horde mode steals the show; Story delves into inner workings of Locust; Improved graphics showcase Xbox 360; Independently adjustable difficulty in co-op; Multiplayer party system is nicely done; AI plays a lot better this time around

Final boss battle is a joke

Gears of War 2 is one of the most intense and viscerally enjoyable and sensually appealing gaming experiences that you'll likely have this holiday season.

In 2006 Gears of War crashed into the gaming scene with a hiss and a roar, it was a monumental success and it performed better than most predicted it would, even surprising some fans.

The original Gears of War became an action genre classic thanks to its incredible graphics, cinematic presentation, and solid cover system. The sequel repeats this formula, and though it introduces new weapons, enemies, and environments, it remains an incredible yet familiar experience.

All-new; great-looking environments; New weapons; grenades; and melee attacks; Excellent new multiplayer modes; especially Horde; Drop-in co-op support with independent difficulty; Same exciting Gears action you know and love

Fiddly controls in vehicular sections; Too many unresolved plot strands

Let it be known that the Rockworm is our friend. Sure, he's large and unfriendly. And he's a family-sized centipede covered in stone cladding, so he's never going to be prime romance material.