**** SPOILER ALERT! ****

　　Hotly anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive shooter Gears of War 2 is teetering on the verge of retail release, and our minds are now well and truly made up about the experience. All that remains now is for players to eagerly grab their copies and begin to explore Jacinto's underground Locust sugar caves. What can you expect to find down there you ask? We've worked our way through the single-player game and put together a cheat sheet of the new weapons you'll come across in your travels, and the best way to use them against the enemies in your way.

　　There's a fair smattering of new kit here to play with in Gears 2, but that's not to say that weapons from the first game are old hat. In addition to return appearances by the Lancer assault rifle, Boomshot, Torque Bow and others from the first game, some weapons like the Gnasher shotgun have been reworked to help balance weapons in online play. The development team have also added several completely new weapons that have been built from the ground up. One thing is clear though, regardless of whether you've seen them before or not, a lot of play balance has gone into ensuring that the more powerful weapons come with an associated handicap such as a mobility penalty.

　　Gorgon Burst Pistol:

　　Though it's called a pistol, this rapid fire weapon is less single-shot handgun and more compact burst machinegun. Think Uzi, but halfway between a semi and a full auto weapon, and capable of firing in four shot bursts from a 20 round clip. The Gorgon Burst Pistol is most effective when used to double-tap shots to the upper torso or head at close range and works best against enemies with light armour. Reloading is quite slow, so you'll want to pass on "spray and pray" tactics and opt for something a little more precise when dispensing shots. If you've got steady hands on the analog stick, this weapon can be used with good results against Locust grunts and Tickers, but you'll want to go with something heavier for battling the tougher beasties.

　　Boomshield:

　　Not technically a weapon, the Boomshield is a handheld guard carried by some of the tougher foes you'll come across in Gears 2. Once you've picked it up off the corpses of your slain adversaries it can be used to provide you with mobile cover. Useful when you're stuck out in open ground and there's not a lot of crumbling debris to hide behind, you can use it to deflect incoming bullets on the move. If you're really pinned down you can also plant it as a source of temporary cover when things get really hairy. Again there's a tradeoff with its use, and in this case it's that you're only able to fire a sidearm while you have the Boomshield equipped. Since it doesn't occupy a weapon slot you won't be forced to drop anything to pick it up, and once you discard it you're able to go back to firing your primary weapons. We found it most lethal when paired with the Gorgon Burst Pistol for quick damage before ducking back behind for safety.

　　Mortar:

　　One of the most devastating weapons in the Gears 2 arsenal is the Mortar; a ranged weapon capable of chewing up packs of enemies with a single shot. Once placed on the ground by holding the left trigger you'll be able to aim at the thing you want to die using a vertical oblong shaped reticle. Since you'll be firing into the air and not directly at a target you'll need to assess the distance (and oncoming speed) of your target to successfully hit them. On its way back to earth the shell splits into multiple cluster bombs and rains down fiery death over a large area. Holding the right trigger builds up the distance of your shot, and though you'll need to fire a few shots to get the hang of it, once mastered it becomes particularly lethal against heavily armoured, slow moving targets and groups of Locust.

　　Mulcher:

　　Capable of shredding even the biggest, nastiest enemies into bite sized chunks, the Mulcher is a Gatling gun with no shortage of stopping power. This weapon can be fired either from the hip or planted to provide increased accuracy. It takes a couple of seconds to warm up and begin spitting out bullets, but once it does the high rate of fire means you'll chew through up to 500 rounds quite quickly. The weapon is also prone to overheating after sustained periods of fire, making it most useful in short controlled bursts. If you do have to go all out and mow through groups of enemies and find it's getting too hot, waiting a few seconds or quickly pressing the right bumper button on the controller helps speed up the cooling process.

　　Ink grenade:

　　This new grenade type is just one more method of dispatch in your already expansive arsenal of weapons. Thrown the same way that you would a frag grenade (by holding the left trigger to bring up the on-screen projectile path and then the right trigger to adjust throw power) this grenade has a slight twist. Once it detonates it releases a thick plume of smoke inhibiting vision and will continue to deal damage to those who are near the point of impact. Useful primarily as a way of flushing out a target that is bunkered down behind cover, this weapon can also be attached to structures or enemies as a makeshift proximity mine by pressing the B button when within melee range of them.

　　Scorcher flamethrower:

　　You won't come across this new weapon until about the second act of the single-player campaign, but once you do you'll probably want to keep it handy. Best for taking out tightly huddling groups of swarming enemies like Wretches, the Scorcher is excellent when fired in short puffs of fuel. The downside of this burning method is that though some enemies may catch alight and appear to go down, they're not necessarily dead. As a result of this they sometimes require another blast to finish them off. Its short flame means the Scorcher is good at short range, and by successfully triggering a sweet spot reload you'll get a little extra distance to your attacks. Just don't expect to be sniping players from across the map with this badboy.

　　New weapons are all well and good, but to make things really interesting you'll want to fire them at some new targets. Gears of War 2 will introduce you to some new rivals as you make your way through its story. Check out the list below for info on what they are, and the best way to take them out.

　　Rockworms:

　　Rockworms aren't strictly enemies since for the most part they won't attack you or your squad, but we'll lump them in here for the sake of convenience. Because they're covered in a thick outer shell which makes them impenetrable to damage from gunfire, Rockworms make perfect organic shields during fire fights. Found in the Locust underground they feed on subterranean berries which hang from cave ceilings. Shooting the berries gives these big grubs a chance to eat and gives you an extra cover mechanic in the mix.

　　Kantus:

　　These Locust cultists use the power of monotonous chanting to whip the Rockworms into a frenzy. Dressed in dark priestly garb, their primary attack is firing shots using the Gorgon Burst Pistol. They're also quite adept with an Ink grenade and once defeated are the primary sources for stocking up on ammo for both weapons. Kantus also have the ability to resurrect dead Locust, making them number one on your priority list when you're taking out groups of enemies to avoid having to re-kill the same targets over again.

　　Brumak:

　　Gears of War 2 will give console gamers their first chance to battle the huge lumbering alien gunship that is the Brumak. Though it made an appearance in the PC port of the first game, this time around Xbox gamers will finally be able to go toe-to-toe with them. Covered in armour and heavy weapons you're going to want to bring something more powerful than a pistol to this machinegun fight if you want to take them out. Troika mounted turrets and mortar showers combined with careful aiming are incredibly effective, but if you're in a pinch you can always take out their shoulder-mounted weapons and fire rounds into their face until they drop.

　　Palace Guards/Bloodmounts:

　　These two units are a mix of old and new. Palace Guards are Gears 2's version of the Theron Guard from the first game and are more powerful than your run-of-the-mill Locust horde. Bloodmounts are large beast enemies used as impromptu vehicles by Palace Guards to get around quickly. Bloodmounts are more than capable of holding their own in a fight with their razor sharp claws, so taking out their passengers at range before finishing them off is a decent strategy. Heavy weapons such as the Mulcher, frag grenades, or a few well placed Longshot rounds work here.

　　Tickers:

　　You'll meet these nasty little critters during the first act, and they're walking bombs with their sights set firmly on blowing you and your team up. Designed for damaging vehicles they also feel perfectly at home hiding in abandoned buildings and dark corridors and waiting for you. Though they have very little armour and die quickly, letting them get close to you is a sure way to get yourself killed. Setting Tickers alight with the Scorcher flamethrower, grazing them with Lancer fire, or giving them the full barrel of your Gnasher will sort them out quickly, but maintaining distance is paramount to survival. If you do find one inside your comfort zone then a well-timed melee strike with your weapon will disable them long enough to safely roll away before they explode.