For a game as humungous as Gears of War 3, we are most definitely convinced that a review can by no means be able to map the entire experience which the title has on offer from the minute you grab hold of your controller to the moment you set it down. It’s a pity that the developers did not bundle it with something to keep our jaws in place, since they kept dropping all the time due to the magnificence that sips through every teeny-weeny bit for Gears 3 for Xbox 360. Last in the franchise’s current storyline, this game is a cinematic masterpiece that delivers so effortlessly, the smoothest most crunchiest gameplay ever.
Eighteen months after the Jacinto incident, the now leaderless (after Chairman Prescott’s desertion) COG is left with no option but to disband into several units and live on their own, thus placing Delta Squad onboard a freight named CNV Sovereign. A shocking reappearance of Prescott reveals that Marcus’ dad Adam Fenix has been very much alive ever since his assumed death during the battle of Battle of Ephyra. Now that we’ve got the complicated part over with, the main task which the Gears are faced with in this game is to track down Adam on a location named Azura where he’s holed up. That’s because he’s got the solution that will permanently eliminate the lambent threat from the whole of Sera. This makes for the incredible narrative of this title that takes gamers through everything from locust aircrafts, to emulsion filled sewers, to even underwater submarine fights.
‘Forget stealth, smoke em!’ These words by Marcus Fenix during one of the game’s sequences straightforwardly summarize the gameplay philosophy on which the Gears 3 has been built. It would be careless of us not to praise the title’s efficient battle mechanics that so easily drive it to near perfection. A variety of weapons make their way into Gears of War 3, the most exciting among them being the Retro Lancer which is said to have been introduced on ‘popular demand.’ The normal Lancer however, is at its devastating best, proving to be one of the most effective weapons amongst all others. These coupled with new enemies add up to offer some of the most goriest kills ever. Inducing the game’s online experience with new life, developers have added to Gears 3 the new Beast mode which for the first time puts players in the shoes of Locusts as they set out to kill humans. However unthinkable that might sound to true Gears fans, this mode is surely a spectacular addition to the game.
An easily accessible navigation system makes sure that you’re never left in the lurch when in a mission. While the Insane and Hardcore difficulty modes throw several challenging elements, there is still a Casual mode for all the newbies out there. Speaking from the cinematic point of view, this game kicks in some of the best cut scenes to have set foot on console games. They are so exhilarating that we’re sure no one would want to miss a bit. A special mention would go the sequence in which (spoiler alert) Dom dies. We hate to break it out to you like this, but now that you’ve read it, it’s true. This particular cut scene is sure to bring out the emotional side of any Gears fan. Talking about the enemies, there’s a considerable amount of variety to their appearance. But what really make this game tick are the strategic situations that the characters are faced with.
Gears of War 3 coughs up fascinating visuals thanks to Epic’s ever so reliable Unreal Engine technology. The environments on planet Sera manage to get the better of you and leave a lasting impact, whereas the character designs are so extravagant that they force you to have blind faith in the fact that all that is happening on the screen is actually true. We might have exaggerated that part a bit, but we hope that drives home the point we’re trying to make. Gears of War 3 takes place in many different environments and what’s noteworthy is the fact that each setting has its own feel and uniqueness. Be it the seven star hotel building in Azura or the ash people filled city of Char. Superb lighting is another aspect that gives the game’s graphics a boost. And of course, who can forget the much hyped stereoscopic 3D.
Final Word: With so many diverse options available, Gears of War 3 for Xbox 360 gives you a sturdy replay value that’ll make you fall in love with this game all over again each time you try out a different game mode. We are yet to see a title that offers this good a multiplayer experience, while never at any point lagging behind in the single player department. But legend has it that Gears of War 3 has been hit with quite a number of snags related to its online features (who can forget the malfunctioning during entering the Horde mode). We were unlucky enough to experience one such fault. Downloading an update for the title corrupted and erased all our campaign progress, thus forcing us to start all over again. We certainly hope Epic comes up with a solution for these minor issues which kill the fun once in a while. With this, we wrap up the review and go into mourning the end of one of the most brilliant game series’ ever.
Graphics: 9.5/10
Sounds: 8.5/10
Environments: 9/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Replay Value: 9.5/10
Overall (not an average): 9.5/10