Introduction
The
Xbox 360 debuted over a year ago and has been readily
available in retail stores for quite some time now.
There have certainly been a handful of titles that
raised the bar for next generation standards, but
the 360 never had a killer app, but that’s all
about to change. Gears of War is an incredible first
person shooter that blends tactical elements with
a fast paced, intense experience that simply makes
it a must have title for any 360 owner. With its state
of the art presentation, cutting edge gameplay style,
and extensive multiplayer features, there’s
absolutely no doubt that Gears of War will be up in
the running for Game of the Year in 2006.
Like
Nothing Ever Seen Before
Gears
of War is hands down the best looking game for the
360. There’s no single aspect that puts it above
every other title, but once you see it in action you’ll
understand what this powerhouse of a console is capable
of. The level detail is extraordinary; this post-apocalyptic
world is just waiting to be blown apart. Everything
from concrete slabs to tight doorways and even broken
down cars can be used for cover, so you always need
to keep your eyes peeled to plan your next move. The
lighting effects are the best we’ve ever seen,
and the overall clarity here can really make you appreciate
the glory that is HD gaming. To top it all off, aside
from a few busy cutscenes rendered in real-time, the
entire game runs as smooth as water.
Furthermore,
a game of this caliber needs to have top notch sound
effects as well, and luckily GoW doesn’t skimp
out on these either. From the rattling machine guns
to the explosive frag grenades, all the weaponry effects
will make you tremble in your seat. An eerily satisfying
noise can be heard if you listen closely to bullets
slamming into flesh, but the sound of a Locust being
ripped apart by a chainsaw is the best way to appease
your bloodlust. The soundtrack consists of uplifting
military beats when bullets are flying everywhere,
while at the more haunting moments only a quiet rumble
can be heard in the background. The appropriately
timed instrumentals work well to emphasize the proper
emotions, and throughout the whole game you can expect
nothing less than a Hollywood quality performance.
Press
play once window opens
A
Locust Bloodbath
Gears
of War takes place over the course of several days
on the planet of Sera. When the seemingly peaceful
planet was overrun by the underground Locust Horde
all Hell broke loose. The soldiers of the Coalition
of Ordered Governments, of COG, need help from Marcus
Fenix, a former soldier who was imprisoned after he
left betrayed his squad. Now, fourteen years later,
Marcus rejoins the fight to save the planet from annihilation.
While
the story gets pretty light after the introduction,
it’s not much of a problem considering you’ll
be spending the next ten hours or so blasting the
guts out of anything and everything you see. Being
set sometime in the future, some creative weapons
were bound to come up. Standard issue pistols, shotguns,
and sniper rifles all make an appearance here, but
there are a few other notables that make killing scum
so much more rewarding. The first of which is the
Lancer, and to the untrained eye it looks like nothing
more than an assault rifle with average accuracy and
range. However, when you see some creeps get in your
face, holding down the ‘B’ button will
power the chainsaw bayonet that will rip anything
to shreds, pouring blood all over the screen in the
process. These kills can be extremely difficult to
pull off, but it’s definitely worth it in the
end.
One
unconventional weapon is the torque bow, which is
originally possessed by the Locust. If you manage
to get your hands on one of these, penetrating an
enemy with an arrow will cause them to explode from
the inside. The most destructive weapon in the game,
however, is the Hammer of Dawn. By pointing an infrared
beam at a target, it triggers an orbiting satellite
to fire a laser that will obliterate anyone within
the blast radius. The catch is that the Hammer of
Dawn only works if the environment is right. You need
to be outside and there has to be a direct path between
your foe and the sky, otherwise the signal won't be
registered. If you manage to lock-on to your target,
though, any Locust in the vicinity is as good as dead.
Press
play once window opens
The
combat in Gears of War stresses the importance of
utilizing cover without sacrificing any action in
the process. The ‘A’ button can be used
to press Fenix up against any object that could possibly
be used to shield him from reigning projectiles. From
here, you can choose to fire blindly over your shoulder,
or if you want to be risky you can pop your head out
for a few seconds in order to properly line up a shot.
Fenix can dive across the battlefield in order to
quickly reach new cover, and he can even sprint in
quick bursts if you don’t want him being susceptible
to fire for too long. All of these tactics (running,
jumping over objects, and finding cover) are all executed
by pressing or holding ‘A’, and often
times you can find yourself ducking behind a concrete
block when you meant to sprint instead. Over time
you may learn how to overcome such flaws, but these
moments can be a tad frustrating in the heat of battle.
The
advanced computer AI and the nature of the game both
contribute to GoW’s intense gameplay. Whether
you’re attempting to hold off forces from all
angles or if you need traverse through an infested
city late at night, there’s never a dull moment
throughout the five act campaign. At any given moment
a Locust could open fire on your squad and wreak insurmountable
amounts of havoc if you aren’t prepared. As
such, you need to constantly scan the environments
to be prepared for the unexpected.
Once
shots are exchanged, the real fun begins. When your
squad is faced against a seemingly endless stream
of creeps rising from an emergence hole, you need
to work together to slowly push the enemy back. Often
times you can split up in hopes of flanking, but the
enemy will always try to do the same to you! While
the straightforward skirmishes are fast paced enough
as it is, sometimes the most fun can come from sneaking
into unknown territory. If you find your squad is
pinned down due to turrets, some sleuthing and a few
quick dashes could allow you to sneak up and deliver
the most satisfying melee blow of all time. Microsoft
and Epic were able to find the perfect blend between
run-and-gun shooting with SWAT-like strategy, and
we simply couldn’t be happier with the results.
The
Fun Doesn’t Stop Here
As
if the single player campaign wasn’t groundbreaking
already, Gears of War offers tons of multiplayer options
as well. For starters, there are versus modes available
both offline and online. One-on-one split screen battles
are certainly welcome, but the real fun lies within
the four versus four team deathmatches. There are
currently ten maps available across the three game
modes, and there's always the possibility that new
content will be released in the future. The Warzone
mode delivers the traditional deathmatch action, while
Execution and Assassination both offer their own personal
twist. The goal in Assassination is to kill the other
team's leader while protecting your own, and in Execution
you need to make sure opposing players are down and
out by getting close and stomping them out. Downed
players can be revived if a nearby teammate can run
over and heal them, but someone from the other team
can deliver a final strike that can keep you out for
the rest of the game. The weapons are just as much
fun here as they were in the single player campaign,
and there's nothing more degrading than ripping somebody
up with the chainsaw.
Press
play once window opens
If
all of this still isn't enough for you, then certainly
the co-op play is bound to change your mind. Again,
you can choose to play with a friend via split screen,
system link, and even over Xbox Live. Throughout the
single player campaign you'll often be accompanied
by one individual who seems to be a lot more trouble
than he's good for. When you and your friend are playing
together, however, the importance of teamwork becomes
a much more important factor. Having headsets here
is a must as you can expect to be shouting back and
forth when you're pinned down. By coordinating flank
maneuvers and setting up distractions, the cooperative
mode is necessary if you want to get the most out
of this title.
Conclusion
It’s
not every day that you come across a game as great
as this, and in fact it took a whole year for Microsoft
to come up with a title that every gamer needs to
play at least once in their life. There’s absolutely
no excuse not to try this one out; Gears of War will
set the trend for all future first person shooters
to follow. If you’re still one of those pessimistic
naysayers that don’t believe GoW could live
up to the hype, then think again. It’s a rarity
to come across a masterpiece such as Gears of War,
and it simply shouldn’t be missed by any means.
Gameplay
|
19/20 |
Graphics
|
20/20 |
Sound
|
19/20 |
Value
|
19/20 |
Preference
|
19/20 |
Overall
|
96/100 |
