If you own an X360 should you get Gears of War? The answer is simple, I will kill you if you don't. This game screams next-gen from the moment you start playing and finish the somewhat short but near orgasmic single-player experience.
Where should I begin? I know, I'll begin with the thing that completely blows you away when you start the game, the visuals. This game in every aspect is the best looking game out right now on any console and I dare say the PC; of course future titles on the PC will see even crazy good visuals once DX10 becomes the standard in gaming API. The animations deserve praise too, as they are very smooth and compliment the stunning visuals. This game does not disappoint in the visual department.
Gears of War has a story, which I think many people overlook, but it's embedded in its 'destroyed beauty', and the conversations you hear from your teammates. Another great aspect is that you know as much as the character, Marcus Fenix, you are playing as. Unlike some games or books when the player or reader has insight on knowledge that their character does not posses you are not going to be screaming, "NO DON'T DO THAT!!!" or "How can he be so stupid it's obvious that this and that will make that and this happen.". For those expecting a story telling be in for a minor disappointment, because this game is a story that you play, not witness then play.
Much can be said about the sound in the game too. The music is top-notch, and reminds one of UT2k4's soundtrack, which I personally loved. The guns, voice-overs, enemies and everything sounds just pristine. For you sound junkies this is grade-A stuff. Personally I thought the tough-guy talk was perfect for the characters in the game and I am at a loss as why people want them to be more poetic in their conversations; these guys have gone through some heavy stuff, say losing billions of people and fighting every day for their very existence, and fighting does really sullen the poetic mind.
Game-play wise Gears of War does not do anything overly innovative, but what it does is take already excellent and proven mechanics, mix them and combine them into one perfect... thing... it just has that 'feel' like Halo. Even though all these well executed and incorporated may not be individually innovative, the way that they are put together and executed is. The levels feel just right, so you won't feel like some levels are 'filler' levels and the action is tight and fun, and even more fun when you co-op it. The guns are wonderful and fun and the Lancer (chainsaw-gun or pwnerer)is just so satisfying to use, even borderline therapeutic - unleash the anger digitally, not in reality. The cover-shoot system is very well implemented and to be honest is a very good relief from all the run-and-gun games of it's genre.
The controls are generally great and cause no confusion, the sensitivity on the controls is just right from the beginning so I wouldn't recommend tampering with them unless you know exactly what you want. Though one bad thing was that a lot of the actions were very A-button centric and sometime could cause frustration when you want for example to roll but you ended up taking cover because a wall was near. Apart from this the controls are great and simple and anyone should be able to pick one up and play without problems or confusion.
Overall this game delivers one of the most satisfying gaming experiences to date, and dare I say it, the best co-op experience ever; so if you are a co-op fan this game should be a no-brainer for you. From its jaw-dropping visuals and sounds to the satisfying feel of mutilating a Locust with a chainsaw this game delivers on all fronts and guarantees an unforgettable gaming experience. Epic has certainly raised the bars for forthcoming games of its genre.
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