First Gears 2 multiplayer details - CVG

CVG writes:

The first details for Gears of War 2's multiplayer mode have emerged and it all sounds bloody brilliant.

The sequel to one of the most-played Xbox Live games will up the player count from eight to ten, with five-on-five gameplay options. Nice.

New gameplay mode, Wingman, sees ten players face off in teams of two. And Epic has invented its own take on the typical CTF scenario with 'Meatflag', in which the flag is a (presumably CPU-controlled) character who runs around the centre of the map trying to defend himself, while teams attempt to shoot him down and drag him back to base as a 'meatshield' (like a hostage).

Assassination mode has been renamed Guardian, and changes to the gameplay see team members respawn endlessly until the team leader is killed. The game ends only when the leader is dead and then everyone else on the team is killed.

Two new maps are detailed: River and Security.

A new weapon, called the Medusa, is described as a "power weapon" that shoots six shells with each shot - so like a powerful shotgun, we imagine. Bullet Shields - carry-able metal shields to guard you from enemy fire - have also been added. These shields can apparently be stuck into the floor to create new fixed cover.

The executions on each weapon will vary. The Sniper Rifle can, according to NeoGAF's report from X360 magazine, be used as a club to beat opponents to death.

As well as grenade now being attachable to any surface - not just enemies - a new Poison Grenade emits a green gas that's fatal to anyone within close proximity.

And lastly, a new screenshot mode has been added for players who've been killed in game modes where they can't respawn. While they wait, players can fly around in a free-cam mode and take snaps of the action, which can then be uploaded to an online community source.