Gears of War 3 review

Third-person shooters are often eclipsed by their high-profile first-person brethren. Although action games with a wider remit (Grand Theft Auto for example) can prosper from the better sense of characterisation an onscreen avatar brings, that avatar inevitably takes the focus away from pure point-and-shoot. If there’s one third-person shooter that bucks this trend though, it’s got be Gears of War, a behemoth third-person franchise that’s undeniably about shooting stuff, and which stands in no one’s shadow.

LOST THE PLOT

As with most shooters, we’ve rather lost interest with the series’ plot – despite trying our hardest and even reading plot synopsis online. It seems that once again the human inhabitants of the planet Sera are in danger of being wiped out by the alien menaces beneath their feet. We find it amazing that there’s anyone left to save after the constant catastrophes of the first two games, but as this is the final instalment you can probably bet on a more upbeat ending. No promises, or spoilers, here though.

With an improved script and graphics, Gears’ roster of characters look better and are more likeable all-round

The plot may have meandered off, but the characters are far better drawn. The scripted banter often raises a smile, and the game even breaks from its down-to-business, gritty style on a few occasions – notably at the beginning, for a surreal dream sequence, and then again for a beautifully integrated trip into sporting nostalgia. In short, this Gears is cleverer, funnier, and more successfully tongue-in-cheek than its predecessors.

DUCK AND COVER

The plot takes you through an incredible variety of environments, all of which are stunningly detailed and lit. In fact, we’d probably say this is the best-looking Xbox game we’ve ever seen, and there’s support for 3D devices for those with the right display. The cover-based gameplay still leans on unrealistic looking areas filled with conveniently positioned cover – not to mention a lot of inexplicably-positioned ammo cases. Thankfully, the over-the-top nature of the sci-fi on offer means these don’t clash as badly as they would in a more realistic setting.

Hide behind stuff and shoot stuff, the basic Gears template remains the same

As with previous iterations, Gears 3 is all about shooting from behind cover. Play it on Hardcore difficulty, as the developers suggest for veterans of the series, and you’ll quickly be cut down when caught out of cover. Beyond this, a widened enemy roster includes bad guys that can shoot over cover or burrow shots underground – so you’re no longer invulnerable till your flanked. At its heart, though, Gears is still about avoiding being shot while manoeuvring for a better tactical position to take down your opponents.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF KILLING

There are lots of opponents too, both in numbers and variety. The original Locust Horde makes a return, and adds a number of additional nasties to its roster – including Armoured Kantus, a far tougher version of the Locust’s priest caste with spiked armoured for close attacks, flying Shriekers that shoot at you while dodging return fire with ease, and Digger Boomers, who fire those burrowing grenades, necessitating a quick roll out of harm’s way to other cover.

The Lambent forces, Locust infected by the ‘Imulsion’ that flows under Sera, are also more varied and better distinguished from the Horde. The standout bad-guy has to be the Drudge, a big tough guy who upon death can mutate into a variety of even nastier forms, with tentacles spraying the toxic Imulsion like a flamethrower. The Gunker is also a pain, being a bipedal artillery piece, able to lob Imulsion-based bombs over your cover.

It’s this wider mix of enemies which keeps the gameplay varied. Thanks to them, the developer has created a lengthy, 12-hour campaign that constantly entertains and challenges. It’s not perfect for a single player, however, as you are always accompanied by up to three AI-controlled squad members. You can find the larger battles taken out of your hands as their aggressive AI clears out enemies before you get a chance to assess the battlefield and enact your own plan.

The game’s design means you will be knocked down often, leaving you wounded on the ground, waiting to be revived. Sometimes your team take ridiculous risks to try and revive you, resulting in their own deaths. Other times, they finish off the enemy first, making you feel like a cheat for ducking most of the encounter. It’s still great fun most of the time, but these issues do stand out in a game that has otherwise been polished to a near-perfect sheen.

MESHED GEARS

All those issues suddenly melt away once you move into the multi-player, though. The whole campaign was designed to incorporate up to four-player co-operative play, which is why the battles are so big and some of the enemies so lethal. Being knocked down by a huge bad-guy and then revived by a heroic friend, darting across the battlefield to save you, is a world away from waiting for an AI to rescue you. For starters, you respect your human teammates’ right to continue fighting without you till an opportune moment.

The awesome Vulcan Cannon demands teamwork, requiring two players to operate it

With two or more players, the whole campaign is not only rescued from these issues, it’s also lifted to greater heights. Fighting through the biggest set-pieces with four players is a truly epic experience, and one that requires tactical co-ordination. The same goes for the returning Horde mode, in which wave after wave of enemies is thrown at your small team and defences. Between waves you can upgrade those defences with money earned during the round, putting up electric fences and automatic guns to help ward off the increasingly tough attackers. Plus there’s now Beast mode, which turns the whole Horde idea on its head, letting you and friends play as the Locust, trying to take down AI-controlled humans in tight time limits. Both these gametypes can be played by up to five players.

That laser fence may stop lesser beasts, but that berserker isn’t going to be too bothered

You could play Gears 3 online for weeks without ever touching the competitive multi-player side. This is as solid as ever, with quick and brutal objective based games. Unusually, dedicated servers have been provided to host games; so there’s minimal lag, no host to quit and disrupt the game, and no host advantage either – it’s a decision that’s to be applauded. The range of maps is varied and excellent plus there’s a new game type – Capture the Leader – in which you have to hold your opponent’s leader hostage to win. The leader also has an enhanced tactical map that shows all enemy positions, which usually makes the most communicative team the victors. It’s five-a-side, so you never feel like your contribution goes unwanted, and AI bots are added to keep up the number s till real players can join in their place.

FINAL OUTING

If you’re a lone gamer, or one that doesn’t like to talk to and work with others, then Gears of War 3 is merely a more polished and longer version of its excellent predecessor. You will enjoy the campaign, and the production values are absolutely first-class, but it does make sacrifices for its true multi-player nature. If, however, you do have friends you can play with online (or even in the two-player split screen mode) then it becomes a must-buy title, a feast of treats to be enjoyed together, with every part as delectable as the rest and all equally worthy of your attention.