One of the most difficult tasks that a developer can ever face is improving upon excellence. Often we are given wannabe follow up titles that aren't worth a patch in the pants of the original, or that feature only minute improvements, accompanied by a big shiny '2', '3' or, that old chestnut, the Limited Edition package. Two years ago, Epic Games released Gears of War, the Xbox 360's first true killer app. It single-handedly raised the stakes in every respect, with its astounding visuals, exhilarating gameplay, and excellent single player, co-op and multiplayer modes. It literally oozed love and style from every orifice - and hopes were therefore sky high for Gears of War 2. So, I couldn't be more delighted to report that this sequel absolutely delivers; so much so, in fact, that it had this humble reviewer's drooling jaw dangling just a few inches above his pasty white ankles.

In November of 2006, Emergence Day was upon us. Epic Games' Gears of War finally hit the shelves and melted expectations, as well as many a happy gamer's brain. It was the game of the year and it was the complete package, with a blockbuster single player mode and an incredibly deep multiplayer experience, both of which had the critics smiling in their sleep as they dreamt of the next day's conquests. It had everything; guns, gore, muscles, testosterone, and, of course, a cliffhanger ending. Many moons of anticipation later, we finally have the sequel: Gears of War 2 is here.

The story picks up where its predecessor left off; the light mass bomb failed to destroy the Locust horde, which has grown even more determined to conquer the surface of Sera. Thus, Marcus, Dom, Baird and Cole tool up and ship out once again to carve themselves a few monster carcasses - and when I say "monsters", I am of course referring to the large variety of Locust enemies. They still flood your flanks in a matter of seconds but this time they have the aid of more Boomers, armed with different weapons such as the Mulcher chain gun, as well as the ferocious Bloodmounts, which are probably the trickiest enemies to defeat due to their ability to travel at an alarming rate, mauling everything in their path. Imagine a cross between a bear and a dinosaur and you have the Bloodmounts - not exactly a detailed analysis but accurate all the same. Make no mistake: the campaign mode in Gears 2 is every bit as epic as the original - and then some.

The original Gears of War saw you making effective use of cover, which formed the foundation of the core gameplay. Of course, this isn't an original concept, but it is certainly better developed than any other title that has utilised it. All you need to know is the four golden rules: run, hide, shoot and scarper. Luckily, this is made child's play through the innovative feature of the one button control. The 'roadie run', a kind of crouched charge, is activated by holding down the A button, and those who played the original will remember the dramatic impact of the shaking camera and altered camera angle that turns something as laboured as running into a heart pounding action sequence. Tapping A plants your back to anything that can be used for cover and from there you can jump over walls or roll between doorways, as well as leaning up to take pot shots at the horde of uglies or just laying down suppressing fire without exposing your head. All of the brilliance of the original's vivid and adrenaline-fuelled foundation has been retained and enhanced for Gears 2 - and the same goes for its gore factor. Gears of War gained a well deserved mature rating and Gears 2's is even more vital, due to the sickeningly satisfying, skull busting finishing moves. Riddle your foes with bullets and watch them bleed or you can do the humane thing and put the poor guys out of their misery. How? Well, you can flip them over and plant your boot in their face, or simply give them a ruddy good bashing with your gun - all in the name of mercy, of course. Many didn't think it was possible, but Epic has nailed it even more this time around. Granted, the whole ordeal is eerily similar to the original, but it's bigger, better, bloodier and uglier than ever before - we love it and you will too. Oh, did I mention five-player co-op yet? Or did I save it until now for maximum impact?

Yes indeed, capitalising upon the original's remarkable co-op mode, Gears 2 offers the chance for five people to team up and take the fight to the Locust. Just like any other game, Gears 2 is that much sweeter with a squad of buddies in tow! The campaign fails to provide much of a challenge in single player on the lower difficulties (as you would expect), so you can imagine how easy it can be with up to five players; however, if you fancy a pinch of suicide then crank it all the way up to Insane, which is actually hard this time. The fact remains though that while Gears of War 2 is as good as a shooter can get, it is still a shooter, so you shouldn't expect much deviation from the norm; Marcus and co. show up at a new area, kill everything in sight, then move on to the next area for some reason or other. However, what makes Gears 2 so special is its infinite ability to drop your jaw.

A nice little feature gives you the ability to focus in on various positions when prompted by using the Y button. It's a simple addition but oh so effective, thrusting an enhanced sense of anxiety upon you. For example, midway through the game, Marcus and chums are commissioned to explore a giant sinkhole. The sight almost had us looking over our shoulders in a clammy sweat, making sure that there were no hazards behind us. Huge buildings were hanging around the perimeter of the massive opening, decorating it in ribbons of concrete and burning carcasses. Making our way along the path ahead, slowly - cautiously - beneath the tonnes of concrete held together by mere threads, there's a sudden crash. The Y button flares on our screens and we push it, just in time to see a giant building crumbling into the sinkhole and crashing down below, shaking our screens without mercy! We compose ourselves and continue. This is just a mere taster of what the amazing set pieces created by Epic Games are like - an aptly named company, wouldn't you say? The core formula of killing and progressing is as you'd expect, but it's brought to life by the sheer scale of the action. No one could have anticipated what Epic had in store for us; you will find yourself battling in derelict hospitals and across ravaged city streets, flying through the air and even exploring within the belly of a colossal worm. Prepare to be blown away time and time again throughout the campaign mode, whether alone or with friends.

The plot has been considerably fleshed out this time around; the characters are given more purpose and emotion, while the mysteries behind locust activity are somewhat clarified through more detailed specification on their underground hideout, as well as the revelation of new troop types such as the priest-like Kantus and Skorge, the Locust Queen's, chainsaw-staff wielding maniac bodyguard. The original nasties are still here and they're considerably fiercer than before, serving to really keep you on your toes. Also, it appears that within the past two years of living underground, the Locust have finally mastered the ability of keeping their heads down when you're aiming a sniper rifle at them. The new enemies are great but it's still every bit as fun fighting the more familiar ones. The way in which larger foes such as Boomers cause a necessary alteration to your tactics is testament to the effective enemy AI and really establishes a sense of exhilaration; there are plenty of those "Plan B" moments that make the experience so memorable. The Boomers vary from the close combat Butchers (Boomers armed with machetes) and Maulers (Boomers wielding huge maces) to the heavily armed flamethrower variants and, of course, Boomshot-toting Boomers. The Locust drones are still the primary enemies in each ambush and they also vary from grunts and grenadiers to snipers and Theron Guards (the Torque Bow elite troops). Boomers and Bloodmounts usually serve as the heavy support, while the airborne Reavers rain death from the gloomy skies. It's a scary thought, I know, but it's undeniably great fun to plough your way through each and every one of them.

Despite the brilliance of the campaign, there's still room for further improvement in the surely inevitable Gears 3. The intensity rises higher and higher with each act, but the story ends just a little prematurely (about five or six hours, tops), much like its predecessor. It still feels a bit clichéd as well, especially when it comes to the characters; you still have the ridiculously butch protagonist, complete with grisly scar, as well as the stereotypical African American, muscle-bound, football playing comic relief, but now there's a Cherokee Indian and a Deep South hick thrown in for good measure. Not exactly an original touch, but thankfully you don't see much of them.

If Gears 2 was to be described in three words, they would be 'attention to detail'. Although other words such as 'head meltingly awesome', 'Oww! My brain!' or even, 'really, really amazing' work just as well, 'attention to detail' is what I'm going with. The developers have nurtured this game like a child, and they have raised it accordingly. It was given all the required nutrients and attention to grow bigger, stronger and smarter, resulting in a creation that's simple in concept but perfect in its execution. The old features are as enjoyable as ever, and the new features, such as the chainsaw duels, not only make the gameplay more balanced, but also more exciting, balanced and gloriously gory. There are no really dramatic changes in this department, however; it feels just like its older brother, with a few gameplay surprises that I won't spoil, but it's a more fluid and refined experience, a kind of purification, if you will.

Without wanting to exaggerate, Gears 2 is arguably the most visually astounding game in known existence, and definitely the prettiest release to grace the Xbox 360 so far. In fact, Gears of War 2 could possibly be the peak of the console's technical capabilities; it's conceivable that its graphics will be bettered, but such an achievement would be worth at least ten thousand gamer points. By modern standards, the original Gears of War still looks pretty good, but Gears 2 is just something else. This is what High Def was made for. The character models have dramatically improved, with more emotion, more scars and more… stubble. Additionally, the quality of the scenery has raised to a point that wasn't thought possible - until now. It's official: Gears 2 is now the number one contributor of cornea erosion.

Cliff Bleszinski's notoriously high standards were vital to Gears 2's success. The original Gears was a showcase of innovative sound effects; for example, it wasn't enough that the chainsaw sounded like a chainsaw - it had to sound like a brutal, hungry and rust-riddled mutant hybrid of Hades, and it certainly did. Fortunately, it's back in all its original glory, while there are considerable changes in sound effects for the other weapons. It's fair to say however that they have been merely enhanced and refined, to entertain even more, in every possible way. Don't worry; the headshot still sound like smiles and the curb stomps like rainbows! Even better, as with the first game, Gears of War 2 boasts a frantic and truly awe inspiring soundtrack whose heart-pounding orchestrations pulsate through your speakers and gel the action together with a brutal elegance. Gears 2 is a welcome assault on all the senses.

Playing through Gears of War 2 is an experience that no one can afford to miss, but let's not forget the real reason that the franchise is so famous and successful. After beating the campaign mode, it was time to get stuck into the multiplayer. Unfortunately, Xbox Live hasn't been too stable lately due to the NXE patch on the horizon, so the matchmaking in Gears 2 is currently a bit slow but absolutely worth the wait. Epic has decided to include bots in the multiplayer this time around, which work surprisingly well, especially for the eight or nine people who haven't bothered connecting to Xbox Live yet. When the service finally manages to connect you with nine other players, you are treated to the most enjoyable multiplayer experience of recent memory. Two teams of five players slug it out across a wealth of game types, including the traditional Warzone, Execution and a modified version of Assassination known as Guardian.

The objective of each mode is largely based around destroying the other team but with various twists to the action, depending upon the game type. Warzone is the standard deathmatch, while in Execution the enemy players must be executed in a certain order in order to be eliminated altogether. This is where it's time to embarrass the competition, as there are a lot more ways to execute your enemies this time around, thanks to unique finishing moves for each weapon - or you can just use them as a lovely meat shield. You really are spoilt for choice! Guardian, however, shines through the rest as the gem of the multiplayer mode. Each team has a leader and they can respawn an infinite number of times - but once your leader bites the dust, the next time you go down, you stay down. These matches can go on forever and it just goes to show that Epic has been listening to the public who don't want to be waiting on the sidelines for the next round to begin - it's a hectic battle until a leader falls, at which point victory quickly follows.

Other game types include the return of King of the Hill, the frantic Annex, Gears' take on Domination where you battle to capture and hold key positions, and Meatflag, Epic's grisly take on Capture the Flag, with a living person as the flag, who shoots anyone who approaches and who you must take hostage and drag back to your base. Wingman is probably the most interesting though, where four teams of two are unleashed upon the map to watch each other's back whilst simultaneously slaughtering everyone else. Finally, we have the Horde mode, where a lone commando can take on up to fifty waves of enemy AI in the map of your choice. However, this mode really comes to life with other people at your side. Unlike the campaign, the seemingly endless onslaught of Locust is an actual challenge for all players; as the waves progress you find yourself faced with increasingly tough enemies and thus cooperation is vital for survival. Weapons and features initially taken for granted become crucial as the temperature rises; for example, an effectively coordinated shot from the smile-inducing Mortar can obliterate even the toughest enemies by the handful - it's a tricky weapon to master, but it pays off.

It really is difficult to criticise the multiplayer in Gears 2; Epic has answered the public's demand on every level and, to be quite honest, I was quite taken aback by this onslaught of dashing new features. The matchmaking feature is welcome in the sense that it largely resolves the problem of playing against someone who considers Gears 2 a temporary professional occupation but it also means that you can't get into the action quite as fast as your twitching thumbs would like.

A host of new maps have been developed, along with the welcome return of Gridlock, Canals, Mansion, Subway and Tyro Station via download. The plethora of new maps retains all the hallmarks of quality of the original, being beautifully balanced for both sides regarding weapon placement, cover, and so on. These are all the little things that we take for granted when playing a quality online game such as Gears of War 2, yet subconsciously end up knowing without realising. For example, the Avalanche map is perfection; if you want to risk it for a biscuit, or rather an explosive, the grenades spawn in the middle of the map, while the Mortar (which adds a whole new element to online play) is located up the stairs to one side of the level. The ability to tag the walls with your grenades also introduces a new defence technique, as well as another method of general sneakiness - and every so often, an avalanche of snow crashes across the level, wiping out everyone caught in its path. I've played the multiplayer for hours on end but I still know that I've barely picked the scab off of all that it has to offer. Kiss your spare time goodbye.

Just in case I haven’t been absolutely clear about this, you need to get Gears of War 2. Now. If you don’t own an Xbox 360 then get one. If you’re low on cash then get a job. Gears of War 2 has a lot to compete with this year – LittleBigPlanet, Fallout 3 and Call of Duty: World at War, among many others, yet it has nothing to worry about. Gears 2 is the Game of the Year. Fact. Not only that, but it’s also one of the finest titles of this generation so far, taking into account the entire package. If you don’t have an Xbox Live account yet then this will be the very game that convinces you to get online. Epic Games, we salute you, for you have melted our brains yet again.

Reviewed by Joe Mulhern for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).