Oh Gears of War...shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and temperate. If you consider "lovely and temperate" to be the use of an excellent AI which reasons just like you, and a pragmatic, heart-pounding adventure which immerses you into a world that'll enthrall you for months. Oh yes… this is the often-elusive, all-consuming shoot-and-shred fun for the mature 3rd person tactical FPS connoisseur; therefore, the comparison is a perfect fit!
Since the release of this momentous game in November 2006, and with three million worldwide copies sold in its first ten weeks, many gamers have argued this is the best game made for the Xbox 360 to date. Epic Games, Inc. designers spared no expense to keep the physics for this game astute while creating a fantastic world into which you escape as the once-betrayed, now liberated Marcus Fenix.
In playing GoW, it’s easy to become lost in the exhibited elegance of the art,
In playing GoW, it’s easy to become lost in the exhibited elegance of the art,
the indulgence in hilarious war-time banter, and the sheer delight that a game creator has finally shown an understanding of a realistic duck-and-cover aspect which seems to have been missing since the dawn of gaming.
This game definitely has a broad array of illustrious notability which brings us to what we consider to be some of the best ‘pros’. After months and months of repeated campaign and versus game play under our belts, we have come to an agreement on what exactly this game has to offer:
- Incredibly enticing storyline equipped with the unique alienesque villain hiding under the bed.
- Join and/or lead the hard hitting Delta squad in their attempt to save humanity from extinction on the war-torn planet Sera.
- Appeal to the hard-core player and the not-so-obsessed with its relative ease of control maneuvers, three levels of difficulty, and handy-dandy Xbox Live co-op campaign play.
- Exclusively developed, state of the art weapons to be used in masterful gun fights, bone and flesh splitting melees and all out tactical warfare.
-The controls are easily customizable which accompanies the other charming characteristics like the rich audio and tantalizing in-game music. Oh that ‘Cole-Trains’ serenade could embody my ringtone resurrecting the nostalgia of fun war zone insanity. Nothing like being chipper in the midst of your onslaught!
The online versus mode is highly interactive with expansive, detailed maps that fit into a post-apocalyptic world.
The online versus mode is highly interactive with expansive, detailed maps that fit into a post-apocalyptic world.
Want some ‘friendly fire’? Then invite your friends into a player match. If you seek some not so friendly fire, join or host a ranked match to help add to your Xbox GamerScore.
Versus matches allows you to choose your poison between Warzone, Assassination, and Execution, and the relatively new Annex produced from a recent, downloadable game patch.
The AI in this game is very exciting, to say the least. They create an opponent which is challenging to attack in their unsurpassed ability to take cover, dodge, and even make their own tactical stands against you.
They create an opponent which is challenging to attack in their unsurpassed ability to take cover, dodge, and even make their own tactical stands against you.
This forces the dull and plain “wait and shoot them one-by-one as they come out the door” gamer to evolve into a much more elite fighting machine.
In-game characters in Versus mode embody their own highly individual psyches for a delectably amusing choice of avatar. Rejoice as your character belts out what you have longed your whole gaming career to say: "Come on Baby… die for Papa!" or "Ain't so tough now, are ya?" Believe us; you will never forget the first time you perform a "Curb stomp" and hear the marvelous sound of your rivals head as it is ruptured under your boot!
The following is just a small example of the interaction that happens in the story between your teammates. However, parents with small children be prepared to cover eyes and ears : the language does get much more "colorful" throughout parts of the game.
Marcus Fenix: Control, could you give us Delta Two's location?
Anya: [over radio] GID readings are faint. Looks like... the sewer system?
Damon Baird: [over radio] There's shit everywhere!
Augustus Cole: [over radio] C'mon, Baird! A little bit of this is good for you! Builds your immune system.
Damon Baird: [over radio] Yeah, it also builds disease. Delta Two out.
Dominic Santiago: ...No way.
Marcus Fenix: Sucks to be them. (1)
You might think with the intense amusement, and the surprising enjoyment of the replay appeal that we would have forgone the ‘cons’ due to the blinding rays of awe. However, there are some areas of contention that should be revealed. We considered the following as the most inconvenient and agitating aspects of GoW:
- One of the largest agitations we found with versus game play, and to a lesser extent co-op, is the incessant use of glitching by our kindred gamers. It’s a rampant use of faults in the game by the community so eager to win at all costs. The glitches are too numerous to list completely, but some of them include weapons sliding, shotgun and pistol chainsaw melees, roadie run shooting or chainsaw glitching, unlimited grenades, unlimited ammo, and glitching off of the maps, etc… and you all know who you are! One of the newest glitches apparent in recent game play appears to allow gamers to shoot through walls and other obstructions without the visibility of their target. *Sigh* Ah yes...nothing quite like seeing your opponent walk a story above you through mid-air to their supposedly unattainable sniper perch. It just makes for poor sportsmanship in an honest match.
- Another aggravation is the ineffectiveness of weapons in versus matches at times. Perhaps it’s due to latency, perhaps it’s user error, but we think we all start assuming that we messed up and wore our papier-mache armor when our shotgun pointed at close range somehow blazes through our incorporeal opponent while they waft their pork-chop shaped default pistol our way landing an almost instant concussion, resulting in the ever fatal aneurism. In this state of mind, when you’re screaming at your television, your controller and probably whatever gods may be…you are almost certain that the "hard-core" smoke grenade could probably have taken you out.
While some people appreciate the added difficulty and allure of a “one whole shot” sniper rifle (oh please, oh please let me get the active reload!), we believe many gamers yearned for at least two shots in which to maintain opponent targeting.
Although there are a total of two map expansions, one free and another available for download at your local Xbox Marketplace, it is commonly commented upon in our meandering experiences of game play that there is just not enough variety to keep gamers compelled. And, we must say, that while the campaign was a wondrous journey to behold, it ended far too early. In addition to expansions, there are frequent patches that occur in which you will generally notice new frustrations in attempts to tweak the gaming experience. One of the newest discoveries found is a nauseating camera quake during any form of movement which is most unbearable when “roadie running”. Touring the maps is a beautiful thing, but now running through offers you a "stomach churning" view of the landscape.
All and all we have been deeply involved with Gears of War as it was certainly love at first sight. And in a world where game play moves so quickly, it’s indeed nice to be able to fall in love over and over again when you replay this game with your friends.
However, we think that there are a few things that would be incredible to see in the next generation of Gears of War, and in fact, all gaming in general.
During your campaign game play you discover as you are leading Delta squad that if one of your teammates is down you are able to make your way mid fight and “pick them up”, resulting in your backup fire returning to the fight. We thought, as well as several of our more opinionated Xbox friends, being that the AI is already state of the art taking it one level higher would be the tops! As opposed to simply dying and restarting your last checkpoint when you get down in your campaign, why not be able to have your AI teammates get you up as well as their fallen comrades?
There have been many a time that our characters have been shot down right next to an in-game character. It just seems common-sense to allow that characteristic in the future game play. This aspect can be particularly frustrating when your two co-op characters are split in the game play, resulting that if only one of you goes down the game restarts. At the very least, you should be able to belt a command for assistance.
As we aforementioned, a longer campaign is greatly desired but then we imagine that comment is made of all the well made games with an excellent storyline. It proves effectively how well the game pulls you in if you simply want more in the end.
It proves effectively how well the game pulls you in if you simply want more in the end.
Concluding this review we have to say that as our deep rooted love affair with Gears of War progresses, it’s evident to us that it’s an 11.5 out of a 5 TOG score. However, due to the omnipotent powers of editing that be, we cower into an adapted 4.5 out of 5 TOG score in order to leave room for seconds, mouthwatering dessert and any games that will be releasing later this year making their promises to rock our world. But if you are new to gaming, or even a bit more mature in your gaming venture, Gears of War is a must-have!!
In playing GoW, it’s easy to become lost in the exhibited elegance of the art, 
