As I was playing some Gears of War 2 cooperatively with a chum a couple of days ago I realized why the game-play is so enjoyable overall. There are a couple of elements from my childhood at play.

The first is the "Peek-a-boo" connection. We all enjoyed a good game of peek-a-boo as kids. You'd be hard pressed to find a child that doesn't find you hiding your face with your hands and then suddenly revealing the face while saying "peek-a-boo" ridiculously amusing. Deep down, we all still relate to that feeling. On a sub-conscious level, the locusts are our mothers hiding their faces for our enjoyment. Heck, I'm sure there are some who would appreciate their mothers hiding their faces as a rule.

I digress. Anyway, think of all those waist-high walls as hands and you'll see where I am going. Then imagine, instead of shooting at you, the locusts are actually yelling peek-a-boo. You'll giggle; the child in you will make you, especially if you are under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

The second is the "Whack-a-Mole" connection. I'd almost be willing to bet everyone who has played Gears of War has also played or witnessed a game of whack-a-mole. If you haven't played, seen, or know of whack-a-mole, here is the premise: there are a bunch of holes out of which moles randomly pop up. Your goal is to bop the moles on the head with a hammer before they go back down into the hole.

Gears of War is whack-a-mole for adults. First, just add some dashes so it becomes Gears-of-War. Then consider there is a weapon called the "Hammer of Dawn." Third, in almost all cases, the goal is to shoot your enemy in the head. Put all that together when you have several locusts pinned down behind cover and you watch them take turns at taking pot-shots at you and it will make you smile just a little bit.

Third, screw it; who doesn't like shooting things in the face?