The November 7 release date of Epic’s sequel to the 2006 Xbox 360 hit, Gears of War 2, is fast approaching and the hype train continues to pick up steam following the recent release of new screenshots from the single-player campaign, the reveal of the game’s General RAAM replacement, and new DLC details.

During Cliff Bleszinski’s recent visit to the UK, the boss that will take over the role of sending shivers down your spines throughout the campaign was finally revealed. Described as the Samurai of the Locust, the Skorge looks like a cross between a Predator and a Locust, with a dual-chainsaw-bladed staff firmly held in one hand. According to AddictGaming.com, the Skorge will be a playable character in the multiplayer, but will be heavily scaled down to keep the game balanced.

Moving on, a forum user on Evil Avatar reports that the latest issue of GamePro reveals a bunch of new information, including the fact that Epic plans to offer five returning multiplayer maps – Gridlock, Subway, Canals, Mansion, and Tyro Station – to anyone who buys a brand new copy of Gears of War 2. This is obviously targeted toward those who favour used copies over pricier, new ones, giving them no option but to shell out sixty bucks for the game, that is assuming they want the original Gears of War maps of course.

Lastly, the GamePro issue also touches on the game’s photo editor, saying that it’s only accessible through spectator mode or when you die in a multiplayer match. The sequel won’t ship with a full-blown photo editor, though, as more features will be added after the November launch.

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