id have to go with the first. the campaign for the second game lacked locust plot line. the queen barely even said two words. sure, we figure out what the locusts are planning to do and stuff, but we only find out because we find like secret plans or something. we don't even actually interact with them. they're just THERE. all they tell us to do is just shoot at them. the first gears of war actually told us what was happening. like how the locusts are invading the earth and when they started. it actually gives us a background as to whats going on. gears 2 multi player rocks though.