what are you waiting for
Gears Of War does, without question, fit the definition of a next-gen game perfectly. Fantastic and technically superior graphics, fast online play, and new gameplay elements that haven't been seen (or at least not exploited) in other games on any console. The game is an action game, plain and simple. There isn't strategy in the planning of your missions and tactics so much as it's integrated into the action itself. That strategy is to hide. You will hide behind everything you can find, and it's simple and intuitive-------walk up to an object and you will press up to it. It's VERY similar to the PSP's Syphon Filter game, except that this game exploits the "duck and/or cover" mechanic throughout the experience. In fact, it seems like the only games you see this gameplay mechanic in are the spy games----Splinter Cell, Metal Gear, Syphon Filter, Full Spectrum Warrios, etc. Perhaps the secret to this game is taking the duck and cover functionality into the action genre. And while other games have used this mechanic before, Gears Of War doesn't just force you to use it virtually all the time, it just does it better than ever before. Take Syphon Filter------duck and hide behind a crate, turn or stand and shoot, then go back for cover. But while you're hiding behind the crate and you're getting shot at by the opposition, you feel like the crate is made of steel---there's no danger, and you're perfectly protected until the enemy gets close.
In Gears Of War however, hiding in and of itself CAN be exciting. Dust will kick up in clouds around the shelf just above your head--------you actually get the feeling like the enemies can see where your face ducked behind and they're just waiting for you to take a peek so they can pepper you with bullets. It works. Every time. I suppose my only complaint about hiding is that pretty much any object that looks like it can block fire will work, but even things that probably shouldn't stop bullets will provide the same level of cover. In other words, an armchair can provide the same cover as a5-foot-thick block of steel, but somehow it's still fun.
And that's what makes the game. The core of the gameplay simply does what it's supposed to do, "action". Any game that works like this is the same way------it takes a 10 to 20-second span of perfectly exciting gameplay, and then moves that span of gameplay from place to place, adding new enemies, new weapons, and new environments (imagine Tony Hawk, Halo series, rather than, say, a fighting game or a driving game),. The weapons are great, if not a bit similar. I loved the Unreal series and I have yet to see an action game truly capitolize on the concept of action better than UT2004 when it comes to weapons.
And that's where my biggest complaint lies. Gears Of War has fantastic action, great sound, clearly next-gen graphics, great online play, and nothing feels accidental. But what is it? I mean, you're in the future, aliens, war, etc. But it's just not that different or unique in terms of pure design. Don't get me wrong---everything looks great, and the art STYLE is prevalent from start to finish. But all the "aliens" aren't that alien at all. For the most part, they are all humanoid------they look like humans, they walk on two legs, their head is the weakest part of the body, they move at the same speed as you and your human teammates, etc. From an artistic standpoint, it's just not as perfect as the core gameplay part of the game. But perhaps that's what really counts, because this game is still fantastic, it just seems easier now after beating it to say that I wish there could have been more variety in the weapons and the enemy designs. But there's hope, because make no doubt about it, there WILL be a sequel to Gears Of War, that much will be clear to anyone who plays and finishes the game. Is it a Halo-killer? That's not even fair, but let's keep this in mind----arguably MOST people have the first-gen XBOX because of Halo or Halo 2 (I bought my XBOX when Halo 2 came out), and with that said MOST people who have a 360 probably got it because they would like a game like this and they are also aware that Halo 3 is reason enough to go ahead and buy a 360 by now. After all, wasn't there a point where we all expected Gears Of War was going to be a launch title? You could probably call it a launch title though just because THIS is what will convince many people that it's time to go ahead and buy their 360, and it may help sell more 360's this holiday season than last year when the 360 was brand new but didn't have a game to sell itself quite like Gears Of War. Hype? Definitely. However, even as an action fan, I was NOT looking forward to this game! I thought it was going to make people laugh at the 360-------it seemed like all the video I had seen of Gears Of War in action were TERRIBLY choppy, and I had such low hopes for this game that I am still surprised how they got everything to work, even if it took nearly a whole extra year to tweak it out. It's not revolutionary, but it's a perfect reason to buy a 360 if you haven't already, and if you own a 360, you probably already know if you wouldn't like a game like Gears Of War.