Last year’s Gears of War 2 was a tour de force for Xbox 360 owners, offering some great gameplay and fantastic multiplayer. Additionally, Microsoft and Epic Games have done a nice job of supporting the game’s online fans by offering up several downloadable map packs via Xbox LIVE. Now, they are releasing another collection of multiplayer maps as well as a brief single-player element with their recently released Dark Corners pack.

The collection not only includes a variety of new maps, but also allows you to play through a deleted chapter that follows Marcus and Dom as they work their way further into the Locust stronghold underground. Following a brief introduction by series creator Cliff Bleszinski, you are put right into the fray. This mission is a bit of an anomaly, giving you the choice to play through either utilizing stealth (the two characters don Theron Armor) or going all out and blasting your way through.

As far as the Gears of War 2 single-player campaign is concerned, Road to Ruin would be considered a place holder chapter at best. The new mission doesn’t offer much in the way of storyline, and basically serves as a way of showing how the two heroes got from one area to another, without much happening in between. While the mission does introduce a familiar character, their introduction short-lived and isn’t important to the plot whatsoever.

Going the stealth way isn’t terribly compelling, as you simply have to trail Dom and move at just the right time in order to get to where you’re going. It feels very much on rails and isn’t challenging whatsoever until the action picks bad up towards the end. While going the action route as opposed to the stealth route fares a bit better, you’d probably still have just as much fun (if not more) playing through a couple of rounds of Horde mode with a buddy.

Fortunately, the online portion of the collection fares much better than the new single-player element. The new maps (the Dark Corners DLC adds 7) are great fun, and include some great additions, including War Machine, a retooled version of a classic map from the first Gears game; Nowhere, a frantic shootout in a motel, and Allfathers Garden, which employs the use of a lot of heavy weaponry.

The new multiplayer maps are a blast, and are quite varied in terms of layout. Additionally, each one adds their own unique elements to Gear of War 2’s multiplayer suite. While the single-player stuff alone isn’t worth the cost, the new multiplayer maps are a great addition for fans of the game’s online elements.

Gameplay: 8.0
While the single-player Road to Ruin element is pretty underwhelming, the new multiplayer maps are well done and pretty fun to get into.

Graphics: 9.5
Even though the graphics haven’t been changed from the original release, it’s one of the best looking titles around.

Sound: 9.0
Once again, unchanged from the original game, but still nicely done.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 8.5
Even though the single-player section isn’t too great and fairly short-lived, the new multiplayer maps are great incentive for online players.

Multiplayer: 8.5
A fine collection of maps, the All Fronts Collection is a great way for fans to get onboard with all that Gears of War 2's multiplayer has to offer for a discount.

Overall: 8.3
Despite the underwhelming Road to Ruin deleted scene (I guess it was deleted for a reason), the multiplayer maps are great. Gears of War 2 fans with 1200 Microsoft Points to spare (or 1600 should they spring for the full All Fronts Collection, which offers up all previous multiplayer map packs as well as Dark Corners)