- Release date: November 7th 2006
- Developer: Epic Games
- Estimated time to beat: 9 hours
- My time: 5 hours 25 min.
- Date beaten: 5/10/2019
- Achievements: 10/57 (110/1250)
- Chosen by: Younggames916 (IG)
Booting up Gears of War for the first time in a long time, and It’s still clear how It managed to, not only carve its own path into the gaming industry, but also birth a new genre. After the release companies were scrambling to create their own take on the cover shooter, but few did it as well as Epic games. The controls are tight and responsive, the visuals still hold up, and the multiplayer is well balanced. That’s not to say it doesn’t have its issues.
During my current playthrough I encountered multiple frame drops that made me wonder if they always existed and I overlooked them at the time, or is my disc drive dying? There were also instances where the models would render and the textures would slowly follow. Either way this game is just as solid as the day it released, and if you haven’t already done so, do yourself a favor and playthrough the campaign. In fact, do it co-op. The game is great single player, but as with most co-op games, it’s even better with a friend.
There are segments that force you to split paths with your partner and help each other out from a distance, or move a spotlight so your partner can navigate the darkness without being shredded by the krill. General Raam is a great bad guy and the story all culminates into an epic final battle. I didn’t dive into the multiplayer during this playthrough, but It was always felt like a perfectly balanced fighting game. It never left me feeling like a lost a firefight due to cheese. Every encounter was calculated and I could reflect on what worked and what didn’t to adjust for the next round. Tactics played a large roll in the multiplayer. Planning quickly with your team between rounds was incredibly satisfying when you saw your strategy come to fruition. If you haven’t played this game, go play it and let me know how you liked it. The series is still one of my favorites.
- Eye feel: 8
- Ear feel: 9
- Hand feel: 9
- Mind feel: 9
- Overall feel: 8.75
