We all have our guilty pleasures: the midnight snack, trashy reality shows, bad action flicks. Sometimes you just can’t help yourself. Gears of War 2 is exactly like that, its bad writing excused by delicious action. Don't feel guilty, though, because this is one gaming pleasure that isn't trashy or bad, but will likely have you up well past midnight having loads of fun.

Picking up months after the events of the original, Gears of War 2 reprises your role as Marcus Fenix in an all-out assault on the Locust hub. The lightmass bomb sent through the tunnels to destroy the Locust failed and now they have reemerged stronger than ever. Jacinto, the last human stronghold, has become the target of new weapon that can sink entire cities. A preemptive strike is called in an effort to defend the city, which prompts the battle worn Delta Squad back to head back underground. Dom, Baird, and Cole return to support Fenix in the mission, as well as a cast of new characters.

A great deal of effort was invested into crafting a compelling story populated with interesting new characters, yet it still doesn't work. The sequel fares little better than the first with a meandering plot that requires complete dissociation; in other words, don't bother caring about what's going on. You're sent to a handful of locations with little justification, often never getting any validation even after you've run through the level. At various points in the campaign, Fenix and company debate with each other the reasons behind their mission and exactly what it is they're doing. Ironically, they always confess to not knowing. It's a satirical point and one that seems to reflect the writers' inability to explain what is going on within the game.

Tacky one-liners and cheesy conversations certainly don't convey what's going on aside from banal banter among unlikeable characters. Dizzy, the cowboy hat-toting driver with a Southern drawl takes the cake for worst game character of the year, perfectly embodying the game's poor narrative construction. Rookie Ben Carmine comes in at a close second, playing the stereotypical green recruit that can't see past his own face. All that big talk about a grand, emotional story and dynamic characters never materializes; instead, you get a paper-thin plot tied together with one-dimensional figures.

The phenomenal action is what makes Gears of War 2 a great game. Forget story, characters, dialogue--here is a game with memorable thrills, tough enemies, and tons of variety. New moves like using an enemy as a living shield expand your options on the battlefield too, also contributing to a greater sense of variety and keeping things fresh. Cool scenarios such as a surprisingly fun escort missile that has you firing turrets against hundreds of drones, Brumaks, and Reavers, and a watery battle against a fish-like beast ratchet up the action. Even the most basic of battles against a squad of drones is exciting thanks to solid AI, brilliant weapons, and good level design.