The future of mankind is yet again in peril. This time the threat comes from within: a huge horde of alien creatures known as the Locust live underneath the surface of planet Sera. These vile creatures have taken it upon themselves to rid the planet of human life forms using any means necessary. The aliens operation is so successful that mankind is in for some hard times. An ex-soldier, Marcus Fenix, is released from prison to help with the fight, and his are the big boots the player has to fill.
An Epic Background
Gears of War is made by Epic Games, a studio whose earlier merits include the legendary shooter Unreal. GoW is a third-person shooter and the tempo is a bit calmer than in the Unreal series, which was more like playing tag with bazookas. The biggest change is the importance of taking cover. A care-free stroll across the map will lead to a quick death, so it is essential to plan ahead. The game includes a campaign with about 10-15 hours of gameplay, depending on the difficulty level. You can play it in a single player mode or in a co-op mode with a friend either on the same console with a split-screen, via system link or through Xbox Live. An extensive multiplayer mode is also included, and will be evaluated in a later separate review.
The Gears
Gears of War could easily be misinterpreted as a traditionally linear shooter spiced with cinematic cut-scenes. In the end it might be just that, since it doesnt really offer anything new or totally innovative. But actually GoW proves that the simplest of ideas can be taken and made into something spectacular. First of all, the graphics are amazing. The scenery has been designed with great detail and it is completely different on every map. There is everything from vast outdoor maps to gloomy underground complexes. The environment is packed with detail such as light and smoke effects, and the draw distance is impressive. The surroundings are filled with objects that can be destroyed, so youd better not take cover behind an old couch for too long. Most likely this game will act as the visual frame of reference for future next-gen Xbox 360 games.
Secondly the controls deserve to be praised. The function of the buttons varies depending on the situation. For example with the X-button you can kick down doors or pick up ammo. The essential ability to take cover is activated with the A-button. It also enables the roadie run, which makes your character run small distances in a faster pace while squatting at the same time. While hiding behind an obstacle, you can perform different evasive manoeuvres by pushing the analog stick into a certain direction and hitting the A-button again. The problem with the multiple uses for the A-button is that sometimes your character doesnt actually perform the action you intended, but rather does the complete opposite. This then leaves your character vulnerable to enemy fire. You also seem to have a guardian angel watching over you, since you cant fall into pits or over cliffs. These are minor problems, and mostly the reason for an unintended death can be found holding the gamepad.
Once youve taken cover, you can concentrate on the aiming. Aimed shots leave you vulnerable, since a part of your body will be exposed to enemy fire. If you want to stay unseen, you can also shoot your enemies without aiming. This is not as accurate, but youll remain unhurt as your character will not leave his cover. A nice addition is the Y-button with which you can draw the characters attention to the important changes in the environment. It ensures that youll not miss anything vital. In a way it simulates the real senses that you are missing in a game environment, and it does so in a way that hasnt been used before.
Chainsaw for Dummies
At first, the arsenal in Gears of Wars seems modest, but due to versatile functions and well balanced damage modelling the collection of weapons works quite well. Youll often have to make tactical decisions regarding your weaponry, as you can only carry two primary weapons along with a pistol and grenades. A few interesting weapon additions have been made with the Torque Bow and the Hammer of Dawn. The Torque Bow distantly resembles a bow and it shoots exploding arrows. The Hammer of Dawn is an impressive weapon that deals death via a satellite, though only in narrowly specified conditions. The most interesting of the basic weapons is the assault rifle with a nifty chainsaw mounted on the barrel. You can perform close combat moves with other weapons as well – with the grenades this means attaching one to the enemy. The game contains rather graphic violence, with torn off limbs and massive quantities of splashing blood. Half-dead enemies crouching on the ground can be finished off with a powerful kick to the head or, if you want to be a bit more sophisticated, with the chainsaw.
Gears of War contains almost cinematic acts varying from cheerful shoot-out scenes, to creeping around in a haunting, sinister atmosphere. The action is well paced and the scenes are short and versatile enough not to make the player bored. The game is extremely linear, but the excellent map design and the gripping atmosphere make it an interesting experience. In the campaign mode, the player has 1-3 AI soldiers helping out. Sometimes though, they tend to be more idiotic than helpful. At the highest difficulty levels the AI soldiers seem to be useless. There are also simple commands you can give to your fellow soldiers, but you probably wont be using them much in the heat of battle.
The hordes of enemies act varyingly. They take cover and change position even at the easiest difficulty levels. For the experienced gamer, the Hardcore difficulty level can be recommended as it offers more challenge. Also playing in the cooperation mode opens a whole new dimension of the game. Teamwork is crucial, and especially at the hardest difficulty levels it can be the only way to survive.
The high-quality graphics are complemented with professionally realized audio. The voice-overs are technically flawless but extremely stereotypic. Low pitched grunting of a group of alpha males is obviously typical for this genre. Every warmonger in the squad seems to have a one-liner for every situation. Maybe were dealing with an occupational disease of futuristic soldiers?
Like Watching a Movie
Gears of War contains almost cinematic acts, varying from cheerful shoot-out scenes to creeping around in a haunting, sinister atmosphere. The action is well paced and the scenes are short and versatile enough not to make the player bored. The game is extremely linear, but the excellent map design and the gripping atmosphere make it an interesting experience. In the campaign mode, the player has 1-3 AI soldiers helping out. Sometimes though, they tend to be more idiotic than helpful. At the highest difficulty levels the AI soldiers seem to be useless. There are also simple commands you can give to your fellow soldiers, but you probably wont be using them much in the heat of battle.
The hordes of enemies act varyingly. They take cover and change position even at the easiest difficulty levels. For the experienced gamer, the Hardcore difficulty level can be recommended as it offers more challenge. Also playing in the cooperation mode opens a whole new dimension of the game. Teamwork is crucial, and especially at the hardest difficulty levels it can be the only way to survive.
The high-quality graphics are complemented with professionally realized audio. The voice-overs are technically flawless but extremely stereotypic. Low pitched grunting of a group of alpha males is obviously typical for this genre. Every warmonger in the squad seems to have a one-liner for every situation. Maybe were dealing with an occupational disease of futuristic soldiers?
Conclusion
Gears of War is an action shooter that will hold the player in its grip with breath-taking graphics and an intensive atmosphere, despite the few minor flaws. For those seeking realism or a pure first-person shooter experience, this might not be the perfect game, but it can still be recommended. If you are a friend of the genre, this most action-packed game of the year is a must!