
	Platform Xbox 360 Genre Action Shooter Publisher Microsoft Games Studio Developer Epic ESRB M (Mature) Released November 7, 2006

- Some of the best graphics we've ever seen - Visceral gunplay - Awesome multiplayer options (with one or two glaring omissions) - Great audio design - Abundant checkpoints - DVD extras in the Collectors Edition are actually (kinda) worth watching

- We're never given the full story on what's actually happening, just snippets - As much as we want to think "it's all new!" genre conventions abound - AI goes off and gets itself killed plenty!

Review: Dead Rising (360) Review: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (360) Review: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (XB)
Newsletter
Be notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice weekly. Enter E-Mail Address Below: Subscribe \| Unsubscribe

Gears of War

Score: 8.5 / 10

Gears of War isn't the first game to offer cooperative play, but it's the first time that I actually used such a feature. As military bad-ass Marcus Fenix I had to lead my small crew on an assault on a pump station deep within some mines to plant a resonator, on orders from Fenix's superiors. The catch is that the pump station is guarded by Theron Guards armed with torque bows, which essentially shoot arrows tipped with sticks of dynamite. Not helping matters was the fact most of the squad was quickly incapacitated (or killed, resulting in an immediate "reload" situation). I attempted the level again and again and again. Either I would die or they would. Before giving up altogether I invited a human being I'd met during a team deathmatch to tackle the level with me. Two attempts later, the resonator was planted and we were on our way to the surface.

It's in my Top Ten Best Gaming Moments ever.

Everything you may have read about Gears of War is true.

It's a brilliant example of next-gen -- now current gen, I suppose -- graphics that showcase the Unreal 3 Engine in all it's bloody and architectural glory.

The action is frenetic; the Locust horde and it's various "breeds" including the terrifying Berserker or the gecko-like Wretch, make formidable opponents.

The chainsaw bayonet on the end of the Lancer Assault Rifle (which is practically a default weapon) is a good example of the kind of gun you'll come across during the course of the game -- powerful, with often bloody results.

Taking cover, performing SWAT turns, performing successful active reloads for speed and extra damage, and blind firing from safety, all become an essential

Advertisement

- Xbox 360 Game Reviews
- Action Game Reviews
- Shooter Game Reviews
- Games Published by Microsoft

part of the game (both in the campaign and multiplayer).

And the audio that accompanies all of the action... with a good audio setup you'll definitely tense up when you hear the distinctive cry of the Wretches.

It's a very satisfying and fun experience overall but Gears of War is not without problems..

Advertisement

The control is solid, but for one annoyance. Pressing "A" next to a wall, rock, burned-out car, etc. will put Marcus into cover; it's simple and intuitive. From here he can pop up, blast away at a Locust baddie then return to cover. It's also used to leap from cover or quickly move to any close object where Marcus can take cover again. But holding down "A" is used to "roadie run" which means "running while crouched." This leads to the occasional problem of roadie running then inadvertently latching on to unintended cover. I died a few times because of it, which makes me bitter -- that's the only reason I mention it.

Another negative aspect that many seem to overlook is that Gears of War doesn't sway very far from traditional action/shooter standards; there's not a whole of innovation here. For example, during "Act 2: Nightfall" you have to contend with the nocturnal Kryll (extremely blood-thirsty mutant bats) that are light sensitive. To maneuver through the level you have to keep yourself in the light. How does Marcus do that? Shooting conveniently placed propane tanks that burn like liquid gas. Developer Epic does offer some variation, like pushing a burning car husk or leading your squadmate to safety by keeping a spotlight on him so he can activate the streetlights but it mostly sticks to convention.

There are also the predictable encounters. Marcus wipes out a Locust drone manning a turret, which he then must use against an enemy onslaught. While we've seen stuff like this before, there's something to be said for able to enjoy the familiarity of it -- there's never a big mystery over what you're supposed to do next.

Gears of War is paced pretty well, broken up into five distinct Acts, but the bigger picture, the overall story, isn't really explained. There are some salient facts to be gleaned from the brief write-up in the manual and in the extras packed in with the Collector's Edition, but the game never moves from Marcus and his fellow soldiers; what's happening elsewhere isn't explored. There's an argument to be made that there's a subtext going on that comments on current global affairs and the fight for oil, but it's easy to dismiss this subtext if you just want to listen to the banter among your crew.

And about that crew... for most of the game you fight alongside one or more squadmates that are not averse to running into fire or doing completely bizarre things, like vanishing then responding "Negative!" when you order them to regroup. Not to give anything away, but one section in particular forced me to replay 36 times before I finally found success. (It involves a blind two-ton monstrosity that rages from room to room trampling everything in its path and Dom, my squadmate, who enjoys long walks on the beach and meandering into danger.)

Multiplayer is limited to a maximum of 8 players at any one time, but because Epic seems to have aimed for this, the maps are designed in such a way to accommodate smaller groups. Some will have a beef with that, but it's hard to fault the game for; multiplayer is a lot of fun. There are some obvious tweaks to be made to the match-making system though, so expect some kind of update for it.

With plans seemingly in the works to provide downloadable content, mostly in the realm of multiplayer, it will likely extend Gears of War well beyond a handful of months. It's been out for over two weeks and it's already sold 1 million copies and online evidence points to increased activity (and some obviously new 360 owners if Gamerscore is anything to go by). The buzz has certainly helped sell the game, but more importantly this buzz is actually warranted. Gears of War is as good as everyone has made it out to be.

I suppose what I'm really saying, is that if you're an action fan, you should be playing Gears of War.

- Omni

(December 1, 2006)