Delta Squad managed to launch a lightmass bomb deep into the Locust-filled underbelly of the planet Sera, firmly planting the belief that the human race had eradicated the alien oppressors once and for all. But the spine-tingling promise spoken by the Locust Queen, “We will never stop fighting,” continues to echo throughout the shattered city landscapes, resonating deeply with all of mankind. Six months after the events in the first Gears of War, Marcus Fenix and his band of COGs face a whole new nightmare. The Locusts not only survived the blast, but have now gathered in formidable numbers, preparing to launch a full-scale attack. It’s kill or be killed…all over again.

GDC 2008: Debut Teaser Trailer

They say every journey begins with a single step. the Gears franchise, however, does things a little differently. The first glimpse of the game came early last year at the Game Developer’s conference. Draped in a blood-red hue, the teaser begins with Fenix’s throaty voice relaying his thoughts, and the curling sound of the iconic chainsaw lancer assault rifle revving up for action. From here the debut teaser unveils some new gameplay elements, though at the time, many wondered if it was legit.

GDC 2008: Unreal Tech Demo Direct-Feed

It might not be the chainsaw dueling, meat shield toting, head exploding video you’d expect, but the tech demo of the updated Unreal Engine at 2008 was a harbinger of things to come. Better physics are demonstrated with meat cubes, destructible environments go boom, and so many Locust that it looks like a herd of caribou highlight this clip. It will be interesting to see how all these elements are integrated into the actual game.

Debut Gameplay Trailer

It took way too long before we finally saw gameplay from Gears of War 2 on GameTrailers TV. The two-toned chainsaw teaser was a bite-sized morsel in comparison. Heavily armored COG vehicles designed to penetrate the underground Locust hives play host to an action-filled confrontation. New weapons were shown for the first time, while meat shields and melee finishers made their debut as well. It’s all capped with a confrontation with a Brumak. The first taste tasted quite good.

E3 2008: Trailer

Fans already had a firm grasp on both the gameplay and look of Gears 2, but E3 still managed to wow everyone with a brand new trailer. Here we see a dramatic look at the harsh reality of war, and the human emotions associated with the associated carnage and death. This trailer reminded us of the ad campaign for the first Gears of War, with the exception of the ending, where Fenix takes a meat shield and charges into battle.

E3 2008: Microsoft Press Conference Walkthrough

In this clip, lead designer Cliff Bleszinski steals some of the spotlight during Microsoft’s E3 press conference to play through six minutes of Gears 2’s campaign. Working together with Dom, Fenix builds a makeshift bridge to pass over into the crumbling depths of the city. The flame thrower debuts for the first time with a perfect active reload promoting an increased range of fire. At the end, Fenix once again confronts a Brumak and questions his ability to take a Brumak into battle. We’re guessing that was a really strong hint, but you’ll have to watch and decide for yourself.

Developer Diary: Never Fight Alone

The developers at Epic certainly know how to keep their fans on the hook. These almost-weekly developer diaries offer a brief glimpse at the production of Gears 2, noting how the team turned their vision into a reality. This particular diary is our favorite, as it embraces multiplayer—one of the big reasons the first Gears was worth the cash. It’s all about psychological warfare and Horde mode, a co-op battle where you mow down ever-increasing waves of Locust.

Launch Trailer

Fifteen years after Emergence Day, humankind is on the brink of extinction, continuing to wage war against the alien scourge. Throwing subtlety out the window and tossing some of its cards on the table, Epic treats fans to large-scale battles, new outdoor environments, Brumaks crashing through doors, Reavers maneuvering though a dense forest, and the new venomous leader of the Locust. This is all you’re going to get until release, so watch it closely.

Gears of War 2 is only days away, so be sure to keep checking this page as the media will continue to flood in. We’ll have our full review ready to go before the game’s launch November 7, and then we’ll see you online.