Gears of War

By Martin Davies Published 3 November, 2006

Hands-on with the three multiplayer modes.

Glistening water laps at the harbour wall. A cool, clear light bathes a flight of dusty steps, picking out the baroque details of a portico above. A chainsaw passes through your abdomen and you explode in a shower of offal.

Gears of War's environments are lethally beguiling. But it's testament to how engrossing the gameplay is that it takes only a short few rounds before you start to ignore the staggering beauty and fidelity of the game-world, and instead see only opportunities for cover, defensible positions and ambush points. Speculations that the game would end up being GRAW In Space, however, are unwarranted. Although the game is tactical, there is also an immediacy to it, born of Gears' intuitive context-sensitive commands, that GRAW sometimes lacks. The A button becomes a multipurpose action button, enabling you to run in open spaces, to leap over obstacles, to dodge, roll and to dive into cover. That this button performs so many features, rather than having separate buttons for each command, is liberating, rather than restricting as you might imagine. This is probably due to Epic's careful anticipation of player needs. You want to leap from behind a pillar and roll into cover behind a chassis of a chewed-up car so you can blind-fire over it's bonnet - and lo, there is a context-sensitive option for you to do so. This, combined with the superb animation and the third-person camera, lends a cinematic quality to the fighting that is absent from many other games.

The subtleties of the game's level design, as well as the over-the-top weapons and copious gore, make it a much more confrontational experience than most tactical shooters, too. The levels tend towards medium-sized open areas linked by tight gauntlets - but even in the most expansive of maps, the amount of cover available meant that the majority of fire-fights were reasonably close quarters. During our time at Epic's studios in Raleigh, we managed to play ten levels - the shipping number recently confirmed by the developer. Cliff Bleszinski was cagey about whether or not subsequent content releases were to be free or not. Promisingly, however, he pointed to Epic's track record of releasing free additional content and intimated that this is the way he personally would like to go.

'Gears of War' Screenshot 1

However, even the ten at launch are sure to offer you a decent level of diversity; aside from each being visually arresting in a unique way, several employ impressive set-pieces that help to vary the gameplay in significant ways. One level is fought on a sharp incline, creating interesting asymmetry - the advantage of the high ground mitigated by the sniper rifle spawn at the bottom. Another features a busy train-line, the crossing of which has to be timed pretty accurately lest you end up lubricating the tracks. A large gun emplacement dominates the centre-ground on a different level. It makes the match a mad dash for the centre, followed by a cat-and-mouse as players attacking the emplacement dart from cover to cover, trying to dislodge whoever is operating the gun. The tactics required to neutralise an entrenched opponent benefit from the way your health recharges - the indication of your near death is a bloody red circle in the centre of the screen which gradually fades as you recover. It's thus possible to approach the emplacement in stages, recovering from the gun's bombardment whilst in safety.

The amount of damage that players can take before going down falls somewhere between the extremes of realism - certainly more shots are required to make a kill than in most tactical shooters, but it takes less time to put someone down with the default assault rifle in Gears than with Halo's sub-machine gun, especially if you're aiming at the head. In all the multiplayer game modes, unless you are dismembered instantly, either by chainsaw, headshot or explosion, once you take enough damage you go "down but not out". In both normal team deathmatch and the Assassination game-type, your character is immobilised for a matter of seconds, after which he bleeds to death. This period can be extended by a frantic hammering of the A button, and during this time your team-mates can bring you back to full health by standing next to you and hitting X. Alternatively, your enemies can head-stomp you or chainsaw you or otherwise execute you in a number of grisly ways that unlock achievements. The Resurrection game-type changes this dynamic by automatically bringing downed players back to full health after this period of immobility expires. It sounds like a fairly negligible alteration but the affect on the game dynamic is marked - to actually kill an opponent you frequently have to get up close and personal, breaking cover to do so. Strange scenarios can arise in which you can use a downed team-mate to bait the execution-hungry opposition into ambush.

'Gears of War' Screenshot 2

Similarly subtle is the way in which the Assassination game-type differentiates itself from the other two. The one player from each team with the most points becomes the leader, and it is only by killing either of these that the round ends. In a further twist, it is only the leader who can pick up any of the special weapons on the map. However, once he has picked up a weapon, and drops it in exchange for another, that weapon then becomes available to his team-mates. Outfitting the team in this way can consume time, and the trade-off between armaments and reaching defensible areas of the map, demands quick and keen decision-making over who gets what.

As for the weapons themselves, it seems the default kit has changed from that reported at X06. The default weapon is the iconic machine gun with chainsaw bayonet - hardly puny in itself. However, we were told that the chainsaw has been balanced since that event. Previously, it was possible to run into a hail of fire revving the chainsaw and still slice your enemy in half; now your sawing is interrupted by bullets, meaning that it becomes a weapon which requires you to flank your enemy or approach him from behind. You are also equipped with a shotgun which is capable of exploding someone entirely apart when at close range - an excellent means of repelling a chainsaw-wielding foe - a pistol with decent long-range accuracy, and some smoke grenades. The grenades, which are launched in a satisfying bolas style, can be aimed using the left trigger, which brings up a transparent arc showing you the trajectory they will take once fired. Other weapons are available as pick-ups, each with their own carefully balanced idiosyncrasies. As with previous Epic games, no weapon is substantially better across the board than any other, but rather there is a scissor-paper-stone interplay amongst their various strengths and weaknesses. The possible exception to this is the spectacular Hammer of God. Aiming it presents another transparent tracer, not unlike that of the grenades, and when fired, it calls down a satellite laser bombardment upon your target. However, even this does have its vulnerabilities: it operates in short bursts, is pretty localised, requires tricky positioning to aim accurately, and is ineffective against enemies who have cover above them.

'Gears of War' Screenshot 3

Amongst the other more unusual weapons is the Torque Bow, which acts a bit like the Wookie Bowcaster from the Jedi Knight games. Holding down the right trigger will power up the charge, which, when fired, explodes a few seconds after lodging into something (or someone). Frag grenades, too, can be stuck to an enemy, as can the smoke grenades. Although not at all deadly, having an enemy run about pluming smoke is rather amusing. Further weapons include a rapid-firing assault rifle, a slow-loading but lethal sniper rifle, and the Boom Shot. This last is essentially a rocket launcher, but its projectiles follow a gentle arc, which, as with the other weapons, can be previewed using the left-trigger's aiming mode.

The weapons' balance is emphasised in the teamplay dynamic that the game encourages. With a maximum of four per team, Epic seems to have hit a sweet spot in which a coordinated attack is of massive benefit, but being outnumbered does not present insurmountable odds. Quite frequently, a single player would be able to turn the tide of a match with a few judicious sneak-chainsawings. However, we found that by splitting a team into groups of two, and then having a one-up one-down configuration within each of these, we became a more effective fighting force. Surprisingly, such tactics came intuitively, rather than through any actual planning on our part. Having to cooperate closely with only one other person to have a successful game will no doubt be a boon in online gameplay, where the reliability of a whole team cannot be counted upon.

Generally, the impression of the game is that it is not one of great innovation, but one in which the features are implemented with brilliant cohesion. The graphics alone would make this a truly next-gen experience, but the superb balancing of gameplay elements means that this is more than just a pretty face.

Gears of War is due out exclusively for Xbox 360 on 17th November.

Picture of Martin.

About Martin Davies

Read more articles from Martin by visiting the Martin Davies archive page.

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Comments (113) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • t8yman #1 5 years ago

    absolutely awesome, the hype machine is gonna hit bigtime over the next few days and I can wait!

  • vpin #2 5 years ago

    MP impressions only? So graphics in SP will look even better, no!?

  • Dizzy #3 5 years ago

    This is gonna be huge on Live.

  • [maven] #4 5 years ago

    This article actually gives a decent impression of the MP-game. :)
    Sounds like there might not be too much overlap between Rainbow Six:Vegas and this...
    Cheers!

  • space_ace #5 5 years ago

    nice gfx, does it have clipping?

  • mkreku #6 5 years ago

    Sounding fantastic so far! Let's hope the single payer portion is equally enticing, as that's what I'm most probable to be playing.

  • neuroniky #7 5 years ago

    I'm still undecided on getting this or Splinter Cell this month... crap, if I had to get all the interesting games coming lately I would have to eat bread and water in a cold house til the end of the month... this, Splinter Cell, Bully, Guitar Hero II, Dawn of War:DC, Medieval 2, NBA 2K7, Neverwinter Nights 2, GTR2/RACE... good that December has nothing interesting coming... oh damn, I forgot the WIIIIII!

    /me starts buying bread for lunch :D

  • Scimarad #8 5 years ago

    "Frag grenades, too, can be stuck to an enemy"

    Yay! Much of the fun of Halo was going "Oops!" and then watching your friend explode several seconds later...

    The preview has reassured me a great deal though to be honest the only mutliplayer I'm interested in is the Co-Op campaign.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 08:07

  • rtb #9 5 years ago

    First ever post on Eurogamer so be nice.

    I was over at EPIC last week and although I was not allowed to play the single player I got a brief glimpse and the game was stunning

    I was one of the 'create a nightmare' competition winners over at xbox.com.
    The entry can be seen here...
    [link url=http://www.iradx.com/kre8uk/images/s...hbookGears.jpg ]http://ww w.iradx.com/kre8uk/images/s...h...[/link]
    or in the sketchbook section item 2 at [link url=http://www.kre8uk.net
    ]http://www.kre8uk.net
    [/link]

    We did however play the MP

    All that hype about the game - it doesn't come close!
    The game was great

    We played all 10 maps I believe (at least all 10 were available). They were pretty mixed between symetrical and asymetrical from my memory. There was one that was fought up or down a hill (steps) and either side took turns at starting at the top or bottom with different tactical advantages and disadvantages. That was very cool.

    The map sizes varied a little but all were of a good size for the number of players. Fairly mid sized so you were allways assured of some action and not too big so that if only one player from each side was remaining they wouldn't lose each other.

    It only took a few plays to start recognising the maps and navigating well. However there were knooks and crannies that became more obvious over time and helped to formulate tactics on the field.

    I've never been a serious multiplayer gamer but this experience completely changed my view. The game was great - tactical without all the gadget clutter. Don't get me wrong GRAW is a great game I'm just not that good at it. But GOW was all instinct and intuition - you charge out guns blazing you'll go down and end up with a Boot or a chainsaw in your head

    Awesome stuff

  • Scimarad #10 5 years ago

    I hope this isn't going to be one of those games where the single player campaign is 'tacked on'. I'm not hearing a great deal about it...

  • trousers #11 5 years ago

    "so macho"

    Big and strong? Enough to turn you on?

    Anyway yes special thanks to Eurogamer for confirming this as a must have therefore causing a "I could have got you that for Christmas, can't you wait? How old are you anyway [1] that you can't wait a few weeks? HOW MUCH? You only just got that zombie game and that football one and we need to buy stuff for the kids for Christmas" argument.

    Gits.

    [1] Old enough to quote Sinitta songs on Eurogamer.

  • BartonFink #12 5 years ago

    Sounds superb, can't wait for this one.

  • repairmanjack #13 5 years ago

    Good.

    And I think this will be the last item I read on the game until I play it myself now. Looking forward to discovering Gears personally.

  • t8yman #14 5 years ago

    "I hope this isn't going to be one of those games where the single player campaign is 'tacked on'. I'm not hearing a great deal about it..."

    Thats because they have been very careful to keep the SP under wraps, apparently we have only seen about 5% of the game according to cliffy b. and they want to keep it that way, the inferrence that I read was that the game isnt all set in "rainy apocalyptic city" and they wanted to maintain an element of discovery when you actually buy the game.

    As far as the hype machine goes, for all the advance stuff I have read, there hasnt been anyone that has said "this game isnt worth the hype". I sincerely hope it is.

  • captainrentboy #15 5 years ago

    Maybe EG will give it an 8 after all :) I kind of expected a 7.
    Anyway me?I can't fooking wait to get my hands on this,only two weeks to go.Yeeeay!

  • effinwooly #16 5 years ago

    sweet ! just bring it

  • Steroyd #17 5 years ago

    I hope this isn't going to be one of those games where the single player campaign is 'tacked on'. I'm not hearing a great deal about it...

    Epic aren't exactly the best at the single player experience, but who knows, they might surprise.

    /tries not to bring up the terrible Voice Acting.

    D'oh!!

  • pjmaybe #18 5 years ago

    /gets all exciteable again.

    Peej

  • Uncle_Fishboy #19 5 years ago

    A tiny bit of wii just leaked out

  • BadBoyBonner #20 5 years ago

    Any self respecting graphics whore will be buying this regardless! I can not wait!

  • Yossarian #21 5 years ago

    told you

  • Wash #22 5 years ago

    @Steroyd

    With the production values and support M$ is giving this i think we do not have to worry about things like that.

  • Xerx3s #23 5 years ago

    For the ppl wondering if the single player is any good, ms send in a battalion of writers during the process to work on the story line, one of them being <a href='http://en.wi kipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Nylund'>Eric Nylund</a>.

    I'd reckon that the storyline isn't going to be stellar but good enough.
    Edited by 2 at 03/11/06 @ 09:20

  • Rambaldi #24 5 years ago

    In response to all the "wah wah wah it's all a load of hype it's MS 360 crap wah wah wah" crew:

    Swivel and wait four months to join the bandwagon :)

  • gizmo #25 5 years ago

    Sounds like a classic is dawning.

    Looking forward to this one greatly :):)

  • Xerx3s #26 5 years ago

    Rambaldi, they invented the ignore button you know? That nice big pulsating, throbbing button on the lower right? ;)

  • BadDevotions #27 5 years ago

    /pants in anticipation

  • shamblemonkee #28 5 years ago

    I had been really looking forward to this - but after watching the gameplay vid on EGTV the other day I was very underwhelmed... I'm hoping that it's significantly better to play than to watch.

  • Rambaldi #29 5 years ago

    @Xerx3s

    I'm touched that you haven't used it yet ;) I'll be expecting a Xmass card and everything!

    /promises to be more restrained...

  • MikeP #30 5 years ago

    "the impression of the game is that it is not one of great innovation, but one in which the features are implemented with brilliant cohesion."

    I'd much rather have a brilliantly coherent game than a novel but incoherent one, personally speaking. Having both is ideal, but how often does that happen?

    Up until now I'd not been that interested in GoW, but I am now. Also, looks like this and R6 Vegas are going to be far apart gameplay-wise. Good for fun, bad for wallet.

    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 10:00

  • Universal_Hamster #31 5 years ago

    I love the sound of those levels, Epic knows what they are doing concerning the construction of multiplayer maps. The level with the train running through it sounds like a recipie for hilarity.
    Reviving teammates is a damn good idea too, I especially like how the downed player has to hammer the A button to ("Dont die on me! Youre goin' home man!";) stay alive.

  • morriss #32 5 years ago

    14 days to go!!! \o/

  • Xerx3s #33 5 years ago

    @ Rambaldi: I wasn't talking about you, but if you like, I could give you some h0t man huggs. Depends on how much you pay though. ;p

  • CitizenGeek #34 5 years ago

    Meh

  • Pob #35 5 years ago

    There's always one...

    Edit:Hmm, profile inspections can be quite revealing!
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 10:20

  • fizzer25 #36 5 years ago

    i played halo for the first time ever last night im still on that ship though cos the dragon came round and complained that im always on the xbox 360 - well duh stupid bint!!

    So im gonna see how i get on with Halo b4 i try gow i have only ever completed one fps which was cod 2 about 3 weeks ago!!

    The eurogamer review could convince me into buying it though cos i loved multiplayer on cod 2 on live its wicked!!

  • Steroyd #37 5 years ago

    Edit:Hmm, profile inspections can be quite revealing!

    I know what you mean... DAYUM!! o_O

  • asphaltcowboy #38 5 years ago

    Sounds fantastic! Knew it! This is preordered and it's gonna be SWEET!

    /notes the surprising lack of naysayers :p

  • peterfll #39 5 years ago

    So Macho
    He's got to be
    So Macho
    He's got to be big and strong enough
    to turn me on
    He's got to have, big blue eyes
    Be able to satisfy
    He's got to be big and strong enough
    to turn me on

    Fabulous!

    Anyway, yeah in agreement with many others - what's the skinny on the SP??

    We ain't all MP whores you know.

    \Goes back to singing So Macho

  • Zomoniac #40 5 years ago

    Sounds rather spiffing. After the X06 videos underwhelmed me somewhat I let my hype for this slip and transfer over to Lost Planet and Assassin's Creed. GoW has once more returned to my NEED list.

  • El_MUERkO #41 5 years ago

    "it takes only a short few rounds before you start to ignore the staggering beauty and fidelity of the game-world, and instead see only opportunities for cover, defensible positions and ambush points"

    I saw a video of gears of war multiplayer on game trailers, what stood out for me was an antique chest of drawers its abiltity withstand heavy machinegun and rocket fire.

    It wouldnt be so rediculus if it wasnt for the incredible detail of the furniture, Epic have shot themselves in the foot by creating a stunningly believable decaying world and then making in largely indestructible, you dont feel a part of it.

    Gameplay is still the most important aspect of a gaming experience for me, the visuals can be as stunning as you like but if there is no substance then their is no replayability.

    This is not the next gen I'd hoped for. The more I read about this generation of consoles the more the PC appeals, the overwhelming focus on graphics to the neglect of physics and AI seems to be creating prettier xbox/ps2 games instead of new experiences.

  • DCrider360 #42 5 years ago

    GEARS OF WAR

    GAME OF 2006

    STANDARD

  • Psychotext #43 5 years ago

    The furniture is made out of a titanium oak composite. Nuff said. =)

  • tiddles #44 5 years ago

    It's the recent HD multiplayer footage on GameTrailers which has finally piqued my interest for this game - the environments do look fantastic, and the gameplay looks really polished and fluid... They're keeping the single-player under their hats, but even if it just features the same gameplay in some more great looking locations, it'll be worth price of admission.

    Oh, and Virgin are doing the Limited Edition for £40 online... :)

  • tiddles #45 5 years ago

    the inferrence that I read was that the game isnt all set in "rainy apocalyptic city" and they wanted to maintain an element of discovery when you actually buy the game

    You know what this means, though, don't you?

    YOU GO TO THE ALIEN PLANET, AND IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS THE BITS SET ON EARTH.

  • Dizzy #46 5 years ago

    "This is not the next gen I'd hoped for. The more I read about this generation of consoles the more the PC appeals, the overwhelming focus on graphics to the neglect of physics and AI seems to be creating prettier xbox/ps2 games instead of new experiences. "

    Yes and no. I agree only partly, as a games designer you have to make choices and destructible scenery is cool but you will end with no cover after a few minutes and a totally barren playfield (especially with these uber SF weapons) so I guess in this case the scenery is not destructible because of gameplay considerations. Designing games is not always about creating a realistic environment... in fact usually you do NOT want a realistic environment because in most cases they are NOT fun ;) I guess if you want real world physics, you better stop playing computer games and start playing some paintball.

  • Dizzy #47 5 years ago

    "YOU GO TO THE ALIEN PLANET, AND IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS THE BITS SET ON EARTH. "

    ROFL ;)

    ACtually the Locus horde *are* native to your planet and live underground so I expect you to go down and explore alien underground locations and maybe a few missions in space to "fix" orbital laser guns?

  • escapedape #48 5 years ago

    @ Pob, re: profiles

    Blimey - you're not wrong!

  • morriss #49 5 years ago

    Have you played the game El_Mueriko? You seem to know a surprising amount about it.

    A chest a drawers doesn't asplode...SFW?

  • Machetazo #50 5 years ago

    I foresee a spike in the number of headsets purchased/on Live. Tactics are more difficult to achieve if you can't converse with your team. It'll indeed be massive on Xbox Live.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 11:02

  • wellsie #51 5 years ago

    "YOU GO TO THE ALIEN PLANET, AND IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS THE BITS SET ON EARTH."

    same as Half LIfe then :p

    "I foresee a spike in the number of headsets purchased/on Live."

    oooh god to smack talk after you get chainsawed by some American, its bad enough getting face squatted
    Edited by 2 at 03/11/06 @ 11:26

  • OhWiseOne #52 5 years ago

    / Wets Self \

    Can't wait.
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 11:30

  • MartinDavies #53 5 years ago

    Glad you guys dug the article. I should mention that we were playing on system link only, so I have no experience of how it performs online or what the matching system is like.

  • morriss #54 5 years ago

    Martin: Tearing? CLipping? Framerate issues?

  • Rusta #55 5 years ago

    lol at el_meurko - fight the feelings son

  • sharpfish #56 5 years ago

    BEST GAME EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! ;)

    Ok, a bit pre-emptive and fanboyish... however, this game is sounding and looking better each day. I love the thought that they have made a co-hesive and polished game rather than loose ends through innovation. There is nothing wrong with attempting to do what has been done before but polishing every last bit of gameplay and graphics.

    Sony Hold-Outs are going to have a hell of a time explaining the £400+ and no gears of war on their system.

  • Yossarian #57 5 years ago

    there is destructible scenery, guys, I've watched videos of it

  • MartinDavies #58 5 years ago

    Morriss - I didn't notice any tearing or framerate issues, though I don't know what kind of xboxen we were using (could have been dev kits), or how that would change that experience. As for clipping: interaction with the environment is pretty smooth once you get used to the context sensitive cover commands. I didn't find myself getting stuck on scenery unless it was the result of my own cack-handedness - with one exception: jumping down off tall ledges requires you to walk towards the edge face on. Trying to strafe or jump off it don't work. I think this is a game design decision rather than a clipping problem, however. Either way, it's rarely an issue.

  • mingster #59 5 years ago

    @ Pob, re: profiles

    yup that profile earnt him an insta-ignore all from one meh.

  • El_MUERkO #60 5 years ago

    "A chest a drawers doesn't asplode...SFW?"

    So why have it there!?!

    Why have something I could put my foot thru sitting on a staircase with giant space marines with explodatrons hiding behind it as giant aliens throw other explodifying things at it and its not even phased.

    Its stupid, you cant help but pick it out, I'm not saying 'i demand total realism' but a bit of give and take would be nice like 'two foot think concrete bolard indestructible', 'wood furniture blows up when hit' would that not be a good thing.

    Making you look at cover and decide 'no wait that shopping trolloy wont survive an orbital bombardment, it will however fly a good way if a nade goes off near it.

    In this regard raimbow six vegas with its exploding slot machines is far more effective at pulling you in, at making you look at and think about rather than "start to ignore the staggering beauty and fidelity of the game-world".

  • MartinDavies #61 5 years ago

    Yossarian - I think I'm right in saying that most of the scenery is NOT destructible in multiplayer. One level, set in a mansion allows you to destroy a fair amount of kibble - couches and stuff - but the actual geography isn't really deformable, except in scripted circumstances; there's one level where you can target a gas station with the Hammer of God... Pop!

  • Rambaldi #62 5 years ago

    @EL_MUERKO

    "This is not the next gen I'd hoped for. The more I read about this generation of consoles the more the PC appeals, the overwhelming focus on graphics to the neglect of physics and AI seems to be creating prettier xbox/ps2 games instead of new experiences"

    What a ridiculous sweeping statement..a bit like this one:

    You're an ill-informed physics-card addicted over hardware spending knob

    P.S. Look at Portal
    P.P.S Considering the 360 gets most of the decent PC FPSs anyways, what exactly are you saying about PC games?
    P.P.P.S The best (by far) AI routines seen on a shooter in recent years are in Halo. A console game.
    Edited by 3 at 03/11/06 @ 12:11

  • rudedudejude #63 5 years ago

    Planet Xen ftw!

  • Psychotext #64 5 years ago

    Ummm... changing the subject a little. What profile are you going on about?

  • BettySwallocks #65 5 years ago

    @ wellsie

    You mean this

  • S.J.Rogers #66 5 years ago

    I have been playing Multi Player games since me and a mate connected our 286 dx66 PCs together with a copy of DOOM he had hacked and turned into a pretty good Death Matching Game.

    I love the whole idea of DM games and I am addicted to COD2 and have been since last December.

    Really looking forward to GoW for the MP aspect and the SP game/story...

    Give this game to me NOW..!!!

  • McGeeza #67 5 years ago

    "Have you played the game El_Mueriko? You seem to know a surprising amount about it.

    A chest a drawers doesn't asplode...SFW?"

    Remind me not to play online with MUERKO on my team...

    "WTF are you doing man? Shoot the damn Locust!"
    "Just one more clip... it has to explode sooner or later."


    PS: It's a long way to Tipperary... but unfortunately they have broadband access...

  • Universal_Hamster #68 5 years ago

    Isnt the indestructable wardrobe from an old E3 presentation anyway? I seem to remember the developer saying then that destructible scenery hadnt been implemented at that point, so it could well be that the wardrobe had been made destructible by now.
    Its hardly a dealbreaker in any case.

  • Yossarian #69 5 years ago

    "Yossarian - I think I'm right in saying that most of the scenery is NOT destructible in multiplayer. One level, set in a mansion allows you to destroy a fair amount of kibble - couches and stuff"
    correct

  • Xerx3s #70 5 years ago

    I foresee a spike in the number of headsets purchased/on Live. Tactics are more difficult to achieve if you can't converse with your team. It'll indeed be massive on Xbox Live.

    I doubt it as it is included with every 360. Yes folks, designed for online out of the box. Btw, when is the new wireless headset out? Checked the stores the other day and they said something like the 24th but I find that hard to believe...

  • Lukus #71 5 years ago

    Gears of War is the new Halo. In terms of people's instant hatred (read jealousy?) of it.

  • trevd72 #72 5 years ago

    F.E.A.R at play asia for £21......go get it

  • Tonka #73 5 years ago

    I don't kno whow to turn this in to a proper post but it needs to be said.


    Context sensitivity is the way forward.

  • Rambaldi #74 5 years ago

    /scratches head

  • Rambaldi #75 5 years ago

    Yes, when IS the wireless headset coming?

    Fast charger? Don't need.
    Wireless Wheel? Wheels are pants.
    Faceplate? Shmasheplate!
    Memory Card? So last gen.
    LiveCam? Give me a break I want to grind american teens into the dirt not look at their faces.
    Something that means I don't have to fek around with crappy cables when I want a quick chat to my mates or have to wrap up carefuly when I put it away only to find it tangled when I come back anyway? GET YER FOOKIN ARSE IN GEAR AND RELEASE IT PRONTO!!!
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 14:15

  • turtlesbreath #76 5 years ago

    /scratches arse

  • Rambaldi #77 5 years ago

    /picks nose

  • Xerx3s #78 5 years ago

    /picks Rambaldi's nose

  • Rambaldi #79 5 years ago

    /draws the line at picking Xerx3s' arse

  • Xerx3s #80 5 years ago

    ()o()

  • peterfll #81 5 years ago

    ^^^^^^

    Talk about false advertising, I heard that Xerx3s hole is a lot bigger than he's making out above.

  • BadBoyBonner #82 5 years ago

    S.J.Rogers - our 286 dx66 PCs together

    Come on Rogers ya must have made that up? a 286 labelled dx66

    Was it not a 486 Dx2 66?

  • trevd72 #83 5 years ago

    loved my 486 66 dx2. played doom, command and conquer, duke nukem......hell the 66 dx2 days were almost as good as the snes days.

  • Xerx3s #84 5 years ago

    I remember the time well wen I got my first 486-66mhz. Ah! A secondhand tower PC (and then I mean TOWER) and it hand all kinds of games such as Doom, Dangerous Dave, Biomenace, etc. installed... When I first saw those games I was sold. \0/

    Later on the likes of Heretic, Hexen, Doom II, Dark Forces, RotT, etc.... Now THAT was t3h REAL next gen. :D

    I hope MS releases those games again, they where just brilliant and I think that Doom Arcade proved that those graphics still sell.

  • Chim_chimma_nee! #85 5 years ago

    Instead of making up some some faux insightful comment i'll just sit back and YAWN.

  • S.J.Rogers #86 5 years ago

    @ BadBoyBonner

    Your probably correct.

    My mate was the computer geek, I just kicked his ass at DOOM...!

    Also when will we see the next version of Decent..?
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 16:41

  • viperfoxbat #87 5 years ago

    This game and COD 3 and others! I don't have that kind of money!! :( I will get Gears of War but will have to eat ramen noodles...oh I hate doing that!

  • Xerx3s #88 5 years ago

    Also when will we see the next version of Decent..?

    Didn't the story more or less end in D3?

  • asphaltcowboy #89 5 years ago

    Personally I'm wondering when will we see the next version of Descent.. from what I remember, it was pretty decent!
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 17:50

  • captainrentboy #90 5 years ago

    You can't blow up the random chest of drawers' dotted around?Fuck that then,I'm cancelling my preorder tomorrow.

  • Xerx3s #91 5 years ago

    Blowing up furniture = t3h real next gen! :D

    /starts to trash his house

  • Yeevle #92 5 years ago

    That So Macho song is stuck in my head now. Thanks.

  • Keyz #93 5 years ago

    Looks like one of the best 360 games.

  • Bates #94 5 years ago

    Hype with a side order of shiny. This game just radiates macho out of every pore.

    You can Donnie Darko up all the trailers all you want, but no sale here!

  • Hughes. #95 5 years ago

    Well, I always felt if the single player game turned out to be as generic and repetitive as appeareances suggested, MP could save the day, and it looks set to do so. Now if the Single Player is good too, there could be a lot of 360s shifted this Christmas.

  • Xerx3s #96 5 years ago

    Hype with a side order of shiny. This game just radiates macho out of every pore.

    And why would that perce be a bad thing? Or would you prefer yet another spiky hair transsexual clichéd standardised anime character type of game?

    You can Donnie Darko up all the trailers all you want, but no sale here!

    Now there is a surprise... ¬_¬ Bet that if it was a PS3 game, it would have been an instant buy.

  • Rambaldi #97 5 years ago

    Indeed

    So Bates, how does this differ from Resistance?

    Oh yeah, this doesn't come in a Sony box. No wait, it's not on BluRay!! No wait, it's a western game!!
    Edited by 1 at 03/11/06 @ 23:35

  • The-Bodybuilder #98 5 years ago

    >"You can Donnie Darko up all the trailers all you want, but no sale here!"

    I'm sure bill gates is crying himself to sleep.

  • TonyBlair #99 5 years ago

    "I'm sure bill gates is crying himself to sleep. " with his credit rating I highly doubt it

    Hey BB u gotta be jealous but not of bill tho - that little boys are feasting their eyes on these "heroes" instead of u :)

  • Inflatable #100 5 years ago

    I can't wait for this game.. I pre-ordered the CE last week..

  • haowan #101 5 years ago

    Resistance is a western game

  • Calgon #102 5 years ago

    Resistance has failed to interest me, even after seeing the videos of it, all I could think was... whats the word? Meh?

    GOW just looks like a game I have to play, the haters fall into 2 camps, those who hate whats popular and Sony fanboys. All of their reasons given Ive seen can be answered with: "...and why would that mean the game is bad?" or they give reasons that would apply to every FPS in existance "its got guns and you shoot things, how boring". I find it all rather ridiculous but I care not, this could be THE 360 game that persuades me to get a 360 ASAP rather than wait for a good deal next year.

  • Lex_Luthor #103 5 years ago

    lol@Calgon

    Irony? Hypocrisy? Both?
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/06 @ 02:35

  • Veldaban #104 5 years ago

    "And why would that perce be a bad thing? Or would you prefer yet another spiky hair transsexual clichéd standardised anime character type of game?"

    Can't they BOTH be bad? They both seem to target 15 year olds, surely there's plenty between the two extremes? Movies don't seem to have any problems with it.

  • Calgon #105 5 years ago

    @ Lex_Luthor: its called opinion :/... and you talk of hypocracy? how many 360 threads have I seen you whining in? too many, why are you here? do you own a 360? If yes so what(Id quietly call bollocks if you said that or suggest you sell it btw)... you ARE a Sony fanboy.

    Its quite simple, GOW has always seemed like killer app material to me(ie. good potential), Resistance has looked nothing more than being decent at best(ie. competant but nothing to get hyped up about). If Resistance turns out to be better than expected then power to them, its not as important to 360 owners(or those who are going to buy one like myself) as it obviously is to PS3 fanboys(theres not alot of games worth getting excited about for the PS3 that I can see personally, so the behaviour from them is understandable, especially when you remember many of them are around 15 or so). 360 has way more promising titles in the pipeline than PS3 does(thats why the people making the most noise are the PS3 fanboys... they cant stand those words "Im going to buy a 360 for this" or "I cant wait for this game it looks great"... they will continue to move from one high profile 360 game to the next in the same manner as always, its all so predictable!), GOWs main competition is on the very same console its being released on.
    Edited by 2 at 05/11/06 @ 15:14

  • haowan #106 5 years ago

    "the haters fall into 2 camps, those who hate whats popular and Sony fanboys"

    Don't be a retard.

  • Lex_Luthor #107 5 years ago

    Calgon, yes, I do have a 360 as it goes, enjoying fine enough as well too.

  • Calgon #108 5 years ago

    Lex_Luthor: I find it baffling that you own an "Evil" MS branded machine(sell it quick then, Ken wont like that!), Id rather discuss the articles and games themselves than have to deal with all the Sony-Zombie/trolls in every thread, talking nonesense(wasnt me who brought up resistance, I gave my opinion on it and that was that, even though it had no place here) . Thats the main problem with EG too much trolling.
    Edited by 3 at 05/11/06 @ 16:46

  • Lex_Luthor #109 5 years ago

    Most of it from you.

  • Calgon #110 5 years ago

    No you! :p

  • BEAR-ONE #111 5 years ago

    I'm amazed that no one asked one of the Quite Important Questions:

    - Does Gears of War MP system Link work with at least 2 players per console??

    I nearly threw CoD2 out the window after having frustratingly discovered that it's a one-player-per-console LAN game.

    BEAR

  • The-Bodybuilder #112 5 years ago

    >"Hey BB u gotta be jealous but not of bill tho - that little boys are feasting their eyes on these "heroes" instead of u :)"

    This would have been a burn if it wasn't for the fact that I'm not actually a bodybuilder (I'm a boxer).
    So you just missed out.

    Names can be confusing, eh Blair? :-)
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/06 @ 11:06

  • PS3lol #113 5 years ago

    goty

  • ChromeMud #114 5 years ago

    So them graphics aren't cgi then...real ingame visuals!Who needs Cell,
    Blu-Ray and a £425 price tag?
    It's gonna be a good Christmas for 360...see you next year Sony....or NOT!

  • $olokid #115 3 years ago

    Gears Of War is ONE of the best shooters out there but there are a few better than it.

    My Top 5:
    1.Halo 3
    2.Metal Gear Solid
    3.Call Of Duty: World At War
    4.Gears Of War
    5.Halo 2