Gears 3 Reviews are Rolling In

 

With Epic's Gear of War 3 coming out this upcoming Tuesday (9/20/11), the reviewers have started releasing their thoughts on the the final installment of the story arc. Below are just a few of the ratings released thus far.

Game Informer gave the game a 9.5 out of 10, calling the game a "blockbuster finale" that fans have been craving. In the review, they emphasized the high quality of the graphics and audio content of the game, as well as some handling improvements for the cover system. The reviewer asserts that, while the game does not do anything "radical" or new, it is still a top notch game that you'd expect from a large, talented development crew and "bottomless budget." The reviewer doesn't pay as much attention to the game's multiplayer, but emphasizes the wealth of options available including traditional online, co-op, Horde mode and Beast mode.

The Escapist gave Gears 3 a 4 out of 5 stars. The reviewer asserts that while the game is an "excellent third-person shooter" with an interesting story, it suffers from problems in character development. For example, he argues that Cole is the only character whose lines are not "interchangeable" with all the other soldiers. He also mockingly states that the game really only had "two moments of genuine human emotion." However, he also emphasizes the wealth of tactical gameplay that Gears 3 offers - both in its campaign as well as in its co-op and Horde/Beast modes.

Now Gamer gives Gears of War 3 a 9.6 out of10,  calling it "simply the best Gears of War game in existence" and giving it their Violence, LOL and Multiplayer awards.The reviewer argues that the game has a "compelling story" full of deep motifs, but all those get pushed aside by "evisceration and a never-ending hail of hot lead." That certainly sounds like the Gears series to me! According to the reviewer, the game features a "vastly improved enemy AI" and several elements that make staying in one place an ineffective strategy. He also asserts that the game looks "bloody gorgeous" and has more "creative flair" than its predecessors - not to mention a frame rate that "never lets up." He also goes on to describe the how the Horde and Beast modes are addictive, but require intense amounts of teamwork - especially when you find yourself fighting the games protagonists in Beast mode. As for traditional multiplayer, the review praises the superb balance and the addition of the enemy-spotting system.

While each reviewer seems to emphasize a different part of the game, they seem to affirm that the game has in fact lived up to its hype. To say the least, it definitely appears the Epic's next epic installment has something to offer for all kinds of players.

With Gears of War 3, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim, and many more big budget titles coming out, this holiday season definitely seems to be one of the most dynamic that the gaming industry has seen to date.