Gears of War 3 Review for Xbox 360

System: Xbox 360
Dev: Epic Games
Pub: Microsoft
Release: September 20, 2011
Players: 1 (2+ Online)
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

While gamers have been collecting COGs since the first game, Gears of War 3 gives you more things to collect. This actually brings some much appreciated continuity to the world, as you will find things that belong to characters you know, things that have been important to the story, and even things that may belong to the enemy.

I must say that the world of Gears of War has never felt more "alive." In past titles, even though the world was captured fairly well for each story, environments somehow lacked a sense of true presence. In Gears of War 3, you actually get the feeling that things are happening when you are not around, that people are living and breathing even when you aren't interacting with them.

Gears of War 3 Screenshot

This is apparent in the graphics and sounds of the game as well. Marcus and Delta Squad all have received a boost in appearance. There are still some trademark Gears technicalities, but without them this simply wouldn't be a Gears game. One of the biggest things I noticed was the characters do not seem nearly as "large" as they did in the first and second game. They finally look as proportionally realistic as they could in a world like this. The voice acting is as top-notch as it's always been, and the score this time has more of an impact than previous titles while never feeling inappropriate.

Gears of War 3 has been one of the most anticipated games of this year for good reason. Everyone wants to know how the heroes of Delta finish "their fight," after all, and you can conclude this experience with up to three friends. I'm not delusional enough to claim there's nothing wrong with Gears of War 3, but any flaws in this game have been present in the first two installments as well. So, honestly, if they were not in this "final" chapter, I might oddly feel upset they weren't included for continuity's sake.

Gears of War 3 may not give you that sense of closure you might need in order believe this is the last Gears story, but it will definitely give you a complete adrenaline rush of sheer bloody fun. Finally, the gaming season has arrived.

By Matt Walker
CCC Editor-In-Chief

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.6

Graphics
Visuals may be only a slight improvement over the past games, but it is because of this that the world comes alive.

4.5

Control
The controls you've come to know and love. Why fix what is not broken?

4.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Everything pops into place nicely. It is truly complimentary that the voice acting and score are on the same level.

4.5

Play Value
I would say this is the most fun I've had with Gears in years.

4.5

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

Enthralling cinematic story: Experience the epic finale to the Gears of War trilogy and fight alongside Delta Squad to rescue humanity. Discover the fate of Marcus and his surviving comrades in this immersive and emotionally engaging story.

Unparalleled gameplay: Gears of War 3 builds upon the series' genre-defining gameplay and captivates players in an intimately intense action game. The latest chapter in the saga introduces new playable COG characters and fresh challenges with ferocious enemies.

Explosive multiplayer: One of the definitive multiplayer experiences on Xbox LIVE, Gears of War 3 features new cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences for veteran players and rookies alike.

Amazing visuals: Gears of War 3 pushes the envelope for stunning visuals on Xbox 360. Through the latest advances in Unreal Engine 3 technology, the game delivers improved graphics, animation, and lighting that immerse you in the destroyed beauty of the rich environments.