Gears of War 3
Gears of War 3 is the epic conclusion of the
Gears of War Trilogy. Epic Games has pulled off something that any video game
developer will tell you, three consecutive games that are brilliant and hit
just about every goal the team strived for. Gears of War 3 introduces new
enemies, engages the player in an enthralling story, maintains interest in the
characters players have come to know and love, and continues to set the bar for
single and online gameplay. So the question remains, is Gears of War 3 worth the investment?
? Is it really worth my money? And it really as good as people
say it is? Read on, see what I think, and then decide for yourselves.
? Is it really worth my money? And it really as good as people
say it is? Read on, see what I think, and then decide for yourselves.
Gears of War 3 Overview
Gears of War 3 takes place two years after
the fall of Jacinto, the last human city. In a desperate, last-ditch attempt to
wipe out the Locust Horde and ensure the future of man kind, Jacinto was
sacrificed. To the dismay of the survivors, it was all in vain. As those who
remain settle the secluded island known as Vectes, a new threat emerges in the
form of the Lambent. Cairman Prescott has disappeared, and COG (The Coalition
of Ordered Governments) has been disbanded. Knowing the survivors are
vulnerable, and with humanity’s military in complete disarray, the Lambent
strike against Vectes. Marcus Fenix and his squad rise to meet the Lambent in a
battle to determine the fate of the human race on Sera.
Gears of War 3 Single Player
Gears of War 3 has improved upon the already
high standards players expect from Epic Games. In no place is the more true
than in the single player experience. Gears of War 3, and its predecessors are
an anomaly among shooters in this day and age. By that I mean, there are so few
shooters out there that truly have an engaging story to tell, and even fewer still
that can actually get the players to care. The campaign is an adrenaline rush.
There are plenty of moments that will tear at the player’s heart strings, and
in the end, players will feel completely invested in the overall story. The
spectacular campaign is easily 10-13 hours of solid gameplay, depending on
whether or not you play with friends and on what difficulty level. Play split
screen, or online with up to three other players. It doesn’t matter, either
way, you and your friends will have a blast and I highly recommend you play
this game at least with one other person.
Gears of War 3 Trailer Youtube vid by IGN
Gears of War 3 Narrative
One complaint some players may have is with
the narrative of Gears of War 3. The story, at times, seems to take a few
detours. But bear with it as each story arc plays a key role in regards to the
overall plot of the story and it’s main themes: Man’s indomitable spirit,
sacrifice, and our drive to survive and prosper even against seemingly
impossible odds.
Gears of War 3 Level Design
As far as level design in Gears of War 3,
players have cause to rejoice. Many complained about the linear levels that
mostly felt like corridors Epic Games has done its best to alleviate the fears
of gamers who didn’t want Gears of War 3 to continue this negative trend. In
Gears of War 3, players will duke it out with the Locust and Lambent in vibrant
set pieces with beautiful environments that do a stellar job in immersing the
players into the world while creating that perfect sense of action and
desperation. Compared to the first Gears of War game, players may not
experience many “first times” such as the first time a Berserker came charging
straight at them in a narrow hall with almost nowhere to run or hide. But the
game does manage to keep the heart pumping. Players will have to use the many
weapons, both old and new to their advantage, and come up with some strategies
as many enemies are only vulnerable at certain points on the body. Not to
mention some Lambent explode right in your face when you kill them. Flanking is
emphasized a bit more in Gears of War 3 than in One and Two, but this adds to
the fun. For those in need of a more competitive fix, try out the campaign in
arcade mode to compare your scores to a friend earn bragging rights.
Gears of War 3 Multiplayer
Gears of War 3 has an amazing multiplayer
few games could ever hope to match. Horde Mode, a fan favorite, makes a
triumphant return and is even better than before. Earn money as you shoot down
your enemies and spend the cash on defenses and fortifications to increase your
chances of survival. And as each new wave is more difficult than the last, good
luck towards the end, you’ll need it. New to the series is Beast Mode. Beast
Mode was heavily advertised by developers and many promises were made. Players
looking forward to this new mode but were a bit worried that it wouldn’t live
up to the hype can rest at ease. Beast mode is everything we ever hoped it
would be. Become your favorite Locust/Lambent and use its special abilities to
take on increasingly difficult waves of human AI. The first time you rip the
arm off a poor soldier and bludgeon him to death with it is an experience of
its own.
Gears of War 3 Servers
Of course, Gears of War 3 has the more
traditional online modes as well. One of my favorites being Team Death Match,
which is exactly what it sounds like. Capture the Territory is essentially your
king of the hill game. Other modes have some exciting twists, such as Capture
the Leader. One team strives to capture the other team’s selected leader and
hold him/ her for as long as possible. As you can imagine, it is the other
team’s job to kill the other team and protect their leader. One of my personal
favorites is Execution in which the only way to score a real kill is by
executing an enemy with one of the brutal kill animations that differ based on
the weapon the player is using. And for those who were worried that the lag
from Gears of War 2 online would carry over, don’t be. It’s been taken care of
with dedicated servers that ensure this game can be played the way it’s meant
to be played. So no more blaming lag with a better player gets the jump on you
and splatters your brains on the pavement.
Gears of War 3 E3 Demo Youtube vid by IGN
Gears of War 3 Curb-Stomp-er
For all the things Gears of War 3 does
right, there are, however, a few things it does wrong. The dialogue does make
this sense of comradery for the most part, but there are times when the game
tries a little to hard to say something epic that will have some players
scoffing or rolling their eyes. While the gameplay as been tweaked and polished
for the most part, there really isn’t anything new about the gameplay mechanics
that stand out, and for many, much of what they do will feel like something
they’ve done a hundred times before. The bosses may look cool, but thee is very
little brain power required to overcome them, in fact, most are simply blasting
away with your gun until the big guy drops. The last boss in particular was a
disappointment, just like the previous games.
Gears of War 3 Final Verdict
Gears of War 3 is an outstanding game. Epic Games
more than delivers and creates a near perfect sendoff for the beloved trilogy.
The single player campaign is fast-paced and gorgeous to look at. The
multiplayer is stellar all around and will have players gaming for hours on
end. And though Gears of War 3 isn’t a perfect game, it is a shooter with a
story and characters the player actually cares about For those who haven’t
bought the game yet, be sure to do so, especially if third-person shooters are
your thing. Gears of War 3 earns a solid 9 out of 10.
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