Gears of War 3

It’s hard to even imagine the amount of pressure that must have been resting on the team behind the massive Gears of War series to finish things off with a bang. We’ve been adventuring alongside Marcus Fenix and the rest of Delta Squad for years now, these soldiers and their ongoing struggle for survival have become part of our lives, and we would expect nothing short of a spectacular end to this epic saga. It seems that, in the face of such ridiculously high expectations, developer Epic Games has proven once more that they truly are masters of their craft, creating an awe-inspiring end to the current story arc that goes beyond what most of us could have ever hoped for.

Gears of War 3 exceeds expectations on many fronts. At its core this is clearly still the brutal and aggressive third-person shooter which won favour among hordes of gamers back in 2006, but literally every aspect of the whole Gears of War concept has been dramatically improved upon. If you loved the first two titles for the intense multiplayer action, then you are in for a real treat this time around. Likewise, if it was the narrative-driven and cinematic campaign which drew your attention before, prepare to be simply blown away by what Epic have put together for this grand finale.

As with the first two chapters in this adventure, Gears of War 3 once again sees the last remnants of humanity up against the threat of extinction. There is a pungent stench of desperation in the air of Sera, more so than ever before - humanity has been pushed to the brink and there is very little hope left to cling to. For our heroes in Delta Squad, enemies far outnumber allies. Besides the savage Locust and mutant Lambent forces, non-military civilians have for the most part turned against the C.O.G as well. Previous efforts to put an end to the Locust and Lambent invasions have left the world broken and scarred, and at huge cost to civilian life. Shut out by the very people they are looking to save, Delta Squad have no one to rely on but themselves. Humanity is just about out of options, and so with dogged determination our band of heroes forge a path onward to one last shining beacon of hope - something that can end the the Locust and Lambent threat once and for all.

The narrative is driven forward with far more purpose this time, and while there are plot lines left over from previous chapters which need to be tied up, there is never a time where it feels forced. The first game was a very focused affair with a rather straightforward narrative, but when the sequel opened things up with sub-plots and new depth to the storytelling, some felt that the whole Gears experience was somewhat diluted. For Gears of War 3 there is no padding, just succinct storytelling and character development, all of which makes the whole Gears narrative even more compelling than ever before. Violence and firepower still take center stage here, but there are also moments of subtlety, moments of reflection; we finally get a deeper look into the hearts and minds of the characters we’ve grown so attached to over the years. There is a maturity to the storytelling here that we rarely see in action gaming. Don’t be surprised if you are genuinely moved by the events that unfold as this saga works towards its conclusion.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Gears of War 3 is some kind of emotional schmaltz-fest though - this may be the most graceful storytelling we’ve seen in the series so far, but it’s also by far the most aggressive and relentless in terms of pure action. Firefights are tight and focused, using more or less the same brilliant cover-based combat mechanic that has carried the franchise since day one. It’s a combat system which has inspired countless other shooters, and it’s been so influential for a reason: it works like a charm. The pace of the action is similar to that of the first two chapters, but I was pleased to not be confronted with quite so many over-the-top boss battles with those fearsome beasts which take up most of the screen. Instead we now have more sequences where Delta Squad are swarmed by smaller, fast moving enemies - something which I feel does an even better job of creating battlefield tension, and subsequent relief when the last shrieking creature is laid to rest in a crimson explosion of ruptured flesh. Moving away from the sometimes claustrophobic caves and underground passages of the previous titles, much of the combat now takes place in sprawling open spaces. This changes the gameplay somewhat, suddenly opening up new possibilities for flanking and battleground strategy.

The new approach to level design, with huge outdoor vistas to explore and vast draw-distances to fill, gave Epic Games a chance to show off just how comfortable they are with Microsoft’s hardware. Both from afar and up close, the environments in Gears of War 3 are simply stunning. The decaying city of Char, littered with the ash remains of those who couldn’t escape the Hammer Strikes which were meant to end the Locust invasion; a deserted air base, strewn with the rusted rib cages of destroyed bomber planes; all the way down to a shimmering underwater sequence in a submarine, complete with coral reefs and a sunken city - I feel compelled to call this the best looking game we’ve seen on the Xbox 360 thus far. This magnificent visual fidelity follows through to every facet of the games graphics, from the intricately detailed character models to the incredible lighting which bleaches the deserts and drowns the darkest corners, it’s all quite amazing, so polished, and without a single instance of texture pop-up or distance clipping. Just amazing.

It is a feat of developmental genius that Epic Games could create such a startling game world, populate it with the most incredible creatures, and deliver a near perfect blend of intense action and emotive storytelling for a campaign that will have you entranced for the 10 hours plus that it takes to complete. What makes it even more extraordinary is that all of this single-player goodness is really just half of the story. Those who know the Gears of War franchise will know that the multiplayer component is at least as important as the standard campaign, and once again Epic has not let fans down for this final chapter. The multiplayer action takes the best parts of what has come before, and cranks it all up to the maximum. Your basic Versus modes, including the usual Team Deathmatch, Capture the Leader, Wingman and more, deliver the same white-knuckle intensity we’ve come to love from the series, with an array of stunning maps which far outshine those found in Gears 1 and 2. These modes alone would have most of us in blood-soaked gaming heaven for months, but there are even more enticing options lurking within.

First of all, a big change this time around is the inclusion of four-player co-op for the campaign, meaning that you and three friends can experience the wonder of the story mode together from start to finish, or you can join up with an in-progress campaign to relive your favourite moments. The split-screen mode is still limited to two players though, before you get too excited. Another element of the online component which I felt surpasses the standard Versus modes is the Horde Mode, returning from it’s debut in Gears of War 2. Here you and your team have to defend your base as hordes of Locust and Lambent enemies swarm in from every angle, with each wave growing more aggressive. There is a currency system in place here, whereby you earn points for your actions which can then be spent on better weapons and base defenses such as barbed wire or laser fences.

This currency system also plays a part in the all-new Beast Mode - effectively the opposite of Horde Mode, where you and your co-op partners take on the role of the bad guys trying to breach the human team’s stronghold. Success unlocks increasingly powerful creatures, each more expensive to access than the last, giving you the opportunity to storm a human base as everything from the fast-moving explosive Ticker to the lumbering Boomer or even the almost invincible Bezerker. Beast Mode and its polar opposite Horde Mode are both ridiculously addictive, and make for a most engaging way to play Gears of War 3 with friends.

When you look at the astoundingly comprehensive package that Epic Games has put together with Gears of War 3, it really is hard to fault the end result. Not only is this possibly the most visually impressive title we’ve seen on the Xbox 360, but it’s also a showcase of the kind of intense, fluid gameplay which made the series great. The impeccable multiplayer action - loaded with a variety of excellent game modes - is for once matched by the depth of character and emotive gravitas of the campaign narrative, a story which will have you in its clutches to the bloody end. We’re talking about a final chapter in a puzzle which has been put together over five years, and it’s quite amazing to see how perfectly the pieces have all fallen into place. Unlike so many other ‘final episodes’ we see, there are no loose ends flapping about, no hanging questions which point so blatantly to another sequel - instead we have a story which has been closed off as neatly and conclusively as we could have hoped for after all this time. Admittedly this grand finale won’t have the same impact on those who have somehow overlooked the series to this point, so do yourself a favor and pick up the first two games right away. Gears of War 3 is an action shooter which you honestly can’t afford to miss.

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