Best console shooter on XBox 360, and maybe ever.
What can one say that hasn’t already been said about Gears of War? It was easily the most talked about game of 2006 and billed as the next great thing for Microsoft. The initial thought was that as much anticipation GoW garnered, no way could it ever turn out as good as the hype led on. Believe the hype - GoW is one of the best looking 360 games to grace the console. The story begins with the main character, Marcus Fenix, being busted out of jail by his former squad. They must war against the Locust, a group of machine gun wielding alien monsters. Right off the bat, I must crack down on Epic for not providing serious amounts of background information on Marcus. Why is it that game developers nowadays like to create characters that are token? Do they all have to be stereotypical bald marines? Must they always wield big guns and be nonchalant about being cool? Anyways, moving on…
Gameplay:
GoW boasts a great campaign that features a robust cooperative mode. During co-op mode, if one of the human players dies, it is the other human’s responsibility to revive him. Reviving your partner is simple, walk up to your fallen partner and press X. I must admit, getting to your fallen ally may be challenging, as you will likely have to dodge enemy fire.
The best part about GoW’s gameplay is the cover system. Almost anything, be it a wall, a busted car, or even a rock can be used as cover. You can aim above or around a barrier or blind fire, though blind firing is severely inaccurate. Grenades can also be thrown from cover, so there are numerous ways to attack the enemy while manoeuvring through the battlefield. The game will also give you options while taking cover. For example, when you’re hiding against a wall but can’t quite get the clear shot, there will be an option at the bottom of the screen signaling your next move. By simply pressing A you’ll do one of the following: jump over the barrier, front flip into a running motion, or even do a sweet spin move to a different wall. Being that the Locust use the same cover system as Marcus, one must find his or her own way to beat the enemy, rather it be wait for your shot, charge the Locust or flank to the side, you must be aware of all your options.
There are three difficulties available when starting the game: ‘Casual’, which is surprisingly easy, ‘Hardcore’, and the ever tolling ‘Insane’, which can only be unlocked by beating the game. Do yourself a favor and move up to Hardcore after a few hours. You will run into challenging enemies in all modes, but Hardcore is hard enough for first time players that it won’t deter them from continuing on with the game.
GoW has an impressive weapon selection. Not that there are a large selection of guns, but all of the guns are useful and work surprisingly well. Of course there are sniper rifles and shotguns, but the most common weapon is the human modified machine gun, which has a killer buzzsaw attached to the barrel. The buzzsaw comes in handy when in close combat or if you feel like cutting someone in half and spraying blood across the screen. This attack is tremendous if you want to release some stress from a long day at work. The most impressive and destructive is the Hammer of Dawn, in which you target an enemy with what you could call a modified rifle. What’s so special about this gun? Here’s a hint - a giant beam of lethal light incinerates your target. Being that the game would be too easy for unlimited use; the Hammer of Dawn can only be used with a clear sky, so you must be outdoors. The game also features an active reload system. Stop the bar on the right spot of the meter and you will considerably shorten your reload time. However, stop the bar on the wrong spot and your gun will jam, leaving poor Marcus as a wide-open target.
The game really shines on Xbox live. There are great multiplayer modes, which are very brutal and competitive. ‘Warzone’, the team deathmatch mode, is accessible to eight players online pitting them as either human or the Locust. This mode will always be 4 on 4 with equal numbers on each side. Another type of online play is ‘Assassination’, where there is one leader who must be protected by the rest of the team. As you can probably assume, this type requires a lot of discussion. The last type is Execution, which is the most popular game type for Gears of War. In this mode you don't just topple your opponent, you must actually execute them. This includes shooting them mercilessly, cutting them in half with your buzzsaw, or even a gnarly curb stomp.
Graphics:
GoW is the first gigantic step into “next-gen” gaming. It features the Unreal Engine 3, which is absolutely stunning on the Xbox 360. There are virtually no hiccups or frame rate problems when there are many characters on the screen. Even if the screen is full of explosions and chaos, the game runs smooth as a baby’s bottom. The game renders the characters and objects beautifully. The landscape, even at a distance, is brilliant and sharp. Explosions are bright and colorful and characters are crisp and clear. While playing online you will notice that the environment will change from day to night. The smallest details are portrayed with such accuracy -- leaves of plants, cracks in walls and saw blades entering craniums. Amazing!
Audio:
The music that accompanies GoW is a conventional mix of symphonies. Not too much different than other games of this genre, but it fits the game well. The music is slow and spooky when need be, and powerful and driving during the intense scenes. GoW displays a great quality of voice work. The human characters have strong and burly voices. Even the tone of the voices is amazing; the change in pitch is very lifelike. This is not to be outdone by the sinister burbles of the Locust. There is great variation in the tone and pitch of voice between different breeds of the Locust; from low pitched sighs to extremely high pitched squeals. Footsteps are distinct, gunshots are loud, and explosions are deep. The levels of sound are also well balanced. The music is always at a perfect level that it can be heard, but it never overpowers action in the game. Gears of War has a very well rounded audio score.
Controls:
Running, aiming and shooting can all be done in a clean and smooth motion. After a few hours of play, you know where your gun is pointing, so aiming never becomes a problem. My only complaint throughout all my sessions playing Gears of War is the busy A button. With the A button controlling so much, there is much potential for error. There will be unexpected commando rolls and covering when you meant to be running. Within a short time, this becomes a very small complaint. If you’ve ever played a game in the shooter genre, everything will fall in place within seconds.
Replay:
The replay factor in this game is exceptional. I found that when I beat it on casual, I said to myself “OK, now onto hardcore.” It is very easy to replay the game several times, and you’ll need to when playing on Insane mode. The real replay factor is obviously found on Xbox Live. You can spend countless hours with strangers online and it never becomes old. Though there are only three online modes, you’ll never find yourself bored with the game, but perhaps bored with the lack of game modes. If you feel like team based action, it’s all there; and if you feel like going on a psychotic rampage, it’s also there for you.
Summary:
Believe the hype. GoW is everything Epic Studios said it was going to be. It’s a very exciting game to play, whether it be single player or co-op. The online battles are always competitive and leave you wanting more. The audio of the game is somewhat standard, but shines in the voice work. Outside of the busy A button, the controls of the game are smooth and easy to catch on to. If you plan on playing online, get ready to play for hours on end, as it is extremely hard to put the game down. An overall excellent game, we can only hope that Epic releases a sequel or two.