Heads up, people! Gears of War 2 multiplayer details coming at you, courtesy of the latest issue of X360. A lot of people are going to be happy with this bunch of updates.

Still no word on the four player co-op, but that's for another day. There's a bunch of exciting details that just makes our fingers itch to get the game already. The game is already 65% complete, for the curious.

Looks like GoW 2 will live up to the standards of the first game, and more besides. GoW 2 will have a 5-on-5 multiplayer, as well as a new Halo-style matchmaking system. They also did a 180 on the Assassination multiplayer mode, which is now named Guardian, and whose gameplay has been tweaked to reflect its new name.

Let's not dilly-dally any more, shall we? We know you just want to get right down and dirty on the details. Here you go:

• Ten person, 5v5 online multiplayer.
• Yes, Gears of War 2 will have a Halo-style matchmaking system.
  
• There will be respawning multiplayer modes, but the focus is still towards traditional non-respawn gaming.
• Multiplayer game modes:
  
  • "Guardian" game mode: A remade version of Gears' Assassination game mode where the objective is still to kill the other team's leader, but players keep respawning as long as their leader is alive. Opponents' leader will be marked on the HUD to keep the game moving along.
  • "Wingman" game mode: You and a buddy team up, sharing a single character model in this five teams of two game mode.
  • "Meatflag" game mode: A CTF-style mode where the "flag" is actually an AI-controlled player who'll wander the map and attempt to kill anyone who gets near. To "capture" him, you'll have to first down, then escort him as a meatshield all the way back to your base, all while your opponents are trying to kill you and shoot at the "flag". Because, if shot at enough, your meatshield flag will break free, go berserk and deal out the pain. Respawning will be featured in this game mode as well as stats for the amount of kills the AI-controlled flag dished out
• Multiplayer maps:
  
  • Around a dozen maps will be included on disc.
  • "Gridlock": A remake of the Gridlock we've all come to know and love, but taken over by vegetation, old age and now featuring a beautiful sun-setting glow.
  • "River": Symmetrical map featuring a house and a sniper tower separated by (you guessed it) a river.
  • "Security": A long, thin map with "verandas" on each side that are sealed off by red laser bars. In the center of the map is a button to deactivate all the security for roughly 20 seconds.
• Fishing moves when an enemy is downed:
  
  • "X" button: Traditional curb-stomp.
  • "B" button: Melee attack that will be weapon specific. (Longshot sniper rifle will be used as a golf club of death.)
  • "Y" button: Flips your opponent over and let's you punch in their face ... UFC style.
  • "A" button: Use your enemy as a "meatshield" that limits your weapon choice to a pistol. And, yes, your meatshield can and will disintegrate in your arms after taking on enemy fire. If they don't get ripped apart, you can always dispense of your meatshield with a good old snap of the neck.
• Random weapon location respawns will be used, but only for certain weapons not including power weapons, pistols or grenades.
  
• All weapons have a variable amount of "stopping power" that'll slow down an opponent's running or diving abilities.
• Weapons:
  
  • Players will have the option of spawning with the chainsaw-equipped Lancer or the newly modified Locust Hammerburst.
  • "Scorcher" weapon: A flamethrower that we're promised will produce some uber-realistic fire.
  • "Medusa" weapon: A new Locust pistol that is said to be extremely powerful, pumping out five to six rounds per shot downing enemies in a few shots. Said to be the perfect compliment to a meatshielder.
  • "Hammerburst" weapon: Changed a bit, now requiring players to pump the trigger as fast as possible (think Halo 3's Carbine). Though, recoil will increase the faster it's fired.
• Grenades:
  
  • Can be stuck to people, walls, the floor and any other surface to be used as a makeshift proximity mine.
  • As before, players will spawn with one smoke grenade.
  • Smoke grenade: Now carries a "stun" effect that "ragdolls any player within their blast radius".
  • Poison gas grenade: Spews poison that will kill anyone who lingers in its poisonous cloud.
• Chainsaw Duels:
  
  • Whoever does the quickest amount of "B" button tapping will be victorious.
  • Your teammates can help give you an edge in the duel by shooting the opponent which will give you the upper hand on the "B" button mini-game.
  • No duel will occur if a player is chainsawed from behind. Instead, the sexy "butt to head" chainsaw animation will kick in giving the attacker and instant kill.
• The cover system has been subtly reworked, where players' gun and body sit tighter to cover making it harder for your enemies to get an attacking angle.
• Bullet shields described as "metal bucklers" that can be carried as indestructible cover. The trade-off being that only a pistol can be wielded and movement is slowed dramatically. One benefit of the bullet shield is that it can be planted into the ground for mobile cover, though we're told enemies can kick it over if they get close enough.
• Once killed in a non-respawn game, players will enter a "dynamic battle-cam" that floats above the action.
• Also available (when dead) will be a Ghost Cam where players can view the action from the battlefield and take screenshots that can be uploaded online similar to Halo 3.
  
• Hammerhead Grunt Locust revealed and named as such because of his shark looking helmet.
• The GoW2 Collector's Edition may include a weathered looking Polaroid of Dom's wife, the same one seen at the beginning of the game.
• Don't count on Call of Duty 4 style XP or perks, Cliff says they will not be adding these types of character building elements to the Gears universe.