Gears of War (Xbox 360, 2006)

Pros
+ Intense & Highly Addictive!!!
+ More than just a shooter (taking cover, survival horror elements, & squad combat all rolled into one).
+ Really feels like you are doomed to extinction in a war-torn world.
+ Gorgeous graphics + Great Controls + Online Multiplayer = Months & Months of Happy Gaming
+ Awesome co-op play.
+ Great effects & satisfying melee attacks.
+ Awesome enemies & you can play as most of them in multiplayer.

Cons
- Not a lot of vehicles & no vehicles at all in multiplayer.
- Online needs work (getting into matches, hosting matches, other people can ruin the experience before you even get to playing). Maps have few weapons and racing to the weapons is a chore.
- Host advantage, the same fault that 'Halo 2' suffered from.
- Sniper rifle is only single shot. Do semi-automatics not exist in the future?

Comments
Gears of War is a great game. It still needs some work as far as the online goes. Host advantage is getting old & just plain unfair. This game is one of the most intense games I've ever played. I can't begin to tell you how much fun it is. Just be quiet or the Beserker might here you!!!

Verdict
A real must have for your collection. This may even make you stop playing Halo until part 3 comes out!!!

I got to actually play Gears of War, two weeks before the release date! It was probably the best game i have ever played. I was never a fan of duck and cover shooters, but the gameplay in Gears of War makes up for it. This game is very violent but i loved it. You can cut aliens in half with a chainsaw or curb stop them when there wounded. The weapons kick a lot of ass. Overall you have to buy Gears of War. Nomatter what. Buy it.

GEARS OF WAR...THEY SAID IT WAS THE GAME TO REPLACE HALO...CAN ANYTHING EVER REALLY REPLACE HALO? I DON'T THINK SO BUT THIS GAME ROCKS AND IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH HALO BEING ONE OF MY FAVORITE GAMES.

The graphics are simply the best, no other game compares to it right now in my opinion. A lot of fun to play and you will be up all night doing so.

I have played many FPS games in my life. From Doom to Half Life, Turok to Perfect dark, Halo to Halo 2, and GRAW to this current game and I goto say, the game is totally unbelievable. Just the sheer amount of realistic action gameplay makes you want to go out pump some iron and become the next markcus ( although cole has bigger guns!). Woaw, words itself cannot describe this game because after beating the game, i want to keep playing non stop. Warning, do not try insane mode unless you have mad lust for blood! :)

To break it down into categories for people:
1. Graphics - 5 of 5 - Absolutely breathtaking. This game utilizes the full potential of a Xbox 360. Microsoft lost over a billion dollars to support this game. Everything you see is crisp and real. Set it to 1080 p and you wont recognize what reality is and what a video game is. Best of all, there is no lag or frame per second issue!

2. Sound -5 of 5 - Are you kidding me? You will never get tired of Cole or Marcus grunting like real men. The machine guns are as real as you can get. Get a 2k sound system setup and your house will rumble like the bronx. Voice acting is superb as you really get into the story mode of the game. You will grow to love delta squad and the constant non stop action of things blowing up left and right. Best of all, they sound so real!

3. Replay value 5 of 5 - It is a no brainer. There is a casual mode, hardcore mode, and my favorite the "insane" mode. If you do play the "insane" mode, I suggest taking some caffeine or some adrenaline rush pills. you will need it :).

4. 1 player Campaign - 5 of 5 - you control a squad of certified machine killers. You cannot distinguish them from real humans or A.I. Yes, they are just that smart. The story mode is completely engaging and will keep you going. I mean, the graphics and gameplay is already enough, but some people like a good fps with a good story. This game is definetely for you.

5. Multiplayer - 5 of 5 - Unreal gameplay. You can challenge someone online or offline. Played with a buddy as I showed him who the real man is. If you really want to own in multiplayer, I suggest beating the insane mode once. I guarantee you will be a different man. It is like going to the boot camp to become a marine. HEHE. Also, I didn't experience any lag at all during online play which is a plus.

6. Difficulty - 5 of 5 - This is relative. If you played casual mode, it isn't really that dificult. I would say it's about 1.5x harder than Call of Duty 3. Hardcore mode is about 2.5x harder than Call of Duty 3. And my favorite, the insane mode is at least 5x harder than Call of Duty 3. If you want relative comparison, try playing Ninja Gaiden on hard mode. 2-3 shots from a machine gun fire and you are dead. The bad guys just dont die with one full round of clips( try 2-3). Yea, its insane mode, what do you expect ?

7 Overall 5 of 5 - This game sets the standard for all FPS out there for the xbox360, any other console, and even the PC. The game is perfect and I cannot stress that there are no other games out there that are even close to this. Yes, Call of Duty 3 came out , but the game is no where near as good as this. I didnt really enjoy playing call of duty 3 because i found it to be a drag and i just wanted to beat the game and get it over with. WIth gears of War, you will want to keep on playing the game even after you have beaten it because it is that good. This is definetely a game that can rival the all time favorite G.R.A.W

This is a great new way to spend your time on the weekends. Gears of War is not much in the dialouge department but it overcomes that in the game play. No longer does the AI act stupid when firing at you. To win this game you have to use your surroundings to get anywhere in this game. This has a high replay value on my list of games.

Gears of War is a third-person shooter that has much in common with popular frag-your-friends titles such as Halo or Quake: gameplay is quick, the action is intense, single-player is fun but overshadowed by online multiplayer, and the campaign storyline is contrived and more than a little trite.

Single player action: the single player campaign is quite simple, and to the point. As I mentioned above, the storyline is neither original nor necessary for one's enjoyment of the game - in fact, anyone with a college degree should try their best to mute the cut-scenes before they are driven to put a pair of scissors through their eardrums. The only challenging point, as with many games of this sort, is the end "boss," General RAAM. But once you figure his weaknesses, you can easily defeat him on the most difficult setting.

Multiplayer action: Xbox Live is where this game shines. True, the learning curve is steep, especially if you don't beat the single-player game first, but if you have the time, it is worth practicing. My advice is to play at least ten hours of unranked matches before setting foot in the ranked arena. Like many shooter communities, the players here can be less than welcoming to newbies.

However, once you are at least an average player, the game becomes a whole lot of fun. There is a nice balance of weapons and arenas, with some maps catering to the use of certain guns, and others offering nigh-unlimited variety in strategy and armament selection.

The game was also recently updated and provided with new maps. With the amount of people playing online, the game should continue to be supported in this way for some time.

I highly suggest buying this game. It is just the thing to tide you over until Halo3 comes out.

However, there is one caveat: this game earns its rating. I mean, it really earns its rating! It is for mature audiences only. For, not only is there Texas Chainsaw Massacre style gore involved, but also a whole lot of colorful language (including the occasional "f-bomb" during the single-player campaign). If you are a parent concerned with excessive violence or language in your child's video game, then I would suggest Lego Star Wars II instead.

But if you are an adult with a need to de-stress by fragging the hell out of some newbs, then this is the game for you! Plenty of opportunities to satisfy the destructive urges we cultivate all day in our tiny little cubicles.

Gears of War is what is called a "Killer app." It's the kind of game that sells consoles. It is so good, it makes the Xbox 360 more valuable. I cannot imagine any other game taking Game of the Year titles from Gears of War; it's just that good.

The single player is fun. It's relatively short, but bump up the difficulty level and you are in for some nearly impossible gaming.

The multiplayer is where GoW shines. It's simple, but it works. And when I say it works, I mean it works beautifully! There is so much fun to be had in multiplayer solely because you get to really use the great weapons in the game.

The graphics are nothing short of perfect. Possibly the best looking game ever. Nothing else can be said, it's just incredible.

Sound is close to being as good as the visuals. The music is suited perfectly for the game, and all sound effects are exactly what you expect to hear.

This game is NOT for the weak. It's disgustingly gorey, but in a good way. It's brutal, vulgar, but just an endless supply of gritty, dirty fun. No one will be disappointed with this game, as it really is next to perfect.

Just keep younger children from playing the game. It's rated M, and should be treated exactly like an R rated movie. If you can't bring yourself to allow a kid to see an R movie, then don't let them play this. If you are comfortable in their maturity, then there is no reason to keep em from it. They will love it!

Gears Of War is a game taken place in a futuristic time period when life forms known as the Locust arise from the ground to place a full out attack on the Humans on the planet Sera. This game was made by Epic games for the Xbox360, and on my note, this game will be one of the top contenders for game of the year, or maybe be even one of the top 10 games in gaming history. Now let's hear about the game..

Graphics: 10
For graphics I would put 11, but its only out of 10! These graphics in Gears of War revolutionize the Xbox360 and the capabilities it has to make a tremendous series. These graphics not only look real, but they have unique details that make it interesting. In my opinion, these graphics are the best out right now, and will take a long time to beat them.

Sound: 10
While playing this game, the sound is so realistic that one would think that he/she is in the battle! The sound is from the guns, the ground, and even in the atmosphere! The sound is a fantastic feature about Gears of War. Without such great sound in this game, Gears would have a whole different mind set.

Storyline: 10
Here's the deal, Marcus Fenix, a former member of COG, was captured and put into prison while attempting to save his father. 14 years after Emergence day landed, a good friend Dom comes and gets him out of the prison. He then finds out all of the changes that has happened in the world since he was in prison. Marcus must help fight the Locust horde and attempt to save all humanity.

Gameplay: 10
The idea of cover and shoot, was a great idea implemented by Epic games that was original and unique in every shooter. The 3rd person tactical shooter connected with the games aspect. The whole game runs smooth and has an action packed gameplay. Not even the easiest difficulty in the game (Casual) is like slicing butter. Right when one enters the game it starts out with a battle all the way until the end of the game. The gameplay in Gears of War made the game.

Multiplayer: 9
Although the multiplayer has no clan features, which everyone hopes there will be an update for, the game's online and splitscreen multiplayer is definitely one of the games best features. The online multiplayer consists of three options, Player Matches, Ranked Matches, and Online Co-op. Player and Ranked Matches are usually competitive with no lag, running smooth, and top of the edge maps. Co-op is very useful because at some parts, someone needs help, right? So join your friends and play against them, and even with them fighting against the Locust, and even the COG!

Replay Value: 9
I can see myself playing this game for well over a year or two, or maybe even longer. This game is great if you have xbox live because if one has just single player to do, there is just getting to beat the Insane difficulty and occasionaly playing with friends on splitscreen multiplayer and co-op. The online part of the game will have people addicted with a great lag-free atmosphere.

Closing Notes:
Gears of War is a must buy game for the Xbox360. Sure it is very bloody and does have alot of swearing involved, but a shooter fanatic would instantly fall in love with the game the first second in play. This game will definitely have another game in the series which we all hope is even better than the first.

When there's an exclusive made for the xbox 360 they don't muck around. Gears of war was outstanding in every way possible. It was such a good game they even made a sequel. Gears of war mixes a very compelling cover system and a 3rd person perspective to really make you feel the adrenaline of war. The character you control is Marcus Fenix, a soldier who disobeyed orders to save his father in the midst of battle. Even though Marcus tried, his father didn't live. You begin the game with Marcus Fenix getting freed from jail by his friend, Dom. After the cut scene you can either get right into the battle, or go the training way which teaches you the fundamentals of Gears of war. A nice feature in Gears of war is Co-op. You can do 2 play co-op local, or you can get online and play the campaign with 4 players or versus with a number of 8. All in all, Gears of war definitely earns some high praise.
A small note that's rather nice in Gears of war is that it's really smooth, the frame rate is very steady throughout and is only slow during cut scenes.

RATING SYSTEM

Story: 9/10 As always there's a war, this war however has to do with a rather
funny enemy...Grubs. No they're not little squirmy grubs you find in your backyard. These grubs are actually named Locusts, they are blood
thirsty creatures that have little to no remorse for the humans.
The story is basically eliminate all the grubs and restore the
Human race.

Gameplay: 10/10 The gameplay is smooth as silk, you won't have any problems adjusting. However I'd highly recommend that you take the training part of the game first if your new.

Graphics: 10/10 Wow, what else would you expect from an xbox 360 exclusive other then beautiful rich vibrant graphics. The artistic design of this game makes you look twice at your surroundings. The unquestionable lighting and texture is so colorful it may be a war game but the graphics are just beautiful.

Sound: 10/10 I have to give this a ten. The sound is very clear and very crisp, but another aspect of this game that is so amazingly awesome, is the background music that follows this phenomenal game, it's what bring this game to life unlike any other war game I've ever played!

Re-play value: 10/10 Very High! I can't get enough of this game!

Hands down, no competition, this is the best game I have ever played. My brother and I always look for co-op games to play, and this game provided just that.

Playability: 5 out of 5
Graphics: 5 out of 5
Story: 5 out of 5
Characters: 5 out of 5
Audio: 5 out of 5

Worth the entire $50. If it was listed at $100 it would still be worth it. It is just that good.

If you found this review helpful, please click the "Yes" button below! Thank you!

This will no doubt be another Zelda classic and MUST HAVE for any gamer out there. Great graphics and a new way to play the game, with the Wii-Mote and Nunchuck!!

sweetest game ever. Unlike other game that just kill everything in sight, this game is awesome. It's got beautiful graphics and background songs. I have regular TV, not HDTV and the graphic is HDTV-like. Rather than killing human enemies, you're killing monsters in this game.

This game is rated M for Mature. It's got a lot of swearing. If you're getting this game for kids, this is not a good choice.

Gears of War Xbox 360
I rented Gears of War the other day because I had to see what all the hype was about. All I can say is, wow.
This game lives up to the hype. I jumped right into co-op campain, and the first thing I noticed was the fast load times, even plaing online when switching matches you only had to wait a few seconds, I was impressed. Now there are alot of games on the next-gen consols that look like they should be on the xbox or ps2, or N64. This is one that actualy takes the potential of the 360 and uses it, it simply looks amazing. This is not a normal shooter game where you run and gun. It is a pop and shoot. You have to use objects to hide behind for cover and then pop out and shoot the enemys, if you try to run and gun you probably wont do so well, there are no cross hairs unless you are holding the aim button. A very satisfying part of this game is the chain saw kill, that will put a smile on your face.

Pros:
- Graphics
- Very easy controls, the "A" button does most of the work
- Playing in the harder difficultys, the AI is smart and challenging
- Game play
- Chainsaw and curb stomp
- The end of the game pretty much tells you there will be a sequill
Cons:
- Short single player

I would recomend buying this!

This has to be the hardest game I've ever had to review. And not for the typical reasons. On one hand everything was executed with near perfection. Amazing graphics, serious sound, solid single and multiplayer gameplay. And Yet, I can't help but feel like there could have been more to it on the multiplayer end. I know it sounds odd and even a little selfish considering what we get, but I can explain more later (or atleast I'll try). What Epic Games accomplished was sheer genius. The game that sits in my 360 is the best thing I've played in a long time.

The single player campaign was fantastic if not a bit vague. This is nothing new when you consider Halo 2. The story wasn't very deep or fleshed out as it could have been. Perhaps it was saved for the sequel, who knows. What I do know is that from the very beginning things were left at your best guess. A fictional Earth like world known as Sera was invaded by a subterranean race dubbed the Locust. While their actions were very clear, their motive(s) are not. The Serans couldn't handle their attacks so they sacrificed their world at the sake of leaving it to the spoils of the new invaders. (I still can't see how a group of rag-tag soldiers could change the tide of what the whole world could not. But it's forgiveable considering the grandeur of the game.)

Sounds like a great set-up, but unfortunately that's all it was. Hold on! That's not necessarily a bad thing. The rest was pure action from beginning to end, Non stop. Although this game is better fit for a full screen of your own, it's easy to get into a split screen co-op game with something 32" or better. I myself have played 6+ hours with my brother-in-law and a friend on a 53" Projection on co-op. It was beyond awesome. After all those hours, a deep plot was the furthest thing from our minds. What helped make all that fun happen was the many ways to bring your opponents down. You can do the normal thing and just shoot your opponent dead, or you can do just enough damage to render him helpless on the ground for something more serious. This is the fun part. After they're on the ground gasping for air, you can opt for 1 of 4 methods of execution. You can simply shoot to kill, "curb Stomp" (Ever seen American History X? Yeah like that.), Chain saw or do a melee attack. Oh the chain saw, I almost forgot! Yeah, that's the real kicker of this game, the staple if you will. There's this rifle called the "Lancer" which has a saw at the end instead of a bayonette. I'm surprised no one has thought of it sooner.

Alright, lets back up a bit. I did mention there could be more to this game. And despite my accolades thus far, I still stand by what I said. All the story elements aside, it's the multiplayer that needed some extra TLC when it came to the content. That's not to say the multiplayer isn't great, because it is. But the 3 modes offered aren't really all that different from each other. There's Warzone, Execution and Assassination. Warzone is a straight forward team deathmatch (the better of the 3). Execution requires either a sniper head shot or an up close kill everytime. Meaning you can't shoot and kill a guy while he's down (not very realistic and just gives less advanced players more chances). Assassination has both teams vying to kill the other teams leader first. Who ever makes the kill becomes the next leader. I would have liked to see more modes of play. Something like "Attack/Defend" or even "Capture Points".

The game's campaign tells the tale of a man named Marcus Fenix. He, like the other soldiers around him, is an extremely thick dude that very clearly doesn't have time to bleed. The game immediately sets an action movie-like tone, complete with an interesting post-apocalyptic world that's been overrun by a mysterious force called the Locust. Marcus is a former soldier for the Coalition of Organized Governments, or COG. Their soldiers wear ridiculously huge, bulky armor, but can't be bothered to wear helmets. They're just that tough. Or stupid. Either way, Fenix is a former soldier that's been branded a traitor and locked away, but he's busted out of prison at the opening of the game, to help in the fight against the Locust. After a brief tutorial level where you and Dom, the soldier that busted you out, make your way out of the Locust-infested prison and, yes, get to the chopper, you're connected with the other members of Delta Squad and sent out to find Alpha Squad, which is both missing and supposedly in possession of a device that could turn the tide of the war. The game's story isn't very deep, and aside from a very brief mention in the front of the manual, it doesn't really bother to fill you in on the details behind the conflict or the main character's incarceration. The lack of exposition feels like a missed opportunity to make the characters and the setting even more compelling, and there are parts of the game that seem like they were built specifically to make room for some kind of flashback sequence, but the gameplay is so sharp that you probably won't care.

You'll fight a decent variety of enemies in Gears of War. Most of the Locust are humanoids, with minor visual distinctions between the standard troops, ones with shotguns, and so on. Later on, you'll fight some different-looking humanoid-style enemies that are armed with explosive torque bows, and there are plenty of other critters to face--some small, some screen-filling. They all use slightly different tactics, but the same basic rule applies: Wait for them to pop their heads (or other weak points) out and attempt to shoot it off. The enemy response to your actions has its great moments, but it also has its problems. Enemies hiding behind cover tend to not react when they get hit. From time to time, you might catch the back of an enemy peeking just over a piece of cover, and if you start shooting it, he'll usually just sit there and let you drill him to death. But in spite of its few problems, the action is tense and extremely enjoyable.

Gears of War is the most widely hyped game in recent memory and only the likes of a new Zelda game, or Halo game can truly rival the hype and press that Gears of War has received. To answer the question: Does the game live up to the hype? Yes! I have been playing this game nonstop since I purchased it the day of its release last Tuesday. It is incredibly fun and addictive and I haven't played another console game since. Does it have its flaws? Yes, of course, but ultimately the whole package makes you forget about them. So what are the flaws? some may say the campaign mode is too short, this is the one critique I have read and would really argue with someone about. The campaign has only 5 acts and if you're any good at VGs and play the game on casual...you'll beat the campaign in under 10 hours. Casual is ridiculously easy and makes you the Suk online. However, Hardcore is a decent challenge without being frustrating (and I've heard Insane is...well insane). Regardless, the campaign is done SOOO well even if it is short. It has been tailored for Co-op. The campaign mode is fully playable with a friend over xbox live, system link, or on the same damn system. You can play with a stranger too, if you want! just search or host a co-op game. Maybe the 8-12 hour campaign is too short, but with diverging paths, achievements to be unlocked, and 2 different characters to play...it works brilliantly. There are so many memorable moments and phenomenal battle scenarios that you can't knock it. Plus I would rather have a crisp, well done campaign leaving me salivating for more than some long arduous thing that I am beating out of obligation. The only reason that I have campaigns left incomplete is because multiplayer is where this game's legs are. GoW focuses on Team deathmatch (basic and 2 variants) and although they could really use some more modes (CTF, Assault, whatever!) I have to admit that Team Deathmatch is always my favorite mode (whether call of duty or Halo 2) so at least there's that. The online play is absolutely everything it was hyped to be and is just so much fun, my heart starts racing just thinking and typing about it. Gears of War is on a very short list of online games that I see myself keep coming back to (Halo and MGS being the others). Yes, sometimes your mic stops working. Yes, there are problems connecting to hosts. Yes, the modes are limiting. Yes, there are tweaks that could improve it, but ultimately who gives a F*@k! The game is incredibly fun and that's what games are meant to be. YOu think about the game at work, you get frustrated when you don't win, and you hoot and holler with your friends online all night. Great Game! Worthy of the Attention.

Gameplay: 9/10
Pros: Pop-N-stop gameplay has been born and it is a whole new way to play a shooter. Easy to pick up and play
Cons: Can be very frustrating online...pressing A to dive when instead you slide into a wall.

Graphics: 10/10
Pros: The best graphics I have EVER witnessed and I only have 480p HD. Truly Beautiful.
Cons: Not as impressive as Metal Gear 2's graphics were in their time.

Sound: 10/10
Pros: Clear, quality voicework, perfect and viceral gun, chainsaw, and weapons of massive destruction sounds.
Cons: The COG guy with the mask looks so cool, but sounds like a tool

...read the rest at http://gnadegames.blogspot.com​, Ebay cut the end off.

From the moment Xbox 360 launched in November of 2005, everyone has been waiting for the “killer app” that would single handedly justify purchasing the console. The original Xbox of course had Halo. But since Halo 3 was a long way off, gamers turned to Gears of War. Ever since its first showing at E3, fans have been dying to get their hands on this graphically stunning game. With Microsoft hyping the game as the next Halo, expectations could not have been any higher. The good news is that all that hype was well deserved. Epic managed to deliver on all of its promises and provide a compelling third-person action game.

The game opens up with Marcus Fenix being busted out of prison by his best friend Dominic. It appears Fenix was imprisoned for disobeying orders during the initial locust invasion by trying to save his father. Apparently things have gotten significantly worse since his incarceration and humanity needs every bit of help that it can get. With a full pardon, your initial objective after escaping the prison is to meet up with Delta Squad and stage a rescue mission for Alpha Squad, which is in possession of a weapon that may have the power to turn the tide of war. That’s about as deep as the storyline gets; there is not any more back-story to the conflict or anything like that. But that’s not to say that it doesn’t keep you interested. The game features quite a few excellent in engine cut-scenes that move the story along at a good pace. The combat chatter between the soldiers in your squad gives each of them a unique personality, even if they aren’t very deep characters.

While the storyline is only average, the gameplay is exceptional. The combat is very intense, forcing you to take cover whenever you can. Taking cover feels very natural, making it easy to pop in and out to shoot. You also have the ability to shoot blindly around corners to stay concealed, but it is not very accurate. The enemy AI is pretty good at shooting you when you pop out, so you only have a few seconds to fire before you need to take cover again. This makes flanking an especially effective tactic allowing you to rob the enemy of their cover while keeping your own. The enemies put up a pretty good fight and will attempt to flank you as well, keeping you on your toes. You also have a squad with you that you will be able to issue limited commands to. They do a pretty good job of distracting enemies, allowing you to sneak up behind them. They also do a decent job of taking out enemies on their own, which is good because you are usually outnumbered.

If playing with an entirely AI squad isn’t your thing, the game has the ability to play the entire single player campaign with a buddy. This can be done via split-screen or over Xbox Live. This can make the game considerably easier, allowing you to work with your teammate to flank enemies. You can also revive your teammate if he goes down as long as he doesn’t die during one of the sequences where you and your teammate split up and go down separate paths. Playing over Xbox Live was extremely smooth without a single hit of lag.

To take on the locust horde, you have a pretty good selection of weapons. You can carry two weapons at a time as well as grenades and a pistol. All of the weapons feel extremely powerful and are fun to fire. The Lancer will be your standard purpose weapon for most of the game. It’s a fully automatic machine gun with a pretty good rate of fire, but it also features a chainsaw bayonet, allo

Pros
+ Intense & Highly Addictive!!!
+ More than just a shooter (taking cover, survival horror elements, & squad combat all rolled into one).
+ Really feels like you are doomed to extinction in a war-torn world.
+ Gorgeous graphics + Great Controls + Online Multiplayer = Months & Months of Happy Gaming
+ Awesome co-op play.
+ Great effects & satisfying melee attacks.
+ Awesome enemies & you can play as most of them in multiplayer.

Cons
- Not a lot of vehicles & no vehicles at all in multiplayer.
- Online needs work (getting into matches, hosting matches, other people can ruin the experience before you even get to playing). Maps have few weapons and racing to the weapons is a chore.
- Host advantage, the same fault that 'Halo 2' suffered from.
- Sniper rifle is only single shot. Do semi-automatics not exist in the future?

Comments
Gears of War is a great game. It still needs some work as far as the online goes. Host advantage is getting old & just plain unfair. This game is one of the most intense games I've ever played. I can't begin to tell you how much fun it is. Just be quiet or the Beserker might here you!!!

Verdict
A real must have for your collection. This may even make you stop playing Halo until part 3 comes out!!!

This was my 3rd game for my 360 and is and will always be one of my favorites. The single player is very good and well thought out. Its pretty long too, over 10 hours long if you take the time to enjoy it. But in my opinion, where the real magic lies, is in the live for this game. I haven't gotten tired of the xbox live since i've had this game and I got it months ago. They add new maps every once in a while, and they eventually become free. Also I just think it's so fun to play against other people around the world. The maps also have good things about them that help to get good spots to use it's weapons.

Additional Information about Gears of War
Portions of this page Copyright 2001 - 2007 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.

Description
A third-person tactical shooter from Epic, running on the Unreal Engine 3. Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet.

Unlike other shooters, Gears of War is all about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage co-operative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities.) On top of that, voice recognition will be available for players, and obviously voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. In addition to voice chat, gamers will be able to experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize their games, and build and personalize their gamer profiles over Xbox Live.

Special Features
Engaging and disturbing cinematic story: Massively scoped worlds, memorable characters, and an epic storyline play out like an intense and unsettling blockbuster action film. Dramatic in-game camera work and a compelling story bring the brutal, emotionally charged experience to life. Control Marcus Fenix and his fire team as you pit advanced human technology against the overwhelming and horrific Locust Horde.Fire team co-op action: All game modes, levels, and scenarios are designed for cooperative fire team play (A.I. or human). For the first time, A.I. teammates are indiscernible from human players. They move intelligently, take orders effectively, and seek cover and defend themselves when necessary. Experience rich cooperative gameplay through unique characters that require cooperation to survive.Unprecedented visuals: Gears of War ushers in the next generation with unprecedented visuals. The Unreal Engine 3 technology pushes high-definition visual designs and brings out the smallest details in the largest battle. Experience a rich dynamic world with an unprecedented level of detail. Characters come to life with unbelievable model quality and a physics-integrated animation system that has them truly reacting intelligently to events as they unfold around them.Hyper-realistic and intense combat: The battlefield is a lethal place;to foolishly stand out in the open is to die. To survive, create and take cover using interactive and dynamic environments, suppress the enemy with blindfire, and use weapons and teammates to outwit and outfight terrifying enemies.Xbox Live action: Gears of War will embody the next-generation Xbox Live experience and extend it even further. Experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize your games, and build and personalize your gamer profiles., In this epic tale that plays out like a Hollywood blockbuster, lead Marcus Fenix as he pits advanced human technology against the overwhelming Locust Horde; a I teammates are indiscernible from human players. Voice recognition and real-time lip synching heighten the immersive experience; unreal engine 3 technology brings out the smallest details in the largest battle. Experience a rich, dynamic world where characters come to life; the battlefield is a lethal place.

Gears of War is a high energy, well detailed sci fi shooter set in a dismal future. You are a muscular, well trained soldier wearing pounds of gear, armor and weapons - and it'll barely be enough to keep you alive.

This game is compared frequently to Halo, but if Halo is the lighthearted ease of Star Wars, Gears of War is the non-stop assault and clinging to life of Alien. You're not jumping around like a kangaroo here, blasting at foes. You are heavily laden, crouching behind anything you can find to shield you, trying your best to stay alive for five more minutes. You have to work strategically with your fellow soldiers to climb forward every inch.

The graphics in Gears of War are very impressive. The game is done in a palatte of browns, greys and reds. The dismal skies above, the swarms of black birds, the dented and dingy equipment - this is a world on the verge of despair. Enemies don't stand out with brightly colored costumes. You have to really pay attention to know where they are and to take them out.

The sounds really help drive home the urgency of your mission. Voices cry out on all sides for help. The hammering of the machine guns and rapid fire weapons ring in your ears. The soundtrack is pounding and epic. If anything this is all TOO pounding - after playing this for weeks, I really can get a headache :) I'd turn it down, but then I wouldn't be able to tell where the enemies were sniping me from sometimes.

The storyline really helps involve you in what is going on. It's like being at the center of a high power action movie. There are decisions you can make along the way to help guide the story. I really enjoy the "fight for every inch of soil" way it has you feel like you are involved in a real challenge. It might seem TOO challenging for some new gamers. Stick with it - it's well worth it.

I do wish, with all of their emphasis on taking cover and being cautious - that you could CROUCH. I understand not being able to jump - you're wearing hundreds of pounds of gear! However, you can crouch behind cover. Why can't you crouch when you're not near cover, to lower your profile a bit? I think that would help out in some situations.

Still, that's a minor complaint for a fantastic game. If you're a mature gamer (there's a fair amount of blood here) that enjoys shooters, definitely pick this one up!

Gears of War is a high energy, well detailed sci fi shooter set in a dismal future. You are a muscular, well trained soldier wearing pounds of gear, armor and weapons - and it'll barely be enough to keep you alive.

This game is compared frequently to Halo, but if Halo is the lighthearted ease of Star Wars, Gears of War is the non-stop assault and clinging to life of Alien. You're not jumping around like a kangaroo here, blasting at foes. You are heavily laden, crouching behind anything you can find to shield you, trying your best to stay alive for five more minutes. You have to work strategically with your fellow soldiers to climb forward every inch.

The graphics in Gears of War are very impressive. The game is done in a palatte of browns, greys and reds. The dismal skies above, the swarms of black birds, the dented and dingy equipment - this is a world on the verge of despair. Enemies don't stand out with brightly colored costumes. You have to really pay attention to know where they are and to take them out.

The sounds really help drive home the urgency of your mission. Voices cry out on all sides for help. The hammering of the machine guns and rapid fire weapons ring in your ears. The soundtrack is pounding and epic. If anything this is all TOO pounding - after playing this for weeks, I really can get a headache :) I'd turn it down, but then I wouldn't be able to tell where the enemies were sniping me from sometimes.

The storyline really helps involve you in what is going on. It's like being at the center of a high power action movie. There are decisions you can make along the way to help guide the story. I really enjoy the "fight for every inch of soil" way it has you feel like you are involved in a real challenge. It might seem TOO challenging for some new gamers. Stick with it - it's well worth it.

I do wish, with all of their emphasis on taking cover and being cautious - that you could CROUCH. I understand not being able to jump - you're wearing hundreds of pounds of gear! However, you can crouch behind cover. Why can't you crouch when you're not near cover, to lower your profile a bit? I think that would help out in some situations.

Still, that's a minor complaint for a fantastic game. If you're a mature gamer (there's a fair amount of blood here) that enjoys shooters, definitely pick this one up!