Gears of War 3 Review

Like all successful video game franchises, Gears of War is bound to have its breed of haters. Its games are big, hulking Triple-A titles that bring forth as much praise as they do apprehension. Gamers tend to view these blockbusters with arms crossed and noses up, as if to say "Impress me."

Well, sorry cynics, you'll have to spit your venom elsewhere. Gears of War 3 not only delivers, it demolishes.

The story takes place 18 months after the catastrophic events of Gears of War 2; Jacinto is gone, the Hallow is flooded, and mankind's war against the Locust presses on. In other words, life for the Delta Squad hasn't gotten any easier. To make matters worse, the Lambent – Locusts mutated by exposure to Imulsion – have grown in numbers and are destroying all within their path. As a conclusion to an already epic series, the Gears 3 campaign does not disappoint.

The campaign is more personal this time around. Although it's the beefed-up, testosterone-fueled moments that will get your heart racing, the quiet moments are what elevate Gears of War 3 above its predecessors. Unlike the previous games, Gears of War 3 allows you to see how the events of the series changed the lives of regular, ordinary citizens. This heightens the stakes, and allows you to invest yourself more with the story. Some of the dialogue is bound to induce an eye-roll or two; however, it's all part of the fun. I found myself chuckling along with the characters, and you will, too; their camaraderie is downright infectious.

Once again, players primarily control Marcus Fenix, the muscle-bound brute in charge of the Delta Squad. At first, it's easy to get a feeling a déjà vu. The changes made to the Gears control scheme are so subtle it's easy to take them for granted. Whereas Gears 2's controls often felt clunky and unresponsive, Gears 3 feels much more natural. Epic Games heard our rallying cries of frustration, and made the proper adjustments. The most notable improvement is the tap and hold functions on the X- and Y-buttons. For instance, tapping the X-button allows you to pick up a fallen foe to use as a meat shield (or fallen teammate in multiplayer) and holding it picks up its weapon. As for the Y-button, a quick tap initiates a curb stomp and holding it a unique weapon execution.

It's tough to notice at first – especially if you haven't played Gears of War 2 in a while – but Gears of War 3's graphical makeover is stunning. The updated Unreal Development Kit is a sight to behold; characters are more lifelike, environments more detailed. While playing the campaign with a friend, expect to spend hours touring the levels, exploring every dimly lit nook and grime-covered cranny. Expect to be rewarded, too. The amount of secrets, unlockables and achievements is enough to drive any completest to drink.

All the improvements mentioned above really shine through in the multiplayer. The fluid controls and updated graphics make for an incredibly immersive experience. The multiplayer is also boosted by a Battlefield-esque marking system. The ability to point out enemy positions makes Gears of War 3 much more team-based, which is a very welcomed change.

Other improvements include a revamped Horde mode and the brand-new Beast mode. In Horde mode, you now have the ability to set up bases, construct barriers and build turrets – all depending on how much cash you have accumulated.

Beast mode allows you to play as the Locust  – yes, even the Tickers – as you fend off waves of humans. Each Locust has their own strength and weakness, which adds a nice layer of variety to each match. Be warned: Beast mode is tough. Each round adheres to a strict time limit, so practice is a must. Once you get the hang of it, however, you'll be addicted.

Gears of War 3 has Game of the Year written all over it. It's one of the most polished, exciting and even touching games I've had the pleasure of playing in the past ten months. Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 need to bring it. Right now Epic's latest masterpiece is the one to beat.