“[Gears of War 2 is] bigger, better, and more badass,” declares design director Cliff Bleszinski about the title that’ll make or break Xbox 360’s holiday lineup. But we’re not dense. That sound bite–ready slogan smacks a lot of marketing hype — but after receiving a guided demo through a white-knuckled level of the game that pits you (as the returning Marcus Fenix) against everything from garden-variety Locusts to hulking Brumaks to creepycrawly Corpsers, we have a feeling there’s some truth behind Bleszinski’s claim.

You’ll pick up your Lancer six months after the ending credits rolled on the original Gears of War. You’re still eyeball-deep in the increasingly bleak struggle against the Locust invasion that’s been churning heavy since Emergence Day on planet Sera. “Humanity’s back isn’t just up against the wall,” warns Bleszinski, “they’re about to be thrown over it.” Ah, desperate times, indeed.

But desperate times call for…loads of new vehicular assistance. Starting off aboard a giant military-style transport called a Derrick that’s currently leaving the city of Jacinto — the last stable outpost of humankind — and headed for the town of Landown, you’re able to roam the deck to wield your personal firearms against encroaching (and ensuing) Locust or hopscotch up to a mounted turret to take down flying Reavers. There’s a certain amount of freedom to tackle obstacles as you see fit amid the intense, large-scale scuffles occurring all around you.

But those Locusts won’t go down easy — and you’re not the only warrior with some new tricks up his sleeve. They’ve got grapples, and during your ride, they’ll try to latch onto the sides of the Derrick to climb aboard for a display of what Bleszinski calls “more intimate violence.” Fail to shoot the grapples off, and you’ll get up-close-and- personal with the Locust that’s attached.

And there’s no better time to exploit the chainsaw on your Lancer. But, like most Gears nuts have already noticed from the artsy, redtinged teaser trailer that announced Gears 2, whipping out your Lancer doesn’t guarantee that the other guy won’t do the same. In fact, locking chainsaws prompts a button-mashing sequence to determine who will successfully chainsaw who. Spam the B button quicker than that poor Locust chump, and you’ll be the victor. Or better yet — avoid the chainsaw duel by getting behind an enemy to split him from “taint to throat,” advises Bleszinski. Lovely.

As they sidle up to the Derrick, you’ll stomp plenty of Brumaks (the giant creature that chased you out of Marcus’ dad’s mansion at the end of Act Four in the first game), and you’ll demolish lots of grapple-happy Locust soldiers and airborne Reavers. But Bleszinski revealed other nuggets of knowledge sure to provoke a giggle and/or cheer from Gears fans.

First, the curb-stomping execution move in the original Gears gets some company in the sequel. Breaking necks and other grisly delights should give death-dealers more variety in how they choose to deliver the final rites in campaign mode and multiplayer. Second? One word: “Meatshield.” Shoot a Locust soldier in the legs to wound him, then grab him for use as a damage-absorbing shield. And third — Epic aims to prevent some of the Achievement-whoring in online multiplayer matches by “throttling” how your progress is tracked. How? Say, for instance, that Gears 2 offers an Achievement for how many headshots you pull off in multiplayer. In this case, the game would limit the number of headshots that count toward your overall total to, say, one per match. That way, there’s no commandeering a match to fill your quota.

And while we were learning all of this, Bleszinski continued to mow down Locusts on and off the Derrick during the lengthy onelevel demo. Spilling out of the vehicle for a bit while the mechanics repaired it gave Marcus a chance to close up a few Emergence holes with a grenade or two, and then scramble back to the deck once the Derrick was up and running again. By the demo’s end, the audience was understandably breathless.

Bigger? Yes, those vistas and large-scale battles displayed a newfound sense of size in Gears 2. Better? Well, we’ll have to wait until we get our hands on it to know for sure — but we’re ready for some sweaty-palmed, Locust-filled intensity. Badass? We’re counting on it.