1 of 18

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

If not, then they will die very quickly, especially on the harder difficulty modes. So, when combat is taking place (which is nearly all the time), players need to dart from cover to cover quickly unless they want to get torn apart by bullets. To help with this, characters can just jump/roll from cover to cover provided it's close, so that they don't expose themselves. Also, it's possible to make Marcus run fast towards the enemy, making him harder to hit and lets him get up close and personal with the enemy.

Guns can be fired from the hip for quickness but they can also be fired more accurately, letting the player aim down the weapon's sights. One of the weapons, the Lancer Rifle, also features a chainsaw bayonet. Players can have Marcus run up to a Locust and use the chainsaw on them, resulting in some rather satisfying gore. It's always enjoyable to watch the scene that plays out. The other weapons are pretty standard with two exceptions: the Hammer of Dawn and the Torque Bow. When the Torque Bow is used, Marcus pulls on the string and aims at the enemy, then lets the arrow loose which has an explosive device attached to it. The Hammer of Dawn is mainly used for bosses and it requires an open sky for it to be functional. Grenades are also available and while they can be used normally, their main use to is to destroy emergence holes where Locust come out from to reinforce their comrades. Before moving onto the levels, the game's campaign can also be played with two players which is nice. It should also be said that the enemy AI is quite intelligent.

Now then, the level design is rather good. Each level is packed to the brim with fast paced and intense combat. The game really has some of the best and most intense firefights that are possible in games. Regardless, every level doesn't feature the same sort of gameplay. In one level, Marcus and his squad might be in a vehicle where they have to fend off the enemy while driving to a specific location. In another level, it might be styled like one you'd find in a survival horror game. Basically, the area is dark and when out in the open, profane tanks need to be shot to provide light in order to survive, unless Marcus gets torn to shreds by some flying enemies that don't like the light.

Lastly, the game features multi-player. It has all of the usual modes and is pretty much a blast to play online.

Graphics, presentation and sound:

The graphics in the game are amazing and it was hard to believe at the time of the game's release that the Xbox 360 was capable of rendering them. The graphics awed people. It wasn't just the character models either, but the entire levels themselves that featured really good graphics. Sound wise, everything's perfect.

Overall:

The game's violent so that might be a strike against it for some people, but chances are if you're reading this, you don't mind violence. The game did what it set out to do and that was create an intense, visceral experience for players that also happened to have good gameplay. Of course, that means Epic Games succeeded in showing off what the Xbox 360 could do and it set the benchmark that other games needed to live up to. Aside from the game being great though, the story could have been better. But I guess with it being an action game, it doesn't matter too much.

Learn more about this author, Dan Cartwright.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Video game reviews: Gears of War?
We want to hear your view. Write now!