While this game is very good-looking and has nice gameplay, it's not really all it's cracked up to be.
I had heard all the hype as well, and I believed it. I was very much disappointed.
Yes, the graphics are wonderful. But I think the critics have spoken too soon. Just wait for the outpour of games using the Unreal III Engine. Then these graphics will be nothing special. Only a few months, I'm sure. Also, it may be that my XBOX has something wrong with it, but I noticed that sometimes textures would take a few seconds after the game started to come to their full resolution. Again, that could just be my XBOX; it has had a history of problems.
Also, and I apologize to Cliffy, who worked hard on this, the guns all sound weak. The assault rifle doesn't energize me of make me feel like it really packed a punch. Another of my complaints about the sound is that the sniper rifle (Longshot) and shotgun both have almost exactly the same sound effect. The music isn't bad, however when I played the Silent Hill 3 soundtrack in its place it sounded much more suiting, especially in the more industrial levels, and served to remind me of what the locale is and once was. On the story side, this game is WEAK, and I can't emphasize that enough. The entire story can be summarized in a small paragraph and is still quite difficult to follow. For instance, why is the final boss even there? I'm sure we'll find out in the sequel.
Also, the amazing blood and liquid drop effects that I was so looking forward to don't look nearly as good in motion. The highlights on the blood make it look almost orange. Maybe it's just that my resolution isn't high enough, but I'm just not a fan. Also, the bubbling "emulsion" has kinks in it, as it really should not.
I haven't tried the multiplayer, but a friend of mine who'll play just about anything multiplayer has told me that it's just not that interesting. Far too slow-paced. I have played locally with my brother, and I must say that bragging after a particularly exquisite headshot is just as fun as it should be, but it doesn't make a good game.
This game left me quite unfulfilled. It was far too easy and far too fast and for some reason the final boss is far more difficult than anything else in the game and only because of his gimmicks, bats shielding him and eating you if you leave the light, for instance. Also, I had no idea who exactly any of the characters were. Of course Cole was fun to play alongside, but could he say something not related to his nickname, please? And by the end of the game I only knew that he had fun and played "Thrashball," which based on the characters' description of it has to be nothing but football. So, in conclusion, it's really not bad, but not the 9.6 material. I encourage renting it at least, but only purchase Gears if you really want to play the multiplayer.