Get In GEAR
War. What is it good for? Let me count the ways…
Every now and then a game is released that elevates the bar and sets a new standard for other developers to follow. The Legend of Zelda on NES, Madden Football on the PS2, Halo on the Xbox and now Gears of War for the Xbox 360. What do all of these games have in common? Well, at the time of their release they revolutionized the industry, re-wrote the rules of the game and pushed the envelope on what we perceived as possible. Gears of War (GOW) is the one-man soldier that could win the next-gen war for Microsoft.
In literally every way Gears of War delivers on its promise. There is always an inherent danger in over hyping a game. This is the first time a game has far exceed expectations after such a lengthy buildup. Its exciting to think that by releasing this game, we can finally see the full potential of the Xbox 360 hardware and that from now on, game makers will have to compare themselves to this game. The benchmark has been set and the future of the 360 has more hope and optimism than ever before.
The graphics in Gears of War are in one word: unbelievable. This is the most ambitious and polished game on the Xbox 360. Everything from character models, animations, environments, armor, particle effects, lighting and texture are new technical achievements. Microsoft and Epic get the look just right. Level design feels like it has been years in the making. From the smallest cobweb to the grandest courtyard, no detail is left unturned. The post apocalyptic world feels massive, as 360 views seem to stretch on what seems forever. Enemy soldiers are downright intimidating. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, they game does something new to make your jaw drop. At times you will find yourself laying your weapon down to just look around that “beauty” of the war zone.
With a loud crash of a crumbling building and an unmistakable buzz of a SawGun, GOW surrounds you with its incredible sound design. This game sounds as good as it looks. The music is like something out of a Hollywood A-list Action blockbuster. The voice acting is the best to date. Each character has his own unique personality, which comes across clearly in the multitude of amazing cut scenes that push the plot along. Some of the voice levels are a bit hard to hear compared the sound effects at times. Gunfire is deafening and powerful. Note to future developers: listen up!
Gameplay has also reached a new apex. The action shooter will never be the same again. Though it uses the familiar left and right thumbsticks to navigate your character through the battlefield, Gears of War pushes the limits on interactivity with the environment. This is done is such a way that feels very intuitive and natural. From hugging walls, rolling for cover, hurdling debris and firing over blockades, the controls for this game are quick to learn and fun to exercise. It's as if Microsoft took the features in other shooters and came up with ways to make each facet a little better. Take for example the simple task of reloading your weapon. Instead of pressing “x” to change mags, you click the RB button and a slider appears. If you click it again at the right time you reload a lot faster. If you click it too early or too late, your gun jams and it takes longer to reload than usual. These small upgrades really make a difference when they are all added up. If you look at the sum of all the parts in Gears of War you will ultimately see a game that defines a “generation”. Leave it up to Microsoft to deliver such an achievement on the heels of their most important month in which their competitors begin to wage their own battle for supremacy. Not only has GOW delivered a crown jewel, but also it has single-handedly given us the security that Microsoft can win any battle…even the one to come.
Graphics: 10/10
Sound: 9.5/10
Gameplay: 9.5/10
Overall: 9.7/10