Gears of War 3 Forces of Nature DLC announced

Epic Games has revealed the fourth downloadable map pack for Gears of War 3, bringing elemental forces to the Gears formula with the suitably titled Forces of Nature DLC.

Besides the core content of three new weather-worn maps, and remakes of two existing maps, the DLC includes four special "Elemental Cleaver" weapons, new Achievements, four new character skins, and seven additional weapon skins (two of which can only be unlocked by playing the DLC).

Read on for a breakdown of the new maps which make up the Gears of War 3 Forces of Nature DLC, courtesy of GameTrailer's Side Mission:

Aftermath – A government park torn apart by a tsunami, scattered with debris, seaweed and a massive cargo ship perched precariously on top of a building. Earthquakes make aiming tricky, while flooded areas mean sneaking around becomes more difficult with water sloshing around as you move.

Artillery –A storm is brewing over a military base, and soon lightning splits the sky, followed by a tornado whirling just beyond the play are. While the resulting winds can mask your approach, the dust and debris impedes visibility.

Cove – An open map made up of a Stranded village with long lines of sight and a perfect snipers nest in a ship, but with a thick layer of fog to complicate matters.

Jacinto – The city has been overrun with lambent stalks flooding some areas with emulsion, and when the drizzle turns into a downpour visibility is reduced.

Raven Down – A snow-decked crossroads centered on a downed Raven chopper, a destroyed train, and the debris that came along with the wreckage. The falling snow dramatically cuts down visibility even as the storm settles occasionally.

The Gears of War 3 Forces of Nature DLC will be out on Xbox LIVE on 27 March for free for Season Pass holders, or 800 MS Points for everyone else.

[via GameTrailers, Digital Spy]