
Available on PSN!	Platform Playstation 3 Genre Action / Shooter Publisher Electronic Arts Developer Vanguard Games ESRB E +10 (Everyone) Released June 2011

- Easy game to just jump in and play - Lots of cool visuals - Online play is smooth - Affordable

- Stages within each level lack variety

Review: Armageddon Riders (PS3) Review: MAG (PS3) Classic Review: Smash TV (SNES)
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Gatling Gears

Score: 7.5 / 10

Gatling Gears starts you off with Max when he used his mech to aid an evil Empire. If you choose to play co-op, the second player takes control of Julius, the soon to be antagonist of the story. There are five levels in total and each level contains five stages with the fifth stage containing a boss. There is also a tutorial level to start things off.

After you defeat the first boss in the fifth stage of the tutorial level, Julius wants to destroy everything and leave no survivors after conquering a village and Max decides he wants no part of this and defects from the Empire. Time passes and

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Max lives with his niece in peace. However, peace doesn't last and Max has to use his mech once again, but this time to fight back against the Empire.

The story is told through dialogue, all text, between Max and his niece Zoe and all during conversations that take place during gameplay. The story is basic, but maybe a little more interaction would've helped the long dragged

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out stages per each level.

The stages are definitely my biggest issue with the game. It's fun, but sometimes it becomes so repetitious, you just can't wait until you reach the next level. If Vanguard Games could have mixed things up a bit, it wouldn't have been that big of an issue. Other than that, the games mechanics and controller response is perfect (which is very important for dodging enemy fire) and makes the game a lot of fun in short bursts.

There is a lot happening on screen at once so don't rely just on upgrades. Good reflexes and keeping your eye on the target (as well as yourself) is crucial if you want to survive. The game can get pretty intense at parts and the last level is no breeze. Pushing the square button emits a small aura around your character to help you locate where you are if you get lost amongst all the chaos. Boss battles are well done and like mentioned earlier, they show up at the 5th stage of each level and all have three different forms with each form offering more of a challenge.

Gatling Gears isn't the most fun game to play single player, but the game does offer you the option to play on co-op with a friend or you can go online if you don't have somebody around. Finding a player online is easy and I haven't had any connection problems with the server. Everything runs smooth which is crucial for a game where you are dodging missiles left, right and center. There is also a survival mode if you really want to test yourself.

The game is pretty to look at and the animations are smooth and the art style is very nice. It's a lot of fun to watch enemies and sometimes parts of stages blow up amongst the chaos. The game has some nice tunes and sound effects which complements the look.

Gatling Gears will cost you $9.99, but it is worth a play through. I don't think you'll find that it has much replay value, but maybe down the line you'll have a sudden urge to blow things up in your mech.

- J'Tonello

(August 2, 2011)