Gears of War - The NextGen Standard

Gears of War is the first 'Must Have' game for the Xbox 360. All this talk of 'NextGen' gaming was just that: talk. That is, until Gears of War made it's debut. It has been the most heavily hyped game for the 360 so far and it definitely delivered.

First of all, the graphics are incredible. The detail and environments are amazing enough that sometimes you will just stop to admire your surroundings. What's even more amazing about the detailed graphics is that it looks exactly the same when you play online. You still see heat wave coming off of your weapon after unloading a clip, the battle scars on your characters face still show up, and of course, the blood splatter is definitely still there. The difference between playing the game on a standard TV and a HDTV is pretty big. Still decent on a SDTV, mind blowing on a HDTV.

The sound is also great, playing this with a surround sound setup going, you feel like you're in a movie. On one of the multiplayer maps a train roars through the middle - I still instinctively duck when it comes down the tracks!

The story is interesting enough to keep you playing through the campaign, maybe even a couple of times. Cool weapons and enemies plus the ability to play the entire campaign in a Co-Op mode either locally on the same machine OR across Xbox Live make it even better. Yes, it is a little short, bu the online play more than makes up for it.

The controls are different, but once you get the hang of it, it's very easy. Gone are the days of running and gunning, with Gears you MUST use tactics and teamwork, or you won't make it very far. Using cover is an essential element of the game, and where as in other games laying down 'suppressive fire' was merely a distraction, in Gears it is a legitimate tactic. Communication between teammates is a must to be successful.

Although the game is in my opinion, the best thing out right now, it does of course have a few issues.

Online Host Advantage: When you play a game online, the host seems to almost always have the edge. Not to say they can't be beaten or anything, but if it comes down to a 'tie' on who gets who first, the host usually wins. Not that big of a deal, but it's a little irritating sometimes.

Glitches: There's a few issues in the game where you'll chainsaw someone and get stuck, unable to move. Or once in a while you'll get in this mode where you can't use a weapon. There's also ways for people to cheat and get 'off' of the board. This stuff doesn't happen too often and hopefully will be fixed in the future.

The Violence: Gears is an extremely violent, gory game. It's definitely not for young kids or those faint of heart. Explosions cause bodies to rip apart, when you chainsaw someone, their body literally is cut in half, with the insides falling out while blood splatters on your screen and drips off. After a major battle, various body parts and blood can cover an area, making for a gruesome scene. When an enemy soldier has been severely injured, they drop to their knees, gasping for air. They can be revived by a teammate or they will bleed out and die. OR, an enemy soldier can come up and 'curbstomp' them, crushing their head with a stomp from an armored boot. There is also some strong language in the game as well.

And on a side not, Xbox live play can be the most fun experience playing a game you can have. You can make some good friends and have a great time on there. It is also home to some of the most obnoxious, rude, crude and racist people you'll ever hear from. Be aware of this, and if you're a parent, you should keep tabs on who and what your kids are playing!