Gears of War Game Review

I originally bought a 360 with the sole purpose of possessing Gears of War. Having done so, I think it's time to really sit down and break down what I've noticed about the game, both good and bad.

A brief summary- in Gears of War, a next-gen over-the-shoulder shooter by EPIC games, you control Marcus Fenix in his battles against the hideous alien enemy, known as The Locust. You'll use rifles, machine guns, shotguns, and even chainsaws as Marcus fights his way through homes, on the back of trucks, underground, and even on a high-speed train. Superior graphics and a unique and realistic take on urban combat may be the only edge you have against an enemy that is coldly ruthless and intelligent, and one that is determined to cut Marcus down before he can complete his mission.

Graphically, this game is heads and shoulders above most every other shooter I've seen. Even F.E.A.R.'s incredible graphical engine doesn't come close. GoW will take everything the 360 has and use it to full advantage. While on low-resolution televisions the gameplay doesn't suffer appreciably, you really need to hook your console into a HDTV with 1080i/p capability in order to get the highest quality image. Going from 720 standard to 1080p on Component is a tremendous step- images are crisp and clear, liquids are very lifelike and the amount of detail you can perceive is just staggering.

On close-in shots you can literally see depth to the jagged scar on Marcus' cheek and the way the metal of the Gear armor catches and reflects streetlights. Enemies spray realistic looking blood in all directions when shot, and the gore-factor for in-close melee combat is a disgusting delight for mature gamers (albeit a bit much for children and teens- it's M for a reason). And considering the incredible detail and imagery the programmers developed for this game, this may be the final straw if you've been trying to justify upgrading to an HDTV.

Beyond raw graphics, the game physics are very impressive. Most notable is the way shooting works- the character's weapon has a free-floating degree of motion to it that defines how well he shoots. A close eye will note a degree of recoil with each shot that spreads even precision shots across a 'shot grouping' that increases with standing, walking, and dashing. The characters move very fluidly, leaping over obstacles, hugging walls, and in general interacting with their environment. There is little if any polygon overlap and the terrain itself will interact with Marcus as he runs across dusty floors, shoots windows, and walks beneath falling water.

Sprinting is itself a little piece of joy as the camera sucks in low and tight to give you a cinema-esque visual sensation of sprinting at top speed. Liquid is very believable looking and realistic. The rag-doll physics are tremendous and actually very intelligent in that regard; enemies are hurled down or fall limply when shot, rather than sprawling out randomly as they did in DOOM or FEAR. There is an effect for inertia and momentum. Wretches, for instance, will skid to a halt if shot while running. Explosions are realistic and devastating, and the lighting and shadow effects are head and shoulders above other games.

Controls and gameplay are really where GoW separates itself from other shooters. While taking cover has been done- in Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, for instance- Gears of War really takes to heart what it means to be in a firefight, and like GRAW, punishes you severely for trying to Rambo it up a bit. Enemies are ruthless and accurate, and will take you down easily if you don't quickly learn how to take cover and use it effectively. There are a myriad of motions- crouching behind blocks, ducking behind sandbags, and 'sliding' along walls for one- you can also 'dash' forward from cover in a brutal, SWAT-style assault, or leap and dodge from shelter to shelter while avoiding enemy fire. You can fire blindly around corners to suppress charging enemies and hurl grenades without exposing yourself. There are even contextual actions here and there that allow you to shoot leaking pipes and blow up massive boilers to defeat your foes before they even get close.

The storyline is simple enough- ex-Army soldier, released from prison after a sham trial in order to save the world. The characters are belivable and even humorous at times, but there is very little in the way of backstory or inter-personal development. If that's not your cup of tea, however, that's fine- and in a shooter, for most people, it isn't. You fight the hordes of Locust, extra-planetary aliens who live underground and have a habit of simply exploding up out of the dirt in preparation of their attack.

Gears of War's weaponry is a bit limited, but the basic are there, and they're really all you need. Only being able to carry two weapons at a time- and visibly, they're won on Marcus' back when not in use- makes you pick and choose carefully what you go to war with. The game designers make it very clear that there is a time and place for each weapon, and sometimes picking up that sniper rifle will do you more harm than good. The shotgun and the machine-gun are both excellent close-quarters to mid-range weapons. The sniper rifle can be used in selected areas with tremendous effect, and is capable of killing many enemies with a single headshot. The Torque Bow, reminiscent of the Tek Bow from the Turok series, is among the most deadly accurate and powerful weapons available.

The two pistols, a standard rapid-firing sidearm and an over-powered six-shooter, see rare use but are handy to have if you're low on ammunition in a firefight. Occasional enemies drop a rocket launcher, but the lack of ammunition and the immense splash damage makes it cumbersome at best. A player's most reliable weapon should be the standard Lancer assault rifle, which is a bit weaker than the machine gun but is very accurate, has low recoil, and good damage. A final option available is the very unique Hammer of Dawn, which is a targeting device that summons an air strike upon a designated foe. However, it is only usable in certain areas against certain enemies for a short period of time, and will be found laying about the area when it's needed.

Your enemy is relentless, but a bit predictable once you get to know them. Unlike FEAR, the Locust swarms rarely flank or use complicated covering tactics. Most of them, the diminutive Wretch among them, simply charge you headlong. When playing along a linear, one-track path, it's hard to fail to see them coming. In certain areas, the enemy will charge you headlong even into 'danger' zones that will kill them, such as spots that are on fire or are occupied by the ravenous Kryll that appear mid-game. They are excellent precision shooters, however, and make effective use of cover to fire and advance upon you. Occasional holes in the ground erupt to spawn enemies at you, and which you can seal with a well-tossed grenade to keep your foe at bay. However, the lack of variation in enemy gets boring after some time- there are two types of slavering, unarmed Wretches; two kinds of 'Grubs' or soldering Locust; and Boomers armed with missile launchers. Endgame gives you Theron Guards, which are armed with Torque Bows, and Reavers, which carry Grubs into combat. Only the final two bosses are anything exceptional in that regard.

The friendly AI is hopeless. While the two-player mode can make for a thrilling and engaging adventure as you support your friend in their firefight, the single-player campaign friendlies leave a lot to be desired. During the Night missions, Santiago has a habit of running into a formation of Kryll and being eaten alive during a firefight. Don't rely too much on your allies to do anything except draw enemy fire. The squad tactics are rudimentary at best- 'regroup', 'attack', 'defend'. But, in a linear shooter like GoW, you don't need that high degree of precision guidance that a shooter like GRAW demands.

If you enjoy shooters and own a 360, GoW is a must-have title. If you don't own a 360, this is a good reason to buy one, and a great reason to pick up an HDTV. The clarity and level of detail will leave you absolutely breathless. EPIC games made a very definite effort to make an entirely realistic and visually stunning shooter, and it shows. There is no hopping or bouncing around while firing wildly- you have to think carefully and plan ahead, moving from cover to cover and switching between precision shooting and blind suppressing fire. The enemy is ruthless and comes at you en mass, and there are frequent moments where you will find yourself resorting to brutal hand to hand combat in lieu of reloading. All in all, it's a thrilling and engaging game with innovative and difficult tactical challenges every step of the way. It gets high points for innovation and imagery, and is among the most 'realistic' shooters available now, despite the futuristic setting.

Go out. Get it. Own it. Love it. You won't be disappointed.