Epic Studios announced that sales of Gears of War 2 have now topped 5 million copies, bringing the total number of units sold in the franchise to an impressive 11 million. To celebrate this fact, they’re releasing the All Fronts Collection, a compilation retail box containing all of the previous map packs (Flashback, Combustible and Snowblind), plus the new Dark Corners expansion, which contains seven multiplayer maps and a brand new campaign chapter called Road to Ruin.
Apparently, Road to Ruin is essentially a ‘deleted scene’ from the main game, and sees Marcus and Dom returning to the Locust Hollow. As well as the usual ‘all-guns blazing’ approach, Road to Ruin will also allow gamers to play it silent and stealthy, as evidenced by Marcus dressed as a Theron Guard in the image above.
Epic have also given some details on the new multiplayer maps:
Allfathers Garden: Don’t get caught up in the beauty—the sacred grounds of the Coalition founders can be a tremendously deadly place. Powerful weapons catalyze fast and furious action at this COG landmark.
Memorial: It’s all about the heavy weaponry in Memorial, set near the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Take a moment to remember your fallen comrades before using your flanking and evasive skills to take control of the Boomshot and the battle.
Sanctuary: Tight paths, blind corners, and an arsenal of weapons—the Locust-ravaged temple in Sanctuary is no longer the haven of reflection and remembrance it once was.
War Machine: Inthis abandoned train station, players need to master the Longshot, Mulcher, and Boomshot to advance the fight while evading fire from the platforms above.
Highway: Take the fight deep into the Locust Hollow in the complex passages of this underground highway system. Stick together, separate the enemy, and have an exit strategy ready, or it’ll be a one-way trip.
Way Station: In the limbobetween death and “processing,” you’ll find Locust way stations like this one, filled with COG soldiers. Tread lightly and practice patience—it’s best to sacrifice firepower for stealth while navigating this minefield of hidden grenades.
Nowhere: Set in the middle of the desert, Nowhere is exactly how it sounds: barren and devoid of life. The open air and long lines of sight prove useful for Longshot devotees, but expect some fierce, close combat in the stairwell.
The All Fronts Collection will be available in the shops for £14.99 on the 28th July, and will also include an introduction to “Road to Ruin” from Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski, a custom Xbox LIVE theme, and a collectible Gears of War 2 poster and strategy guide.
The Dark Corners expansion will be hitting Xbox LIVE on the same day, and set you back 1600 MS Points (£13.60). It seems pricey, but maybe the same people who pay 800 points for 3 or 4 maps will be happy to pay double that for double the content…
