^I disagree, while most
good TPS/FPSs do have the repetitive 'turn-around-the-corner-and-shoot' element, they will have something unique as well, like a vast open-ended level design with vehicles (Far Cry, Crysis), or a physics system that plays an important role in the games progression (HL2), or it could be graphics or even a stellar storyline. Yeah, we've been playing the *same* game over the past couple of decades, but these elements are key in making a unique experience.
IMO; GoW1 has a poor storyline, mediocre graphics, sub-par voice acting, a bare-bones physics system and as I played it, I never felt there was any attempt to make the game any less repetitive. The cover system got old and boring very quickly...
And I can't understand why people think it has brought anything new to the table, all its done is make an
automated cover system with cool animations, the whole idea of crouching behind an object and leaning over or to the side and shooting has been in shooters for a very long time, the only difference here is that its automated (to make the concept of cover easier for console-gamers). I just think in terms of shooters, it was something refreshing for consoles and got a lot of well-deserved hype for that. It's a great game by gamepad-limited, console standards, but as a PC game? It's nothing close to special really.
Anyway, I've since watched some more GoW2-related videos, it seems they're doing a lot that'll improve the game, mainly in visuals and physics, this video is actually pretty cool:
YouTube - Unreal Engine 3: Gears of war 2 physics + 100 locusts!