Yesterday was the official launch of EPIC's Gears of War 3. And after playing the whole campaign nonstop from One in the morning at midnight launch to 8:30 and then loads of horde 2.0, Beast and Multiplayer, I have to say that this is not only the best Gears of War game, it's one of the best games of the decade.
I wanted to post it yesterday but it was 11:30 when I started do this but I was just way too tired. Spoilers are present here so if you see the alert and don't want the story to be ruined, skip it. You have been warned.
Story: SPOILER ALERT!
This isn't one of your happy go lucky video games that likes to sugar coat the story. This is war, and people will die, and you'll always lose someone close to you. And while the actual story is pretty standard, the sense of lost and desperation truly brings out everyone's true colors. It starts off with Sergeant Marcus Fenix having a nightmare about saving his father from death and failing only to wake up on the giant aircraft carrier, Sovereign and joins his friends Dominic "Dom" Santiago, Anya Stroud and Jace Stratton to meet up with the former head of the COG, Chairman Prescott, and to fend off a lambent invasion (locust that were mutated from imulsion) while Augustus Cole, Damion Baird, Clayton Carmine and Samantha Byrne try to regroup and support his squad from above. After defeating the locust, Prescott gives Marcus a disc that reveals that his Father, Adam Fenix, is still alive and holds the key to defeating the locust and lambent for good.
Were gonna need a bigger boat...After you finish playing as Marcus you rewind back as Cole going through his mission. During this time you see Cole reminiscing about his days as a Thrashball star, showing that even under all that swag, Cole yearns to go back to those days when things were normal. Then it leads to where we left off as Marcus as all of Delta Squad reunite. The story ties well together while also paying and homage to Pulp fiction for the first act.
So now Marcus sets off to find his father who is located on a secret resort known as Azura. However it will not be easy, as the locust and lambent are constantly running into them and finding the necessary resources are scarce. During this time you'll be constantly switching weapons, struggling for ammo to make you feel like you have to do anything an take anything just to survive, adding to the experience.
As I said, this is war and people WILL die. As Marcus and Dom head into Tyrus to get fuel when things head for the worst. Delta squad gets surrounded by swarms of enemies leaving them little to do. In order to save everyone, Dom sacrifices himself by driving a truck into a giant fuel tanker, destroying all the locusts and lambent. Marcus is devastated at the loss of his best friend but as much as he wants to take the time mourn his death knows that the mission comes first.
As they finally reach Azura and his father, Adam Fenix tells them that imulsion is a living parasite that infects all life and that the Locust started the war with the humans because the lambent were driving them away from their home in the hollows. Now the only thing left to do is for the to send the "cure" to destory the lambent parasite that will also destroy the locust (they are too infected to be saved). However, Adam loses his life due to testing the cure on himself by exposing himself to high doses of imulsion. Marcus lost his best friend and his father, with that the last thing he does is drives his dagger straight into the locust Queen's heart, ending the war once and for all.
While the story was nothing special the character development was strong. Showing us that even gritty soldiers like Marcus can still feel pain. And one more thing for gears fans, Carmine survived through the game.
Story Grade: B+
Sound: SPOILER ALERT!
Gotta love the sound of a head popping like a watermelon. Gears 3 provides some amazing sound effects that enrich the games experience. All the weapons have there own unique sound, grenades have different signals so you know which one is about to activate and when human/locust/lambent flesh burns, tears, explodes and pops, music to my ears.
A symphony of screams.The characters are all brilliantly voice acted, not just in the campaign but on the battlefield as well. Whether it's a battle cry when charging with a retro lancer of getting burned to cinders, the all make the right sounds. Marcus Fenix is played by my favorite voice actor, John Dimmagio, and delivers his best performance in the Gears of War trilogy, giving Marcus depth in his character.
My one problem? Something that was present in all Gears games is whenever someone got headshot, sometimes they'd still make some scream or dying breath despite losing their entire head. Something small, but not something Sam Australian accent (which is real) couldn't make up for it.
Sound Grade: A
Graphics:
The best looking Gears game there is. The first two had just bland mixtures of gray, brown and red, nothing that really popped out. In Gears of War 3, it's a whole new ballpark. The environment was enriched with beautiful color and lighting. Skies were a brilliant blue rather than a musty gray and there was luscious green grass.
Character, enemy and weapon models were more vibrant and popped out, making them more discernible and feel like they're separate from the environment. The tac-com (tactical-communicator) also received a visual boost. Not only can you spot your allies more efficiently, you can also see where all the weapon spawns are in the map. The enviornment is laced with lovely detail, shooting sand will cause it to fly up. The same goes for water. Pumpkins, squashes and other livestock will explode when you fire your weapon too. And chickens will burst into feathers and blood if you shoot them or charge them with your retro-lancer.
And lets not forget the blood. Lots and lots of beautiful, gory, red blood. You can get a good look of innards if you chainsaw some one, see a blood fountain with a headshot, or even fill em' up with fire and watch it spew it from their orifices.
Can't take the heat? Get out of the kitchen.Graphics Grade: A
Gameplay:
Gears of War revolutionized 3rd person shooters with its use of the cover system thanks to the unreal engine. Gears of War 2 just added some new weapons but nearly ended the franchise due to it's horrible online connectivity. Gears of War 3 evolved the original formula to bring you the funnest Gears game to be made. Not only are there many ways and weapons to kill people, they're all fun as hell.
The campaign takes about 8 hours to complete making it the longest campaign in the trilogy. It is also the funnest. One of the more notable changes to it is that ammunition is scarce, adding a heightened sense of struggling and makes you worry and think what you have to do next. Every shot counts. Next is that team work is key to winning. This can be done with computers but having 3 other people with you makes it even funner. Also you'll won't always be just shooting. Some segments will require someone to control a forklift-like mech to deliver goods to the remaining Gears. While you or someone is driving, the others will have to keep him safe while the lambent attack you all. Plenty of action sequences are there adding to the fun. One part you get to escape a burning building by zip lining to another while mowing down enemies with your pistol or speeding down a highway shooting a reaver swarm with a troika turret. These truly add a cinematic experience to the campaign.
The multiplayer has received a major, well deserved upgrade. With its use of dedicated servers, the game runs smoothly with hardly and lag, making the shotgun the powerhouse it used to be. The new Team Deathmatch makes games last longer, now we no longer have to wait for the next round to respawn. All the new weapons are fun and diverse, as well as the old ones. Even though it takes a while to unlock the executions, they're well worth it. Not only can you take a downed enemy as a meat-shield, you can stick a frag away and kick him onto on coming enemies that are trying to flank you and watch it explode in their face.
The new and improved Horde 2.0 takes a little while to understand, but the results are amazing. Using your points that you receive from killing enemies, assists or even healing your teammates can be used to purchase ammo, power weapons, barricades, dummies, turrets sentries and even a Silverback. And after every 10 waves a boss wave will happen putting those upgrades to good use. Those bosses could range from a swarm of reavers, giant lambent monsters, 2 beserkers and even a brumak! And after each boss wave your enemies will only get stronger so get ready for one hell of a fight.
The new beast mode is the most diverse out of the new mode but unfortunately it fails to stand up to the other modes. While being one of the locust grubs can be fun the game is very short, lasting only twelve waves. You can control a variety of beasts from a ticker, a real sized kantus, a corpser and a beserker. While it is fun, it gets pretty old after a while.
Gameplay Grade: A+
Replay Value:
With hundreds of ways and modes to kill, kill, kill that I already explained above, this game will certainly last you a long time. Why do you want to keep playing? Because there are so many things to unlock, from weapon skins, characters, medals and even executions. Also because of the games smooth, tactical gameplay and how fun it is playing with friends. This game keep you begging for more. (That's what DLC is for)
Replay Value: A-
Cliff Blezinski knew what he needed to do to save Gears of War 3 from the same fate Gears 2 faced. And he executed it perfectly with one of the most exciting and fun games of the decade. Any Gears of War fan will be crazy not to enjoy this game, and anyone who's never picked one up should head over to the nearest game store to pick up this copy. Gears of War 3 is a must have for any 360 owner.
Overall Grade: A
I want you... to buy this game.
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