- Jack Thompson reference
Enter the arcade room on the 'Day One' multiplayer map with a character or the Ghost Cam. One of the fake arcade machines is entitled 'Murder Simulator', a jab at attorney Jack Thompson, who often labeled Gears Of War (among other games) a 'murder simulator'.

- Easy Flame Grenadier kills
To easily kill a Flame Grenadier, shoot the fuel tanks on its back. It will then become a very large mobile grenade. Do not stand too close to it or you will be downed or killed.

- Toaster easter egg
In Act 4: Chapter 5 - 'The Best-Laid Plans', after meeting Dom (or Marcus if co-op) again, walk to the end of the hallway where Locust ammunition boxes are found. Shoot the pedestal in the center along the wall, then push X to reveal a hidden toaster that will pop some toast.




- Neck break
While in front of a downed enemy, press X + A. This will automatically break the enemy's neck from any direction quickly and effectively without picking the enemy up first.

- Easy 'Party Like It's 1999' achievement
Have two controllers, go to Multiplayer, and log in both players. Set the number of rounds to '15' and the time limit to '1'. Select a map where you spawn close to the other character; the best one is Security. Switch back and forth between the players, and take turns killing the other one with the shotgun until you run out of rounds. You should be able to get 29 rounds in, timing at an average of 16 to 18 seconds per round, before you are forced to go to the multiplayer lobby and begin over.


The following method is slower, but you do not actually have to play through the rounds. This trick requires two controllers, charge kits, and charge cords to prevent the controllers from going into sleep mode during game play. Go to Multiplayer, and set up a match of Warzone with a time limit of '1'. The number of rounds are not important because when you enter the game with both players, you will just have them remain idle for the full minute. The round will be called as a stalemate, no one will get the score, and a new round will automatically begin. You can do this indefinitely without returning to the multiplayer lobby as long as you have deactivated the automatic shutdown feature on your Xbox 360 and your controllers do not turn off and halt game play. If you allow the game to run in this manner for approximately five hours a day, you should get the 'Party Like It's 1999' achievement within a week.

- Bonus Gamerpics
Successfully complete Campaign mode on the Insane difficulty to unlock a Gamerpic of Marcus. Get the 'Seriously 2.0' achievement to unlock another Gamerpic of Marcus. Get the 'Friends With Benefits' achievement to unlock a Gamerpic of Marcus and Dom. With the Acquireor's Edition of the game, insert the bonus disc, and go to 'Gamer Pictures' to unlock both sets. One set has COG and the other has Locust.

- Hidden sequence
When the 'Gears Of War: Push Begin' screen appears, do not press Begin. Allow the game to idle for a few minutes, and a bonus video will begin to play.

- Kung fu flip
Take cover behind anything you can jump over, such as a Boom Shield. Quickly press Up + A, then push A again. Wait a split second, then push Down + A.




- Easy 'Around The World, Again' achievement
At the main menu, select the 'Multiplayer' option, and set the match type to 'Local'. You can set the match to one round with two minutes against one bot (or another controller). Then, just win on every map to get the 'Around The World, Again' achievement.


At the main menu, select the 'Training Ground' option. At the bottom of the list, choose the 'Build Your Own' selection. Set the bots to one, difficulty to Casual, and rounds to one with two minutes. Push Begin, and then select the map. Be victorious in a game on every map to get the achievement. Notice: It is easier to play as the Cog team.

- Easy 'Hoard The Horde' achievement
While playing Horde mode, after wave 6 or 7, Maulers will begin attacking. After killing a Mauler and picking up their Boomshield, tap A to plant it in the ground. Notice: Guns and body parts cannot be in the way, and it must be a flat surface. However, Drones can knock them over; it is recommended to plant them facing in the opposite direction so the enemies cannot pass them in any way. You must pick them up at the end of every round and replant them or they will disappear. Plating one to two Boomshields on the stairs to one of the towers on the Gridlock, Jacinto, or Blood Drive map is an easy way to get the 'Hoard The Horde' achievement while sitting just beyond the reach of a flamethrower.

- Easy 'Pound Of Flesh' achievement
When you have a frag grenade, down an enemy bot or player. Tag them with the frag grenade by pressing B. Immediately afterward, press A to pick them up as a shield. They will explode from the frag grenade that would have killed you. Repeat this ten times to get the 'Pound Of Flesh' achievement.

- Easy 'Suicide Missionary' achievement
You can still get the 'Suicide Missionary' achievement for completing the game on the Insane difficulty if you are playing in Co-op mode with somebody who is playing on a different difficulty. So have a second person play with you through the game, with them on the Casual difficulty. By doing this, when you are at a hard part, they can easily take care of it while you stay back and play it safe or snipe. You will also unlock the 'Friends With Benefits' achievement by doing this.

- Using any regular weapon with Boomshield
While standing above a Boomshield, equip your pistol. Perform a melee attack, then quickly push X + D-pad Left or Right. If done correctly, you should now be using whatever weapon was in the left or right slot with your Boomshield equipped. Notice: This will not work with the Mulcher or Mortar, as they do not occupy an actual weapon slot.

- Easy 'Seriously 2.0' achievement
This trick requires one account which has the 'Seriously 2.0' achievement (source account), and a second account that you wish to have the achievement on (target account). Load the game with the source account while offline. Begin the first chapter of 'Training Grounds'. As the game begins to load, press Xbox Guide, then push X to sign the source profile out. Select 'Yes' to confirm that you want to sign out. Quickly press X again, and sign in the target account. If done correctly, the game will display a message stating that it will be returning to the main menu as the sign in profile has changed. Push A to return to the main menu. Notice that the target account is still logged in, and if you check the achievements from the main menu, you should now have 100,000 kills, but it will be shaded in grey (as yet to be unlocked achievements normally appear). Load any game type or campaign, kill one enemy, and the 'Seriously 2.0' achievement will become unlocked.


Play Act 5: Chapter 5 - 'Closure' in the solo campaign. Set the difficulty to 'Casual' to make it easier to get more kills with splash damage. The level will begin with a quick sequence where Marcus tells control he has 'hijacked a Brumak.' Push Select to skip the sequence and go directly into the level. Notice: The sequence plays every time you rebegin; getting through it will save a lot of time in the long run. In the first three seconds, you will see two or three groups of Locust soldiers. Kill them as fast as possible, then select 'Rebegin from checkpoint', and repeat. The fastest way to do this is as follows:

1. Skip the sequence.
2. When game play begins, move directly to the right until the 'How to use Brumak' prompt appears.
3. Push A to skip it. No more movement is required.
4. From there, use LT to sight the Brumak's guns and rockets. Use rockets with X.
5. Target the back group of Grubs just coming over the hill. The reticule may not turn red, but the rockets will hit.
6. Fire a rocket burst, and while the burst is still firing, sweep the reticule down across the other Grub groups.

If done correctly, you should kill all the Grubs with one rocket burst before the Reavers hit you with their missiles. By using this strategy, you should get 100 kills every other round, with the occasional every third and next round depending on the number of kills you get per round. If done correctly, the rounds should only last about thirty seconds (including loading time in between rounds). This results in an average of 5,000 kills every half hour to forty five minutes.

- Insane mode
Successfully complete the game to unlock the Insane difficulty.

- Easy 'Kick 'Em When They're Down' achievement
Perform the following eleven unique executions on an enemy to get the 'Kick 'Em When They're Down' achievement:

Pistolwhip Deluxe	Boltok pistol + Y
Torque Nudge	Torque Bow + B
Curbstomp	Any weapon + X
Rude Awakening	Lancer + B
Torquapitation	Torque Bow + Y
Triple Punch C-C-Combo	Any non-execution weapon (for example, shotgun) + Y
Shotgun Golf	Shotgun + B
Meatsnap	Push A, then X
Boomshield Headache	Boomshield + Y
Snixecution	Sniper rifle + Y
Sniper Head Thunk	Sniper rifle + B

- Bonus multiplayer skins
Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding skin in Multiplayer mode:

Kantus	Successfully complete Act 2 in Single Player mode.
Flame Grenadier	Successfully complete Act 4 in Single Player mode.
Dizzy Wallin	Successfully complete Act 1 in Single Player mode.
Skorge	Successfully complete Act 5 in Single Player mode.
RAAM	Overcome RAAM in the original Gears Of War (have the 'A Dish Best Served Cold' achievement unlocked from that game).
Anthony Carmine	Successfully complete Act 1 in the original Gears Of War (have any Act 1 achievement unlocked from that game).
Lt. Minh Young Kim	Find 10 COG tags in the original Gears Of War (have the 'Time To Remember' achivement unlocked from that game).
Tai Kaliso	Successfully complete Act 3 in Single Player mode.

- Acquireible locations
The 41 Acquireibles can be found at the following locations:





Act 1: Tip Of The Spear


Chapter 1: Welcome To Delta



Chapter 2: Desperation



Chapter 3: Rolling Thunder



Chapter 5: Roadblocks



Act 2: Denizens


Chapter 2: Indigenous Creatures



Chapter 3: Disturbing Revelations



Chapter 4: Sinking Feeling



Chapter 5: Captivity



Chapter 6: Intestinal Fortitude



Act 3: Gathering Storm


Chapter 2: Origins



Chapter 3: Rude Awakening



Chapter 5: Displacement



Act 4: Hive


Chapter 1: Priorities



Chapter 2: Answers



Chapter 3: Hornet's Nest



Chapter 4: No Turning Back



Chapter 5: The Best-Laid Plans



Chapter 6: Royal Inquisition



Act 5: Aftermath


Chapter 2: Desperate Stand



Chapter 3: Free Parking



Chapter 4: Tenuous Footing


- Hidden message
Successfully complete the game, and allow the credits to end to view a secret message.




- Achievements
Do the following things to obtain the corresponding Gamerscore points:

10 Points
You Are the Support, Son	Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 2.
Escort Service	Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 4.
Better Wrapped in Beacon	Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 3.
Have Fun Storming the Castle	Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 6.
Does This Look Infected to You?	Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 5.
Heartbroken	Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 6.
It's a Trap!	Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 2.
And the Horse You Rode in On	Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 1.
There's a Time for Us	Story progression in Act 4, Chapter 2.
Water Sports	Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 6.
That Sinking Feeling	Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 4.
Tanks for the Memories	Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 4.
Photojournalist	Submit a spectator photo.
Girl About Town	Story progression in Act 1, Chapter 6.
Freebaird!	Story progression in Act 2, Chapter 5.
Back to Basic	Successfully complete the 5 lessons of multiplayer Training Grounds.
Brumak Rodeo	Story progression in Act 5, Chapter 4.
Longitude and Attitude	Story progression in Act 3, Chapter 3.
Kick 'Em When They're Down	Perform all 11 unique executions on a downed enemy.
25 Points
Tourist of Duty	Finish all campaign acts on Casual Difficulty.
50 Points
Guerilla Tactician	Finish all campaign acts on Normal Difficulty.
75 Points
Artist of War	Finish all campaign acts on Hardcore Difficulty.
150 Points
Suicide Missionary	Finish all campaign acts on Insane Difficulty.

15 Points
Forged in the Fire	Be victorious in a Be victorious ingman match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps.
Bound by a Shared Past	Be victorious in a Be victorious ingman match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps.
20 Points
Trial by, and on, Fire	Survive first 10 Horde waves on Combustible Map Pack maps as a team.
75 Points
Annex	Now With Execution Rules

10 Points
Be Careful What You Wish For	Reach level 5 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-10 on the War Machine map in Horde.
Ride It All Night Long	Reach level 10 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-10 on the Highway map in Horde.
15 Points
No, But His Face Rings a Bell	Reach level 15 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-20 on the Sanctuary map in Horde.
20 Points
Afraid of the Dark	Play a multiplayer match on each of the 7 Dark Corners Map Pack maps.
Lost in Transition	Reach level 20 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-20 on the Way Station map in Horde.
25 Points
Highway to Hell	Finish the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene after choosing the blasting option.
Two for the Road	Finish the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene in co-op as either Marcus or Dom.
Is It Hot or Is That Just You?	Kill 25 Bloodmounts with a Scorcher while playing Horde on a Dark Corners Map Pack map.
My Way or the Highway	Without being detected, complete the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene after choosing the stealth option.
30 Points
Like Father, Like Gun	Reach level 30 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-30 on the Allfathers Garden map in Horde.
40 Points
Am I Only Dreaming?	Reach level 40 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-40 on the Memorial map in Horde.
50 Points
Blood on the Sand	Reach level 50 in multiplayer and complete waves 1-50 on the Nowhere map in Horde.

10 Points
Ride It All Night Long	Reach level 10 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 10 on the Highway map in Horde.
Be Careful What You Wish For	Reach level 8 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 10 on the War Machine map in Horde.
15 Points
No, But His Face Rings a Bell	Reach level 15 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 20 on the Sanctuary map in Horde.
Forged in the Fire	Be victorious in a Be victorious ingman match on each of the 3 Combustible Map Pack maps.
Bound by a Shared Past	Be victorious in a Be victorious ingman match on each of the 5 Flashback Map Pack maps.
20 Points
Lost in Transition	Reach level 20 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 20 on the Way Station map in Horde.
Trial by, and on, Fire	Survive first 10 Horde waves on Combustible Map Pack maps as a team.
25 Points
Two for the Road	Finish the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene in co-op as either Marcus or Dom.
Is It Hot or Is That Just You?	Kill 25 Bloodmounts with a Scorcher while playing Horde on a Dark Corners Map Pack map.
Highway to Hell	Finish the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene after choosing the guns blazing option.
My Way or the Highway	Without being detected, complete the 'Road to Ruin' deleted scene after choosing the stealth option.
30 Points
Like Father, Like Gun	Reach level 30 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 30 on the Allfathers Garden map in Horde.
40 Points
Am I Only Dreaming?	Reach level 40 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 40 on the Memorial map in Horde.
50 Points
Blood on the Sand	Reach level 50 in multiplayer and complete waves 1 - 50 on the Nowhere map in Horde.
75 Points
Annex	Now With Execution Rules

- Easy 'A Parting Gift' achievement
At the main menu, select the 'Multiplayer' option, and set the match type to 'Local'. You can play split-screen, and have the person going for the achievement swing a grenade with LT, but do not throw it. Have the other player down him (not kill him), and stand over his body. The grenade will also drop and kill both players. Do this ten times to get the 'A Parting Gift' achievement.

- Easy 'Variety Is The Spice Of Death' achievement
Set up a local multiplayer Warzone match against a second controller. Set it to one round with two minutes. Set the map to Canals. Locate where the two players begin. They are at mirrored locations at either end of the map. Quickly kill the second player with your equipped weapon (remembering to note the Torque Bow spawn point is located under a bridge in the center of the map). After the match has ended and you have returned to the Lobby, select the weapon spawning option. Change the Torque Bow to a weapon you need to get a kill with. Begin another match on Canals. Leave the rest of the settings the same, though you may change from a COG to a Locust. Go to the Torque Bow spawn point, and pick up the weapon you changed it to. Then, kill your opponent with that weapon. Repeat this by changing the Torque Bow to the desired weapon before each match until you have earned the achievement. Notice: You must get kills with the following weapons: Scorcher, Ink Grenade, Gorgon Pistol, COG Pistol, Lancer, Boltok Pistol, BoomShot, Hammerburst, LongShot, Mulcher, Shotgun, Torque Bow, Hammer Of Dawn, Frag Grenade, and Mortar. You do not have to kill anyone with the Smoke Grenade, Troika, or Boomshield. Melee attacks do not count towards a weapon kill. Additionally, you can use this trick to also get the 'Kick 'Em When They're Down' achievement.




- Skipping cinematics
Push Back to skip the cinematic sequences. Whenever Marcus is talking to control (he will have a finger on his ear) or to Alpha 2, you can also them. Marcus will sometimes say something similar to 'Don't wanna here it' or 'Quit yapping'.

- Star rank
When you reach rank 100, instead of '100' appearing as your rank, you will instead have a star. This indicates it as being the highest rank possible.

- Meatflag gamercards
Finish a game of Submission, then push Y to view the game stats. Scroll down to the Meatflag (Chaps, Franklin, or Hanley) to see their gamercard, complete with a detailed profile and unlocked achievements.

- Cowboy hat easter egg
Play Act 1: Chapter 3 - 'Rolling Thunder' on the Insane difficulty. Shoot the three hidden cowboy hats at the begin of the chapter. You and the other COG will wear cowboy hats for the rest of the level. Additionally, a Corpser will also be wearing a cowboy hat.